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Why the Hell Is That?

Why the Hell Is That?

By: Origami Penguin Press
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Summary
 Why is it colder on a mountain when you're closer to the sun? Why can't you tickle yourself? Where the hell did our tails go? Every episode takes one question you've wondered about and gives you the real answer: what most people get wrong, what's actually going on, the weird bonus facts, and one thing worth stealing for your next dinner conversation. Honest about what science still doesn't know. New episodes daily, about 10 minutes each. Hosted by Jeremy Kelly. An Origami Penguin Press production.Origami Penguin Press Science
Episodes
  • Why Is Yawning Contagious?

    Why Is Yawning Contagious?
    Nov 13 2026

    You're probably going to yawn during this episode. Sorry. We'll cover why the old 'more oxygen' explanation didn't survive testing, the brain-cooling theory, and why yawns spread between people, chimps, and sometimes from you to your dog. Why the Hell Is That? is an Origami Penguin Press production.
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    11 mins
  • Where the Hell Did Our Tails Go?

    Where the Hell Did Our Tails Go?
    Nov 12 2026

    Monkeys have tails. We have a tailbone that hurts like crazy when you fall on it. In 2024, scientists reported a 'jumping gene' that may have helped switch off tails in our ancestors around twenty-five million years ago. Here's the evidence and what it cost us. Why the Hell Is That? is an Origami Penguin Press production.
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    10 mins
  • Do Fish Get Thirsty?

    Do Fish Get Thirsty?
    Nov 11 2026

    They live in water, so how could they ever need a drink? Turns out ocean fish drink seawater all day long, while freshwater fish basically never do. Here's how fish manage salt and water, and what salmon do when they switch between the two. Why the Hell Is That? is an Origami Penguin Press production.
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    11 mins
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