But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

11/04/2025

If you've ever looked out the window of a moving car and imagined yourself running along the rooftops that fly by, you might have had the same idea looking at rings around planets. From a distance they look solid, almost BUILT to be ran on, but there's more to them than meets the eye when you get up close.

If you've ever looked out the window of a moving car and imagined yourself running along the rooftops that fly by, you might have had the same idea looking a...

31/03/2025

Every four years in the United States, citizens vote on the next president. But do you know the history behind this decision?

Every four years in the United States, citizens vote on the next president. So, Louie wants to know, "Why do we change presidents?"Do you know the history be...

31/03/2025

Feliz día del taco 🎉🎉🎉

Did you know today is Mexico’s National Taco Day? 🌮 We hope you celebrate with some yummy tacos! And while you’re at it, check out our latest episode: “Who invented tacos?” and learn about the dish’s origin stories and its ongoing evolution. (And so much more!) Listen wherever you get your podcasts! 🎧✨

Do you have a favorite type of taco? Let us know! ⬇️

21/03/2025

We visited Nixta Taqueria in Austin, Texas, to answer all kids of taco questions kids have sent us. Listen here or wherever you like to get your podcasts. https://www.vermontpublic.org/podcast/but-why-a-podcast-for-curious-kids/2025-03-21/who-invented-tacos

18/03/2025

How do owls see at night and why do they spin their heads around? About a thousand kids from Vermont schools and homeschool groups joined us at today to learn how to hoot and fly like our feathered friends. Always fun performing with & Michael from !

➡️ Scroll to hear a thousand kids make bird calls with us 💗

05/03/2025

“Spring Forward, Fall Back” ⁉️⁉️⁉️

Most of the United States observe Daylight Saving Time. This coming Sunday, we “spring forward,” meaning we’ll shift our clocks ahead by an hour. ⏰

There is an ongoing debate about whether we should keep this practice or not. Not only is it confusing to change the clock twice a year, but many public health officials say it can disrupt our sleep patterns. But at least for now, the famous phrase “Spring Forward, Fall Back” is here to stay.

For some people, Daylight Saving Time can be a slightly confusing topic (even for the editor of this video!), but the actual reason why we use it might be mo...

21/02/2025

This week on But Why, Jane speaks with Dr. Chelsea L. Wood of , also known as . Parasites suck our blood, eat our skin, and they can even make us sick. But could they possibly be also beautiful and interesting?

Find out on this week's But Why episode: Are tapeworms sticky? 🪱⁉️

1/ Shark tapeworm under the microscope. Known as trypanorhynch, these tapeworms have evolved over millennia and have adapted to living in the shark gut. (📸: Chelsea L. Wood)
2/ Chelsea L. Wood is a parasite ecologist and thinks parasites are fascinating and beautiful! (📸: Emily Wood)
3/ Chelsea freeze drying fish livers to study parasites in river fish. (📸: Chelsea L. Wood)
4/ Chelsea with field team in Bogalusa, LA in summer 2024. (📸: Daki Diaz Morales)

18/02/2025

Trees take top billing for the tallest plants on Earth, but their unassuming start as a little seed leaves a lot of questions! Let's take a look at what gets you from that seed to a full-grown tree in this But Why Bite.

Trees take top billing for the tallest plants on Earth, but their unassuming start as a little seed leaves a lot of questions! Let's take a look at what gets...

29/12/2024

Kids answered this question for our end-of-year episode and there are lots of amazing new superheroes to discover when you listen, and so many intriguing powers (including a surprising number related to mathematics)!! Adults, what superpower would you most want?