Why doesn’t stomach acid burn right through us?

Brains On! Science podcast for kids

Lemonada Media

Kids & Family, Education For Kids

4.5 • 14.7K Ratings

🗓️ 10 February 2026

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Our stomachs are full of a powerful acid, one that can burn your skin and even melt metal. So why doesn’t this stuff burn a hole through our bellies? We’ll find out how our stomachs protect the rest of us from this acid. Plus, we’ll learn about some of the wildest ways animals digest food and learn about how a serious accident helped us. Don't forget to listen to the Mystery Sound and the latest suggestions for new rooms in our headquarters. Want to support Brains On and all of the shows in the Brains On Universe? Sign up for Smarty Pass. You'll get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus content, virtual hangouts, discounts on merch and more! 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! Feb 21 - Just for Laughs Festival, Vancouver, BC Feb 22 - The Neptune, Seattle, WA March 7 - Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI March 8 - Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul, MN March 28 - Center Stage, Atlanta, GA March 29 - Amaturo Theater, Fort Lauderdale, FL Click here for a transcript of this episode See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Lemonada.
0:02.7	Brains on Universe.
0:12.0	You're listening to Brains on, where we're serious about being curious.
0:16.7	Inside you, there is a squelchy, churning pit of liquid.
0:20.6	A liquid so dangerous it would burn your hand if you touched it.
0:25.0	In fact, this super sludge can dissolve all kinds of things, even metal.
0:29.3	Your body makes a lot of it every day.
0:31.4	We're talking about stomach acid.
0:33.7	It's powerful and dangerous.
0:36.2	So why doesn't it burn a hole right through our bodies?
0:38.7	Turns out, our bodies have equally powerful defenses.
0:42.4	We're going to learn all about it.
0:44.2	Plus, imagine if eating rocks was good for you.
0:46.7	For a certain animal, it is.
0:48.2	Find out which animal coming up.
0:57.2	Hi. Have you ever had this happen?
1:01.3	I have so many questions. If only there's a podcast that answered them.
1:06.2	Of course you haven't, because you have brains on. We're here for all the things you wonder about.
1:11.4	Like, why do dogs sniff each other's butts? What's up with crushes? Why do we have them?
1:13.3	Could you dig a hole through the earth?
1:16.1	We've answered all of those and more.
1:21.9	If this kind of curiosity quenching matters to you, support it by joining Smarty Pass.
	...

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