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Episode one logo Episode One: But Why: Intro For Adults
This is an Episodic show. You can listen to it in any order, but episode one is always a great place to start.
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Created by: Vermont Public Radio

USA 6-1011+

Started: April 1st, 2016

Status: Active, 253 episodes

Kind: Episodic

Language: English

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Episodes

Why do horses sleep standing up?
30:55 | Episode: 273 | October 3rd, 2025

Why are horses so big? Why do horses have tails and manes? How do their legs move? Are their bones in their hooves? What do they eat and how do they run and jump? We tackle those questions and more in this episode all about horses. We’ll also learn a little bit more about the unique horses in Iceland, where there’s a strict ban on horses coming in from other countries. But Why visited riding instructor Sonja Noack at Hestasnild, a riding school in Iceland, to get answers to all your equine questions.

When did volcanoes start existing?
26:01 | September 19th, 2025

Volcanoes have been erupting on Earth for BILLIONS of years, and they’re still creating new landscapes today! Volcanoes can seem mysterious and scary, but people all over the world have learned to live in close proximity to active volcanoes. Today we answer questions you’ve sent us about how they form, how they erupt, what magma/lava is, and how volcanologists work to predict when they might erupt. Our guest is Freysteinn Sigmundsson, a volcanologist and professor at the University of Iceland. 

How are glaciers formed?
27:09 | Episode: 271 | September 5th, 2025

But Why went somewhere really cool – literally – and we’re taking you along! We visited Sólheimajökull, a glacier in southern Iceland and then talked with University of Iceland glaciologist Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir to discover how glaciers are formed, why they can be different colors, and how they shape the land. (Do you know the difference between a V-shaped valley and a U-shaped valley? Glaciers!) Plus we’ll talk a little bit about why glaciers around the world are retreating at such a fast pace. 

How does wildfire smoke travel so far?
13:49 | Episode: 270 | August 29th, 2025

Have you noticed especially hazy skies where you live over the last few summers? While many parts of the world are experiencing more frequent and intense wildfires, even places that are nowhere near the fires are being impacted by the smoke from fires hundreds or thousands of miles away. Wildfire smoke gets so high in the atmosphere, it can be blown across a continent in a matter of days. In this special bonus episode, we’re going to learn the how and why of wildfire smoke that drifts around the world. And we’ll talk a little bit about how to stay safe when air quality goes down. Our guests are Professor Joel Thornton of the University of Washington and Dr. Gregg Furie of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Why are puffins’ beaks so colorful?
39:34 | Episode: 269 | August 22nd, 2025

Have you ever seen a puffin? With their bright beaks, orange feet and black and white coloring, these birds are very cool to look at. And we’ve gotten a lot of questions about them! In this episode, we talk with Don Lyons, an educator and avian ecologist with the Seabird Institute in Maine. What are puffins? Why are puffin beaks so colorful? Why do puffins dig burrows? How do puffins learn to fly? How can you tell if a puffin is male or female? How long can puffins hold their breath? Why do they have red feet?

Who invented the English language?
34:30 | Episode: 268 | August 8th, 2025

Where did the English language come from? Why do words have silent letters? Why do some people have accents? Why do some words sound similar? Answers to all of your questions about English and words with sociolinguist Erica Brozovsky, host of a PBS digital show called Otherwords. 

Chameleons, jellyfish and ballerinas! Check out But Why Bites
14:02 | Episode: 267 | July 25th, 2025

For today’s episode, we’re doing something a little different! We’re going to be listening to our video series, But Why Bites! (Even without the video part, they’re really cool!) Every other week over on our YouTube channel, we answer one kid question in a short and sweet little video. You can find all of them at the But Why Kids channel while you enjoy this compilation of episodes that we’re calling a Big Bite. 

Who created math problems?
29:10 | Episode: 266 | July 11th, 2025

Who created math problems? Why does one plus one equal 2 and not 11? Why do numbers go on forever? Why are numbers for counting? Why do you need math?




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5 stars for the incredible knowledge that cats can be left handed too! Mind. Blown.

(5/5)

Created by: Vermont Public Radio
Started: April 1st, 2016
Status: Active, 253 episodes
Kind: Episodic
Language: English

USA6-1011+
© 2022 by goodenough.works, because it does. Privacy Policy | Contact | This dad codes.
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