Building off of last week's lesson about overwatering, Cheryl asks about why leaves turn yellow when "bad" things happen to the plant and whether or not it's connected to why leaves change color in the fall. To answer the question Cheryl will need to remember what she learned about pigments and see if she can remember a bit about photosynthesis. This is part of the Houseplants unit. Resources from this episode Common mistakes growing tomatoes in containers Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us ...
Sep 12, 2022•24 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Cheryl is into growing houseplants and realized that she has lots of questions about how they work, so we're going to do a whole unit just on houseplants! This week we learn about how overwatering and underwatering are related to each other, the things plants need to live, and why roots are so important for healthy plants. Its never too late to learn about the world around you. This is part of the Houseplants unit. Resources from this episode: Basics of Plant Respiration Why do plants need oxyge...
Sep 05, 2022•24 min•Season 5Ep. 1
In the last lesson of the color unit, Cheryl asks about the dress the "broke the internet" where people couldn't agree about whether it was white and gold or blue and black. To answer the question, Ryan will talk about how we perceive colors, including a few optical illusions! This is part of our Color unit. Resources from this episode: How "the dress" became an illusion unlike any other Optical Illusion: Dress colour debate goes global Two years later, we finally know why people saw "the dress"...
Aug 29, 2022•32 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Cheryl asks a deeper question about color: what actually makes an object the color it appears? She applies what she's learned about different wavelengths of light to answer the question and along the way learns about other colors of light that humans can't see, like x-rays, gamma rays, ultraviolet, microwaves, and even radio waves. It's never too late to learn about the world around you. This is part of our Color unit. Resources from this episode: How do pigments absorb and reflect different wav...
Aug 22, 2022•28 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Building off of last week's lesson about why the sky is blue, now Cheryl wants to know why sunsets aren't blue! Ryan tries to create some visual aides on the fly, struggles, but still get's the idea across. By the end Cheryl is really starting to get the hang of talking about color! This is part of the Color unit. Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 France L...
Aug 15, 2022•22 min•Season 4Ep. 7
The quintessential question from growing up, why is the sky blue, gets answered today! One of the commonly given answers ends up not being correct and Ryan gesticulates wildly. It's never too late to learn about the world around you! This is part of the Color unit. Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 France License...
Aug 08, 2022•27 min•Season 4Ep. 6
We have a special guest exchange student this week with her own science question - our Podcast graphic artist, Beth! As an artist, Beth has a good understanding of colors and paints, but doesn't understand how glow-in-the-dark paint works, so she joins Ryan & Cheryl to see if they can help. It's never too late to learn about the world around you. This is part of our Color unit. Resources from this episode: The Secret Lives of Color Luminous Paint The Difference Between Luminescence & Pho...
Aug 01, 2022•28 min•Season 4Ep. 5
What actually forms a rainbow? Where do you need to be to see a rainbow? And most importantly, can Cheryl have her own personal rainbow? It's never too late to learn about the world around you. This is part of our Color unit. Resources from this episode: EarthSky Information Palace Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 France License...
Jul 25, 2022•27 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Based on a song from preschool, Cheryl asks about the real number of colors in the rainbow (and yes, Cheryl does sing the song for us). This leads to lots more questions about light, rainbows in general, and even a bit of history. This is part of the Color unit. Resources from this episode: Science Learn Scientific Minds Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 F...
Jul 18, 2022•26 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Cheryl tells a story from her childhood that fuels her desire to see the Northern Lights. But what actually causes them? Is it the Sun? Is something reflecting? Does something generate the light like some organisms can generate light? The answer is even more interesting and cool, so come learn with us today. It's never to late to learn about the world around you. This is part of the Color unit. Resources from this episode: Canadian Space Agency EarthSky NASA - Aurorae from space NASA - Jupiter's...
Jul 11, 2022•32 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Happy 4th of July! We start a new unit this week all about color and what better way than by talking about fireworks! Cheryl doesn't think she knows much about fireworks, but we push on anyway and learn that at least some of how fireworks work is simpler than initially though. This is part of our Color unit. Resources from this episode: American Chemical Society How Professional Fireworks Work (YouTube) How do fireworks make their sound? National Parks Service - Gunpowder LA Times - Hospital col...
Jul 04, 2022•24 min•Season 4Ep. 1
At the risk of being awkward, this week we learn about how chickens make eggs! Things stay PG, but there is discussion of where eggs and chicks come from...as well as quite a bit of talk about food (which makes Cheryl happy). Come along and learn with us; it's never too late to learn about the world around you! This is part of the Biology unit. Resources from this episode: Thank Chickens Sciencing Purina Mills Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme S...
Jun 27, 2022•26 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Living in the Pacific Northwest, Cheryl & Ryan see a lot of evergreen trees. But why don't they lose their needles when trees with broader leaves do every winter? Learn the answer to this question as well as why evergreen trees are "the camels of the plant world" according to Cheryl in this week's lesson! This is part of the Biology unit. Resources from this episode: EarthSky Trees of the US Map Coniferous Forest Map Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twit...
Jun 20, 2022•23 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Where does eye color come from and how is it connected to a bunch of squares? Learn with Cheryl a bit of how complicated and fascinating the genetics of eye color can be, including why some traits are dominant and others are recessive. This lesson is part of the Biology unit. Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 France License...
Jun 13, 2022•28 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Cheryl gets to talk about penguins again, look at pretty maps, and even has a special surprise at the end of the lesson. Oh, and learn a bit about biodiversity as well. This is part of the Biology Unit. Resources from this episode: Biodiversity map Plant biodiversity map Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 France License...
Jun 06, 2022•30 min•Season 3Ep. 4
What does it mean for food to be organic? Is Organic food healthier for you? And will this week's topic lead to Ryan ranting? Listen and find out! This is part of the Biology unit. Resources from this episode: USDA Organic Labeling USDA list of allowed substances EPA Pesticide Regulations Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 France License...
May 30, 2022•32 min•Season 2Ep. 3
This week we answer another listener question, discover which bird would make the best villain, and find out which bird is Cheryl's favorite. This is part of the Biology unit. Resources from this episode: TedEd The Moa Flying Penguins (funny) Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 France License...
May 23, 2022•28 min•Season 3Ep. 2
This week starts a new unit: Biology! We start with an overview of Biology and then quickly move into questions like: Why does Cheryl think she's like a platypus? What even is a platypus anyway, and is it even possible to classify it? And Ryan has a special surprise for Cheryl at the end. This is part of the Biology unit. Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 ...
May 16, 2022•29 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In the final lesson in our Hot & Cold unit, Cheryl learns how making ice cream, deicing roads, and antifreeze are connected. She also reflects back on what she's learned during the unit and how the concepts are connected. Resources from this episode: Wikipedia Stack Exchange Scientific American Florida State University Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0...
May 09, 2022•32 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Why does licking a metal pole in the winter cause your tongue to stick to the pole? Why can ice from your freezer feel sticky? And what's different between Cheryl & Ryan's freezers? Learn the answers to these questions and more this week. It's never too late to learn about the world around you! Resources from this episode: New Your Times Physics Stack Exchange How Stuff Works Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing L...
May 02, 2022•24 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Why can you use the same liquid to burn warts off your foot as you do to make ice cream really quickly? And how can this mysterious substance let you be a dragon? Listen this week's lesson will answer this and more all about liquid nitrogen! This lesson is part of the Hot & Cold unit. Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 France License...
Apr 25, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Popular at Halloween parties, what is that mysterious substance that gives off "smoke" and doesn't leave a puddle behind? Come along with Cheryl and learn what Dry Ice actually is and what makes it so unique! This lesson is part of the Hot & Cold unit. Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 France License...
Apr 18, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Is it true the vodka can never freeze? Why would putting vodka in the freezer help it last longer? And why would whiskey be declared the winner by Ryan and Cheryl? Listen to this weeks episode to find out! This lesson is part of the Hot & Cold unit. Resources from this episode: Alcohol & Whiskey Freezing Temperatures States of Matter Simulation Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution...
Apr 11, 2022•31 min•Season 2Ep. 4
We've all seen water boil, but have you ever wondered why? Where do those bubbles come from, anyway? And what are they made of? Learn along with Cheryl about the answer to these questions and the wonders of phase changes! This lesson is part of the Hot & Cold unit. Resources from this episode: States of Matter Simulation Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2...
Apr 04, 2022•30 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Revisiting a question Cheryl had from Lesson 2, we learn that molecules move, even in solids like a desk. But why? And how does that relate to the temperature of an object? Plus a surprise throwback to our childhood. This lesson is part of the Hot & Cold unit. Resources from this episode: States of Matter Simulation Bill Nye: Heat Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Sha...
Mar 28, 2022•30 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Several movies and books predict disastrous results if the Moon were to get closer to Earth. We all know that ocean tides are caused by the Moon, but *how* does the Moon cause the tides? Listen to this week's lesson and learn with Cheryl! Resources from this episode: Tides Simulation Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 France License...
Mar 21, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Can you whistle? Do you know how whistling works? How similar is whistling to musical instruments? These questions and more will be answered in this week's lesson, along with some things to try yourself! Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 France License...
Mar 14, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 9
What's so special about the "new" COVID-19 vaccines? Why are they different? And what exactly are vaccines, anyway? Learn along with Cheryl a bit about how our immune systems work and why vaccines are an impressive medical tool. Note: this episode was recorded in July 2021. Resources from this episode: In a Nutshell Video about Vaccines Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-S...
Mar 07, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 8
A college professor once told Cheryl that its better (for you) to hit a pedestrian with your car than to hit another car or a telephone pole. Besides the moral implications, does this have any scientific backing? This week's lesson will answer that question! Resources from this episode: Eureka Inertia Cartoon The Physics of Car Crashes Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing Licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Sh...
Feb 28, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Ever wondered where the salt in the ocean comes from? Or why rivers and streams aren't salty, but oceans are? This week Cheryl learns about what makes the oceans salty, as well as some well known salty lakes as well. The answer may surprise you. References: Why is the ocean salty - USGS Why is the ocean salty - NOAA Why is the ocean salty, but rivers flowing into it are not? - NOAA Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , & Twitter Theme Song: Swing 39 by Latché Swing...
Feb 21, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 6
