Scientists have developed the ability to grow meat in labs, which could address issues of food insecurity, pollution, and animal cruelty. The podcast explores the concept of bioengineering and its various applications, as well as the limitations of the current food system and the goal of reducing resource consumption. It delves into the process of creating lab-grown meat and raises questions about its future labeling and legal status. The podcast also briefly mentions different types of mushrooms found in the woods.

Why do people age? Dr. Suvi Neukam explains the science behind aging, including why hair turns gray, why wrinkles form, and why veins stick up as people age. Additionally, the podcast explores why older people get shorter and the importance of oxygen for older adults. The hosts also talk about why leaves change color in the fall and promote 'But Why Adventures Northeast Nature'.

Expert from Vermont Institute of Natural Science and Bird Diva discuss bird flight. Topics include how birds fly, purposes of flight, techniques to generate lift, flying abilities of different birds, why penguins can't fly, adaptations for swimming, why ostriches and emus can't fly, and whether birds have fun flying.

Learn about sun bears, their size, habitat, and marking on their chests. Discover why bears climb trees and hibernate in winter. Explore the efforts to protect sun bears through education and research. Discover the unique aspects of sun bears' hibernation process and their sleeping habits. Dive into post-hibernation behavior, including increased appetite and diet.

It's all about bikes in this episode of But Why? How come bicycles stay up when you're riding, but fall over once you stop? We turn to Andy Ruina, professor of engineering at Cornell University, for the scientific answer. We also learn how a bike chain works and Olympic mountain biker Lea Davison tells how to get started when riding. Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript

11-year-old Alaska (from Colorado) wants to know: why do some kids love reading while others don’t? We know there’s a lot of debate lately about the best ways to teach kids how to read. But in this episode we leave the pedagogy to adults and let kids share with one another why they love to read and their best tips for kids like them, who may be struggling to learn (and love) to read. Plus, guest Fumiko Hoeft, medical doctor and professor at the University of Connecticut and at the University of California San Francisco, lifts the lid on our brains to explain what’s happening inside us when we learn to read. Dr. Hoeft runs a brain imaging research program and a lab called BrainLENS. Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript

How are crickets so loud? Why do they chirp at night? How are they different from grasshoppers? We’re talking crickets today with Karim Vahed, a cricket and katydid expert and entomologist (bug scientist) in England who works with BugLife, the Invertebrate Conservation Trust. In this episode, Professor Vahed takes on some of pressing general insect questions as well: Do insects have bones? What do baby bugs like to do? Do insects drink water? Why are bugs so important? Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript

Why is it that some people have allergies when others don’t, even if they’re in the same family? How do allergies work? Can you be allergic to water? Why are some people allergic to cats and dogs? Can you grow out of your allergies? We’re joined by pediatrician and allergy researcher Dr. Ruchi Gupta to answer the dozens of questions kids have sent us on this topic. Plus we learn about promising treatments being developed to help relieve allergy suffering. Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript.

What are eels? And why are some eels electric? We head to Poughkeepsie, New York to learn about eels with Chris Bowser, Hudson River estuary educator with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. Plus we learn about electric eels. Electric eels have captured the imagination of many people, but they’re not actually considered eels by the scientific community. They’re a type of knife fish, more closely related to catfish and carp. But they are electric! So we’ll tackle why they’re electric and how they create electricity. David de Santana, of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, tells us what it’s like to study electric eels in the Amazon.  Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slides

Why do people spend so much time on social media? But Why answers kids' questions about social media and screen time and we learn about how to be a good citizen online with Devorah Heitner, author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World and Growing Up In Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World, coming in September. Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript