Who Smarted

Who built the first highways in America? How many highways are there? How do Interstates get their numbers? For free home activities sign-up at www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do trees clean the air? How do trees breathe? Do trees die in the winter when they shed their leaves? For free home activities sign-up at www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why do humans cook their food? Did humans always cook their food? What are some different ways to cook food? For free home activities sign-up at www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is a tongue for? What are those bumps on your tongue? How does taste work? For free home activities sign up at www.WhoSmarted.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Who invented sneakers? How did sneakers become so popular? Why are they called sneakers? For free home activities sign up at www.whosmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is Bigfoot Real or imagined? When did tales of a mysterious ape/human creature first begin? How does the legend of Bigfoot play into myths of strange hairy creatures all over the world? What are Cryptozoologists? More at www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is the Moon made of? How long would it take to drive to the Moon if you drove 100 mph? What does the Moon smell like? How does the Moon affect the ocean? How cold does it get on the Moon? Get great free activities at www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is Smell? Why do you need to smell things? Which animal holds the record for how far away it can detect a smell? All this and more on today's episode #38 SMELL + free activity guide at www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How did a woman named Marie discover radiation? What do you call the machine at the doctor’s office that takes pictures of your insides? How did Marie Curie use radiation and radioactivity to save lives during World War I? How many Nobel Prizes did Marie Curie win? Want free activity guides and curriculum? Check out www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is mold an animal or a plant? Why is mold so colorful? What color is most mold? Why is mold an ingredient in gummy bears? Free activity guide at www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is motivation? Why do we do the things we do? How can you turn boring chores into fun activities? And what should you do when you're struggling to finish a project? Find out all this and more about motivation, and get the free activity guide at www.WhoSmarted.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What are boogers? Where do they come from? What do they for your body? Why do we like to pick them? Are they safe to eat? Find out all this and more and get your free activity guide at www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What makes things explode? Why do some things like a firework blow up with a bang? Which everyday items are unstable enough that they can be explosive? Plus get free kid-friendly activities at www.WhoSmarted.com ! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Who invented the PB&J? Are PB&J sandwiches actually healthy for you? Do folks eat PB&Js all over the world or just in America? Find out more & get your free activity guide at www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How was the microwave oven accidentally invented? How do microwaves work to cook everything from frozen pizza to popcorn? Why should you never put metal in a microwave? Your smart elementary school kid will learn about all this and more, and there's more free activities at www.WhoSmarted.com! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How many species of spiders are there? How strong are spider webs? Should you be afraid of spiders? And don't forget to check out our dozens of other 15 minute educational episodes on your favorite podcast app or www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's episode is about VOLCANOES! Listen up as Vulcan, the Roman God of Fire and your trusty narrator, Jerry take a fun journey to an active volcano in search of lava! Questions we answer on today's episode: What's the difference between magma and lava? How deep is the earth's crust and how is it just like a giant puzzle? What causes volcanoes to form? Visit www.WhoSmarted.com to get great activities to do after the episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's episode is all about the history of GREETINGS and it's full of great questions & answers about how and why humans say "Hello!" Questions we answer include: How did the word, "Hello" become the standard way we answer the phone? Why do we shake hands? Why do humans greet one another at all To keep the learning going with more information and fun activities, grab the completely free episode activity guide at www.WhoSmarted.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Quick question: who wrote the story for the movie FROZEN? Obviously it was a Hollywood screenwriter working for Disney, right? Nope! Jennifer Lee may have written the SCRIPT (she also directed the movie too, becoming the first woman to write/direct a film grossing over ONE BILLION DOLLARS), but the STORY was written in 1844 by Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen. His tale THE SNOW QUEENenthralled families in Europe --- nearly 100 years before Walt Disney made his first animated movie, and over 125 years before Jennifer Lee was born! This is just one of the very cool things your curious kid wlll learn about Fairy Tales on today's episode of Who Smarted? www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Quick question: How long would it take for the light to go out on earth if the sun stopped working? 30 seconds? 2 seconds? 8 minutes? If you said 8 minutes - you're right! To be exact, it would take 8 minutes and 20 seconds before we knew that the sun stopped burning. But that's not happening anytime soon - you have plenty of time for your kid to learn a whole lot more about the closest star to earth, like 7 or 8 billion years! You'll learn that and WHOLE lot more about how the sun works on this episode of Who Smarted? And sign up for our episode activity guides for free at www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Quick question: How old is the water you drink, shower in, or cook with? 4 seconds, 4 days, or 4 billion years old? If you said 4 billion years old, you're RIGHT! That glass of water you drank today is the same water the DINOSAURS drank! So how does the rain cycle work? How and why does it rain at all? And what would happen if it DIDN'T rain? Your kids will learn all this and more on today's new episode of Who Smarted? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does a bow & arrow have to do with the guitar? Discover the history AND the science of the guitar on today's episode of Who Smarted? Your kids will discover how primitive hunters likely invented the idea of playing music on a string. They will learn that how and why the electric guitar was invented, and how that changed music. They'll take a tour through the 20th century history of music and discover how important a Hawaiian teenager and African-American musicians are to the devlopment of the guitar's use in music. And they'll learn how soundwaves work and how they influence the pitch of a guitar string in an interactive demo. Want to get more great info & activities? www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast, WHO SMARTED? But here's a silly question... HOW are you able to listen to it? With your EARS of course! But how do your ears work? How do three tiny bones in your ear help amplify sound and translate sound waves to your brain? And how/why does your hearing affect your balance? Get ready to hang out with the three smallest bones in the human body - The Ossicles - on today's episode about Ears! Your kids will discover how 3 tiny ear bones, THE OSSICLES, work together to create sound. When your eardrum vibrates in response to sound, it causes these ear bones to move in response. This amplifies the vibrations in the fluid in your inner ear, which touches thousands of nerve endings, triggering electrical impulses your brain then turns into "hearing". They will learn that the ear is also responsible for your sense of balance, which relies on there, tiny, liquid filled tubes in your inner ear - the vestibular system. And they'll discover you are more likely to fall when you have a cold because being sick causes a disruption in the inner ear fluid, which leads to dizziness. So no tightrope walking when you have a cold - just like we tell our friend Terry Tightrope in the episode. And get more fun info & activities at www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What do you think of when you think of an opera singer? Most people think of a large lady in a hat with horns! But on today's episode you'll learn opera singers come in all shapes and sizes. Now, we know some kids might think of opera as long, loud and boring, but our resident Opera Superfan will make your kid see that opera is actually... cool! More opera resources: PBS and the Metropolitan Opera for Kids https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/metropolitan-opera-shakespeare/ This extraordinary resource from the NYC Metropolitan Opera and PBS makes six operas available to stream for free, along with guides to the characters, plot, and educational resources and discussion materials. Honestly, we're digging this one for adults too! Music Explorers http://musicalexplorers.savannahmusicfestival.org/category/season4/s4-unit2/ Free online curriculum from Savannah Music Festival to help kids dive deep into exploring opera. Minnesota Opera Free Curriculum https://mnopera.org/learn/for-teachers/lesson-plans/ Another truly incredible free resource, the Minnesota Opera has created in-depth lesson plans for dozens of operas, along with making the scores available for free. And check out www.WhoSmarted.com for additional learning and exercises about opera and dozens of other topics! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

No one likes being sick. The fever, fatigue, and the nasty stuff that comes out of you is NO FUN! But how much of what happens to you when you're sick is caused by GERMS, and how much is actually your body's IMMUNE SYSTEM helping you? Take a journey with us into your IMMUNE SYSTEM on today's super sick episode of Who Smarted? as we go to Club Gut to find out how it all works. Your kid will learn that having a fever is your body fighting off germs! By raising your body temperature, a fever heats and kills some germs and stuns and slows down other germs, buying time for your body's immune system to attack them! They will also learn that different types of immune cells take different action, depending on what's required: Some gobble up invasive bacteria, others emit antibodies that stop invaders from multiplying, while other inject germs with toxins that cause them to explode! And they'll discover that when stuff comes out of either end of your body from being sick, that's your body's way of literally ejecting toxins from your system. So, as much as it stinks, it's actually just your body doing its job. Some bonus info about your skin: Your skin is actually a part of your immune system, and is your body's first line of defense. Besides being literal armor your skin cells also perform specialized functions that neutralize infections bacteria, so it is an active immune organ. All that defending against the environment takes its toll, and your skin sheds around thousands of dead skin cells every hour! That adds up to about 9 pounds of dead skin cells every year, so a family of four is shedding around 3 pounds of dead skin cells every month! So yes, though we can't say MOST of the dust in your house is dead skin, it is definitely true that a large percentage of the dust in your home is actually dead skin cells. And that's not gross at all... Nope. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mirror, mirror on the wall...why do I see my reflection at all? On this 12 minute episode of Who Smarted? our Evil Queen will learn how her Magic Mirror works, why we all look different in photos than in the mirror, the science behind how mirrors are made, and the surprising history of the first mirrors! Your kids will discover that the first mirrors were made from rocks - yes, rocks! Specifically obsidian, which is a shiny volcanic rock that can be polished to a glass-like finish. They will learn that modern mirrors are mostly made by spraying aluminum onto glass. And they will learn the reason your face often looks weird in photos is simply because you spend more time looking in mirrors, which flip your image. A photo is actually truer to what other people actually see -- but because you rarely see yourself that way it 'flips you out.' Listen anywhere you get your podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Google,Spotify, Stitcher, OR at our siteWho Smarted?, where you can also get a FREE episode guide with more information and activities for the kids. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Laughter is a great way to release stress, bond with friends & family, and just have fun. It's also why some people end up accidentally WETTING themselves! On this episode of WHO SMARTED?, we'll visit a disastrous rehearsal of Romeo & Juliet -- where the problem isn't that Juliet forgot her lines -- it's that she has a bad case of the giggles and cannot stop LAUGHING. Your kids will learn how laughing can be a way to shield yourself from troubling emotions which is why people sometimes laugh at bad news, or when someone trips and falls. Of course, sometimes someone falling is just plain funny. They'll also learn why laughing can sometimes make you lose control of your bodily functions! Because laughing causes a very fast contraction and release of abdominal muscles, it can actually confuse your bladder - making you pee! And they'll learn that people are more likely to laugh in a group than alone - furthering the theory that laughing evolved partially as a way to bond people together -- just like the Cavemen in today's episode! And if you want to make more memories with your kids with fun after-episode educational activities, go to www.WhoSmarted.com and grab our free newsletter, which is chock-full of easy ways to keep the learning going. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Who doesn't love ice cream? Well - on this episode of Who Smarted? it turns out that our special guest Ice doesn't love our OTHER special guest Cream - but maybe by the end of the episode they'll figure out how to work together. (Spoiler alert: they do!). And want to know why there's seaweed in almost all flavors of commercial ice cream? Then sign up for today for our free email, which includes crazy facts like that + more activities to do with your kid.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Waves - we usually think of them as something we do when saying goodbye, or when we're at the beach. But there's a kind of invisible wave we interact with all the tie. Sound waves are always around us, and somehow our brain turns these pulses of pressure into what we call "hearing". Come join our special guest Madame Sounds-a-Like on this journey into the world of sound. Keep the learning going after the episode with awesome free exercises at www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of Who Smarted? a friendly leprechaun enlists the help of his new digital assistant O'Siri to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Spoiler alert: There is no pot of gold, because there is no end of the rainbow! Turns out rainbows aren't actually arches - but what they are, and why you see them, is super interesting. Want the free study guide for every episode? Sign up at www.WhoSmarted.com and please add to our growing 5-star reviews on Apple podcasts! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

People love dogs! And what's not to love? Dogs are loyal, helpful, kind, & fill our hearts with joy (and our brains with oxytocin!) They make wonderful companions which is why, during the pandemic, dog adoption rates have doubled, and in some places there are now waiting lists for furry friends that stretch into 2021. Today's episode, DOGS, is for every human who loves dogs - and every dog who loves their human. In other words - it's for everyone! Enjoy! And for some of the LATEST information about our bond with dogs, check out Smithsonian Magazine's excellent article this month The New Science of Our Ancient Bond with Dogs. And to keep the learning going, sign up now for the free episode guide at www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Children love music! (YES, we know, adults do too!) And one reason is because music creates emotions in your brain. But ever wonder how music causes your brain to feel emotion? Why do screechy high note and rumbly low notes make you feel scared? And why do major keys make everyone feel happy? You've got questions - we've got answers in a very interactive episode of Who Smarted? And please, if you LOVED listening to this episode as much as we loved making it, kindly take a second and tell a fellow parent or educator about our show. More listeners = more we can do for everyone. And get our free guide to learning and activities in every episode at www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kids love to stay up past their bedtime - and so do grownups! But why do we have bedtime at all? Why is sleep so important, and why does it naturally happen at night? And what does sleep have to do with memories, unicorns, and a flying trapeze? All your questions about shut-eye are answered on today's episode of Who Smarted? For more great resources about sleep, check out the non-profit Sleep Foundation. And to get every episode delivered right to your inbox along with educational support materials, join us at Who Smarted? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's special guest Thor is a charming Platypus, a creature so odd that when scientists first saw a specimen they assumed it was a taxidermy hoax. Learn about how this crazy animal mashup happened and how the platypus can see through mud on today's episode of Who Smarted? www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does a bad snowstorm and a bucket of peaches have to do with basketball? And why are basketballs orange? Find out on today's bouncy episode of Who Smarted? www.WhoSmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

OK you'll probably never be stuck inside a whale, but by spending this episode inside one of these amazing creatures, you'll discover how much you and the whale have in common! And for free educational resources for parents & teachers, check out www.WhoSmarted.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A drought made skateboards popular, but how? And how did skateboards get their shape? Get ready for a smooth ride through history on this episode of Who Smarted?  For more kids' skateboarding resources check out: Skate Like A Girl https://www.skatelikeagirl.com/ Promoting inclusion, confidence, leadership and social justice through skateboarding. Boards for Bros http://boards4bros.org/ Gving all kids a chance to own a skateboard and experience self-reliance, perseverance, and physical and interpersonal skills Skate-Aid https://www.skate-aid.org/en/ Creating world peace through skateboarding - seriously. Check them out. Skatepark project https://skatepark.org/ Find a skatepark near you with the skatepark finder, from this organization that was formerly the Tony Hawk Foundation www.WhoSmarted.com www.facebook.com/WhoSmarted  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anxiety - it isn't just for adults! On this episode of Who Smarted? kids get tips on where anxiety comes from and how to manage it. Get ready to slay the worry monster on Who Smarted? www.whosmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The toothbrush was invented in jail - by a prisoner! How did that happen? And how did toothbrushing become a regular daily activity in the 1950s? You'll travel to Egypt, London, and more in this episode that will get your kids excited to brush! For more great Toothbrushing resources check out the Chompers podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What's that smell? It's broccoli! In this episode you'll get a new appreciation for broccoli, learn who invented it, how to make it taste good, and even find out how to make it not smell so bad! You'll journey from ancient Rome to America on a time-bending adventure with broccoli! Join our Who Smarted? community at www.Facebook.com/WhoSmarted. And get the free study guide at www.whosmarted.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How did a home-schooled kid become the greatest inventor of all time? To this day no one holds more invention patents than Thomas Edison! Find out and inspire your kids on today's fun-filled episode of Who Smarted? And please like & follow us on Facebook for more ... www.facebook.com/WhoSmarted www.whosmarted.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Explosions, lasers, fire, footsteps - these are the audio cues that bring movies and TV shows to life. But most of them are created AFTER the movie is shot, in a sound effects process called Foley Art. Learn about how sound effects work and how kids can make their OWN sound effects, on this episode of Who Smarted? And if you haven't already, join the 10,000+ parents receiving our free home activities newsletter at www.WhoSmarted.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What's the real story behind pizza? We love it plain, with toppings, to go, and while we watch TV - American's alone eat 3 BILLION pizzas a YEAR! Find out the history of pizza on this week's episode of Who Smarted? And get the free study guide at www.WhoSmarted.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What goes up must come down, right? But why? And what is gravity? Find out all this and more on this fun, game-filled episode of Who Smarted? and get the free study guide and home activities at www.WhoSmarted.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Who Smarted? is the fun 3-times weekly short educational podcast for elementary school kids from the creators of the hit educational TV series BRAIN GAMES and BRAINCHILD. Who Smarted? helps makes kids better global citizens by teaching them not just facts, but also critical thinking skills. Join our community at www.facebook.com/whosmarted.