We'll be right back.
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Hey there, Who Smarted Plus subscribers.
Welcome to another fun and fascinating edition of Smart EQ, where I, the trusty narrator, answer questions from you, our brilliant Smarty Pants listeners.
Remember, if you have a question you'd like answered on Smart EQs, just have an adult help you.
Email me at whosmarted, at whosmartedcom.
Now, let's dive into today's questions.
Our first question comes from Izzy, who asks, why do babies cry?
That is a great question, Izzy.
Since babies can't talk, they have to rely on something they can do in order to communicate their wants and needs.
And that thing they can do is cry and cry and cry and cry and cry and cry and cry and cry.
But just know, when a baby cries, they're trying to tell you something.
It could be, I'm hungry.
I need a diaper change.
I'm too hot.
I'm too cold.
I just want to be held.
Crying is a reflex, meaning babies do it automatically when they're uncomfortable.
Scientists have found different types of cries can signal different needs.
Parents and caregivers often learn to recognize whether a baby is crying because they're tired in pain or just being fussy.
And here's a fun fact.
Newborns don't produce actual tears for the first few weeks of life.
Their tear ducts are still developing.
So even though they're crying, no tears are coming out.
So remember, next time you hear a baby cry, just know it's a cry for help because they're a baby.
Okay, our next question comes from Olviella, who asks why does some people's hair turn gray when they get older?
Another great question.
Hair color comes from melanin, a pigment made by special cells called melanocytes.
When you're young, these cells work hard to keep your hair its natural color.
But as you get older your melanocytes start to slow down and eventually they stop making melanin altogether.
That is when your hair loses its natural color and turns gray, silver, or white.
But But why does this happen?
It's mostly because of genetics, meaning if your parents got gray hair early, you probably will too.
Other factors like stress, smoking and nutrition might speed up the process, but they don't actually cause gray hair.
Fun fact some people go gray in their 20s or 30s, while others keep their natural color for much longer.
It all depends on your DNA.
And finally, we have a question from Ollie and Ollie's mom, who want to know do guide dogs pick up their own poop?
And if not, what happens to it?
Amazing question.
Never thought of that before.
Okay, while guide dogs are super smart, even they can't pick up their own poop because well, they don't have hands.
Instead, their human partners or handlers are trained to clean up after them.
Here's how it works.
Guide dogs are often trained to go to the bathroom on command, usually in a specific place.
Their visually impaired owner learns to feel when the dog is going by sensing their movements through the leash or harness.
Then they feel along the dog's back to know roughly where their dog pooped, and then they use a poop bag, just like any other dog owner, to clean up.
In some cases, if the handler has difficulty picking it up, a sighted person might assist.
Some cities even have designated relief areas for service animals.
Thanks for that paw-some question, Ollie and Mum.
And there you have it, another fun-filled episode of Smarty Q. Thanks for listening.
And remember 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.
This show is sponsored by Wayfair.
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Who Smarted is brought to you by Squarespace.
Now, you know I'm good about creating new adventures and episodes of Who Smarted, but you don't know that I procrastinate on other stuff, like a website for one of our new projects.
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Hey there, Who's Smarted Plus subscribers.
Welcome to another fun and fascinating 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, have an adult help you.
Email me at whosmarted, at whosmartedcom.
Now, let's dive into today's questions.
Our first question comes from Smarty Pants Philip in New York, who asks, what is fermentation?
Great question, Philip.
Fermentation is a natural process where tiny living things called microbes, like yeast or bacteria, break down sugars into other substances.
For example, when yeast ferments sugar, it turns it into carbon dioxide and alcohol.
That's how we get bubbly drinks like soda and sparkling water.
It's also how bread rises.
There are lots of different kinds of fermentation.
Some help make yogurt, cheese, pickles, even chocolate.
Fun fact, fermentation has been around for thousands of years.
That's right, people were using it long before refrigerators existed because it helps preserve food.
So, whether it's in your sandwich bread or a spoonful of sauerkraut, fermentation is all about helpful microbes making something new out of sugar.
How fascinating and delicious.
Okay, our next question comes from Smartyfan Abigail, who asks, What is the atmosphere?
Awesome question, Abigail.
The atmosphere is the layer of gases that surrounds planet Earth.
Kind of like a giant invisible blanket that helps keep us safe and warm.
The atmosphere has several layers, each with its own special role.
For example, the troposphere is where the weather happens.
The stratosphere holds the ozone layer, which protects us from the sun's harmful rays.
And then higher up, there's the mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere, where things like auroras and satellites live.
The atmosphere is made mostly of nitrogen and oxygen, but it also contains water vapor, carbon dioxide and other gases.
Without it, we wouldn't have air to breathe clouds, rain or protection from space, rocks and radiation.
Okay, our last question comes from Charlie and Andrew, smarting with us on Spotify.
They ask, why does warm water make you sleepy?
That's a great observation, smarty pants.
When you take a warm bath or shower, the heat causes your body temperature to rise slightly.
But get this after your bath, your body starts to cool down and that drop in temperature sends a signal to your brain that it's time to relax and get sleepy.
This mimics what naturally happens at bedtime.
Your core temperature goes down a little to help you fall asleep.
A warm bath can help that process along, which is why doctors sometimes recommend one about an hour before bedtime.
Also, warm water helps relax your muscles and calm your nervous system, which adds to that cozy, sleepy feeling.
So no, you're not imagining it.
Warm water really can make you drowsy.
And there you have it.
Another fun and fact-filled episode of Smarty Q.
And again, if you have a question you'd like me to answer, just email me at whosmarted, at whosmartedcom.
Until next time, keep calm and smart on.
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That's StarGlowSurvey.com.
