But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids
But Why is a show led by kids. They ask the questions and we find the answers. It’s a big interesting world out there. On But Why, we tackle topics large and small, about nature, words, even the end of the world. Know a kid with a question? Record it with a smartphone. Be sure to include your kid's first name, age, and town and send the recording to questions@butwhykids.org!
Latest episodes
Feb 14, 2020 • 26min
How Do We Fall Asleep?
Why do people need to sleep? How do we actually go to sleep? How does sleeping get rid of toxins in the brain? And how come when it's nighttime I don't want to go to sleep but when it's morning I don't want to wake up? Those questions and more, all about sleep. We're highlighting an episode from 2018 with pediatric sleep psychologist Dr. Lisa Meltzer. And stay tuned; our next episode is all about dreams!
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Feb 6, 2020 • 19min
What Happens When A President Is Impeached?
Curious kids are hearing about the impeachment trial of US President Donald Trump. So But Why is helping them understand what impeachment is and what happens when a president is impeached. We'll explain why impeachment is an important part of the US constitution and why impeaching a president doesn't mean removing him or her from office. Our guests for this episode are Loyola Law School professor and legal analyst Jessica Levinson and Kenneth C. Davis, author of Don't Know Much About History and other books.
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Jan 17, 2020 • 27min
Do Animals Get Married?
Do animals get married? Do they fall in love and have friends? Do they laugh when they're happy and cry when they're sad? When you talk to your pets, can they understand you? Why can't they speak to us? And do animals know what kind of animal they are? Alyssa Arre of the Comparative Cognition Lab at Yale tackles these interesting questions.
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Jan 3, 2020 • 17min
Why Do Lions Roar?
Why do lions roar? Why do crickets chirp? Why do bucks shed their antlers every year? How can porcupines and hedgehogs avoid poking themselves? Do fish pee? What is the fastest fish? What do jellyfish eat? A roundup of animal questions, with answers from Paola Bouley of Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, Kent McFarland of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, naturalist Mary Holland and Jo Blasi of the New England Aquarium.
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Dec 20, 2019 • 23min
How Do We Taste Food?
Why do we like to eat certain foods? Why do some people like to eat spicy food? And what's up with kids not liking vegetables? Why does pineapple hurt your mouth when you eat too much of it? Why do we taste things and how? Why do different foods taste different? Do animals have the same taste buds as people? In this episode of But Why we get answers to all of those questions from chef, author, and TV personality Chris Kimball, Dr. Leslie Stein of the Monell Chemical Senses Center, and Vermont-based chef and cookbook author Matthew Jennings.
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Dec 6, 2019 • 23min
Why Are Some Words 'Bad'?
Benjamin Bergen, a cognitive science professor, discusses the psychology and brain science behind bad words. Topics include the significance of bad words, the connection between gestures and bad words, the historical context and cultural rules of 'bad words', and the role of adults in teaching children about language.
Nov 22, 2019 • 21min
Ice, Ice, Baby: Why Is Ice Slippery?
How does water turn into ice? Why is ice sometimes slippery and other times sticky? Why is it so cold? Why does it float? How are icicles made? Why are icebergs mostly underwater? What was the ice age? We'll get answers to all of those questions with help from Celeste Labedz of the California Institute of Technology. And we'll take a trip to the world's largest skating rink, the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Ontario.
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Nov 8, 2019 • 25min
How Do Meteorologists Predict The Weather?
How do weather people predict the weather and know what's going to happen tomorrow? Why is a meteorologist called a meteorologist? We learn about weather forecasting with National Weather Service Meteorologist Jessica Neiles and NBC5 Chief Meteorologist Tom Messner.
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Oct 25, 2019 • 23min
Are Unicorns Real?
Is there a chance unicorns might actually exist? Dive into fascinating tales about the origins and significance of unicorns in various cultures. Discover the quirky pygmy fire dragon, the pyrausta, alongside comparisons to other mythical beings. Engage with stories that blend imagination and science while encouraging young listeners to nurture their curiosity. The conversation invites exploration of magical literature and the unique role of mythical creatures in nature preservation.
Oct 11, 2019 • 16min
Are Jellyfish Made Of Jelly?
In this episode we're answering a few short questions about animals! Are jellyfish made of jelly? Do fish stink in the water or on land? Where do fish sleep? Do chickens have tongues? Can spiders sleep or not? How many types of animals are there in the world? Do snakes live in Antarctica? Is a springbok faster than a grizzly bear? Do skunks have big tails or small tails?
Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript| Coloring Page
