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Hey parents Trusty here. You know what I hear constantly from homeschool parents in the whosmarted community? Thank you for introducing us to ixl. I get it. My cousin homeschools her kids and raves about how much IXL helps. We're heading into that stretch where families are finishing the year strong and then summer hits with travel camps and shifting routines, and that's where IXL shines. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that fits seamlessly into homeschooling with interactive practice across math, language arts, science and social studies from Pre K through 12th grade. Everything's organized by grade and subject, so you quickly find what each kid needs. Kids get instant explanations and parents, you get clear Progress reports. Over 15 million students use IXL and it's proven to improve achievement in all 50 states. So make an impact on your child's learning. Who Smarted? Listeners get an exclusive 20% off when they sign up today at www.ixl.com smartid. That's ixl.com SL smarted. Hey there smarty pants. Trustynarrator here. Back with another batch of cool and curious questions from Cool and Curious Smarty Pants all around the world today we've got hiccups, hangers, owls, and even a giant storm on Jupiter. So let's get smarted. Our first question comes from Ella, who asks, why do we hiccup? Ah, yes, the mysterious hiccup. Hiccups happen when a muscle in your body called the diaphragm suddenly tightens or spasms without warning. The diaphragm sits just below your lungs and helps you breathe in and out. When it suddenly contracts, it pulls air quickly into your lungs and then your vocal cords snap shut right after making that familiar hic sound. So what causes that spasm? Well, a few things can trigger hiccups. Eating too quickly, drinking fizzy drinks, laughing a lot, or even swallowing air without realizing it. Most hiccups go away on their own, but that hasn't stopped people from trying all kinds of tricks to stop them, like holding your breath or drinking water upside down. Psst. They don't really work. Okay, next up, Lily listening on Spotify, asks, why is it harder for people to sing higher and lower notes? Cool question. When you sing, you use your vocal cords, which are two small bands of tissue inside your throat. Air from your lungs passes through them and makes them vibrate to create sound. To sing higher notes, your vocal cords have to stretch tighter and vibrate faster to sing lower notes. They relax and vibrate more slowly. The tricky part is that your vocal cords can only stretch and relax so much. Everyone has a natural range, meaning a set of notes they can comfortably sing. Singing very high or very low notes pushes your vocal cords toward their limits, which is why it can feel harder to hit those extremes. That's also why singers practice so much, because training helps them control those muscles better and expand their range. Alright, our third question comes from Mira, age 5 in Austin, Texas, who asks what are hangers made of? Good question. Mira. Hangers that you use to hang up your clothes or coats can be made from a few different materials, depending on the type. Many hangers are made of plastic, which is lightweight and easy to shape. Others are made of metal wire, which is thin but strong. Some hangers, especially fancy ones, are made of wood. Wooden hangers are sturdy and great for holding heavier clothes like coats. No matter the material, all hangers are designed to do the same job. Hold your clothes in shape so they don't get wrinkled or stretched out. Okay, that's three questions down. Three more coming up, including a really cool one about storms on Jupiter, which we'll get to right after after these ads from our sponsors. Hey smarty Families. 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Now back to Smarty Q. Our next question comes from river one of our who Smarted Podcast campers. Who asks why does the color black absorb light and white reflect light? Great question. Let's see. Light is made up of different colors, and when light hits an object, a few things can happen. It can be absorbed, reflected, or passed through. Black objects absorb most or all of the light that hits them. That means they take in the light energy instead of bouncing it back to your eyes, which is why that object appears black. White objects, on the other hand, reflect almost all of the light that hits them. Because all the colors of light are bouncing back together, your eyes see that as white. That's also why black objects tend to get hotter in the sun because they're absorbing more energy while white objects stay cooler by reflecting it away. Question five comes from Smartypants Benjamin, who asks why are owls nocturnal? Hoo hoo. Like you said, owls are nocturnal, which means they are most active at night. This gives them a big advantage when hunting. Owls have excellent night vision, allowing them to see in very low light. They also have incredibly sharp hearing. They can even hear tiny animals moving under leaves or snow. Their feathers are specially designed to let them fly almost silently so their prey doesn't hear them coming. By being active at night, owls can hunt when many other animals are asleep, making it easier to find food and avoid competition. Alright, smarty pants, we're down to our final question and it's a big one about the biggest planet in our solar system. You'll find out what it is right after this quick break and a few ads from our sponsors. Attention all non mouth breathers. This is a code red. I repeat, this is a code red. So listen very carefully. What I'm about to say will turn your world upside down. I'm transmitting to you from Hawkins, Indiana to deliver this urgent message. Something survived in the winter of 85. So get ready for an all new animated adventure from the creators of Stranger Things. Bundle up and join 11 Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, Max, and all your most beloved characters as they uncover new mysteries, new monsters, and their greatest adventure yet. You've seen them fight Demogorgon, you've seen them fight Vecna, but you've never seen anything like this. Return to Hawkins for a whole new dimension of the Stranger Things universe in this epic animated series. Friends don't lie, so believe the hype. Stranger things tales from 85 only on netflix. Over and out. Hey, smarty pants. Trusty narrator here. Spring is here and you know what that means on the farm. Baby chicks hatching inside their eggs. Calves moving into their tiny little houses. Flowers figuring out when it's time to wake up. And yes, that smell. You know the one. If you've ever wondered why any of that happens, I have got the show for you. The Super Smart Farm Show Podcast. But don't take it from me. Take it from my friend Elmer, who actually lives this stuff and hosts the show. This spring on the Super Smart Farm show, we're hatching chicks visiting baby calves. And yes, we are going to talk about why farms smell funny in the spring. And trust me, once you know the reason, you'll never look at your garden the same way again. See what I mean? That's Super Smart Farm Show, a family podcast that answers every question you never knew you had about farms, animals and food. Playful, curious and genuinely smart. From the Lancaster Farming Team, who've been covering agriculture since 1955. Find Super Smart Farm show wherever you get your podcast or@lancasterfarming.com now back to Smarty Q. Our final question comes from Smarty fan Lizzie in Trinidad, who asks, why is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter not going away? And are there storms on Earth that have lasted as long? That is an amazing question. As you may know, the Great Red Spot on Jupiter is a gigantic storm that has been raging for over 300 years, maybe even longer. It's so big it could fit multiple Earths inside it. One reason it lasts so long is because Jupiter doesn't have a solid surface like Earth. On Earth, storms eventually lose energy when they hit land, but on Jupiter, there's no land to slow them down. Also, Jupiter has very powerful winds and lots of energy in its atmosphere, which helps keep the storms going. As for Earth, we do have long lasting storms, but not nearly as long as hurricanes and cyclones can last for days or even a couple of weeks, but they eventually weaken, especially when they move over land or cooler water. And that's a wrap on another episode of Smarty Q. If you've got a cool and curious question you'd like me to answer, have a grown up help you email me@whosmartedhoosmarted.com and I'll add it to my list. Until next time, keep on smart Smarting Smarty pants Too smart.
Podcast by: Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media
Episode Date: May 12, 2026
This "Smarty Q" episode of Who Smarted? features the beloved host Trusty narrator answering a series of fun, science-packed questions from kids across the globe. The main theme revolves around everyday mysteries: from the science of hiccups to why owls are nocturnal, and even an exploration of Jupiter’s mighty storms. Blending playful explanations with real science, this episode is crafted to both spark curiosity and provide memorable facts for kids (and their adults).
(Question from Ella)
Timestamp: [01:10]
Hiccups Explained:
Common Triggers:
Myth-Busting Remedies:
(Question from Lily)
Timestamp: [02:33]
How Singing Works:
Vocal Range:
Practice Makes Perfect:
(Question from Mira, age 5, Austin, TX)
Timestamp: [03:39]
Materials Explained:
Purpose:
(Question from River, Who Smarted Podcast Camper)
Timestamp: [07:19]
Light Interaction:
Scientific Reason:
(Question from Benjamin)
Timestamp: [08:07]
Nighttime Advantages:
Adaptations:
Strategic Advantage:
(Question from Lizzie, Trinidad)
Timestamp: [09:51]
Jupiter’s Great Red Spot:
Why It Lasts:
Earth’s Storms:
On Hiccups Tricks:
On Singing Range:
On Jupiter’s Storm:
On the Science of Light:
On Owls at Night:
This episode dives deep into everyday science wonders, offering clear, entertaining answers suitable for kids’ curious minds. Trusty narrator keeps the answers short, science-based, and sprinkled with humor.
Final sign-off:
"If you've got a cool and curious question you'd like me to answer, have a grown up help you email me...Until next time, keep on smart Smarting Smarty pants Too smart." [11:35]
Ideal for: Family listening, car rides, home, or the classroom—turns kids’ trivia into a lively journey of scientific discovery!