It’s autumn where But Why is based, in the northeastern United States, and we’re all thinking about pumpkins! We eat them in soups, pies, curry and even coffee! And they’re all over the place as part of whimsical seasonal decor, or carved into jack-o’-lanterns on people’s porches and front steps. But what do you actually know about these North American gourds? Where do pumpkins come from? Why do pumpkins come in different shapes and sizes? Why are pumpkins orange? How do pumpkins get really big? Why do pumpkins have that icky mess inside? Why do pumpkins float? We get the download from Chris Hernandez from the University of New Hampshire. Plus, the history of carving pumpkins with historian and author Regina Hansen.

Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript

Have you heard of legendary creatures like Bigfoot, Yeti or the Loch Ness Monster? Maybe you’re on the lookout for them. Maybe you’re scared of them. Maybe you don’t believe in them at all! These creatures are sometimes called cryptids–hidden animals whose existence has never been proven. We’ve gotten a lot of questions about these mysterious and mostly made-up figures. So in this episode, we talk with cryptid expert (and skeptic) Daniel Loxton, co-author of “Abominable Science: Origins of the Yeti, Nessie, and Other Famous Cryptids.” We talk about Bigfoot, Yeti, Nessie, Champ (our local lake monster here in Vermont!), mermaids and more! After listening to this episode, you decide: are cryptids fact, fiction, or something in between?

Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript

As kids, you are constantly growing. You may not be able to feel yourself growing day to day, but if you’ve ever had achy legs at the end of a long day and been told, “Those are just growing pains,” it certainly SEEMS like you can feel yourself growing! In this episode we get answers to all kinds of questions about growing. Dr. Zurisadai Gonzalez Castillo, a pediatric neurologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, helps us understand: how tall can people grow? How do bones grow? Why do our nails and hair keep growing–and is it true our noses and ears never stop growing either?

Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript