Why Is It? Archives - Science Update

Strange and Offbeat

Does Skunk Smell Repel Skunks?

November 24, 2020

When a curious caller from Baltimore asked us whether skunks were repelled by the smell of other skunks, we knew exactly who to call. Biology …

Sun’s Birthplace

September 13, 2018

Where did our Sun get its start?

Anteater Diet

June 27, 2018

How giant anteaters get enough food into their tiny mouths to survive.

Wind Temperature

May 4, 2018

Moving air feels colder than still air, but what does the thermometer say?

Sizing Up Dogs II

April 13, 2018

A listener asks whether it's true that large dogs don't live as long as small dogs.

Baseball on the Moon

April 11, 2018

Could a well-thrown baseball sail from the moon’s surface into orbit?

Why Are Plants Green?

January 24, 2018

The dominance of green chlorophyll on Earth may have come after a more purple period.

Living Cells

January 18, 2018

You probably have heard that hair is made up of dead cells. But are living cells really "alive"?

Wisdom Teeth

January 17, 2018

Why do we get wisdom teeth if they often don’t even fit in our jaws?

Cold Noses

December 15, 2017

A listener asks: Why does your nose run when it’s cold outside?

24-Hour Colds

December 7, 2017

Why you sometimes feel a cold coming on, only to have the symptoms disappear the very next day.

Snow White

December 1, 2017

A listener asks: What makes snow white?

Spider Webs

October 12, 2017

A listener asks: Can spiders get caught in the webs of other spiders?

Identical Triplets

October 9, 2017

A listener asks if identical triplets are possible.

Mountain High

March 9, 2017

Have you ever been to a high altitude and found yourself gasping for breath? One listener asked why that happens.

Sitting Close to the TV

December 9, 2016

A Science Update listener asks if sitting too close to the television can hurt your eyes.

Similar Snowflakes

November 30, 2016

A listener asks: Why do snowflakes appear so similar to each other?

Wine’s Fruity “Nose”

November 26, 2015

You can thank fruit flies for your favorite wine’s fruity “nose”.