
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

Nov 22, 2016 • 25min
Why Do We Like To Eat Certain Foods?
Why do we like to eat certain foods? Why do some people like to eat spicy food and some people don't like to eat 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?
Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slides | Transcript

Nov 11, 2016 • 18min
Ghosts And Fairies And Gnomes, Oh My!
Are ghosts real? Why do some cultures believe in fairies and gnomes and some don't? We'll learn about how beliefs in ghosts vary in different parts of the world with Justin McDaniel of University of Pennsylvania. Then we're off to Iceland to learn about magical creatures with Terry Gunnell.

Oct 28, 2016 • 22min
Why Do Geese Fly In The Shape Of A 'V'?
How do birds fly? Why do they flock? How do they not get shocked when they sit on telephone wires? The Bird Diva has our answers to all of your questions about our feathered friends. And why do chickens lay different colored eggs? We visit the hen house at Shelburne Farms to find out.

Oct 14, 2016 • 22min
Who Invented The President?
Who invented the president? Which country had the first president? We answer presidential questions historical in nature with author Kenneth C. Davis . Also in the episode: why do leaves change color in the fall?

Sep 30, 2016 • 25min
Why Is The Sea Salty?
We're heading to the coast of Maine to learn a little bit about why the sea is salty, how mussels get their shells and how model ships get in those glass bottles.
Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript | Ship In Bottle Plans

Sep 16, 2016 • 13min
Why Is Soccer Called 'Soccer' Instead Of 'Football'?
7-year-old Kala wants to know why we say soccer in the United States, when the rest of the world calls the game "football." In this episode we hear from people who make their living in the game, professional players, coaches and commentators.

Sep 2, 2016 • 15min
How Long Does It Take For A Baby Cheetah To Go From Fluffball To Hunter?
How long does it take for baby animals to grow up? In this episode, we're learning about cheetahs and horses with two questions from siblings in Australia.

Aug 19, 2016 • 21min
Do Bumblebees Have Hearts?
This episode is all about bugs! We've gotten a lot of questions from you about insects and other critters. So we're tackling them with the help of Jessica Honaker and Kristie Reddick, otherwise known as the Bug Chicks.
Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript

Aug 5, 2016 • 22min
Why Don't Bicycles Fall Over?
It's all about bikes in this episode of But Why? Why bicycles can stay up when you're riding them, but fall over when stopped. Olympian Lea Davison tells how to get started when riding, and we learn how a bike chain moves a wheel.

Jul 22, 2016 • 13min
How Does An Engine Work?
Seven-year old Sawyer wants to know: how does an engine work? We learn about chainsaws from Ashleigh Belrose, an instructor the Center for Technology in Essex, Vermont.