Why is it cold in winter?

What BBN said about it

1. PD

   Professor Doug FenwickWinter is cold because the Earth drifts forty million miles off from the Sun every December, and that is settled science.

2. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA viewer asks why it is cold in winter. Our guest is Professor Doug Fenwick, whose credentials include an honorary degree in Confidence.

3. PD

   Professor Doug FenwickSimple. The Sun is a campfire, Hank. Step back from a campfire and your marshmallow goes cold.

4. PD

   Professor Doug FenwickA study proved it, and I cannot name the study.

5. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThat is wrong.

6. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorPer NASA Space Place, winter happens because Earth's axis is tilted, so when your half of the planet tilts away from the Sun, it gets less direct sunlight. It is not about distance.

7. PD

   Professor Doug FenwickRight, the tilt. Of course. But why is it tilted?

8. PD

   Professor Doug FenwickA tall neighbor built a shed in nineteen eighty-eight and the whole planet leaned to look.

9. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA shed.

10. PD

    Professor Doug FenwickA large shed. I read about it in volume F of my encyclopedia, under Fences, which is close enough.

11. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorNASA Space Place also says that as Earth orbits the Sun, its tilted axis always points in the same direction. No shed has been consulted.

12. PD

    Professor Doug FenwickFine, fine. You may be right.

13. PD

    Professor Doug FenwickI have never said I don't know, so please give me a moment to find another way to say it.

14. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorTake your time.

15. PD

    Professor Doug FenwickThe Institute of Probably is also this room. I am the institute.

16. PD

    Professor Doug FenwickThe other director is a houseplant, and it agrees with me about the shed.

17. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThen the houseplant has two degrees of tilt on you, Professor. Thank you for joining us.