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Hey there, Smarty Pants.
Welcome to another exciting episode of Smarty Qs where I, the trusty narrator, answer amazing questions sent in by you, our Smarty Pants listeners.
I can't wait to hear what you asked this time.
Let's go.
Question comes from Emmett in Massachusetts who asks how did Titanoboas become their huge size?
Ooh, fun question.
In case you don't know, the Titanoboa was a giant snake that lived about 60 million years ago, right after the dinosaurs went extinct.
It could grow up to 42 feet or 12.8 meters long and weigh over a ton.
It was the largest snake ever known.
So how did it get so big?
Scientists think the answer is climate.
Back then, Earth was much warmer and more humid, especially in the rainforests of South America where Titanoboas lived.
Snakes are cold-blooded, so their body temperature depends on their environment.
In warmer climates, they can grow larger because their metabolism can work more efficiently.
Titanoboas probably ate giant fish and maybe even crocodile-like creatures, and being bigger gave them the power to rule their ecosystem better.
Next up, Oliver asks, if you fill a bag with air and punch it, why does it make a loud sound?
Well, when you punch a bag filled with air, you're compressing the air inside really quickly.
That sudden squeeze makes the air push hard against the sides of the bag and the bag pushes back.
The loud sound comes from the vibration of the bag's material plus the air escaping or shifting rapidly inside.
Basically, the punch creates a tiny explosion of air pressure that your ears pick up as a sharp pop.
And the harder and faster you hit, the bigger the pressure change and the louder the sound.
For our next question.
Henry in Ramsey Minnesota, asks why does car exhaust look so much thicker on cold winter days?
Great observation, buddy.
Car exhaust always contains water vapor from the burning of fuel.
On warm days, you usually don't see it because the vapor stays invisible as a gas.
But in cold weather that water vapor condenses into tiny droplets as soon as it leaves the tailpipe.
These droplets form a cloud of steam, which looks thick and white.
Okay, we've still got a few more great questions to come, including one about why your tongue changes color.
But first, let's take a quick break for a word from our sponsors.
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Welcome back to Smarty Q's.
My smarty friend Emmy in Armenia asks, why do random thoughts come into your brain?
Hmm.
Random thoughts, called sometimes mind pops, happen when your brain's memory system activates without you trying.
Scientists think they come from the hippocampus, the part of the brain that stores and retrieves memories.
These pops can be triggered by sights, smells or even emotions, but sometimes they happen for no clear reason at all.
Some scientists believe it's your brain's way of staying flexible and creative, like keeping all the filing cabinets open just in case you need something.
So the next time a silly or strange thought suddenly pops into your head, don't worry, it's just your brain being helpfully human.
And finally, Olive likes books On Spotify.
Asks why does your tongue turn purple when you eat certain foods?
Well, some foods contain natural pigments or dyes that give them bright colors.
For example, blueberries, grapes, and blackberries contain pigments called anthocyanins.
When you eat them, those pigments stick to your tongue's surface and even stain the little bumps on it that are called papillae.
That's why your tongue can turn purple, blue, or even red.
Don't worry.
It's harmless, and it goes away once your saliva and taste buds wash the color away.
And that's it for today's Smarty Q.
Remember, if you've got a question you'd like me to answer, just email me at whosmarted, at whosmartedcom.
Until next time, keep on smarting, smarty pants.
