Who Smarted? – How Does a Pencil Write?
Podcast: Who Smarted? (Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media)
Host: Adam Tex Davis and Characters
Date: September 8, 2025
Episode Overview
In this lively episode of "Who Smarted?", host Adam Tex Davis and a cast of humorous characters embark on an engaging deep dive into the everyday object you find in every classroom: the pencil. The show unpacks surprising facts about pencils—including their true composition, the legend behind "pencil lead," the origins of their yellow color, why "Number 2" pencils are everywhere, and the curious history of erasers—all mixed with kid-friendly humor, interactive questions, and plenty of memorable lines.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Pencil Popularity and Common Misconceptions
- Fun Fact: Over 14 billion pencils are manufactured each year—enough to circle the Earth 62 times! [00:45]
- Opening Joke: Kids are asked to guess what the "long yellow thing in your backpack or desk" is. (Hint: Not a banana!) [00:50]
- Main Myth: Kids often think pencils contain “lead”—but they never have. [01:30; 04:46]
2. Historical Origins of Writing Tools
- Ancient Writing: From stone carvings (hieroglyphics) to quills and styluses. [03:01]
- The Roman Stylus: The stylus, often made of lead, is called the ancestor of the pencil. [03:44]
- How the Lead Myth Began: Early pencil users mistook graphite for lead due to its dark appearance. [05:32]
3. The Real Stuff Inside a Pencil
- Graphite, Not Lead:
- Host: "The truth is, pencils have never contained real lead. So the answer is C. Hogwash." [05:21]
- Discovered in England in 1564, this “dark treasure” was used by shepherds to mark sheep.
- What Is Graphite?
- Graphite is a form of pure carbon discovered in the 1700s. [07:40]
- Diamond and graphite are both carbon, but with different atomic structures. [08:06]
4. Why Are Pencils Yellow?
- The Yellow Craze:
- In the late 1800s, the Hartmut company in Czechia launched a golden-yellow "luxury pencil" to signify quality and associations with Asian royalty. [09:00]
- The “Koh-I-Noor” pencil was named after the famous Asian diamond.
- Because others copied the yellow color, yellow pencils eventually became the standard. [09:48]
5. How Do Pencils Work?
- Atomic Structure:
- Diamonds: Carbon atoms locked in a strong, pyramidal lattice ("unbreakable").
- Graphite: Carbon atoms in sheets that slide off on paper, making marks easily. [10:14]
- Single Pencil, Long Journey:
- A pencil can draw a line over 700 miles long—about 2.5 times the Grand Canyon’s length. [10:57]
6. The “Number 2” Mystery
- Pencil Hardness Ratings:
- Developed in 1795, mixing graphite with clay made pencils softer or harder.
- Numbering system indicates softness:
- #1: Too soft and smudgy
- #3/#4: Too hard and light
- #2: “Just right”—dark enough for bubble sheets, without too much smudging [12:50]
7. Erasers: Bread to “Rubber”
- Surprising Start:
- People once used bread to erase pencil marks! [14:59]
- Modern Eraser:
- In 1770, gum from South American trees was discovered to work better; now called "rubber." You probably have one on your pencil. [15:28]
8. Silly Pencil World Records
- Noteworthy Feats:
- Snapping 102 pencils in a minute [16:15]
- Karate-chopping 164 pencils [16:18]
- Owning the world’s largest pencil collection: over 24,000 pencils [16:23]
- Middle schoolers stacking a 419-pencil-story tower [16:27]
- Definition: A "pencil story" is built by layering two pencils across two others, like Jenga. [16:35]
Memorable Quotes & Moments
-
Host (Adam Tex Davis):
- "Yes, it's called lead, but it's not lead at all." [01:36]
- “The truth is, pencils have never contained real lead. So the answer is C. Hogwash.” [05:21]
- “Believe it or not, pencils and diamonds are made of the same stuff.” [08:12]
-
Shepherd Character (storyteller):
- “You try counting your sheep without marking them. One, two, three..." [06:08]
- “I could keep track of me sheep and keep from falling asleep. 4, 5, 6. 4, 5, 6. Huh? What?” [06:16]
- “Hogwash. Of course it's leadin’. It is a wee bit soft and brittle. Kept breakin’ apart on us. So we wrapped it in sheepskin...” [06:44]
-
Royal Pencil Character:
- “Ooh, like the jewels in my necklace. Don’t I look fabulous, darling?” [09:30]
- “Ooh, these cheap pencils are leaving a mark on my neck.” [10:03]
-
Host (Adam Tex Davis):
- “A single pencil can draw a line longer than 700 miles. That's two and a half times as long as the Grand Canyon.” [10:57]
- “People once used bread to erase pencil marks.” [14:59]
Notable Timestamps
- 00:45 – Billions of pencils produced; circling the Earth 62 times
- 03:01 – Early writing tools: hieroglyphics, wax tablets, quills
- 05:21 – The “pencil lead” myth debunked
- 07:40 – Graphite is pure carbon; related to diamonds
- 08:06 – Pencil graphite and diamonds: both carbon, but with different structures
- 09:00-09:48 – Why pencils are yellow & the “Koh-I-Noor” connection
- 10:14 – The science of how graphite works on paper
- 10:57 – One pencil can write a line over 700 miles long
- 12:50 – Hardness ratings: why #2 pencils are standard
- 14:59 – From bread to erasers: the invention of "rubber"
- 16:15-16:35 – World records: snapping, karate-chopping, collecting, and stacking pencils
Episode Tone & Engagement
The episode is fast-moving, playful, and packed with trivia. Characters like the "historical shepherd" and "royal pencil" add theatrical flair and drive punchlines home, while the host maintains a warm, interactive style—constantly addressing “smartypants” (listeners) with questions and affirmations. The narrative blends humor and genuine curiosity, making learning memorable.
For Listeners & Educators
This episode is a prime choice for engaging young learners (and adults!) in STEM and history, providing not just fascinating facts but also model ways to challenge assumptions and dig deeper into everyday objects. Teachers can use the historical context, true/false questions, and science tidbits as springboards for classroom discussion or activities.
Summary prepared to enrich, not replace, the fun of listening to the full podcast.