Broadcast Outage: We're investigating a broadcast transmission failure affecting the San Luis Valley from Antonito in the south to Salida in the north. We're working to resolve this issue. You can stream our live broadcast HERE or via the RMPBS+ App.

Stream live and on-demand content now on our new app:

RMPBS+

Donate

Help tell more stories in 2026 - make a year-end gift!

Be Smart show's poster

Science and Nature

How Some Words Are Forgotten

Join Joe Hanson as he explores curiosity and illuminates the science behind… well, everything.

How Some Words Are Forgotten

Season 6 Episode 23 | 10m 49s | CC

English is a confusing language for many reasons. But the irregular verbs might be the most confusing part. Why is “told” the past tense of “tell” but “smold” isn’t the past tense of “smell”? It turns out that the study of irregular verbs can teach us a lot about how languages evolve. This week, we look at how the era of Big Data is unlocking secrets behind the weirdness of words.

share

Be Smart

Watch more episodes

Why Do We Itch (ASL)

We explore how and why itching help!

This Salamander Can Regrow Limbs Like Deadpool

Axolotls are special salamanders because they can regenerate entire limbs!

Where Did Earth's Water Come From?

The origin of water traces beyond the solar system to the earliest days of the universe!

Subscribe to Our Newsletters

Get trusted Colorado stories, programs, and events from Rocky Mountain PBS straight to your inbox.

Set Your Preferences >