- Our next guest can recite the entire Periodic Table,
so she's either really smart or just a complete show-off.
From Salinas, California,
please welcome three-year-old Brielle and her mom, Carrie.
Hi, Brielle. - Hi.
- I kept seeing you in the hallway out there.
Did you see me in the hallway? - Yes.
- And then I ran away. Yeah.
Okay, so you're three years old,
and you know the whole Period Table.
How did you learn?
When did you start learning all that?
- Uh... - How old were you?
- Three years old. - You're three years old now.
When did she start getting interested in this?
- We actually got flash cards for her in April.
- Uh-huh, in April? - So, it's been about--yeah.
It's been about six months or so.
- And-- - Yeah, we hardly ever
spend time doing it. She can learn just so quickly.
- Can--can you read?
- No, not yet, but I'm sounding out words.
[applause] - Yeah.
- Me too.
[laughter]
What else do you like to learn about?
- I know all my states and capitals.
- All your states and capitals.
- And I also...know...
the Periodic Table of Elements.
- Yes.
- And...
I know all my countries in Europe and Africa.
And also the presidents.
- You're making me feel bad about myself.
[laughter]
Wow, and the presidents, too.
Who's your favorite president?
- Barack Obama because...
[applause]
He was president when I was born.
- He was president when you were born.
Yes.
I have shoes that are older than you.
But...okay.
So here-- I'm gonna show you some,
and you're gonna tell us what this is.
What is that? - Geranium.
- Geranium.
Um...what is this?
- K, potassium.
- K, potassium. You want to tell me some facts
about that? - Yes.
It's in bananas.
- Found in bananas.
- And that's why bananas also helps our nose function.
That means it sends our brain information to our muscles.
- Wow.
[applause]
You must eat lots of bananas.
And this is?
- Iodine. - Iodine.
- It kills bacteria.
- Yes, it does kill bacteria.
And this is?
- Chlorine. - Chlorine.
And this is?
- Strontium.
It's in fireworks to make them loud.
And it also used in dark paints.
- What is strontium? What is it?
- Strontium.
- Sorry. Um...
[laughter]
What is this?
- Phosphorus. - Phosphorus.
They all look alike to me.
I don't know what-- and what is phosphorus?
Tell me about that.
- It's a chameleon.
- It is a chameleon. Why is that?
- That means it can be different colors.
- That's right. - Black or white.
When it's white, it's least stable,
and also burns under water.
- It burns under water?
- Isn't that crazy?
[laughter and applause]
- It is crazy.
It is crazy.
And this is?
- Tantalum.
[indistinct]
And if you have a map, I can show you.
- I still wouldn't know what...
How do you remember-- you're three years old.
How do you remember all this?
- My new brain just remembers.
[laughter and applause]
- Your little brain just remembers?
I think it's a big brain.
I think it's a big brain remembered all kinds of things.
That's amazing. Okay.
Before we go, you named your dog one of the elements, right?
- Yes. - What did you name your dog?
- Nici. - Nici? Short for what?
- Because it's one of my elements.
- And which element is that?
- The right to say it is Copernicium.
- But Nici is short for that?
- Yes. - Okay.
[laughter]
All right, so you love to study,
and your favorite color is purple, right?
- Yes. - I'm just guessing
because of your dress, but I actually knew that,
so I got you something, okay?
Let's bring it out.
All right, you have a little station.
Come on over here.
- Go with Ellen. Go.
- Come on.
[applause]
- Oh, my goodness.
Brielle.
- It's a little station that you can study.
You have a desk, and you have--
everything is purple on there. Isn't that nice?
- Yes. - And there's all kinds of books
that you can probably read tonight, and...
- Thank you. [laughter]