But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

How do popcorn kernels pop?


Listen Later

How do popcorn kernels pop? How do salmon know where to return to spawn? How do rabbits change colors? Why does television fry your brain? How do zippers zip stuff? Who was the fastest runner in the world? In this episode, we'll tackle all of these questions!


Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript

  • Inside the husk is a tiny little droplet of water surrounded by something called the endosperm. The endosperm is what you're actually eating when you eat popcorn. When you heat up popcorn, the tiny droplet of water gets hot and turns into steam. That steam pushes through the endosperm and turns it kind of soft and that endosperm builds up pressure and explodes through the husk. When it explodes, that soft gelatinous endosperm hits cooler air and it hardens up in whatever shape it has exploded into. So that's why popcorn has all those funny shapes and feels kind of like foam.

  • Salmon are born in freshwater, but then spend their lives in saltwater. They return to the freshwater to spawn (lay and fertilize eggs) and die. Some salmon return to any body of freshwater to spawn, but some salmon have special ways of finding their way back to the place they were born. They use a kind of internal compass to head back to the spot. Other fish rely on their sense of smell to find their way back to fresh water. 

  • Animals that turn white in winter use the length of day as their cue to stop producing pigment in their fur. Their bodies can sense the hours of daylight, and when the daylight starts getting shorter, their hormones will tell the cells to stop producing melatonin.  Hormones tell the cells what to do to shut off the production of pigment in the fall and to turn it on again in the spring. It's not because the days and the nights get colder or warmer. 

  • The fastest runner in the world is Usain Bolt. He's the fastest man who's ever been timed. He's a Jamaican sprinter, and he holds the world record for both the 100 and the 200 meter sprints. He has nine gold medals at the Olympics and 11 world championships. His record for the 100 meter sprint is 9.58 seconds. That is super fast. That's more than 23 miles an hour.

  • Want to pop your own popcorn from kernels? Find a big pan with a tight-lid. Pour two tablespoons of cooking oil in the pan. Then add a half a cup of popping corn. Cover the pan and turn the heat to high. In a few minutes the popcorn will start to pop. Turn off the heat. Open the lid when the popcorn stops popping. Enjoy!

  • How a zipper works

    Sounds Wild

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    But Why: A Podcast for Curious KidsBy Vermont Public

    • 4.3
    • 4.3
    • 4.3
    • 4.3
    • 4.3

    4.3

    4,752 ratings


    More shows like But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

    View all
    Vermont Edition by Vermont Public

    Vermont Edition

    97 Listeners

    Eye On The Night Sky by Vermont Public Radio

    Eye On The Night Sky

    13 Listeners

    All Things Gardening Podcast by Mary Williams Engisch, Charlie Nardozzi

    All Things Gardening Podcast

    53 Listeners

    News from Vermont Public by Vermont Public

    News from Vermont Public

    36 Listeners

    Brains On! Science podcast for kids by American Public Media

    Brains On! Science podcast for kids

    13,263 Listeners

    Story Pirates by Story Pirates

    Story Pirates

    16,243 Listeners

    Outdoor Radio by

    Outdoor Radio

    26 Listeners

    Tumble Science Podcast for Kids by Tumble Media

    Tumble Science Podcast for Kids

    2,589 Listeners

    Eye On The Sky by Vermont Public

    Eye On The Sky

    21 Listeners

    Brave Little State by Vermont Public

    Brave Little State

    387 Listeners

    What If World - Stories for Kids by Eric O'Keeffe / Starglow Media

    What If World - Stories for Kids

    6,103 Listeners

    Wow in the World by Tinkercast | Wondery

    Wow in the World

    29,277 Listeners

    Circle Round by WBUR

    Circle Round

    15,125 Listeners

    Smash Boom Best: A funny, smart debate show for kids and family by American Public Media

    Smash Boom Best: A funny, smart debate show for kids and family

    13,449 Listeners

    KidNuz: News for Kids by Starglow Media

    KidNuz: News for Kids

    1,583 Listeners

    Vermont Public Docs by Vermont Public

    Vermont Public Docs

    271 Listeners

    Forever Ago by American Public Media

    Forever Ago

    5,872 Listeners

    Greeking Out from National Geographic Kids by National Geographic Kids

    Greeking Out from National Geographic Kids

    16,819 Listeners

    The Frequency by Vermont Public

    The Frequency

    108 Listeners

    Weird But True by matilda

    Weird But True

    1,056 Listeners

    Who Smarted? - Educational Podcast for Kids by Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media

    Who Smarted? - Educational Podcast for Kids

    3,931 Listeners

    Moment of Um by American Public Media

    Moment of Um

    1,408 Listeners

    Trivia for Kids by triviaforkidspodcast@gmail.com (triviaforkidspodcast)

    Trivia for Kids

    1,786 Listeners

    The Upside Down Story: Mystery Stories for Kid Detectives by GoKidGo

    The Upside Down Story: Mystery Stories for Kid Detectives

    182 Listeners