Moment Of Um

What are eyebrows for?

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You might not think about your eyebrows much, but if they weren’t there, you’d definitely notice! So how did those patches of hair come to be abov...

What do germs and bacteria eat?

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There are billions of bacteria on Earth, and they’re everywhere. Bacteria are on every surface on the planet, and even live in the soil underground....

If hair is dead, how does it grow?

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you know why it doesn’t hurt to get a haircut? Because the hair on your head is actually dead. But if it’s dead, how does it grow? Dermatologis...

Why do we need toes?

26 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Toes! They’re short and chunky, sometimes smell funky… but without them, we’d be toe-tally out of luck! We asked evolutionary anthropologist Dar...

Where do carrot seeds come from?

23 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carrots are a delicious, crunchy snack. But unlike other vegetables, carrots don’t have seeds inside. So how do farmers grow them?  We asked plant ...

Why is air invisible?

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Air – we can’t breathe without it, we can’t live without it, we know it’s made up of molecules, so why is it invisible? Chemist Vicky van der ...

Do cockroaches have hearts?

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our hearts are strong muscles that pump blood all through our bodies. But do hearts look the same in different animals? What about a tiger, or a lizar...

How do shoelaces come untied?

20 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever been walking around when you notice that your shoelaces have come untied, even though you just tied them? What’s up with that? We aske...

Why are some people lactose intolerant?

19 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Say cheese! But if you’re lactose intolerant maybe don’t eat it? Cuz any kind of milk based food will probably give you a tummy-ache! But why? We ...

How many germs could we see without a microscope?

16 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There are so many bacteria in the world that we still haven’t discovered them all! But because bacteria are so tiny, they’re really only visible w...

Why do crickets chirp?

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The sound of crickets on a warm summer evening is just so soothing, isn’t it? All those little insects in the grass, talking to each other about… ...

What would happen if you took a party balloon to space?

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever accidentally let go of a helium balloon and watched it float up … up … and away? It drifts way up in the sky until it’s just a tin...

Why does the moon change colors?

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever noticed that the moon looks different at different times of the month? Not just the shape, whether it’s full and round or a tiny slive...

What happens if you put too much yeast in bread?

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Most bread dough needs yeast to make it rise, so the bread can be light and fluffy when it bakes. But can you put TOO much yeast in bread? What happen...

Why do we use toothpaste?

09 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Toothpaste is something that lots of people use to keep their teeth clean. It makes our mouths smell nice and fresh, but that’s not the only thing i...

What's the sourest thing in the world?

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Most of us are familiar with the taste of something sour – that tart feeling that makes your eyes close and your facial features squint. Lemons, lim...

What's inside teeth?

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our teeth are incredible chomping machines. Their strong outer layer helps us crunch carrots, nibble potato chips and chew bubblegum! But what’s ins...

Why don't pine trees lose their needles in the winter?

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the winter, most of us are used to seeing bare tree branches  – but some trees, like firs, pines, and spruces, don’t usually lose their needle...

Why do different countries have different flags?

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There are 195 different countries in the world, and they all have different flags. Why is that? And where did flags come from? We asked flag expert Mi...

Why do we need punctuation marks?

02 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you open a book, you’ll see lots of letters that come together to make different words. Sandwiched in between the words are little dots, lines an...

Why do words sound funny when repeated?

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever noticed that when you say the same word over and over, it starts to sound funny? It’s like the word loses its meaning and just becomes...

How does concrete harden?

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Concrete is all around us. It makes up the buildings we live in, the sidewalks we walk on, the ramps we do our sick skateboard tricks on … but how i...

Do spiders poop?

30 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When you have a pet, part of taking care of that pet is cleaning up after them. Whether it’s scooping dog doo-doo from the yard, cleaning caca from ...

When were coupons invented?

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever looked through newspaper or magazine advertisements and seen coupons? They’re those little paper rectangles that let you pay less for ...

How does a touch screen work?

26 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Cell phones and tablets are like portals into other worlds. You can play games, take photos, read books – all with just the tap of a finger! But how...

What's the difference between a squid and an octopus?

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Cephalopods are a group of marine creatures who all have a big head, a set of arms or tentacles, and can squirt ink. This group includes animals like ...

How do we get milk from almonds?

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Almond milk is more popular than ever these days, but have you ever wondered how they actually get milk from almonds? We asked Gemma Aguayo-Murphy , r...

Why are goats' pupils horizontal?

23 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Goats are extremely important animals for lots of cultures around the world – they provide milk, meat, and even warm wool. Have you ever noticed tha...

Do insects have ears?

22 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There are all different kinds of ears in the world: big floppy elephant ears, fuzzy rabbit ears – even teeny squirrel ears smaller than a dime! But ...

Why does bamboo make a chattering sound?

19 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bamboo is a type of grass that grows into big clusters of long, straight stalks. Those stalks are super strong, and are useful for making lots of thin...

How do trees make rings?

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tree rings are kind of like a tree’s personal diary – they record everything that happens to them - from the weather, to fires and insects. One of...

Why does steam travel up instead of down?

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It seems like water always falls down. Rain and snow fall down from the sky. Watering cans pour water down on plants. Waterfalls – well, the water f...

How do fish get into lakes?

16 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Here at Moment of Um, we love fishing for questions, and the one we’re answering now is a great catch. It comes from Marc, in Miami Florida: When la...

Do butterflies sleep?

15 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sleep helps our brains and bodies rest. Lots of animals need sleep to survive, like birds, mice and even humpback whales! But what about insects, like...

Why do I get so sleepy riding in a car?

12 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever been on a long car trip, you may have noticed that you start to feel sleepy as the car moves. Is it because the seats are so comfy? I...

Can one black hole eat another black hole?

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Black holes are one of the strangest things in space: gravity is so strong that nothing gets out, not even light, so learning about them is a big chal...

Where do the insects go when Venus flytraps eat them?

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever seen a Venus flytrap in action? An unsuspecting insect lands inside and BAM! The plant’s toothy leaves snap shut in a fraction of a se...

How do narwhal tusks grow?

09 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Narwhals are sometimes called “the unicorns of the sea” because of their giant spiral tusks. It turns out that those tusks are actually a big toot...

Why do our personalities change when we’re teenagers?

08 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Some teens’ personalities seem to change more frequently than the weather in April! Why is that? What’s going on in the brains and bodies of growi...

Why do fish jump out of the water?

05 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Picture this: you’re enjoying a perfect day by your favorite lake. The sun is shining, the water is calm, and everything is peaceful … until SPLAS...

What's the difference between a butterfly and a moth?

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Picture this: you’re outside with a friend, and you both see a little insect flying around. It’s got a small dark body, some tiny antennae, and bi...

Why do things seem lighter in a pool?

03 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Swimming in the pool can be a blast, whether you’re floating peacefully, splishing and splashing, or doing the doggy paddle. But have you ever wonde...

Why can some people wiggle their ears?

02 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you know how to wiggle your ears? It might seem like one of those things that some people can do and other people just can’t, but neuroscientist ...

Why does the Earth look flat from the ground, if it's a sphere?

01 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our planet is shaped like a big blue marble. But when we’re standing on the Earth’s surface, the ground looks pretty flat. So why doesn’t the Ea...

How long does it take a Christmas tree to grow to full size?

22 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If your family celebrates Christmas, you’re probably familiar with the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree. Some trees are reusable and can be ...

Do galaxies orbit anything?

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our galaxy is amazing, but it’s not the only one. Astronomers think there could be two trillion others out there. So, what’s up with those other g...

Does temperature exist in a black hole?

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Black holes are created when a giant star explodes into a supernova. The gravity of a black hole is so incredibly strong that it pulls in anything tha...

How much DNA do we share with tardigrades?

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know there is a microscopic animal that can live up to 30 years without food? And that can survive in the vacuum of space? They are called tar...

Could there be exoplanets that have life?

18 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our universe is enormous and filled with lots of planets. We call planets outside our solar system exoplanets. Could one of these distant places have ...

Why does tea taste stronger the longer you let it sit?

15 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There’s nothing like a cozy cup of tea. Have you ever noticed that the longer you leave the tea bag in, the more flavorful the tea gets? How does th...

How do different ingredients become a cake?

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There are tons of cake recipes out there, from angel food to red velvet. These recipes make different types of cake, but mostly share the same ingredi...

Can the smell of your farts be determined by genetics?

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

OH FARTS! Passing gas can be one of the amusing or embarrassing parts of your day. How you feel about tooting can be influenced by lots of factors inc...

Are there earthquakes on other planets?

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Earthquakes happen when the rocky plates that make up the surface of our planet move against each other. But what about quakes in other parts of our g...

How do evergreens stay green all winter?

11 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Lots of trees shed their leaves to prepare for chilly winter temperatures – but not all of them. Evergreen trees, like pines and spruces, keep their...

What is DNA made of?

08 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

DNA is a tiny molecule found inside almost every living thing on Earth. It’s      an instruction manual that tells your body how to grow and what...

Why are some flowers called weeds?

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dandelions are the best! Their sunny, bright yellow blooms make amazing flower crowns. Their leaves are loaded with vitamins and nutrients. And eventu...

Why do swear words exist?

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Words are wonderful! Pickle, bubble, and hullabaloo are all super fun to say.  But some words can be hurtful, like  swear words. So if we aren’t s...

Do flowers fall in love?

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Flowers help us express our love. A beautiful bouquet can say to the people in our lives, “I’m thinking of you” or even “I love you!” But wh...

How do plant roots suck up water?

04 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Plants do so many different things: they grow fruits and veggies, make beautiful flowers and even pump out oxygen for us to breathe. But how do they s...

Why is salmon meat pink?

01 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Salmon meat can make a delicious meal and, since it has plenty of vitamins and minerals, can be a great part of a nutritious diet. What really makes s...

Why is milk white?

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Milk! It’s a cookie’s best friend. It’s a key part of a creamy cup of hot chocolate. And it’s delicious, whether it comes from a cow, a goat, ...

Are there clouds in space?

29 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Quick, look up at the sky! Do you see any fluffy puffy cotton candy clouds? Or maybe long, wispy ones? What about dark storm clouds? There are so many...

Are the galaxies in Star Wars based on real science?

28 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Star Wars famously starts with “A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away…” And boy are there some amazing galaxies in Star Wars. But a planet w...

Why are the primary colors different from the colors of light?

27 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You may have learned that the colors red, yellow, and blue are called primary colors. It’s sometimes said you can use those three to make all the ot...

How do people freeze-dry food?

24 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Freeze-dried food seems like something that was invented for space travel, but this technique for preserving food is actually more than a hundred year...

Why does cotton candy dissolve in your mouth?

23 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s question was sent in by a curious listener who wondered why fluffy, sugary-sweet cotton candy dissolves on your tongue. We asked food scient...

How does popcorn pop?

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re a movie lover, a snack lover, or just a lover of things that go “POP!”, you might be wondering what makes a kernel of corn pop. We ask...

How does cheese get its color?

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Food Week! We’re excited to bring you a whole week of delicious Moment of Yums leading up to Thanksgiving. First up: cheese! Cheese is delicio...

If you took enough vitamins everyday, could you live without food?

20 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Many people take vitamins along with the normal food they eat in a day. But what if you ate ONLY vitamins? Could you survive? We asked Craig Sherwin f...

Is the sun the hottest thing in the universe?

17 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What do curling irons, campfires, and cups of hot cocoa have in common?  They’re all hot!  But nothing is as hot as the sun – at least not in ou...

Why are so many planets named after Roman gods?

16 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

All of the planets in our solar system, and plenty of the moons, are named after gods or other figures from ancient Roman mythology. Have you ever won...

Why do grown-ups give more attention to babies than kids?

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When you’re an only child, it might feel nice to have all the attention for a few years until – DUN DUN DUN! – a little sibling comes along. Som...

What are planets made of?

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We spend a lot of time on top of our planet, but we don’t spend much time inside it. So it makes sense you might wonder what our planet is made of, ...

How do snails make their shells?

13 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever seen a snail sliming along, eyestalks a-waving, carrying its whole house on its back? What are snail shells made of, anyway? And how do ...

What is inside a cactus?

10 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Many cactuses are covered in spikes - making them terrible to hug. But what about inside a cactus? Is it also spiky? Or is it soft and cuddly? And is ...

How are red, yellow, and blue made for paint?

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What does painting the most splendid sunset and the most radiant rainbow have in common? They both require lots of beautiful paint colors! We can blen...

Why do we like shiny things?

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ever find yourself staring at a shiny jewel? Or wowed by the glistening paint on a freshly washed car? Or inexplicably drawn to a magazine with a glos...

How many planets are in space?

07 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When you look up at the night sky, what do you see?  A few stars, or a satellite, maybe even one of the seven other planets in our solar system?  Bu...

How do animals become endangered?

06 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There are hundreds of different plants and animals on Earth that are endangered. That means they’re at risk of going extinct if they’re not protec...

Do snails pee, poop, or fart?

03 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Snails are some of the world’s coolest creatures.  They’ve been around since the dinosaurs walked the Earth – and they carry their houses on th...

What would happen to Earth if the moon disappeared?

02 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

To us Earthlings, the moon is the ultimate cosmic chameleon. It’s always changing! Some nights it’s waxing, some nights waning, one day it’s ful...

Why do we like screen time so much?

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever have trouble putting away your tablet or turning off the TV? Us, too! Lots of people end hours every day using screens – but why do we l...

How many colors can we see?

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a colorful world out there! When light from the sun hits surfaces on Earth, those surfaces reflect different wavelengths of light. Our eyes col...

Why are apples different colors?

30 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Fall is finally here!  For much of the world, that means falling leaves, cozy sweaters, and lots and lots of apples!  There are over 7,000 species o...

What would happen if the Earth were flat?

27 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Throughout history, people all over the world have pictured our planet in different ways, including as a flat disc. It can be hard to see the Earth’...

How do fish handle pressure at the bottom of the ocean?

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The ocean has multiple layers, like a big, watery, salty cake. The deeper underwater you go, the more water above you – and the weight of all that w...

Do you control your emotions or do your emotions control you?

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When was the last time you laughed so hard your stomach hurt? Or cried so hard you couldn’t breathe? Sometimes it’s hard to tell if our emotions a...

Could a bird or fish live on the International Space Station?

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The International Space Station is the largest structure that humans have ever launched into space. Hundreds of people have visited the space station ...

Why do apples turn brown after we cut them?

23 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever put a bag of delicious crunchy apple slices in your backpack, only to discover they’ve turned brown by lunchtime? What’s up with tha...

What is the universe made of?

20 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The universe can be a very mysterious place. It’s so big! And so full of incredible things! But what’s it made of? We asked astronomy professor Ch...

What causes growing pains?

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever felt a little twinge or ache in your body, but you’re not sure where it came from? It might have been a growing pain! Just like a plan...

What determines the type of vitamins in each food?

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We eat food to power our bodies and keep us healthy. After all, food is full of the vitamins we need to survive. If you need vitamin C, try an orange....

Why do we get cranky when we get tired?

17 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s pretty easy to tell when someone didn’t get enough sleep and you may have even felt the warning signs yourself. Simple things might feel anno...

Do flies get itchy?

16 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Lots of animals feel itchy sometimes! Bears rub their backs on rough tree trunks, dogs love a good belly scratch and birds itch themselves with their ...

Can we visit the farthest parts of our solar system?

13 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our solar system is full of incredible things, from rocky asteroids to Saturn’s spectacular rings. But most of these things are millions or even bil...

What type of fuel powers rockets?

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rocket engines have to push REALLY hard against Earth’s gravity to get up off the ground. The rockets that NASA sends into space weigh over a millio...

How do rockets fly?

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

3…2…1… Blast off! Rockets launch things into space, which is no easy task. They have to push off from the Earth and zoom at great speeds to brea...

Is hyperdrive possible?

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In movies and TV shows spaceships can often travel faster than the speed of light. It’s an idea often called a hyperdrive or warp speed, and it woul...