0:20:05 > 0:20:08# If you've got a question and you don't know where to go
0:20:08 > 0:20:11# Ask Nina for some help Cos she's got a science show
0:20:11 > 0:20:15# She makes sense of her senses While helping all her fans
0:20:15 > 0:20:17# By doing her experiments with potions and with bangs
0:20:17 > 0:20:19- # Touch your tongue - Tongue!
0:20:19 > 0:20:20- # Fingers - Fingers!
0:20:20 > 0:20:23- # Eyes.- Eyes! - Ears.- Ears!- Nose.- Nose!
0:20:23 > 0:20:26# Nina and the Neurons find out what you need to know
0:20:26 > 0:20:29# Nina and the Neurons find out what you need to know
0:20:29 > 0:20:32# Luke, he helps us with our eyes and Felix with our touch
0:20:32 > 0:20:36# Ollie sniffs out smells And Belle, she hears so much
0:20:36 > 0:20:38# Bud is Ollie's brother He helps us with our taste
0:20:38 > 0:20:41# They're Nina's little Neurons And they're coming to your place!
0:20:41 > 0:20:43- # Touch your tongue - Tongue!
0:20:43 > 0:20:44- # Fingers - Fingers!
0:20:44 > 0:20:47- # Eyes.- Eyes! - Ears.- Ears!- Nose.- Nose!
0:20:47 > 0:20:51# Nina and the Neurons find out what you need to know
0:20:51 > 0:20:53# Nina and the Neurons find out what you need to know
0:20:53 > 0:20:55# Oh, yeah! #
0:20:57 > 0:21:01Oh, hello. Oh! I've been balancing this book on my head for ages.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05In just a few seconds, I'll have beaten my record. Eee-hee!
0:21:05 > 0:21:08- BEEPING - Oh! Oh, dear.
0:21:08 > 0:21:14Hmm! I hear a beep, I see a flash. I wonder what they're going to ask.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19- Hi, Nina.- Hi, guys.
0:21:19 > 0:21:24- We've got a question for you. - How do we stay balanced?
0:21:24 > 0:21:27Great question. How do we stay balanced?
0:21:27 > 0:21:30I really want to learn about balancing, too,
0:21:30 > 0:21:32then maybe I can beat my record.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36Come down to the lab for some experiments to investigate.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40- See you soon, Nina. Bye!- Bye!
0:21:41 > 0:21:45I'll need help to answer this one. I know just who to ask.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48OK, Neurons. Time to get to work.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07Neurons at the ready, Nina.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10OK, today's question is, "How do we stay balanced?"
0:22:10 > 0:22:14Which Neuron do you think will be most useful in helping us?
0:22:14 > 0:22:17- Me!- Me!- Me!- Oh, me!
0:22:17 > 0:22:20Will it be fabulous Felix?
0:22:20 > 0:22:23I can help so very much if you need the sense of touch.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27- Will it be beautiful Belle? - I send messages to brain from ear.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30If there's a sound, I'll help you hear.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34- Will it be lovely Luke?- For looking and seeing, day or night,
0:22:34 > 0:22:37I'll help you with your sense of sight.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41- Will it be awesome Ollie?- If it's pongy or whiffy but you can't tell,
0:22:41 > 0:22:44my messages help your sense of smell.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47- Or will it be baby Bud? - Sour, salty, bitter or sweet,
0:22:47 > 0:22:50I'm your taste-buddy whenever you eat.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56It's all the Neurons!
0:22:56 > 0:23:01Yay! Go Neurons, go Neurons, go Neurons, go Neurons!
0:23:01 > 0:23:06Go Neurons. All Neurons, hip-hop-happy to help, Nina.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Today's question is, "How do we stay balanced?"
0:23:09 > 0:23:12Our senses are important in helping us balance,
0:23:12 > 0:23:14so I think all of the Neurons can help.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18I'll get the lab ready for the Experimenters.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24Hannah likes her friends and Megan likes cheerleading.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27But they both want to know how we stay balanced.
0:23:27 > 0:23:33So today, for one day only, Hannah and Megan become the Experimenters!
0:23:36 > 0:23:38- Hi, guys.- Hi, Nina.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41Welcome to my science lab. Come on in!
0:23:43 > 0:23:45"How do we stay balanced?" Good question.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Why do you want to know?
0:23:48 > 0:23:52We're learning to ride our bikes without stabilisers.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55How do we stay balanced, so we don't fall off?
0:23:55 > 0:24:00Well, bike riding is great fun. But falling off isn't. Hee-hee!
0:24:00 > 0:24:02So we must always wear a helmet
0:24:02 > 0:24:06to protect our head when we're cycling.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09We need to do some investigating to find out more.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12For our first experiment, we'll use our senses.
0:24:12 > 0:24:17Woop-woo! A senses experiment. We're ready, Nina.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20Staying balanced isn't just for riding bikes.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24We do lots of balancing all the time. When we were babies,
0:24:24 > 0:24:28we had to learn to balance so we could stand up and walk.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31And we also need balance to lift and carry things.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33Here's an example.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37Trying to balance a fork full of roly peas
0:24:37 > 0:24:40long enough to get them into your mouth. Oh!
0:24:40 > 0:24:42It's quite tricky. Hee-hee!
0:24:42 > 0:24:46- BUD:- Oh, I was looking forward to tasting those!
0:24:46 > 0:24:52Sorry, Bud! We use lots of different senses to balance.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55First, we'll find out how our ears help us.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58So, everyone stand up nice and straight for me.
0:24:58 > 0:25:03OK, now lean forward as far as you can without falling - like this.
0:25:03 > 0:25:08Oh! And now move back into the middle. And lean back.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11Oh-ho! And back into the middle.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15Now hop on the spot. Oh-ho!
0:25:15 > 0:25:18And...feet back down.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Turn around once. Woo!
0:25:21 > 0:25:22Twice. Woo!
0:25:22 > 0:25:26And once more. Woo! Oh, stop! Before you get dizzy.
0:25:26 > 0:25:31And our ears could tell that we were moving there
0:25:31 > 0:25:33as inside them is liquid,
0:25:33 > 0:25:35a bit like the water in these fishbowls.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38Let's gently pick up the bowls
0:25:38 > 0:25:41and move them a little bit from side to side.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43What's happening to the water?
0:25:43 > 0:25:48- It's moving about.- It certainly is. Let's put our bowls down now.
0:25:48 > 0:25:53Now, have a look at this picture of the inside of our ears.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56Now, what do you think those are?
0:25:56 > 0:25:59They look like hairs.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Yes, there are loads of tiny hairs.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05And these hairs can feel the liquid moving past them.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08So they know which way our body is moving.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12The hairs can feel if I lean forward...
0:26:12 > 0:26:14lean back...
0:26:14 > 0:26:17hop on the spot. Hee-hee!
0:26:17 > 0:26:20And if the hairs feel me start to fall over,
0:26:20 > 0:26:25they warn my brain, so I can try to stop myself falling.
0:26:25 > 0:26:30This lovely liquid in our excellent ears can help us to stay balanced.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32Oh, yeah! Ears are the best. Thank you!
0:26:32 > 0:26:35But I help you to balance, too, Nina.
0:26:35 > 0:26:36Don't worry, Felix.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40Touching and feeling are important in our next experiment.
0:26:40 > 0:26:45To find out more, we're going to meet someone with great balance
0:26:45 > 0:26:50- and a head for heights. So, let's go, Experimenters.- BOTH: Yay!
0:26:53 > 0:26:56- BUD:- Oh! I wonder where we're going today.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00Nina did mention heights, so it's got to be somewhere high up.
0:27:00 > 0:27:05Like an aeroplane. Wow! I'll get a great view from there, man.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08- BELLE:- But I can't hear any aeroplanes, Luke.
0:27:08 > 0:27:13FELIX: Sharpen your senses, Neurons. We're here and it's my experiment.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17Paul should be around here somewhere. Can you see him?
0:27:17 > 0:27:22- BOTH: Up there, Nina! - Yes, there he is. Hi, Paul!
0:27:22 > 0:27:25He can't wave back right now. He might fall!
0:27:25 > 0:27:29- Can you see what he's doing? - Walking across the rope.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31He's holding his arms out.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33Yes, she's crossing a very thin rope
0:27:33 > 0:27:36and using his arms to help stay balanced.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40Earlier, we saw how liquid in our ears helps us to balance.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42But our bodies can also feel
0:27:42 > 0:27:45if we're standing up or starting to fall over.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48FELIX: Goody! This is where I come in.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52That's right, Felix. All over our bodies are muscles.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56Our muscles help us to move around and to stay balanced.
0:27:56 > 0:28:01They do this by telling our brains what parts of our body are moving
0:28:01 > 0:28:02and where they are.
0:28:02 > 0:28:06Let's see and feel how this works. Follow me!
0:28:06 > 0:28:08CIRCUS MUSIC
0:28:08 > 0:28:11It's your turn to try walking a tightrope.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15Walk to the other side, using your arms to help you balance.
0:28:15 > 0:28:20Really think about what your arms and legs are doing and feeling.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23OK, Megan, you can go first.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25CIRCUS MUSIC
0:28:26 > 0:28:30Oh! Concentrate. Pick your spot.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44Point your toe.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53Good!
0:28:56 > 0:28:58That's great.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06Well done! You did really well.
0:29:06 > 0:29:10What did it feel like when you started to tip over to one side?
0:29:10 > 0:29:14I could feel myself starting to lose my balance.
0:29:14 > 0:29:18Your muscles felt that you were leaning too far over to one side
0:29:18 > 0:29:21and warned you so you could straighten up.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24What did your legs feel like when you were falling?
0:29:24 > 0:29:27They felt all wobbly and tight.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30Exactly! Our feet can feel if we're tipping over, too.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33They can work with the muscles in our legs
0:29:33 > 0:29:36to try and stop us from falling. So, now we know
0:29:36 > 0:29:39it's not only our ears that help us balance,
0:29:39 > 0:29:42but the muscles all over our bodies, too.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45And do you notice where Paul's looking?
0:29:45 > 0:29:49- He's staring straight in front. - Yes, he is.
0:29:49 > 0:29:53That's because our sense of sight also helps us to balance.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57But how? Back to the lab for one final experiment.
0:29:57 > 0:29:58Bye, Paul!
0:30:00 > 0:30:04OK, girls. Can you spread out for me, please?
0:30:04 > 0:30:10Now, for this challenge, we're going to try and stand on one leg. Go!
0:30:11 > 0:30:14- LUKE:- That looks easy-peasy to me!
0:30:14 > 0:30:17Yes, balancing on one leg is quite easy -
0:30:17 > 0:30:20a bit too easy for this experiment. Hee-hee!
0:30:20 > 0:30:26So, feet down, let's make this a little harder with these balls.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30- There's one for you.- Thanks. - It's quite heavy.- Thanks.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33OK, so I want you to hold the ball in one hand,
0:30:33 > 0:30:37hold it out to the side, and stand on one leg.
0:30:38 > 0:30:40Ooh!
0:30:42 > 0:30:45Ho-ho! Wow, you're really good at balancing!
0:30:45 > 0:30:49Can you feel the weight of the ball pulling you over to the side?
0:30:49 > 0:30:51Yes, Nina.
0:30:51 > 0:30:57Yeah! We're having to move our bodies about to balance the weight!
0:30:57 > 0:31:02And now we're going to make it even trickier. OK, feet down.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04This time, I want you to close your eyes,
0:31:04 > 0:31:08hold the ball out to one side and try to stand on one leg.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12Ooh! Woah!
0:31:12 > 0:31:17Stop. Open your eyes and get those feet firmly back on to the ground.
0:31:17 > 0:31:21It was harder to balance when we couldn't see, wasn't it?
0:31:21 > 0:31:25- Yes.- That's why you need me keeping an eye out for you, Nina.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27Right. Luke sees what's going on
0:31:27 > 0:31:30and lets my brain know if I'm going to fall over.
0:31:30 > 0:31:36Our tightrope walker kept staring straight ahead at the same spot
0:31:36 > 0:31:38as this can help to stay balanced.
0:31:38 > 0:31:43What about people who can't see, Nina? How do they stay balanced?
0:31:43 > 0:31:47Good question, Ollie. People who can't see because they're blind
0:31:47 > 0:31:49are good at using other senses,
0:31:49 > 0:31:54like feelings from muscles. So they can balance without seeing.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03"How do we stay balanced?" I think we've answered it.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06Special liquid and little hairs in our ears
0:32:06 > 0:32:11help our brains to know what way we move and if we lose our balance.
0:32:11 > 0:32:13Muscles help us feel if we tip over
0:32:13 > 0:32:18and can also help us move our bodies so we can get our balance back.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21Our eyes also help us to see if we're starting to fall
0:32:21 > 0:32:26and, if we stare at one spot, it can sometimes help us to stay balanced.
0:32:26 > 0:32:31- So, I hope that's answered your question.- BOTH: Thanks, Nina. Bye!
0:32:31 > 0:32:33Bye!
0:32:36 > 0:32:40Want to find out more about the science all around us?
0:32:40 > 0:32:44Go to the Nina section on the CBeebies website. Have fun!
0:32:44 > 0:32:49- Hearts beating.- Lungs breathing. - Fingers feeling.- Mouths eating.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51And don't forget your brain.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53# Brilliant bodies, brilliant bodies
0:32:53 > 0:32:56# Inside and ou-ou-out
0:32:56 > 0:32:59# Brilliant bodies, brilliant bodies
0:32:59 > 0:33:01# Come on, let's find out about
0:33:01 > 0:33:04# Our happy hands and bendy knees
0:33:04 > 0:33:06# Stretchy backs And noses that sneeze
0:33:06 > 0:33:11- # We all have brilliant bodies - Brilliant bodies!
0:33:11 > 0:33:14# Every part has a job to do
0:33:14 > 0:33:16# Even scabs and ear-wax, too
0:33:16 > 0:33:21- # We all have brilliant bodies - Brilliant bodies!
0:33:21 > 0:33:24# Brilliant bodies, brilliant bodies
0:33:24 > 0:33:26# Lashes to protect our eyes
0:33:26 > 0:33:29# Brilliant bodies, brilliant bodies
0:33:29 > 0:33:33# And don't forget to exercise. #
0:33:33 > 0:33:35Oh, I've had a brilliant day.
0:33:35 > 0:33:40Especially hearing about how our ears help us to balance.
0:33:40 > 0:33:42It's been a marvellous day.
0:33:42 > 0:33:46Feeling things in our muscles certainly helps our balance.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49Oh, it's been such a great day, man.
0:33:49 > 0:33:54Especially when they tried balancing with their eyes closed. Tricky!
0:33:54 > 0:33:57Remember, everyone's body is different,
0:33:57 > 0:34:00but they're all brilliant. See you soon. Bye!
0:34:00 > 0:34:02Bye!
0:34:02 > 0:34:05Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:34:05 > 0:34:08E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk