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Why do onions make you cry?
Your onion isn't trying to make you cry. It's defending itself. Cut it, and its broken cells make a stinging gas. Scientists think the gas keeps hungry animals away.
But the gas floats up to your eyes: they feel the sting and make tears to wash it out. A sharp knife breaks fewer cells, so it can mean less gas. Next: cement vs concrete?
About this film
A 26-second widescreen (16:9) explainer film, made in the Felt & yarn craft style, published on 25 October 2026.
A little felt Onion Guard explains that it isn't trying to make you cry — it's defending itself, and your tears are your eyes washing its stinging gas away.
The style: Felt & yarn craft. Stitched felt, knitted textures, handmade diorama.
Scene by scene
- 0:00Hook: the onion isn't out to make you cry — it's defending itself.
- 0:03Cutting breaks cells, and the broken cells make a stinging gas.
- 0:07Scientists think the gas keeps hungry animals away.
- 0:10But the gas floats up to your eyes.
- 0:12Your eyes feel the sting and make tears to wash it out.
- 0:15A sharp knife breaks fewer cells, so it can mean less gas.
- 0:19End card: next, cement vs concrete.
Transcript
Your onion isn't trying to make you cry. It's defending itself. Cut it, and its broken cells make a stinging gas. Scientists think the gas keeps hungry animals away. But it floats up to your eyes. Your eyes feel the sting and make tears to wash it out. A sharp knife breaks fewer cells, so it can mean less gas. Next: cement vs concrete?
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