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Moment of Um

Moment of Um

Moment of Um is your daily answer to those questions that pop up out of nowhere and make you go? ummmmmmm. Brought to you by your friends at Brains On at APM Studios.

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Episodes

How can parrots mimic other sounds?

Parrots are one of the few animals in the world that can mimic human speech and other sounds. But how exactly do they do it? We asked bird expert Amanda Bender to help us find the answer.


Got a question that?s a real squawk in the park? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll help find an answer that?s macaw-some!




2024-03-22
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Can a moon have a moon?

One of the best things about looking up at the night sky is gazing at our big, beautiful moon. But why do we get to have all the fun? Can a moon have its own moon? Harvard graduate student Chantanelle Nava helps us understand. 


Do you have a Moment of Um question for us that?s totally far out? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll help you find the answer.

2024-03-21
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If ants like sweet things, why don't they attack beehives?

Ants, they?re just like us. They like picnics, hills, and sweet things! But if ants like sweets so much, do you think they ever attack beehives? We asked bee researcher Dr. Alina Nino to help us find the answer.


Got a question that?s buzzing around your head? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll help ant-swer it. 

2024-03-20
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What is tree bark made of?

If you?ve ever hugged a tree (and we hope you have!) you?ll know that the outside of a tree can be bumpy, prickly, and can even scrape your skin. That?s because trees are covered in tree armor ? otherwise known as bark. One of our listeners wanted to know what tree bark is made of, so we asked forest ecologist Diana Macias to explain.


Do you have an evergreen question for Moment of Um? Leaf it for us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll try to find the answer.

2024-03-19
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How do vacuum cleaners work?

Vacuums are like magic. You press a button and POOF ? they can suck up all kinds of stuff: crumbs, cat fur, even coconut shrimp. But how do these handy dandy machines work? We asked mechanical engineer Tiffani Teachey to help us find the answer.


Got a question, but you?re not sure Hoover answer it? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll find an answer that sweeps you off your feet!




2024-03-18
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Would a flashlight turn on at lightspeed?

What do a cheetah, a rocket ship, and champion sprinter Usain Bolt have in common?  If you guessed they?re all way slower than your average beam of light, you?re correct!  Nothing in our universe moves faster than light. But recently, we got an interesting puzzle from a listener: if you were able to travel at lightspeed, and you turned on a flashlight, would it turn on?  We asked astrophysicist Amanda Farah to help us investigate.


Got a question that has you feeling in the dark? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll help you see the light.

2024-03-15
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Why do we jump when we get scared?

If you?ve ever jumped right out of your seat when watching a scary movie, you know that sometimes your body has a reaction to being surprised or frightened. One of our listeners wanted to know why that happens, and we asked neurologist Sarah Benish to help us understand.


Got a startlingly good Moment of Um question for us? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll try to be brave enough to find the answer.

2024-03-14
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How do microphones work?

Imagine this: you?re at a karaoke competition. You grab the microphone, belt out your favorite song, and the crowd goes wild! Everyone can hear your voice, thanks to your handy dandy microphone. But how exactly do these snazzy little machines work? We asked mechanical engineer and science educator Tiffani Teachey to help us find the answer.


Got a question that?s pitch perfect? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll find an answer that really ampsyou up!

2024-03-13
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Why do our lips get chapped?

We?ve all suffered with chapped lips in the winter: itchy, flaking, sometimes even bleeding. Yikes! One of our listeners wanted to know how this happens, so we asked dermatologist Roxana Daneshjou to explain.  


Got a Moment of Um question for us? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll ask around for the answer.

2024-03-12
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Do eyeballs grow?

Eyeballs! They?re squishy orbs in our skulls, made of lots of different parts that work together to send visual information to our brain. But do they get bigger as we grow from babies to adults? We asked eye doctor Stacey Pineles to help us find the answer.


Are you a pupil with a burning question? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll help en-vision the answer!

2024-03-11
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How do mushrooms grow if they don?t have seeds?

Have you ever gone outside after a rainy day and seen mushrooms growing in the grass or on tree trunks? How do they get there? We asked urban agriculture specialist Yolanda Gonzalez to help us find the answer.


Got a question that?s really growing on you? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll mold an answer for you. 

2024-03-08
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Do fish have allergies?

Most of us have some experience with allergies: maybe it?s pollen or a pet that makes us sneeze, or maybe there are certain foods we can?t eat. But do other creatures have allergies too? Are fish sniffling and sneezing underwater? We asked biologist Laura Zimmerman to help us understand.  


Got a Moment of Um question for us? Go to BrainsOn.org/contact to send it to us, and we?ll go fishing for the answer.

2024-03-07
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How do skunks spray their stink?

Skunks are part of a family of animals called mustelids, along with weasels, badgers, and otters. All of these animals produce a unique, musky smell, but where stink is concerned, the skunk reigns supreme. They can spray a super-smelly liquid from their butts at anything that scares them. But how does that spray work? We asked biologist Caitlin Amspacher to help us find the answer.


Got a question stinkin? up your brain? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll see what the answer en-TAILS!

2024-03-06
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If the earth had rings, could we see them?

We?ve all seen pictures of the planet Saturn, with its beautiful rings. But what if the Earth had rings? Could you look out your window and see them? We asked planetary scientist Linda Spilker to help us imagine what that might look like. 


Got a Moment of Um question taking up space in your brain? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact and you could hear the answer on a future episode!

2024-03-05
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How do prescription glasses work?

Lots of people wear prescription glasses to help them see. An eye doctor helps to find the right prescription so that our eyeballs focus better on things that would otherwise look like a blurry mess. But how do glasses actually work? We asked eye doctor Stacey Pineles to help us find the answer.


Got a question in your sights? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll focus on finding the answer!

2024-03-04
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What does earwax do for your ear?

Have you ever noticed the thin layer of sticky, oily stuff inside your ears? It?s called earwax! It?s definitely not the kind of wax you use to make candles or crayons, so what do our ears need it for? We asked pediatrician Dr. Anjuli Gans to help us find the answer.


Got a question that you want us to hear? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll wax poetic about the answer. 

2024-03-01
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What are eyebrows for?

You might not think about your eyebrows much, but if they weren?t there, you?d definitely notice! So how did those patches of hair come to be above our eyes? Why can we wiggle them? What are they for? We asked Penny Spikins, Professor of Human Evolution at the University of York in the UK, to help us answer our questions.  


If there?s a question that?s made you raise your eyebrows, we can help with that! Submit your Moment of Um question at BrainsOn.org/contact and we?ll find the answer.

2024-02-29
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What do germs and bacteria eat?

There are billions of bacteria on Earth, and they?re everywhere. Bacteria are on every surface on the planet, and even live in the soil underground. Most bacteria are actually quite harmless to humans. They spend all of their time eating, resting, and making copies of themselves. But when bacteria decide it?s time for lunch, what do they eat? We asked microbiologist Daniel Bond to help us find the answer.


Got a question that?s colonizing your brain? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll send an answer right BAC-ter-ya. 




2024-02-28
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If hair is dead, how does it grow?

Do you know why it doesn?t hurt to get a haircut? Because the hair on your head is actually dead. But if it?s dead, how does it grow? Dermatologist Roxana Daneshjou explained it to us. 


Send your hairiest questions for Moment of Um to BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll comb for the answers.

2024-02-27
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Why do we need toes?

Toes! They?re short and chunky, sometimes smell funky? but without them, we?d be toe-tally out of luck! We asked evolutionary anthropologist Darcy Shapiro to walk us through why we have toes, and what they help us do!


Got a question tickling the tips of your toes? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll help nail down an answer!

2024-02-26
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Where do carrot seeds come from?

Carrots are a delicious, crunchy snack. But unlike other vegetables, carrots don?t have seeds inside. So how do farmers grow them?  We asked plant scientist Jeff Mitchell to help us get to the root of the matter.  


Got a question that you want us to chew over?  Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll dig up some answers.

2024-02-23
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Why is air invisible?

Air ? we can?t breathe without it, we can?t live without it, we know it?s made up of molecules, so why is it invisible? Chemist Vicky van der Geer-Bock will help us answer this question.


If there?s a question whose answer feels invisible to you, we can help with that! Submit your Moment of Um question at BrainsOn.org/contact and we?ll help find the answer.

2024-02-22
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Do cockroaches have hearts?

Our hearts are strong muscles that pump blood all through our bodies. But do hearts look the same in different animals? What about a tiger, or a lizard, or?a cockroach? Do cockroaches even have hearts? ? We asked urban bug expert Dr. Jody Green to help us find the answer.


Got a question that?s been bugging you? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll fly the answer your way.

2024-02-21
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How do shoelaces come untied?

Have you ever been walking around when you notice that your shoelaces have come untied, even though you just tied them? What?s up with that? We asked engineer Christine Gregg to help us understand. 


Send us your questions for Moment of Um at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll do all the footwork to find the answer.

2024-02-20
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Why are some people lactose intolerant?

Say cheese! But if you?re lactose intolerant maybe don?t eat it? Cuz any kind of milk based food will probably give you a tummy-ache! But why? We asked pediatrician Dr. Anjuli Gans why some people are lactose intolerant? and she helped us understand what it is and why it happens.


Got an udderly awesome question? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll milk it for some answers!

2024-02-19
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How many germs could we see without a microscope?

There are so many bacteria in the world that we still haven?t discovered them all! But because bacteria are so tiny, they?re really only visible with the help of a microscope. But what if lots and lots of those teeny tiny bacteria got together in a clump? How many would have to pile together before we could see that pile with just our eyes? We asked microbiologist Daniel Bond to help us find the answer.


Got a question GERM-inating in your brain? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll help micro-SCOPE out an answer!

2024-02-16
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Why do crickets chirp?

The sound of crickets on a warm summer evening is just so soothing, isn?t it? All those little insects in the grass, talking to each other about? well, we don?t really know! In fact, we don?t know why they chirp at all. We asked neurobiologist Jon Lambert to tell us what?s actually going on out there at night. 


If you?ve got a question that just won?t let you rest, send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll do our best to find the answer!

2024-02-15
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What would happen if you took a party balloon to space?

Have you ever accidentally let go of a helium balloon and watched it float up ? up ? and away? It drifts way up in the sky until it?s just a tiny speck! But what would happen if a balloon made it all the way to outer space? We asked astrophysicist Amanda Farah to help us find the answer.


Got a question that popped into your head? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll float you an answer! 

2024-02-14
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Why does the moon change colors?

Have you ever noticed that the moon looks different at different times of the month? Not just the shape, whether it?s full and round or a tiny sliver ? but the color also looks different sometimes. Maybe it?s dark orange, or silvery white, or even a bluish tinge. We asked astronomer and planetarium educator Sarah Komperud to help us understand. 


Is there a Moment of Um question you?re mooning over? Launch it our way at BrainsOn.org/contact and we?ll look for the answer.

2024-02-13
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What happens if you put too much yeast in bread?

Most bread dough needs yeast to make it rise, so the bread can be light and fluffy when it bakes. But can you put TOO much yeast in bread? What happens if you do? Do you get a bread balloon? We asked food scientist Dave Domingues to help us find the answer.


Got a question that?s rising to the top of your brain? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?d LOAF to help you find the answer!

2024-02-12
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Why do we use toothpaste?

Toothpaste is something that lots of people use to keep their teeth clean. It makes our mouths smell nice and fresh, but that?s not the only thing it does! So, why do we use toothpaste? We asked dentist Dr. Jean Star to help us find the answer.


Got a question that?s stuck in your head, like spinach between molars? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll help floss out an answer.

2024-02-09
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What's the sourest thing in the world?

Most of us are familiar with the taste of something sour ? that tart feeling that makes your eyes close and your facial features squint. Lemons, lime juice, kimchi are all sour - but what is the sourest thing in the world? We asked Janelle Clepper who has a Masters of Public Health in Nutrition from the University of Minnesota to help us figure it out.


And if YOU have a question, we can help with that! Submit your Moment of Um question at BrainsOn.org/contact and we?ll help find the answer.

2024-02-08
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What's inside teeth?

Our teeth are incredible chomping machines. Their strong outer layer helps us crunch carrots, nibble potato chips and chew bubblegum! But what?s inside of them? We asked dentist Dr. Jean Star to help us find the answer.


Got a question that?s eating you up inside? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll chew it over!

2024-02-07
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Why don't pine trees lose their needles in the winter?

In the winter, most of us are used to seeing bare tree branches  ? but some trees, like firs, pines, and spruces, don?t usually lose their needles when it gets cold. We asked forest ecologist Diana Macias to help us understand why.  


Got a Moment of Um question for us? Go to BrainsOn.org/contact to send it to us, and we?ll root around for the answer.

2024-02-06
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Why do different countries have different flags?

There are 195 different countries in the world, and they all have different flags. Why is that? And where did flags come from? We asked flag expert Michael Green to unfurl the answers. 



Do you have a vexing question of your own? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact and we?ll help you flag down the answer.

2024-02-05
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Why do we need punctuation marks?

If you open a book, you?ll see lots of letters that come together to make different words. Sandwiched in between the words are little dots, lines and squiggles called punctuation marks. But why do we need those, when they don?t make any sounds at all? We asked writing teacher Kristin Bauck to help us find the answer.


Got a question that?s right on the mark? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact ? we can?t punc-tu-WAIT to help you answer it!

2024-02-02
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Why do words sound funny when repeated?

Have you ever noticed that when you say the same word over and over, it starts to sound funny? It?s like the word loses its meaning and just becomes weird, disconnected sounds. One of our listeners wanted to know why, and we went to linguist Shohini Battasali for the answer. 


Got a Moment of Um question for us? Go to BrainsOn.org/contact to send it to us, and we?ll go in search of a solution, solution, solution, solution?

2024-02-01
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How does concrete harden?

Concrete is all around us. It makes up the buildings we live in, the sidewalks we walk on, the ramps we do our sick skateboard tricks on ? but how is it made? How does it go from a thick, sludgy paste into a hard, smooth surface? We asked engineering professor Matthew Adams to help us find the answer.



Got a question that seems to keep getting harder? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll use all our ce-MENTAL ability to find the answer!

2024-01-31
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Do spiders poop?

When you have a pet, part of taking care of that pet is cleaning up after them. Whether it?s scooping dog doo-doo from the yard, cleaning caca from your cat?s litter box, or picking out the pellet sized poops from a hamster?s cage, dealing with dookie is part of living with animals.  But one of our listeners is wondering?do spiders poop? Paul Shamble of Harvard University helps us understand.



If you?ve got a Moment of Um question that?s itching to get out, send it our way at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll scoop up the answer.

2024-01-30
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When were coupons invented?

Have you ever looked through newspaper or magazine advertisements and seen coupons? They?re those little paper rectangles that let you pay less for certain foods, items, or services. But when was the first coupon printed? Who had the idea to advertise with sweet sweet deals? We asked historian Bart Elmore to help us find the answer.


Got a question that?s limited time only? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll bargain for an answer for you!

2024-01-29
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How does a touch screen work?

Cell phones and tablets are like portals into other worlds. You can play games, take photos, read books ? all with just the tap of a finger! But how do touch screens work? We asked mechanical engineer and science educator Tiffani Teachey to help us find the answer.


Got a question that you?ve been monitoring? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll tap out an answer!

2024-01-26
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What's the difference between a squid and an octopus?

Cephalopods are a group of marine creatures who all have a big head, a set of arms or tentacles, and can squirt ink. This group includes animals like squids and octopuses, but how do you know which is which? Marine biologist Sarah McAnulty gave us a few things to look for. 


If you?ve got a Moment of Um question inked in your brain, send it our way at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll search for the answer.

2024-01-25
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How do we get milk from almonds?

Almond milk is more popular than ever these days, but have you ever wondered how they actually get milk from almonds? We asked Gemma Aguayo-Murphy , recipe developer and creator of the cooking blog Everyday Latina, how it?s done.


Got a question that?s a real tough nut to crack? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll find an answer that quenches your thirst!

2024-01-24
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Why are goats' pupils horizontal?

Goats are extremely important animals for lots of cultures around the world ? they provide milk, meat, and even warm wool. Have you ever noticed that their eyes are unusual? Instead of round pupils like you and me, their pupils are shaped like horizontal lines. We asked vision scientist Martin Banks to explain why. 


If you?ve got an eye-opening question for Moment of Um, send it our way at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll try to find the answer. 

2024-01-23
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Do insects have ears?

There are all different kinds of ears in the world: big floppy elephant ears, fuzzy rabbit ears ? even teeny squirrel ears smaller than a dime! But what about insects? Do they have ears? We asked insect expert Meredith Cenzer to help us find the answer.


Got a question that sounds like a winner? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll help find an answer that?s music to your ears!

2024-01-22
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Why does bamboo make a chattering sound?

Bamboo is a type of grass that grows into big clusters of long, straight stalks. Those stalks are super strong, and are useful for making lots of things, from instruments to gardening tools, to building materials. And when a breeze blows through a bunch of bamboo, it makes a really cool chattering, rattling sound. How does it do that? And why? We asked biologist Lynn Clark to help us find the answer.


Got a question that?s BAMBOOzling you? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll shoot you an answer!

2024-01-19
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How do trees make rings?

Tree rings are kind of like a tree?s personal diary ? they record everything that happens to them - from the weather, to fires and insects. One of our listeners wanted to know how tree rings form, and if you can actually tell the age of a tree by counting the rings. We asked forest ecologist Diana Macias to help us with the answer. 


Do you have a stumper of a question for Moment of Um? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll get to the root of the problem.

2024-01-18
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Why does steam travel up instead of down?

It seems like water always falls down. Rain and snow fall down from the sky. Watering cans pour water down on plants. Waterfalls ? well, the water falls down! But when water is steam, it rises up. Why is that? We asked aerospace engineer Nicole Sharp to help us find the answer.


Got a question that?s weighing you down? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we?ll help find what?s up.  

2024-01-17
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How do fish get into lakes?

Here at Moment of Um, we love fishing for questions, and the one we?re answering now is a great catch. It comes from Marc, in Miami Florida: When lakes form, how do fish get in them? Associate Professor Megan McPhee from the University of Alaska Fairbanks helps us get to the bottom of this topic. If you have a Moment of Um question, send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact and you could hear the answer on a future episode!

2024-01-16
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Do butterflies sleep?

Sleep helps our brains and bodies rest. Lots of animals need sleep to survive, like birds, mice and even humpback whales! But what about insects, like butterflies? Do they doze off, too?  We asked insect expert Meredith Cenzer to help us find the answer.


Got a question fluttering around in your brain? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we won?t sleep on it!

2024-01-15
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