Kids, you have a lot of questions.
Is a crocodile a dinosaur?
Why do people vote?
How does your food turn into your poop?
But why?
A podcast for curious kids has answers.
I'm Jane Lindholm.
Join me as we dig deep into everything from science to history nature, emotions and sometimes even the weird.
Why are jellyfishes made of jelly?
Or are they made of jelly?
Find But Why wherever you get your podcasts.
Hey there, Smarty Pants.
It's me, the trusty narrator, back again with another episode of Smarty Q, where you ask the big questions your parents or adults are afraid of.
And I do my best to answer them.
Let's get started.
Question one comes from our smarty friend Olivia, who asks why should I not be in water during a thunderstorm or stand under a tree?
Those are great safety questions, Olivia.
And the answer might just save a smarty-pants life.
First, let's talk about why water is dangerous during lightning.
Lightning is electricity, and electricity travels easily through water.
If lightning hits a lake pool, puddle or even the ground near water, electricity spreads out quickly.
It can travel long distances and anyone in the water can get shocked.
That's why you should always get out of pools, lakes or any body of water when you hear thunder, no matter how far away it sounds.
Let's talk about why standing under a tree isn't much better.
Trees are tall, which makes them lightning magnets.
If lightning hits a tree, electricity moves down the trunk, then spreads outward through the ground and anyone standing near it can be shocked.
Also, branches can break off.
So during a thunderstorm, the safest place is indoors, away from windows, and not in your bathtub.
Question two comes from Robin Walden and her kids AJ, Lydia, and Jasper.
They want to know what are vocal cords made of and how does their vibration make the sounds that we speak.
Well, let's start by saying your vocal cords are not cords.
They're folds of tissue.
That's right.
And your vocal folds, which is their scientific name, are made of muscle, soft stretchy tissue and a thin vibrating membrane called the mucosa.
So how do they make sound?
Well, first, air from your lungs rushes upward.
Next, your vocal folds snap together and vibrate like a tiny pair of wings.
These vibrations create sound waves.
From there your mouth tongue, teeth and lips shape those sounds into letters, words and sentences.
Different sounds depend on vibration speed or pitch, how wide the folds open, the shape your mouth makes.
It's basically a built-in musical instrument inside your throat.
Okay, next question.
This one comes from an anonymous Smarty Pants on Spotify.
They asked, does it ruin your nails if you wear fake nails a lot?
Hmm.
Well, the short answer is fake nails.
Don't have to ruin your real nails, but they can if you're not careful.
Acrylics, gels or press-ons can lead to nail thinning dryness peeling, breakage and irritation from glues or harsh chemicals.
Most problems happen when nails are removed incorrectly or products are used too often or your nails don't get time to recover.
To protect your real nails, take nail breaks between sets, moisturize your nails and cuticles, have fake nails applied and removed by professionals, and avoid ripping or peeling them off yourself.
I hope that helps.
And speaking of helping, I'll be helping to answer two more questions right after this quick break and a word from our sponsor.
This show is sponsored by IXL.
You know that, as the trusty narrator, I'm always eager to learn new things, even if I prefer to do it from the comfort of my own home.
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Now back to Smarty Q. Question four.
Luca, an eight-year-old smarty pants from Miami Lakes Florida, wants to know how and why do dogs bark?
Cool question, Luca.
Dogs bark because barking is one of their main ways to communicate.
They bark to say, hi, I'm excited.
Go away.
This is my territory.
I'm scared.
Play with me.
Something's wrong.
But how does barking work?
Well, just like humans, dogs use their lungs for air supply, their vocal folds for sound and their mouth and throat to shape the sound.
Dogs can also control pitch and rhythm, which is why some barks can sound high and nervous or low and growly, while others can sound loud and alert or short and playful.
Woof woof!
Our last question comes from Kai and Cooper in Pacifica, California.
They want to know, why do stuffies start super soft but get less fluffy over time?
Well, stuffies get squishier and less fluffy due to wear and tear, but in a cute, well-loved way.
Inside most stuffed animals is polyester fiber fill, which is tiny plastic threads, cotton foam or a mix of these.
Whenever you hug squish, sleep on or carry around a stuffy, the fibers get compressed, the air gets squeezed out and the material gets matted.
Also, the natural oils from your hands make fibers stick together.
And of course, washing machines can also clump the filling, which is why brand new stuffies start out cloud soft.
While well-loved stuffies look less poofy and flatter, but still extra huggable.
And there you have it.
Another episode of Smarty Q's in the books.
If you've got a question you've been wondering about smarty pants by all means send it to me at whosmarted, at whosmartedcom.
Your question might be next.
Until then, keep on smarting.
Who's smarter?
