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Hey there, WhoSmarted Plus subscribers.
Welcome to another fun and fascinating edition of SmartyQ where I, the trusty narrator, answer questions from you, our brilliant SmartyPants listeners.
Remember, if you have a question you'd like answered on SmartyQs, just have an adult.
Help you, email me at whosmartedcom.
At whosmartedcom.
Now, let's dive into today's questions.
Our first question comes from Kai and Cooper in Pacifica California, who ask what is a brain freeze?
Ah yes, that not-so-fun feeling you get when you bite or lick something cold like ice cream or frozen yogurt.
Brain freeze, also known as an ice cream headache, happens when something super cold touches the roof of your mouth, also known as your palate.
This cold sensation causes the blood vessels in your mouth to shrink really fast and then suddenly expand again.
That quick change triggers nerves in the roof of your mouth to send a signal to your forehead that things are getting pretty cold in here.
However, your brain sometimes gets confused and thinks the pain is coming from your head, not your mouth.
Which is why you might feel a sudden zing of pain right between your eyes as your brain tries to help warm things up.
Usually only lasts about 30 seconds.
Helpful tip.
The pain will go away faster if you press your tongue against the roof of your mouth to warm it up.
Okay, next question.
Riley and Hunter from California ask, why do cheap rings turn your finger green?
Great observation, smarty pants.
Some inexpensive jewelry, especially rings made from copper or copper alloys, can turn your skin green.
That green color comes from a reaction between the metal in your skin's sweat, water, or oils.
When copper reacts with moisture or chemicals, like those in lotions, or even air, it forms a green compound called copper carbonate, which can rub off onto your skin.
It is totally harmless and it washes off easily, but it can be a bit of a surprise if you're not expecting it.
The greener your finger gets, the more copper is likely in the ring.
Higher quality jewelry made with stainless steel gold, platinum or titanium usually doesn't cause this reaction.
But don't worry.
It doesn't mean your skin is allergic or that the ring is cursed.
It's just chemistry at work.
And finally we have Adley in Cornwall Ontario Canada, who asks where did the idea of cats having nine lives come from?
Ooh, fun question.
The idea that cats have nine lives goes back thousands of years and started because cats are so good at escaping danger.
They can jump from high places, twist in midair and often walk away from accidents that would hurt other animals.
In ancient Egypt, cats were considered magical and even sacred, and were believed to have special powers.
Later, in folklore and fairy tales from many parts of the world, cats were seen as mysterious and lucky and people started saying they had many lives.
The number 9 may have been chosen because it was considered a lucky or magical number in many cultures.
Interestingly, not all cultures say cats have nine lives.
Some say seven, and in Turkish and Arabic stories, it's six.
But no matter the number, the idea comes from the same place.
Cats are as amazingly agile and resilient as they are cute and adorable.
There you have it.
Another fun-filled episode of Smarty Q.
Once again, if you have a question you'd like me to answer, just email me at whosmarted, at whosmartedcom.
Until next time, keep on smarting, smarty pants.
Hey there, Who's Smarted Plus subscribers.
Welcome to a sizzling summer edition of Smarty Q, where I, the trusty narrator, answer questions from you, our brilliant smarty pants listeners.
Remember, if you have a question you'd like answered, just have an adult.
Help you.
Email me at whosmarted, at whosmartedcom.
Ready?
Let's dive into today's questions.
First up, Smarty fans Amanda and Julian ask, why do bugs fly to lights when it's warm and dark out?
Ooh, great question.
Lots of bugs, especially moths, seem drawn to porch lights headlights, backyard lights, flashlights or, in some cases, a bug zapper.
But why?
Scientists believe many flying insects use natural light sources like the moon to help them navigate.
Since the moon is so far away, its light comes from one steady direction.
Insects evolved to keep that light at a constant angle, which helps them fly in a straight line.
But when a bug sees a nearby artificial light, like a light bulb, it tries to use that the same way.
Since the bulb is close and the angle changes quickly, the bug ends up spiraling towards it, sometimes flying in circles or bumping into it.
Or it could be the heat or unexpected glare that makes lights even more attractive, like a neon sign to a hungry insect.
So it's not that bugs love lights.
It's more that they're getting tricked by them.
Now, let's head to Phoenix, Arizona, where our smarty friend Eliana asks, why do people make music?
What a beautiful and deep question.
People have been making music for tens of thousands of years.
Scientists have found flutes carved from bone that are over 40,000 years old.
But why do we do it?
Here are a few reasons.
Music helps us express emotions like joy, sadness, excitement, or love.
It brings people together through dancing, singing, or playing instruments.
It's used in celebrations, ceremonies, and storytelling across every culture.
Music can even help your brain by improving memory, learning, and mood.
Some scientists think our ancestors made music to bond with others, much like birds sing to attract mates or whales hum to communicate.
In fact, your brain lights up when you hear music.
It activates areas involved in language, movement, and emotion.
So music is part science, part art, and 100% human.
Okay, and for our final question, Ethan in South Carolina asks who came up with the idea to bury the dead?
Oh, that is one spooky smart question.
The idea of burying the dead goes back at least 100,000 years.
Some of the oldest known graves were made by Neanderthals, early relatives of humans, who buried bodies in caves and even left behind tools or flowers.
So why bury the dead at all?
There's a few reasons to keep living areas clean and safe from disease, to show respect or love for the person who died and, in many cultures, to help the dead travel to the afterlife.
Over time, burial became a ritual, a way for people to remember loved ones, celebrate their life or honor their spirit.
Burial customs changed depending on the culture.
Some used tombs, others used mounds, and some placed people with their favorite belongings.
So no one single person came up with the idea.
It slowly developed as humans became more thoughtful and caring.
There you have it.
Another curiosity-packed episode of Smart EQ.
Big thanks to Amanda, Julia, Eliana, and Ethan for your fantastic questions.
Until next time, keep on smarting, smarty pants.
