Why don’t we feel the Earth spinning?
5/5/202631 min
If you were on a merry-go-round that was spinning super fast, you’d feel it. But the Earth is always spinning and we don’t feel a thing. Why is that? Join Molly and Reean as they explore the science of spin. Plus we find out how liquid sloshing around in our ears can make us feel dizzy. And speaking of ears, get yours ready for an all new Mystery Sound. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate! Want to see Brains On live?!? We are probably coming to a city near you. For a complete list of shows and links to tickets head to our events page. More shows announced soon! May 9 - Liberty Hall, Kansas City, KS May 30 - Electric City, Buffalo, NY May 31 - Royal Theatre, Toronto, ON (2nd show added!) June 6 - Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI June 20 - Southern Theater, Columbus, OH June 21 - Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI Click here for a transcript of this episode.
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMolly Bloom· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Lemonada.
Rhian· Host0:02
[upbeat music] Brains On Universe. You're listening to Brains On, where we're serious about being curious.
Molly Bloom· Host0:16
[upbeat music] There's an old story that goes something like this. Two fish are swimming in the water.
Rhian· Host0:24
And a turtle swims by and says, "Good morning, fish. How's the water?"
Molly Bloom· Host0:28
The two younger fish smile and nod and swim on for a bit. Then one fish stops and says to the other, "What the heck is water?"
Rhian· Host0:36
The fish didn't notice the water because they've been in it all their life. They never thought about it.
Molly Bloom· Host0:42
The point is that there are things all around us that we just don't notice because they've always been there.
Rhian· Host0:48
Like the taste of your own spit.
Molly Bloom· Host0:50
Or the smell of plain old air.
Rhian· Host0:51
Or how right now the earth is spinning hundreds of miles an hour, and somehow we don't feel it.
Molly Bloom· Host0:57
Yeah, that's a lot of speed, but I've never noticed it.
Rhian· Host1:01
Me neither.
Molly Bloom· Host1:02
So hold on tight and we'll explain why that is.
Speaker 21:06
[upbeat music] Do you love mystery sounds? Because I love mystery sounds. That's why I'm here in our mystery sounds storage room just admiring all the wonderful sounds, like this one. [keys jingling] Ah. Is that a mystery sound or sweet music? [laughs] I can't tell the difference. Did you guess that it was my dog's collar?