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Brains On! Science podcast for kids

Brains On! Science podcast for kids

Why doesn’t stomach acid burn right through us?

Feb 10, 2026 · 29 min · 13 segments

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…

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.

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…

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalPopularityTop Podcasttop 1%Audience≈119k followers

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Amazon Music Website

Speakers: Molly BloomHostWesleyGuestMarkHostSandenPanelist

Top entities: Molly Bloom×3 Mark Johnson×15 stomach×4 Mucus×3 Teaser trailer×3

Stomach Acid 1013:31 – 4:34

Molly BloomHost

3:31

So today we're exploring the wonderful world inside our stomachs.

W

3:36

Yeah, we know our bellies are full of super powerful stomach acid.

Molly BloomHost

3:40

[gentle music] Stomach acid is also known as gastric juice.

Molly BloomHost

3:43

This soup of stomach stuff is made up of a couple things.

W

3:47

There are digestive enzymes.

Molly BloomHost

3:48

These are special chemicals made by your body.

Molly BloomHost

3:51

They help break down food.

W

3:53

And then there's hydrochloric acid.

Molly BloomHost

3:55

This is a very powerful acid.

Molly BloomHost

3:58

Not only does it break down food, but outside of the body, it can burn skin.

Molly BloomHost

4:03

Given enough time, it can even dissolve some metals, like zinc.

W

4:07

There's also water and some other things in stomach acid.

Molly BloomHost

4:10

Every day, your body makes a lot of this stuff, like three to four liters of it.

W

4:16

Picture one of those big party-sized bottles of soda.

W

4:20

Your body could make two of those full of stomach acid every day.

Molly BloomHost

4:24

Like we mentioned before, it really makes you wonder.

W

4:27

If this stomach acid is so strong it can dissolve meat, why doesn't it dissolve us? We're basically meat, too.

Molly BloomPersonAmerican entrepreneur
99%3 mentions
Mark JohnsonPersonAmerican ice hockey coach
98%15 mentions
stomachEntity
97%4 mentions
MucusEntityBody fluid
96%3 mentions
Teaser trailerEntity
95%3 mentions
Just for Laughs Comedy FestivalTourist AttractionFilm festival
94%1 mention
William BeaumontPersonSurgeon
93%9 mentions
Alexis St. MartinPersonPhysician
92%2 mentions
AtlantaCityCity in Georgia
91%2 mentions
Fitzgerald TheaterMusic VenueTheatre in Saint Paul, Minnesota
90%1 mention
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89%1 mention
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88%2 mentions
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87%2 mentions
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79%1 mention
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77%2 mentions
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50%1 mention

Science EducationEducation
Digestive SystemHealth
Health EducationEducation > Science Education
StomachHealth > Digestive System
DigestionFood
ExperimentsHistory > Medical History
Medical HistoryHistory
Human AnatomyScience > Biology
Protection MechanismsHealth > Digestive System > Stomach > Stomach Acid
Stomach FunctionsScience > Biology > Human Anatomy > Digestive System
William BeaumontHistory > Medical History > Experiments
Alexis St. MartinHistory > Medical History > Experiments > William Beaumont
Digestive ProcessesFood > Digestion
EnzymesFood > Digestion > Digestive Processes
AcidsFood > Digestion > Digestive Processes > Enzymes
Digestive HealthEducation > Science Education > Health Education
Understanding DigestionEducation > Science Education > Health Education > Digestive Health
Stomach AcidHealth > Digestive System > Stomach
History
Health
Education
Science
Food
Digestive SystemScience > Biology > Human Anatomy
BiologyScience

Stomach Acid 1013:31 – 4:34

Molly BloomHost

3:31

So today we're exploring the wonderful world inside our stomachs.

W

3:36

Yeah, we know our bellies are full of super powerful stomach acid.

Molly BloomHost

3:40

[gentle music] Stomach acid is also known as gastric juice.

Molly BloomHost

3:43

This soup of stomach stuff is made up of a couple things.

W

3:47

There are digestive enzymes.

Molly BloomHost

3:48

These are special chemicals made by your body.

Molly BloomHost

3:51

They help break down food.

W

3:53

And then there's hydrochloric acid.

Molly BloomHost

3:55

This is a very powerful acid.

Molly BloomHost

3:58

Not only does it break down food, but outside of the body, it can burn skin.

Molly BloomHost

4:03

Given enough time, it can even dissolve some metals, like zinc.

W

4:07

There's also water and some other things in stomach acid.

Molly BloomHost

4:10

Every day, your body makes a lot of this stuff, like three to four liters of it.

W

4:16

Picture one of those big party-sized bottles of soda.

W

4:20

Your body could make two of those full of stomach acid every day.

Molly BloomHost

4:24

Like we mentioned before, it really makes you wonder.

W

4:27

If this stomach acid is so strong it can dissolve meat, why doesn't it dissolve us? We're basically meat, too.

What Radar found in this episode

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Clips

3 of 5

SHOCKING0:32
Man With Window Stomach
Wait until you hear this stomach experiment
INSIGHTFUL0:30
Acid That Melts Metal
Metal-dissolving acid is brewing inside you now
INFORMATIVE0:46
Vulture's Rotten Feast Secrets
Here is why vultures stomachs handle rot

+2 more clips · 2 min 43 sec of audio in all

Topics

7 of 25

Science Education
Digestive System
Health Education
Stomach
Digestion
Experiments
Medical History
+18 more

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