But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids
Vermont Public
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!
Episodes
Mentioned books
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.
Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript
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.
Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript
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
Sep 27, 2019 • 25min
Why Do We Have To Go To School?
Why does school exist? When did kids start going, and why is it mandatory? Why are there 12 grades in school? Why do we call teachers by their last names? In this episode, we get schooled on school by sociologist Emily Rauscher and National Teacher of the Year Rodney Robinson.
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Sep 13, 2019 • 21min
How Are Noodles Made?
This week, we answer a question from 4-year-old Hugo in Burlington, Vt. Hugo wants to know how noodles are made. But he's about to get more than he bargained for!
For this episode we visit a restaurant called M.Y. China, in San Francisco, CA to watch executive chef Tony Wu hand-pull 16,000 noodles in 2 minutes. The restaurant's owner, chef Martin Yan of the PBS show Yan Can Cook narrates the action. And to give us some historical context, Jen Lin-Liu, author of On the Noodle Road: From Beijing to Rome with Love and Pasta, shares her insight.
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Aug 30, 2019 • 28min
How Is Paper Made?
How is paper made from trees? Why does paper fall apart when it gets wet? Why does it lose color in the sun? Who invented paper? We make a few sheet of paper and learn all about how it's made with artist Carol Marie Vossler at BluSeed Studios in Saranac Lake, New York.
Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Step By Step | Transcript
Aug 16, 2019 • 21min
What Do Mosquitoes Do In Winter?
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 2, 2019 • 27min
Why Do Earthquakes Happen?
Why do earthquakes happen? How do the tectonic plates move underground? How do we stay safe during an earthquake? Why are continents so far apart? Why do buildings sometimes catch fire after earthquakes? Why are there tsunamis after earthquakes? For this week's show we headed to California to visit Jennifer Strauss at the Berkeley Seismology Lab and we hear from Celeste Labedz at the California Institute of Technology.
Download our listening guides: PDF | Google Slides | Transcript
