Quick: What’s your first memory? Was it a birthday party? A family camping trip? Or choking on a hard candy (more on that later)?

Even though little kids remember plenty, most of us lose access to key memories as we get older. It’s something scientists call childhood amnesia. But what gives?

Why can’t we remember anything before age three and only hazy things before age six? We explore just that in a recent episode of the Ask Us Anything podcast, delving into the science behind why our brains forget our earliest memories. Popular Science’s Ask Us Anything podcast (as well as our written series of the same name) answers your most outlandish, mind-burning questions—from the everyday things you’ve always wondered to the bizarre things you never thought to ask.

So, yes, there’s a reason dogs tilt their heads and you’re right, candy does taste different now. If you have a question for us, send us a note. Nothing is too silly or simple.

This episode is based on the Popular Science article “Why we forget our childhoods” by R.J. Mackenzie. Subscribe to Ask Us Anything Listen and follow Ask Us Anything on your favorite podcast platform: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Or wherever you get your podcasts.

Full Episode Transcript Sarah Durn: What’s your first real memory? Edith: My earliest memory is waking up to see Big Elmo. The stuffed animal!

Dan: My earliest memory is sitting on my mom’s lap while she played Super Mario Brothers. Katherine: Being in my grandma’s kitchen and I’m sitting on the counter and she’s combing my hair. And it’s just a very warm, happy memory of me and my grandma.

Dale: My earliest memory is of a grapevine in my parents’ backyard when I was probably three or four years old. Alex: My earliest memory was petting my dog. She was a big fluffy akita and I was a tiny baby.

SD: Welcome to Ask Us Anything from the editors of Popular Science where we answer your questions about our weird world from “why do we need braces” to “were there any venomous dinosaurs?” No question is too bizarre or too basic. I’m Sarah Durn, an editor at Popular Science. Annie Colbert: And I’m editor-in-chief Annie Colbert.

I have a little bit of a head cold today. SD: Here at PopSci, we can’t resist a quirky question, AC: And this week’s question feels a little existential: Why can’t we remember being babies? SD: You learned how to walk, talk, recognize faces—arguably some of the most important things your brain will ever do.

AC: Yes. So the big question is: If we’re forming all of these memories, where do they go? Are they just gone forever or are they hiding somewhere?

SD: That’s exactly what scientists are trying to figure out, and the answer might be less about losing memories and more about not being able to access them. AC: Okay. So it’s not that baby-you had a bad memory.

It’s just that adult-you can’t get the files open. SD: Yeah. Some scientists even think that losing access to those early memories could help us reset and adapt as we grow up.

AC: Wow. So your brain is basically Marie Kondo-ing your memories. SD: Yeah. That’s what early research is telling us.

AC: Fascinating. I love this question SD: Right? Now before we dig into all the reasons you don’t remember learning to use a toilet, we want to know what questions are keeping you up at night.

If there’s something you’ve always wanted to know, submit your question by clicking the “Ask Us” link at popsci.com/ask. Again, that’s popsci.com/ask, and click the “Ask Us” link. AC: We want the weird ones.

The strangest questions you have brewing. SD: Yes, especially the weird ones. AC: All right. When we come back, we answer the question: Where did your childhood go?

SD: And is it possible it never really left? Welcome back! Okay. Before we get into the science, Annie, I feel like we have to start at the beginning.

What’s your earliest memory? AC: Yes. Happy to share. I will give a pre-warning that it’s a little scary.

My earliest memory was something traumatic, which probably explains why I remember it. I was, I think, three or four. And I was sitting in a tent in Michigan on a family trip, and I choked on a piece of hard candy and one of my parents’ friends jumped into action.

They dislodged it, I assume, with some kind of Heimlich maneuver, but how it was resolved, I don’t remember. I don’t remember that part. But what I do remember very vividly is the color of the tent.

It was blue and that moment of fear. When I think of it, it’s almost like a live photo memory. You know, like when you take a live photo on your iPhone and it’s a short video instead of a photo.

That’s what I see when I think about that moment. SD: Man, that’s intense. I’m glad you’re okay. AC: Yes, yes, I am okay now.

It was definitely maybe not the best childhood memory, but certainly I heard a lot about it as I was growing up and my mom was very paranoid about me eating hard candies for the rest of my childhood. Um, how about you? SD: Yeah, I mean, mine isn’t as traumatic, which is good