But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

14/06/2024

The segments of citrus come from the way the fruit develops in the o***y of the plant. The ovules, the part of the o***y that will become the seed, is already segmented. And each segment contains one or two seeds! These segments are formed to protect their seeds.
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12/06/2024

Dolphins are incredible swimmers. Some can reach speeds of 37 miles per hour! And sometimes they leap out of the water - that’s called breaching - showing off their incredible strength and agility.

Watch our latest YouTube video to discover the real reasons they jump.

Dolphins are incredible swimmers. Some can reach speeds of 37 miles per hour! And sometimes they leap out of the water, called breaching, almost like they’re...

11/06/2024

Ever seen a salamander tadpole? They look like little axlotls with their external gills! (Axlotls keep their gills and stay in the water, while most salamanders absorb those gills and grow lungs for the next stage of their life on land.)

11/06/2024

What makes a cicada so loud?

The male cicadas have special drum-like organs called tymbals in their abdomens that allow them to make loud calls. And female cicadas don’t make any sound!

Tymbals can be found right behind their wings.

07/06/2024

In our latest special episode, Jane jumped on Zoom to chat with Joseph Yoon a world-famous chef and edible insect ambassador who founded out of his love for eating bugs.

Don’t miss out on learning how bugs can be both delicious and an eco-friendly protein solution!

Photo (c) Brooklyn Bugs

06/06/2024

Certain insects can be eaten as an alternative protein source. Would you try them? This week, we tried chirp cookies (cricket powder) with salted ants, white chocolate-coated superworms, adobo seasoned crickets with guacamole on toast, and yogurt and apples with tajin ants. It was quite the spread!



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Have you ever tried eating insects?

04/06/2024

Cicadas are one of nature’s biggest introverts. Why? Because they spend the first four stages of life underground!

You might be hearing a lot of chatter about cicadas right now because of broods XIX and XIII. Right now, trillions of cicadas are shedding their exoskeleton and showing off their shiny new wings above ground.

While the cicadas are underground they go through five transformative stages. Starting as a nymph and growing until they are ready to emerge from the ground. And scientists haven’t figured out how they know when it’s time to emerge.

Some broods emerge annually and are called dog day cicadas. These annual cicadas spend a couple of years underground, and some of them emerge every summer, rather than all together–en masse.



Image Credit: Erin Hooley

15/05/2024

Today is opening day for the WNBA! With Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese entering the league, this is perhaps the most anticipated opening day in many years for the league. Also announced today was the formation of the Golden State Valkyries, highlighting the growing interest in women's professional sports.

But Why got a chance to watch a WNBA game and chat with some of the league's star players when we were invited to make an episode with the Washington Mystics in 2022. Elizabeth Williams and Natasha Cloud, who've both moved to other teams since our episode, helped answer questions about gender disparities in sports and lots of other great questions from kids. Check out the full episode to hear more!

10/05/2024

Did you know that cockroaches have been around for over 300 million years? These insects can be found on every continent (except Antarctica). So why do people think cockroaches are yucky?

Join us at the American Museum of Natural History’s insectarium to see if we can change your mind.

Did you know that cockroaches have been around for over 300 million years? These insects can be found on every continent (except Antarctica). So why do peopl...

09/05/2024

Cockroaches have been around for over 300 million years. These insects can be found on every continent except Antarctica.

Despite what some might think, only two percent of the world's cockroaches are considered pests. There are about 7,000 species of cockroaches and many of them are hugely beneficial to our environment. Not only that, but they can be very beautiful.

So why do people think cockroaches are yucky?
Learn more about insects in our latest episode! 🐛🐜🐞

Pic 1: Indian Domino Cockroach
Picture Captured by: Adit Jeyan
Pic 2: Eushelfordia pica Cockroach
Picture Captured by: Joseph See
Pic 3: Mitchell's Diurnal Cockroach
Picture Captured by: Evelyn Virens

08/05/2024

There are over 7,000 species of dragonflies and these insects first appeared 325 million years ago - that’s almost 150 million years before birds existed! During this time period dragonflies had wingspans up to 2.5 feet long! Some of these fossils have been found at the Grand Canyon National Park, in Arizona.

Today, dragonflies are much smaller and have wingspans of up to 5 inches.

Jessica Ware became an entomologist because of the fascination she felt watching dragonflies land nearby while she was swimming as a child. Learn more about her love for insects and especially dragonflies in our latest episode.

07/05/2024

Join us for some spring fun with our game "Name That Flower".
Take a guess and share your answers in the comments below!

06/05/2024

Do bugs give you the heebie-jeebies, or do you have a more affectionate relationship with your insect neighbors? In our latest episode, we learn why we should appreciate the roles cockroaches and other insects play in maintaining our ecosystems with entomologist and American Museum of Natural History curator Jessica Ware.

03/05/2024

In our latest episode, we had the pleasure of meeting Jessica Ware, who is a bug expert from . Jessica is passionate about uncovering the secrets of insect evolution. During our visit we learned about cockroaches, termites, ants, and dragonflies.

If you happen to be in the area, don’t forget to check out the exhibit at the Susan and Peter J. Solomon Family Insectarium. And hey, if you do, make sure to snap some photos of your favorite insects or tell us something new you and your family learned on your visit. We’d love to hear all about it!

Pic 1: Jane and Jessica sitting with framed insects.
Pic 2: The entrance to the Susan and Peter J. Solomon Family Insectarium exhibit. Photo provided by AMNH

26/04/2024

When you picture a ballerina, what do you see: A tutu skirt, elegant posture and maybe pointe shoes? Pirouette into the world of ballet with us as we explore the beauty and purpose of pointe shoes!

Watch our latest bite to learn more about pointe shoes.

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When you picture a ballerina, what do you see: A tutu skirt, elegant posture and maybe pointe shoes? Pirouette into the world of ballet with us as we explore...

22/04/2024

Chomp chomp! Do you know how to tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? Watch this video to find out!

The Florida Everglades is the only place in the world where wild alligators and crocodiles live side by side.

In February, Jane visited a group of biologists and researchers at the University of Florida known as the Croc Docs to learn more about these humungous reptiles.
Learn more in our latest episode “How do crocodiles chomp?”

17/04/2024

You’ve probably heard that chameleons change color to blend into their background in order to hide. But that might not actually be true. So what do they actually use this color-changing ability for?

Watch this Bite and more on our YouTube channel!

You’ve probably heard that chameleons change color to blend into their background in order to hide. But that might not actually be true. So what do they actu...

15/04/2024

Come see us live!! We're performing at noon, April 21st at the WBUR Podcast Playdate in Boston. Isabella Guerero and Sarah Howdy from the Massachusetts Audubon Society will be our special guests for this exciting event.
Reserve your tickets today at https://www.wbur.org/events

12/04/2024

The Mount Washington Observatory is celebrating the 90th Anniversary of "Big Wind Day" today which commemorates the world record wind gust of 231 mph on Mount Washington. Watch this video to learn more about how wind and friction are intertwined.

11/04/2024

Derek Brockington: “I dance because it is a way that I can express myself. I don't always have my way with words. So dancing is a great way for me to get out what I want to say or to make somebody else feel something.”

Derek Brockington is a company dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem, a multicultural group of dancers whose 55th season launches in New York City today! Catch them at New York City Center April 11-14, or on tour later in the year.

We sat down with DTH dancers to learn more about ballet history, the physical demands of performing and the joys of dancing for our newest episode. Give it a listen and let us know what you think!

10/04/2024

The But Why Team recently visited New York and had an amazing time! We had a blast exploring the art of ballet , tasted yummy pizza , and visited the insectarium

Our trip was jam-packed with fun and adventure, and we managed to capture some great moments. On this trip, we captured 3 podcast episodes and 4 bite videos, which will all be coming your way this spring and early summer!
Stay tuned to learn more about our travels and the answers to some of your kiddo’s most curious, bug, geode, and T-rex questions.

Thanks for being a part of our amazing journey!

Pic 1: The team at Best Pizza with Frank Pinello
Pic 2-4: Jane and the team at the American Museum of Natural History recording But Why Bites
Pic 5: Lindsey Donnell and Derek Brockington practicing at the Dance Theatre of Harlem

05/04/2024

Dance Theatre of Harlem company dancer Lindsey Donnell shares a favorite move for our latest episode all about ballet. Learn more about pointe shoes and the physical strength needed to complete moves like the arabesque!

03/04/2024

Did you know that this is the first total
eclipse of the sun in Vermont in over 90 years?

Solar eclipses can last as long as six or seven minutes.
Eclipses happen every now and then, but they’re still
pretty rare events for us to witness because they could
happen anywhere on Earth, and most of our planet is
made up of oceans.

So how often do we see total eclipses? On average,
they occur once in any one location around every 400
years.

Some places, like Los Angeles, haven’t seen an eclipse
in over 300 years.

29/03/2024

We're excited to share that our team and others at Vermont Public have been working tirelessly on a solar eclipse broadcast special, in preparation for the Great American solar eclipse on April 8th. We can't wait for you to watch! You can find it on our YouTube channel or at vermontpublic.org!

We wanted to take a moment to give a huge shoutout to our amazing video team for their expertise and dedication toward this project. Teamwork is always key in big productions and we couldn't have done it without them!



Pic 1: Jane and Mark Breen
Pic 2: Jane showing kids how to make pinhole viewers. Kyle a videographer filming in the background.
Pic 3: Jane on the set for solar eclipse safety explanation
Pic 4: Jane filming at the Fairbanks Museum
Pic 5: Jane on set with Professor Thomas Hockey

22/03/2024

Are you ready to watch the Great American Eclipse?

If you are fortunate to see a total eclipse you might be able to see the corona or the chromosphere around the sun. The corona is the outermost part of the sun’s atmosphere. Scientists have found that the corona is hotter than the surface of the sun itself. That's the complete opposite of our Earth’s atmosphere! The corona can reach temperatures of up to 100 million degrees Celsius!

Our latest episode was created in preparation for the total solar eclipse on April 8th.
Jane talked with astrophysicist Martina Ardnt, planetarium director Mark Breen, and college professor and author Thomas A. Hockey. If you love interstellar science, take a listen to “What is a solar eclipse?” to learn all about eclipses from astronomical discoveries to their historical significance here on Earth.

15/03/2024

While Jane was in Florida talking with experts about invasive species she came across lots of very large Iguanas! Iguanas have adapted so well that you can find them in residential neighborhoods! They are completely unfazed by the everyday life of humans.

Could you imagine walking your dog in the morning and passing an iguana hanging out in the trees or on top of your car? Some Floridians, when they go out in the morning to their heated pool for a swim, might notice little brown iguana poops floating about. That's because iguanas like to relieve themselves in bodies of water. If this happens to you please take caution because green iguanas can transmit salmonella to humans through contact with water or surfaces contaminated by their f***s.

To learn more about some of Florida's invasive species listen to our episode "How do invasive species take over?"

Photo Credit/ Canva

13/03/2024

Juliet, 5, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, sent us this question, “I want to know why the government said to kill as many spotted lanternflies as you see?”

In much of the eastern United States, spotted lanternflies have started appearing. This invasive species is native to parts of Southeast Asia, which means these insects don’t belong in our hemisphere at all! The spotted lanternfly is known for destroying trees, vegetables, and a variety of plants, but they have a fondness for grapes. 🍇

Spotted lanternflies have vibrant red hind wings and are covered in little black dots, which make them easy to spot. And there's not a whole lot that looks like them in our environment.

In our new episode “How do invasive species take over?” Jane talks with researcher Brian Walsh about this invasive species.

Walsh says, ”it might seem cruel but if you see this bug, squish them. They may be beautiful to look at but they are a nuisance to society.”

(Pic 1: Adult with wings open. Pic 2: Late nymph. Pic 3: Trap filled with spotted lanternflies. Pic 4: Adults with wings closed.)

Photo Credit/ Canva

11/03/2024

Can you imagine a snake big enough to eat a white-tailed deer? Did you know we have a snake that big living in the U.S.?

Burmese Pythons can grow up to 20 feet long! These snakes are native to Southeast Asia and likely gained a foothold in Florida when they were released by pet owners. Their presence has had a devastating effect on the local wildlife, causing a significant decline in native birds and mammals. Over the last 40 years they have successfully adapted to the Florida climate and estimates suggest the Everglades could be home to as many as 300,000 pythons!

In February, Jane flew to the Sunshine State for some reporting. In our episode "How do invasive species take over?" Jane talks with Yvette Cano, a park ranger and education director at the Everglades National Park about some of Florida's most destructive invasive species.

🐍Listen to the episode to learn more. 🐍

07/03/2024

Thanks to the The Boston Globe for featuring our live (radio, tv and streaming) broadcast as a great way to augment your Great American Eclipse experience!

The total solar eclipse is a month away, and preparation for the cosmic event is in full swing throughout New England.

07/03/2024

A total solar eclipse will cross parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada on April 8th. We'll be helping kids understand all the science behind the eclipse in our March 22nd episode. Help us continue keeping kids informed and engaged in science, current events, arts, and culture by joining the But Why Fan Club. If you join by March 22, we'll send you a pair of But Why solar eclipse glasses as a thank you! We have a limited quantity of glasses, so sign up now!

Learn more at www.butwhykids.org.