There are 259 episodes

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, 259 episodes

Kind: Episodic

Language: English

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Episodes

How do oysters make their shells?
26:49 | Episode: 278 | December 12th, 2025

On a rainy, windy day, But Why hopped on a ferry and headed to Governors Island in New York City with one thing on our minds – oysters! We met up with Mike McCann of the Billion Oyster Project to learn more about these very special bivalves. How do they get their shells? How long do they live? What do oysters eat and who eats them? Why do people eat oysters without cooking them? 

What’s an oboe? How does a flute work? What’s a viola?
55:53 | Episode: 277 | November 28th, 2025

How do musical instruments make their sounds? Why do people play music in the first place? What’s a viola bow made out of? How are musical instruments made? How much do professional musicians practice? Three musicians from the Vermont Symphony Orchestra joined families at the Vermont Public Studios for a special live episode during our Curious Kids Day live events. We hear from Melissa Meilens on flute, Katie Oprea on oboe and Stefanie Taylor on viola. 

How big is a Macy’s parade balloon?
36:04 | Episode: 276 | November 14th, 2025

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an American tradition. It’s been going since 1924. This year marks the 99th parade (it took three years off during World War II). It’s famous for elaborate floats and huge character balloons that bob above the streets as the parade marches forward. Millions of people watch the parade live in New York City each year, but many many more watch it on TV. And some of you have questions! How do they make such big balloons for the parade and how do they choose which characters to feature? And how do they hold onto the balloons with such tiny strings? And, more generally, how do balloons float? What’s helium got to do with it? But Why visits the Macy’s Studio workshop in New Jersey to see how the magic happens!

Why are there so many colors?
26:26 | Episode: 275 | October 31st, 2025

What’s your favorite color? Where do colors come from?Why do people see colors? Does everyone see colors the same way? How many colors are there in the world? We learn about colors with Kassia St. Clair, the author of a book called The Secret Lives of Color. We talk about the science of color as well as all the ways color and culture are intertwined.

How is candy made?
19:42 | Episode: 274 | October 17th, 2025

Who invented candy? Why is it so sweet? Why does hard candy melt in your mouth? How are candy corn, gummies and nerds made? What makes pop rocks pop? We talk with traditional candy makers at Sticky in California and Hercules Candies in New York about how these sweet treats take their shape. And we get a little reminder about why we can’t eat sugar all day, every day.

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. 




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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, 259 episodes
Kind: Episodic
Language: English

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