SMARTY Q: Can a fart become a burp?

Summary

Who Smarted? – "SMARTY Q: Can a Fart Become a Burp?"

Date: July 7, 2026
Host: Trusty Narrator (Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media)
Episode Theme:
An energetic Q&A blitz tackling kids’ funniest, weirdest, and most curious science questions—including a giggle-inducing deep dive into the science of farts vs. burps, why lions have manes, how mammals make milk, the meaning of national anthems, how all humans are really related, and why we don’t get dizzy while spinning through space on Earth.

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Episode Overview

This episode of "Who Smarted?" jumps right into rapid-fire answers to amazing questions submitted by kids and families. The mood is playful and interactive, filled with vivid explanations, relatable analogies, and laugh-out-loud science facts that transform oddball queries into teachable moments. Across six main questions, the host connects science to everyday life, history, and big ideas—while keeping listeners giggling and engaged.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Can a Fart Become a Burp?

[00:51 – 01:54]

• Listener Question: Elaine and Johnny, Chicago – “If you held in your fart, would you burp instead, or the other way around?”
• Answer:
  • Burps and farts both involve gas, but come from different parts of the digestive system.
    • Burp = Gas from the stomach, exits up through the mouth.
    • Fart = Gas from the intestines, exits… well, you know!
  • Holding in a fart doesn’t usually turn it into a burp. That trapped gas might be gradually absorbed by your body and released through your breath, but it doesn’t travel backwards.
  • Holding in a burp doesn’t usually create a fart; the air just hangs around in your stomach a bit longer.
• Notable Quote:
  • “While both involve gas, they’re taking very different exits from the digestive highway.” (Host, 01:46)

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2. How Do Animals Make Milk?

[01:54 – 02:37]

• Listener Question: Theo & Elsie, Colorado (with mom Anna) – “How do animals make milk?”
• Answer:
  • Milk is made in mammary glands, special organs found in mammals.
  • After giving birth, a mother’s hormones signal those glands to produce milk.
  • The milk is crafted from nutrients drawn from mom’s food and blood—blending water, fats, proteins, sugars, vitamins, and minerals.
  • This process is universal among mammals: cows, whales, bats, humans—even platypuses!
• Memorable Moment:
  • The host emphasizes, “Making milk for their babies is one of the defining features of mammals. In fact, that’s actually where the word ‘mammal’ comes from.” (02:30)

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3. Why Do Male Lions Have Manes?

[02:37 – 03:23]

• Listener Question: Paxton, Ontario – “Why do male lions have manes and female lions don’t?”
• Answer:
  • The lion’s mane serves three purposes:
    • Makes male lions look bigger and scarier to rivals.
    • Acts as a signal of health and maturity—the darker and fuller, the better.
    • Provides protection in fights by cushioning against bites and scratches.
  • Female lions don’t brawl for territory like males, so they don’t need manes.
• Notable Quote:
  • “A lion’s mane is part armor, part advertisement, and part hairstyle.” (03:16)

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4. Why Does Each Country Have Its Own National Anthem?

[04:55 – 05:29]

• Listener Question: Avery, Ontario – “How come each country has its own national anthem?”
• Answer:
  • National anthems are like musical flags, representing and uniting a country.
  • They’re played at important events: ceremonies, sports, and celebrations.
  • Each anthem tells something about that country—its history, values, and hopes.
  • No two countries are the same, so each writes its own song.
• Memorable Moment:
  • The host explains, “Because every country has its own unique history and culture, they created different songs to represent themselves.” (05:16)

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5. Are All Humans Related?

[05:29 – 06:10]

• Listener Question: Everly, Ontario – “Are all humans related?”
• Answer:
  • Yes—if you look far enough back in time, all humans share common ancestors.
  • Humanity is basically one giant family tree, thanks to thousands of years of families mixing, growing, and moving across the planet.
  • You’d have to go back many generations to find the last common connection, but it exists!
• Notable Quote:
  • “Whether someone lives next door or on the other side of the world, we’re all distant relatives in one giant human family.” (06:04)

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6. Why Don’t We Feel the Earth Spinning?

[07:37 – 08:32]

• Listener Question: Nicholas, Mila & Cecilia, Ontario (with mom Jennifer) – “How come Earth is spinning but we don’t feel it?”
• Answer:
  • At the equator, the planet spins around 1,000 miles per hour!
  • But everything—people, trees, houses, oceans—is moving together, so you can’t feel it: it’s like being in a smooth-flying airplane.
  • We only really feel motion when our speed changes suddenly, but Earth's rotation is super steady, so our bodies don’t notice.
• Notable Quote:
  • “So even though you’re currently flying through space on a spinning planet at incredible speed, it feels perfectly still because everything around you is making the journey together.” (08:24)

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Notable Quotes & Highlights

• "While both involve gas, they’re taking very different exits from the digestive highway." (Host, 01:46)
• “Making milk for their babies is one of the defining features of mammals. In fact, that’s actually where the word ‘mammal’ comes from.” (Host, 02:30)
• “A lion’s mane is part armor, part advertisement, and part hairstyle.” (Host, 03:16)
• “Because every country has its own unique history and culture, they created different songs to represent themselves.” (Host, 05:16)
• “Whether someone lives next door or on the other side of the world, we’re all distant relatives in one giant human family.” (Host, 06:04)
• “So even though you’re currently flying through space on a spinning planet at incredible speed, it feels perfectly still because everything around you is making the journey together.” (Host, 08:24)

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Useful Timestamps

• 00:51 – Start of Q&A, Fart vs. Burp
• 01:54 – Animal Milk Production
• 02:37 – Lion Manes
• 04:55 – National Anthems
• 05:29 – The Human Family Tree
• 07:37 – Earth’s Spinning & Why We Don’t Feel Dizzy

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Tone & Style

• Language/Tone: Friendly, playful, engaging, and packed with kid-friendly humor and metaphors.
• Format: Q&A, audience-driven, quick and snappy.

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Summary

If you’ve ever giggled while wondering about farts and burps (or pondered why you don’t fly off the spinning Earth), this episode of "Who Smarted?" delivers the answers with science, storytelling, and a giant dash of fun. From biological curiosities (like milk-making and family trees) to animal features and patriotic songs, the show proves that every odd question is a door to big learning. Young listeners and grown-up fans alike will find themselves laughing, learning, and full of new facts to share—all in classic “Who Smarted?” style.

Transcript

[A]

Decal.

[B]

In Donkey Kong Bonanza, you could smash through almost anything. Giant watermelon easy Solid rock Save less Explore the underground world by smashing to the planet's core as Donkey Kong and Pauline hold up. Are you hearing karts?

[A]

All right.

[B]

Race against your friends in Mario Kart World. Drive off walls off the and over dinosaur Sweet. You can power up your play on Nintendo Switch. Two additional accessories may be required for multiplayer mode, game system and some accessories sold separately. Games rated E to E10 plus.

[A]

Hey there, smarty pants. Welcome back to Smarty Q, where you ask the questions and I, the trusty narrator, do my very best to answer them. Today we've got questions about farts, milk, lions, national anthems, family trees, and why we don't get dizzy flying through space on a giant spinning planet. So let's get smarting. Our first question comes from Elaine and Johnny in Chicago, who ask, if you held in your fart, would you burp instead or the other way around?

[C]

Huh.

[A]

What an excellent and extremely important scientific question. The short answer is not usually. You see, burps and farts come from different parts of your digestive system. A burp happens when extra gas escapes from your stomach through your mouth. A fart happens when gas produced in your intestines exits through the other end. So if you hold in a fart, that gas doesn't usually travel all the way back up and become a burp. Instead, your body may slowly absorb some of the gas into your bloodstream, and eventually it gets released through your breath. And if you hold in a burp, that air may stay in your stomach a little longer, but it doesn't typically travel all the way down and become a fart. So while both involve gas, they're taking very different exits from the digestive highway. Our next question comes from Theo and Elsie in Fort Collins, Colorado, along with their mom, Anna, who ask, how do animals make milk? Great question. Milk is produced inside special organs called mammary glands. When a baby mammal is born, hormones in the mother's body tell those glands to start making milk. The milk itself is made from nutrients that come from the mother's food and bloodstream. The mammary glands combine water, fats, proteins, sugars, vitamins, and minerals into the milk that babies need to grow. Cows make milk. Dogs make milk. So do cats, bats, whales, and even platypuses. But it's not just those animals. Humans make milk, too. In fact, making milk for their babies is one of the defining features of mammals. In fact, that's actually where the word mammal comes From. Okay, next up, we've got the first of three questions from a family in Ontario, Canada. Paxton wants to know, why do male lions have manes and female lions don't? Excellent question, Paxton. A lion's mane serves a few important purposes. For one thing, it helps male lions look bigger and more impressive to other lions. A large, dark mane can signal that a lion is healthy, strong and mature. The mane also offers some protection during fights. When male lions battle each other, the thick hair around the neck can help cushion bites and scratches. Female lions don't usually fight for territory the same way males do, so they never evolved those giant protective manes. In short, a lion's mane is part armor, part part advertisement, and part hairstyle. Okay, that's three questions asked, three questions answered. But we've got more great ones coming right up after this quick ad break and a word from our sponsors.

[C]

Yeah, I can't open this jar of pickles. Let me try. Grandpa, you've clearly been drinking your milk. Milk can help you build muscles. Free.

[A]

We're finally free.

[C]

Wait, who said that milk can't stop pickles from coming alive?

[A]

Hey, smarty pants, quick question. Would it be cool to slice flying fruit out of the air like a ninja? I'm hearing a lot of yeses. Well, last weekend I was actually doing it in my living room. Just me chopping watermelons and pineapples out of mid air while my dinner was bubbling on the stove. How Nex Playground. Nex Playground is a kid focused game system where your body is the controller. No joystick, no buttons. The playground sees your moves and you're in the game. I've been crushing fruit ninja and there's also Bluey and Ninja turtles games. And an Avatar Earth Rumble tournament where I got to bend rocks. Dance games, sports games, over 50 games. Once you add play pass. So smarty parents, here's the part for you. Playground is built kid safe. No ads, no in app purchases, no mature content, no online chat with strangers. Just your smarty pants moving their body, having a blast, playing games that you can actually feel good about. It's the screen time solution that's also exercise, which means everyone wins. Check out next [e-mail] that's nexplayground.com Trust me, your living room is about to get a lot more interesting. Hey, who smarted families trusty here? You know me, always here with the facts, the stories, the wild science. And today I have an extra special book series to introduce you to. Meet the investigators. Mango and Brash are two Alligator secret agents who travel through the city sewers to fight crime and solve the most wonderfully weird mysteries. If love the puns and silly humor we throw at you on every episode of who Smarted, you're gonna feel right at home. It's basically who Smarted Energy in graphic novel form. Over 4 million copies have been sold worldwide. 4 million. Now, there's nine books in the series, a special edition, and a spin off. So if you plow through books, this is basically a gift. And the newest case just dropped. Investigators, Whether or not by John Patrick Green. Where the city's water supply has been replaced with milk. The rain is turning green, and monkey scientists are causing chaos. So grab your copy of Investigators, whether or not at your local bookstore, library, or online today. And now back to SmartEQ. Our next question comes from Avery in Ontario, Canada, who asks, how come each country has its own national anthem? Another great question. A national anthem is a special song that represents a country, kind of like a musical flag. Countries use national anthems during important events, celebrations, sporting competitions, and ceremonies. The songs often tell stories about the country's history, values, people, or hopes for the future. Because every country has its own unique history and culture, they created different songs to represent themselves. Some national anthems are hundreds of years old, while others were written more recently. But they all serve the same basic purpose. Helping people feel connected to their country and its story. Our next question comes from Everly in Ontario. Who asks, are all humans related? The answer is yes, if you go back far enough. Every human alive today shares common ancestors. That's because families have been growing, spreading, and mixing together for thousands and thousands and thousands of years. In fact, scientists who study genetics have found that all humans are part of one enormous family tree. Now, that doesn't mean we're all close cousins. For most people, you'd have to go back many, many, many generations before finding those shared ancestors. But somewhere way back in history, your family tree and everyone else's family tree eventually connect. So whether someone lives next door or on the other side of the world, we're all distant relatives in one giant human family. Okay, we've got one question left, and it's a big one that will leave your head spinning. We'll find out what it is right after this quick ad break and a word from our sponsors. Hey, smarty parents, I have to tell you about something that's genuinely changed my life. I've been using the Skylight calendar for about three months now, and I am not exaggerating when I say it has completely transformed how we organize our household. Now, you've probably seen this thing all over social media, and for good reason. Setting it up was so easy. Within minutes it was pulling in everybody's schedules into one place. We're talking calendars to do lists, tracking systems, plus we can add recipes, notes. It's awesome. Everything's in one screen. Done. I love this thing so much that I'm already planning to give it as gifts to friends. That's how good it is. And for families with kids like you, the Tasks feature turns chores and routines into something that's actually fun and rewarding for the kids. No more. I didn't know I had to do that. It syncs with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, and more. And if you're not 100% thrilled, you have four full months to return it for a full refund, no questions asked. Families are better when they're working together. Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch calendars by going to myskylight.com smarted go to myskylight.com smartED for $30 off your 15 inch calendar. That is my S K-Y-L-I G H T.com smarted now back to SmartEQ. Our final question comes from Nicholas, Mila, and Cecilia, along with mom Jennifer, who ask how come Earth is spinning but we don't feel it? Fantastic question. The Earth spins once every 24 hours at the equator. We're actually moving at about 1,000 miles per hour. So why don't we feel it? The reason is that everything around us is moving at exactly the same speed. Imagine you're sitting in a smooth moving airplane. If the flight is steady, you can drink water, read a book, or walk down the aisle without feeling the plane's speed. Well, Earth works the same way. You, your house, the trees, the oceans, and even the atmosphere are all spinning together with the planet. We usually only feel movement when our speed changes, like when a car suddenly accelerates, brakes, or turns. Since Earth's rotation is extremely steady and constant, our bodies don't notice it. So even though you're currently flying through space on a spinning planet at incredible speed, it feels perfectly still because everything around you is making the journey together. And that brings us to the end of another episode of Smarty Q. If you've got a question bouncing around in your brain that you'd like me to answer, have a grown up help you email [e-mail] and I'll happily add it to my list of smarty Qs until next time. Keep on smarting, smarty pants. Too smarted.