Nina and the Neurons facts for kids

Nina and the Neurons is a fun British-Scottish TV show that teaches kids about basic science. It was shown on the CBeebies channel. The main character, Nina, is a scientist who studies the brain.

She gets help from five animated characters called the Neurons. These Neurons live inside her brain. Each Neuron represents one of our five senses. Together, they help Nina answer cool science questions.

The show was created by Lucille McLaughlin. She also produced other popular children's shows like Balamory and Me Too!.

What the Show is About

Most of Nina and the Neurons takes place at the Glasgow Science Centre. Some parts of the show are filmed outdoors.

At the start of each episode, Nina does exciting science experiments. She performs these for a group of children. Later, kids contact Nina through a computer screen. They ask her a science question, like "What makes rainbows appear?"

Nina then chooses one or more of the five Neurons in her brain. She picks the Neuron whose sense is best for answering the question. The children, called 'experimenters,' then visit Nina. They do fun experiments and play games to find the answer.

Afterward, Nina and the children go outside to learn even more. Sometimes, their friends and family help them. Once they find the answer, they return to the Glasgow Science Centre. There, they do another experiment related to what they learned.

At the end of every show, a special song is sung. The song changes depending on the theme of the series. The Neurons then chat about what they did. They talk about how each of their senses helped. Finally, Nina and the Neurons say goodbye to everyone watching.

Official logo of the show

Characters and Cast

The main character, Nina, is played by Scottish actress Katrina Bryan. She is a scientist who works in a lab. In her lab, Nina wears a white lab coat with bright colors. When she goes outside, she wears a yellow or blue jacket.

In the show, Nina drives a pale blue 1970s Volkswagen Type 2 minibus. Sometimes, she drives a New MINI. Both cars have number plates that say 'NINA'. In some episodes, she rides a bicycle.

The Neurons are computer-animated characters. They look like humans but don't have legs. They live inside Nina's brain. Each Neuron is named after one of the five senses they represent:

• Felix: He represents touch. Felix is green and speaks with a fancy accent. He cares a lot about how he looks. James Dreyfus voiced him in the first series, and Lewis MacLeod voiced him later.
• Belle: She represents hearing. Belle is pink and can be loud and a bit bossy. She is also the group's vice leader. Her voice is by Kelly Harrison.
• Luke: He represents sight. Luke is yellow and is the group leader. He is calm and relaxed, and speaks with a Jamaican accent. Patrice Naiambana voices him.
• Ollie: She represents smell. Ollie is purple and is described as 'sweet' and 'self-assured'. She is the older sister of Bud. Siobhan Redmond is her voice actress.
• Bud: He represents taste. Bud is blue and is the youngest Neuron. He is very excited and enthusiastic. He speaks with a Scottish accent. Sharon Small voices him. He is Ollie's younger brother.

Nina often chooses Bud and Ollie together. This is because taste and smell work very closely. Felix and Luke are also often chosen together, as touch and sight often work hand-in-hand. Belle and Luke are chosen when hearing and sight are needed. Felix and Belle are chosen when touch and hearing are important.

Awards and Recognition

Nina and the Neurons has won awards for being a great children's show.

• In 2007, it won the Best Children's Programme award at the BAFTA Scotland awards.
• In 2008, it was nominated again for Best Children's Programme at BAFTA Scotland.

The music for the show was composed by Scottish composer Graham Ness.

Fun Exhibits

You can find a special Nina & the Neurons activity trail at the Glasgow Science Centre. This lets you explore science just like Nina and the Neurons!

There was also a themed attraction at Alton Towers called Nina's Science Lab. It was open from 2014 to 2018.

Series and Themes

Nina and the Neurons had 11 different series. Each series explored different science topics.

Series 1 (2007)

The first series covered a wide range of everyday science questions. Topics included stars, smells, snow, and how our senses work.

Series 2 (2008)

This series continued to explore various science topics. Episodes looked at rainbows, teeth, clouds, and why we get dizzy.

Series 3 - Go Eco! (2008)

This series was part of CBeebies' 'EcoBeebies' initiative. It focused on environmental topics. Nina and the Neurons explored trees, food, recycling, and animals.

Series 4 - Go Inventing (2009)

In this series, Nina invited young inventors to her lab. They discovered how things work by inventing their own versions. They explored items like beds, pens, wheels, and microwaves.

Series 5 - In The Lab (2010)

This series focused on changes and reactions in science. Topics included melting chocolate, fire, soap, and how different foods make noise.

Series 6 - Brilliant Bodies (2011)

This series was all about the human body. Nina and the Neurons explored the heart, hands, sneezes, and how our brains work.

Series 7 - Go Engineering (2013)

This series simplified tricky engineering concepts. Each episode used experiments to show how things like aeroplanes, robots, and bridges work.

Series 8 - Earth Explorers (2013)

This series explored different features of Earth. It looked at space rockets, volcanoes, rivers, and even dinosaurs.

Series 9 - Get Sporty (2014)

This series focused on the science behind different sports. It explored cycling, football, swimming, and gymnastics.

Series 10 - Go Digital (2014)

This series looked at modern technology. Topics included driverless cars, the internet, 3D printing, and coding.

Series 11 - Get Building (2015)

The final series explored how things are built. It covered topics like triangles in structures, houses, skyscrapers, and bridges.

Images for kids

• 

  A robot, similar to those discussed in the "Go Engineering" series.

See also

In Spanish: Nina y las Neuronas para niños