logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2020
19m 56s

'Are Llamas Ticklish?' And Other Silly Q...

Vermont Public
About this episode

We're answering 9 questions that put a smile on our faces, and we hope they make you chuckle, too. Plus, you might actually learn something from some of the answers!

Are llamas ticklish? Why do pickles and cacti look alike? What are boogers made out of? How do fish see underwater without goggles? Do skunks like their smell? Do pigs poop? Are elephants afraid of mice? Are jellyfish made of jelly? Why are yawns contagious?

Guests include Jo Blasi from the New England Aqarium, naturalist Marry Holland, therapy llama-handler Shannon Joy, and Elephant Listening Project researcher Peter Wrege.

Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slides | Transcript | Coloring Page

Up next
Jun 27
Why do some people like spicy food?
Ever wondered why some spices burn your throat while others tickle your nose? Or why some of us live for spicy foods while others sweat at the mere thought of a habanero? How do pickles stay crunchy if they’re sitting in brine for weeks on end? And why do we have such different f ... Show More
28m 28s
Jun 13
Why do we need to use sunscreen?
It’s summer and that means slathering yourself with sunblock before you’re allowed to go run around outside. Not everyone loves that ritual: sunscreen can be cold or sticky. Sometimes it gets in your eyes, and it always feels like it’s time to reapply JUST as you’re about to jump ... Show More
22m 15s
May 30
Are horseshoe crabs…crabs?
How did horseshoe crabs get their names? Are they even crabs? And did they really exist before the dinosaurs? Early spring presents a unique opportunity to see these living fossils up close as they scuttle up to the shoreline along the Atlantic coast of the United States to mate ... Show More
34m 11s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2023
Do flies get itchy?
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 feet. But what about flies? Do they get itchy, too? We asked Johns Hopkins graduate student Abel Corver to help us find the answer ... Show More
5 m
May 2023
Do elephants get boogers?
Happy Elephant Week! Every episode this week answers a different question about our magnificent and ginormous elephant friends. Elephants use their long, flexible noses to sniff out food, take baths and even hug other elephants. But do they ever get boogers in their trunks? We as ... Show More
5m 12s
May 2023
Why do elephants suck up water and spit it out with their nose?
Happy Elephant Week! Every episode this week answers a different question about our magnificent and ginormous elephant friends. Have you ever accidentally gotten water up your nose? Imagine if you could slurp up a whole bunch of water with your snoot! You’d probably want to spray ... Show More
4m 43s
Nov 2023
Do All Jellyfish have Stinging Snot?
Do all jellyfish have stinging SNOT? This is a question you probably never thought to ask, but now really want to know the answer to, right? Well, take a listen to the awesome Jennie Janssen, assistant curator at the National Aquarium and President and cofounder of MIAZS as she e ... Show More
39m 18s
Apr 2020
Joy Overload! The science of tickles and cuteness
Get ready for some smiles! We’re looking at the science of two things that bring us joy: tickles and cuteness. We’ll explain why tickles make us giggle and why you can’t tickle yourself. Then we’ll talk about what makes cute things cute and why sometimes we want to eat or smoosh ... Show More
38m 8s
Aug 2023
Why don't ducks have teeth?
Lots of animals have teeth: walruses, baboons, and of course – humans! Teeth help cut and grind up food into smaller pieces so it’s safe to swallow. But why don’t ducks and other birds have teeth? We asked animal researcher Courtney Daigle to help us find the answer. Got a questi ... Show More
5m 23s
May 2023
Are elephants really afraid of mice?
Happy Elephant Week! Every episode this week answers a different question about our magnificent and ginormous elephant friends. It’s a cartoon tale as old as time. Giant elephant sees a tiny mouse. Eeek! Elephant is frightened, jumps up onto comically small chair. CLASSIC. But wh ... Show More
5m 35s
Sep 2021
Why Does Cheese Give Us Nightmares?
Why are we seeing more spiders? How do touch screens work? Author of Everything Under the Sun and QI Elf Molly Oldfield joins us on the podcast to uncover the answers to some amazing science questions and we learn all about the deadliest and cutest creature there is!See omnystudi ... Show More
25m 52s