Episode Summary: “SMARTY Q: Why is snow called snow???”

Podcast: Who Smarted?
Date: October 7, 2025
Host: Trusty Narrator (Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media)

Episode Overview

This episode of Who Smarted? is a delightful Q&A edition of “SMARTY Q,” where the “trusty narrator” answers questions from curious young listeners. The theme is fun science trivia, with a specific focus on kids’ questions about snow, trees, and static electricity in the main segment, and additional bonus questions about lunar eclipses, worm concussions, and water pressure in a follow-up section. The show blends humor, memorable explanations, and interactive science facts aimed at sparking curiosity in children and families.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why is snow called “snow”? (Victoria, NY)

• Etymology of the word “snow”:
  • The English word “snow” comes from the Old English “snow,” similar to the Old High German “snae.”
  • The root goes back to Proto-Indo-European “snagua,” meaning “to snow” or “something snowy.”
• Why did early people name it snow?
  • Early humans needed names for important environmental features, especially those crucial for survival, like snow in cold regions.
  • Over thousands of years, while languages evolved, this term consistently referred to the cold, white precipitation.
• Memorable Moment:
  • “These ancient words were inspired by something we all associate with snow, its light, fluffy and sparkling appearance.” (Trusty Narrator, 02:28)

2. How do trees grow? (Andy, Salmo, BC)

• Tree Growth Basics:
  • Trees start as seeds needing sunlight, water, and nutrients from soil.
  • Each seed contains an embryo (a baby tree) and food for sprouting.
  • With water, roots grow downward and a shoot heads upward to find sunlight.
• Photosynthesis:
  • Leaves act as “little food factories,” combining sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make food for the tree.
  • This process enables the tree to grow taller and stronger each year.
• Quote:
  • “The leaves are like little food factories, using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide from the air to make food.” (Trusty Narrator, 04:20)

3. What is static electricity? (Bianca, Maryland)

• The Science:
  • Atoms are made of protons and electrons; electrons are negatively charged and can move from one object to another when objects rub together (like shuffling your feet on a rug).
  • This transfer creates an imbalance (static charge)—objects with extra electrons are negatively charged, those that lose electrons are positively charged.
• Everyday Examples:
  • There's a spark when the charges seek to balance (touching a doorknob after walking on carpet; hair standing up after rubbing a balloon).
• Memorable Moment:
  • “Shocking, right?” (Trusty Narrator, 06:20)

4. Bonus SmartEQ Q&A Segment

(Begins at 08:40)

a. Why does the Moon turn red during a lunar eclipse? (Joella)

• Explanation:
  • During a lunar eclipse, Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon.
  • Some sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere—shorter wavelengths (blue, green) are scattered, leaving only longer red/orange wavelengths, which reach and illuminate the Moon.
• Quote:
  • “Our atmosphere acts like a giant filter, scattering shorter wavelengths of light like blue and green, and letting the longer wavelengths like red and orange pass through.” (Trusty Narrator, 09:10)
  • This phenomenon results in the “blood moon.”

b. Can worms get concussions? (Henry, 7, Minnesota)

• Explanation:
  • Concussions occur in animals with skulls and brains inside them.
  • Worms lack skulls and “proper” brains (they have a nerve ganglion instead).
  • Their soft bodies mean they don’t get concussions like humans, but they can still be injured with too much force/pressure.
• Memorable Moment:
  • “If you drop a worm, it won’t bonk its head because, well, it doesn’t really have one.” (Trusty Narrator, 10:10)

c. What is water pressure? (Ivan)

• Explanation:
  • Water pressure is the force water exerts, increasing with depth because more water is stacked overhead.
  • Example: At the bottom of a pool, the pressure on your ears increases; at ocean depths, the pressure can crush submarines.
• Quote:
  • “Water pressure also helps water move through pipes and even makes ocean trenches some of the most extreme places on earth.” (Trusty Narrator, 10:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the origins of ‘snow’:
  “These ancient words were inspired by something we all associate with snow, its light, fluffy and sparkling appearance.” (02:28)
• On how trees grow:
  “As the tree grows, its roots dig deeper to find water and nutrients, while the trunk, branches, and leaves get bigger.” (04:15)
• On static electricity:
  “That’s why you sometimes get a little shock when you touch a doorknob. Or why your hair stands straight up when you rub a balloon on it. Shocking, right?” (06:16)
• On lunar eclipses:
  “Our atmosphere acts like a giant filter, scattering shorter wavelengths of light like blue and green, and letting the longer wavelengths like red and orange pass through...” (09:10)
• On worms and concussions:
  “If you drop a worm, it won’t bonk its head because, well, it doesn’t really have one.” (10:10)
• On water pressure:
  “At the very bottom of the ocean, the pressure is so strong it could crush a submarine.” (11:01)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:00] – Why is snow called “snow”?
• [03:40] – How do trees grow?
• [05:40] – What is static electricity?
• [08:40] – Why does the Moon turn red during a lunar eclipse?
• [09:55] – Can worms get concussions?
• [10:48] – What is water pressure?

Episode Tone & Style

• The narration is lively, humorous, and highly engaging for kids and families.
• Explanations are simple yet accurate, often tied to relatable, everyday examples.
• The show encourages curiosity and invites further questions from its young audience.

Final Thoughts

Another fun, fact-filled, and interactive episode of Who Smarted?, packed with just the right mix of science, language, and curiosity. The episode delivers clear answers to quirky kids’ questions, invites participation (“just email me...”), and transforms everyday wonders into accessible science adventures. Perfect for young learners, families, and teachers seeking to spark curiosity and learning.

“Keep on smarting, smartypants!”* (Trusty Narrator, 11:06)*