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

Explain Like I'm 5: Bite sized answers to stuff you should know about - in a mini podcast by ELI5 Explain Like I'm Five Podcast

Mar 6, 20268:25Education

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 w...

Related Episodes

Continue listening to more episodes from Explain Like I'm 5: Bite sized answers to stuff you should know about - in a mini podcast.

ELI5 Carbonated Water - why does flat soda still taste like soda?

May 26, 2026 - 8:14

Why do soft drinks exclusively use carbon dioxide instead of gases like oxygen or nitrogen? Why does "fla...

ELI5 Money Laundering - what, why and how?

May 22, 2026 - 9:17

What is money laundering? Why can’t a criminal just spend good old fashioned cash? What are some of the w...

ELI5 Helium - is there really a global shortage?

Apr 10, 2026 - 9:23

How can "superfluid" helium flow against gravity and climb up the walls of a container? Why was helium di...

ELI5 Cupping Therapy - can bruises really heal you?

Mar 13, 2026 - 6:50

Why do we see many professional athletes look like they were attacked by a giant octopus? How did a treat...

ELI5 Norway's Olympics - how tiny Norway conquered the Winter Olympics

Feb 27, 2026 - 7:44

How did a country with only 5.7 million people beat much larger countries in Winter Olympic medals? Why d...

ELI5 One Way Mirrors - how do they work?

Feb 20, 2026 - 7:29

How do one way mirrors allow light to pass in only one direction? If light travels through the glass equa...

ELI5 Ski Jumping - how do they not get injured when landing?

Feb 13, 2026 - 7:44

With such great speeds and a significant vertical drop, how do ski jumpers not sustain injury when landin...

ELI5 Fire Extinguishers - why are they red in color?

Feb 6, 2026 - 8:18

Why is most fire equipment red in color? What happens if you use the wrong class of extinguisher on a gre...