logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2020
31m 23s

Smash: When continents collide!

American Public Media
About this episode

How are mountains made? What causes an earthquake? How does hot lava come bubbling up? The answer in each case is…tectonic plates!


These are giant, moving slabs of rock covering the Earth’s surface. When they slide past or smash into each other it shakes the planet. But, they also helped shape the land we live on.


Find out how they work with an extreme cooking demonstration (you’ll never see peanut M&Ms the same way). Meet the scientist who thought long ago all the continents were smushed together in a super-continent (spoiler: he was right!). Plus an interview with a USGS scientist about what our planet might look like in a million years.


All that plus a mystery sound and a Moment of Um about stinky breath. Listen up and rock on!



This episode is sponsored by:


Guardian Bikes (https://guardianbikes.com/brains)


Pillsbury cinnamon rolls (https://www.pillsbury.com/products/cinnamon-rolls)


Hank the Cowdog podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hank-the-cowdog/id1529174742)


Up next
Jun 11
A big update about the Brains On Universe
We're moving the Brains On Universe Headquarters, and that means we have to stop putting out new episodes until we get settled. We know: not cool. But, our new home is going to be bigger and better and the absolute BEST. We can't wait until it's ready for you to visit.In the mean ... Show More
2m 56s
Jun 3
The life of a NASA astronaut
Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find ... Show More
35m 17s
May 27
How do weather stations predict the weather?
Brains On is a non-profit public radio program. There are lots of ways to support the show:Support the podcast with donation | Subscribe to Smarty Pass for ad-free episodes and bonus content | Buy our book and merch | Come to our live shows | Get the newsletter for parents | Find ... Show More
28m 29s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2023
Is Earth the only planet with tectonic plates?
Happy Planet Week! Did you know the Earth’s outer layer has big rocky sheets called tectonic plates that move back and forth up to six inches every year? As they move, these wiggly jiggly plates can create mountain ranges, cause volcanoes to erupt, and sometimes trigger earthquak ... Show More
5m 55s
Jan 2008
Plate Tectonics
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss how the science of plate tectonics revolutionised our understanding of the planet on which we live. America is getting further away from Europe. This is not a political statement but a geological fact. Just as the Pacific is getting smaller, the Re ... Show More
42m 9s
Apr 2024
✨Special Fun Facts:✨ The Earth 🌏
In this episode, we will explore the Earth through some engaging fun facts. We will investigate why Earth is often referred to as the "Blue Marble," examine the ten largest islands and their unique features, and dive into some of the remarkable animals native to Australia. Also, ... Show More
21m 12s
Mar 2021
What Earth Looked Like 3.2 Billion Years Ago
Encore episode. The surface of the Earth is constantly recycled through the motion of plate tectonics. So how do researchers study what it used to look like? Planetary scientist Roger Fu talks to host Maddie Sofia about hunting for rocks that can tell us what Earth looked like a ... Show More
11m 30s
Feb 2023
273. David asks: What if Candy the Kid and his Butterscotch Boots were trapped on Mars?
When Candy the Kid’s parents ask him to stop his wandering ways and work for them, he runs away, but he ends up trapped on Mars!Lessons include: It can be hard to say how we feel, but your loved ones will always listen; connection and curiosity guide us through conflict better th ... Show More
20m 53s
Feb 2020
Geodes: A Look Inside
Have you ever seen a geode? Those rocks that have beautiful crystals inside? Today we’re going digging for geodes and talking about how you never know the beauty inside rocks…and people! If you’d like to tell us about a time when someone did something kind for you, please send a ... Show More
19m 11s
Dec 2023
How did flat Earth conspiracy theory start?
Flat Earthers believe that the Earth is not  spherical, but rather a flat disc and the Sun and the Moon are also flat discs that circle above the Earth. According to them the edges of the world are surrounded by a wall of ice, which is what we know as Antarctica. And as for the p ... Show More
3m 58s
Jun 2022
Playback: The Tree At the End of the World
Deadly seas. Hurricane-force winds. A punishing journey to the tip of South America is all in a day’s work for Nat Geo Explorer Brian Buma. But Craig Welch, a reporter who calls himself a “normal human being,” also tagged along—and found that a miserable expedition makes for a he ... Show More
27m 41s