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 [email protected]!
Series Episodes
Who invented emoji?
Emoji are those little images you can send in text messages to friends and family. Nine-year-old Leila in New Jersey wants to know how they were invented. So in this episode we find out with Jane Solomon, editor at Emojipedia and Paul Galloway of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. We learn what the first emoji looked like, way back in the dark ages of the 1990s and we explore how emoji may be a new trend, but communicating through pictures is a very old tradition. Plus, are emoji…art? Give this episode a 👂to find out! Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript
21 mins
16 May Finished
Why do walruses look so weird?
Why do walrus look the way they do? Why do they have such long tusks? Do they have other teeth? Do walruses migrate? We learn all about these majestic giants with Adam Ratner of the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California. Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript
10 mins
9 May Finished
What’s a seal? What’s a sea lion?
What’s the difference between seals and sea lions? Do seals bark? Are they gray? Do harbor seals live in snowy regions? Why do sea lions eat fish? Why do sea lions fight each other? Seals and sea lions are pinnipeds, fin-footed marine mammals, and we’re learning all about them today with a visit to the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California, where marine biologist Adam Ratner answers all your pinniped questions! Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript You can watch the sea lions at San Francisco’s Pier 39 no matter where you live by checking out the live stream at pier39.com/sealions!
28 mins
2 May Finished
Do atoms never touch?
What are atoms made of? Why is everything made of atoms? Why are atoms so small? How many atoms are there in the world? How did scientists find atoms if we can’t see them? How do atoms get their color? We learn about atoms with Dr. Ben Still, author of “Particle Physics Brick by Brick” and “The Secret Life of the Periodic Table.” His new book, “How the Universe Works,” will be released in September. Check out Dr. Ben Still's YouTube channel to learn more about atomic, nuclear and particle physics. Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript Further reading: Cosmic History - NASA The Secret Science of Atoms DOE Explains...Nucleosynthesis | Department of Energy
28 mins
18 April Finished
How are records made?
How are records made? How does a record player make sound? Why are we still listening to and buying records when there are so many digital ways to listen to music?! But Why visits Gold Rush Vinyl in Austin, Texas to learn how little plastic beads become brightly colored records that can play back your favorite music or sounds. Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript
23 mins
4 April Finished
