ELI5 Crying - why do we cry with both sadness and joy?

ELI5 Crying - why do we cry with both sadness and joy?

Author: ELI5 Explain Like I'm Five Podcast March 6, 2026 Duration: 8:25
Why is crying so much more than just being sad? Why do your lungs perform those jerky gasps once the actual sobbing stops? Why does that painful "lump" form in our throats when the glottis tries to stay open for oxygen while we're trying to swallow? How do emotional tears differ chemically from the ones we use for onions, and do they actually "flush" stress hormones out of the body? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: previous-change-4346, josvan135, gynoceros, nimo01, manatee3232, mike2220, tstack123 and lohborn To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: ELI5ThePodcast@gmail.com

Ever find yourself wondering about something seemingly simple, but the answers online are full of jargon? That's where ELI5 Explain Like I'm 5: Bite sized answers to stuff you should know about-in a mini podcast comes in. Each episode grabs a curious question-maybe why the sky is blue, how electricity actually works, or the history behind a common tradition-and breaks it down into clear, digestible pieces. The aim is genuine understanding, not just a quick fact. Sourced from the vibrant curiosity of the Reddit community, this podcast transforms those everyday "how" and "why" mysteries into short, focused conversations. You'll hear about topics spanning science, culture, society, and our planet, all explained as if to a bright five-year-old, which turns out to be the perfect clarity level for anyone. It’s for the casually inquisitive, the lifelong learner, or anyone who just wants a straightforward answer without the lecture. Tune in for a few minutes and come away a little more informed about the world, one simple explanation at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

ELI5 Explain Like I'm 5: Bite sized answers to stuff you should know about - in a mini podcast
Podcast Episodes
ELI5 Titanium - why is it the metal most used in surgeries? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:25
Why did the CIA secretly buy Soviet metal to build the very plane designed to spy on them? How does a metal named after Greek Titans manage to fuse physically with living human bone? If titanium is the ninth-most abundan…
ELI5 Xmas - how and why NORAD tracks Santa (part 2)? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:27
Why do people in the UK typically say Happy Christmas while in America it is most commonly Merry Christmas? What made red and green Christmas colors? Is it true that Coca-Cola popularized the modern look of Santa Claus?…
ELI5 Pearls - how does a grain of sand make such treasure? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:07
What makes a pearl so mesmerizing, and what is it really? What exactly is a pearl made of, and how does it form inside a mollusk? Can a grain of sand truly cause a perfect pearl? What's the difference between a natural p…
ELI5 National Debt - who do countries owe when they are in debt? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:47
If every major country is in billions of debt, where are they borrowing from? Who exactly do they owe? Are there any consequences for them being in debt? Why is it a problem when it gets large? Why was Greece in trouble,…
ELI5 Bubble Gum - why is it almost always pink? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:21
Did you know bubble gum is traditionally pink simply because the inventor ran out of every other color? Did McDonald’s really try to help kids eat healthier by inventing bubble gum-flavored broccoli? What actually sets b…
ELI5 Morse Code - what tragedy led to its invention? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:40
What sparked the invention of Morse code, and how did personal tragedy influence Samuel Morse's creation? Is Morse code still used today? How does Morse code rely on timing, and what role do dits and dahs play in underst…
ELI5 Marble - why does it feel cool to the touch? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:11
What makes marble feel cold to the touch, especially in winter apartments? How does the use of marble in art reflect the cultural values of the civilizations that employed it? What exactly is marble and how is it formed…
ELI5 Aircraft Carriers - why are the runways at an angle? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:36
Why do modern carriers feature an angled flight deck instead of a straight full-length runway like their WWII predecessors? How fast does an aircraft have to go to take off from a carrier? Why don't planes just fall off…
ELI5 Iron - is body iron different to construction iron? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:12
Is the Iron in our body different from the Iron used in construction? How did ancient cultures use meteoric iron without knowledge of metallurgy? What makes iron such a vital natural resource throughout human history? Wh…