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Answers to your questions — big or small — about anything under the Big Sky. Let's see what we can discover together!... more
FAQs about The Big Why:How many episodes does The Big Why have?The podcast currently has 63 episodes available.
December 19, 2024Snow is melting earlier. What does that mean for our groundwater supply?You probably know snowpack affects the amount of water in our rivers. But snowmelt also recharges underground water systems and flows back into the rivers and streams, keeping them running even after the snow melts. What happens to groundwater supplies when the snowmelt comes earlier in the year?...more9minPlay
December 05, 2024What do we know about Montana's earliest residents?An archeological find in the Shields Valley in 1968 revealed some surprising new information about the earliest inhabitants the state, and provides a window into the shifting ethics of modern archeology. Our story starts in the Ice Age, when people took to the mountains of Montana to hunt camels, cheetahs and mammoths....more9minPlay
November 21, 2024What happens when rail lines are abandoned?Railroads helped build the state we know today. Now, rail travel has all but disappeared in Montana, and many unused lines are going dormant or being abandoned. What happens to them next?...more9minPlay
October 24, 2024What happens to abandoned oil & gas wells in Montana?An oil company comes in, drills a hole and a well is born. But what if the well stops producing or the company in charge goes bankrupt, leaving behind holes that can be thousands of feet deep, spout toxic gasses and muck things up on the surface? These so-called 'orphan wells' are all over Montana....more8minPlay
October 09, 2024How's life as an urban deer?"How's life? Are you liking life okay? Are you aware that you're living a really unusual life for a deer? I just got really curious because you can’t ask a deer how it’s feeling. So I thought I’d ask you guys and see if you had some insights."...more9minPlay
September 25, 2024What makes Montana's Ringing Rocks ring?The Ringing Rocks is a roadside attraction people have been visiting for a long time. It's a big heap of boulders that give off a resonant bell-like ringing sound when struck with metal; at least theoretically. A listener wants to know what makes these rocks ring....more9minPlay
September 12, 2024How we vote is on the ballot: Here's what the proposed changes would meanTwo proposals Montanans will vote on this year would change how the state runs its future elections. Supporters say they’ll combat political polarization and extremism. Opponents say they may muck up our elections....more9minPlay
August 28, 2024How hard is it to charge an electric vehicle in Montana?Billions of dollars in federal funds have been set aside for electric vehicle charging stations across the country. What does that look like in Montana?...more8minPlay
August 15, 2024Why political ads don't have to be truthfulThis week we're looking at the most annoying aspect of any election year: political ads. A listener wants to know if there's any kind of fact checking done before these ads air....more9minPlay
July 04, 2024What's the story with teacher pay in Montana?This time around, we’re unpacking an answer to a tricky education question: "Why is Montana ranked one of the last in the nation for teacher salary, and how might this be changing in the next legislative session?"...more9minPlay
FAQs about The Big Why:How many episodes does The Big Why have?The podcast currently has 63 episodes available.