Tumble Science Podcast for Kids

Latest Episodes:

How To Be a Helping Scientist Jun 11, 2021

Show notes

How can science help people? Charita Castro is a scientist who’s spent her life using science to make kids’ lives better, all over the world. When she was little, she saw something that made her ask a big question: “Why don’t other kids have what I have?” She decided to dedicate her life to helping other people. But she didn’t know how until she discovered social science. Follow Charita’s journey to find out about a very special kind of science!

Did you know: Saturday, June 12 is the World Day to End Child Labor! 2021 is the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labor. We have resources on the blog on our website to get involved with the fight against child labor, anytime you want to start!

Learn more about how social science works during our special bonus interview episode with Charita. It’s available to Patrons who pledge just $1/month or more, on patreon.com/tumblepodcast

This is our last episode of Season 6! But don’t worry, we have lots to share over the summer. Stay subscribed (and listen to birthday shoutouts) throughout the summer. We’ll be launching a BRAND NEW PODCAST and you don’t want to miss it!!

The Science of Your Favorite Foods May 28, 2021

Show notes

What’s your favorite food? Why does it taste so good? It turns out, what we think is tasty isn’t just a matter of opinion. It’s science! Ecologist and science writer Rob Dunn takes us on a journey back in time, before kitchens, cooking, and even farming! We find out how our ancestors’ tastes shaped our own cravings - and how our experiences lead us to pick our favorites.

Curious to learn more about the science of taste? Listen to our bonus interview episode with Rob Dunn on Patreon! Available for Patrons who support Tumble at the $1/ level or higher! Pledge at patreon.com/tumblepodcast.

We have free resources to learn more about taste and our ancient ancestors on the blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com.

Our next episode on June 11 will be the final episode of Season 6! But don't worry, we'll have plenty of listening on our feed over the summer - and we'll be doing Patreon birthday shoutouts!

The Seed Treasure Map May 14, 2021

Show notes

How long can a seed live? To find out, scientists follow a secret map on a mission under the cover of night, to find a buried treasure. It’s all part of one of the longest running, most legendary experiments in science history! We follow plant biologist David Lowry and his team on this secret scientist-spy-treasure hunt, which only happens once every 20 years. But things don’t go quite as planned. Find out what happens on this epic science quest, if seeds will sprout after 141 years underground, and what a wise, ancient rabbit has to do with it all.

Curious to learn more about David and the Beal Seed Experiment? Listen to our bonus interview episode on Patreon! Available for Patrons who support Tumble at the $1/ level or higher! Pledge at patreon.com/tumblepodcast

See photos of the experiment, read more about the 2021 dig, and find out how to do your own seed experiments - all on the blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com.

The Hunt for the Alien Viruses Apr 30, 2021

Show notes

Can viruses live in space? That’s what our listener Julian wants to know. It turns out, that’s a question that scientists are asking, too! Kathryn Bywaters is one of the scientists starting the search for viruses in space. She believes that finding viruses might be the easiest way to discover life on other planets. But first, we have to learn more about what a virus is, and how to find them. Discover why viruses are like the “message in a bottle” of alien life, and how you could become a real life alien virus hunter on Mars.

Hear more from Kathryn about viruses in space! Listen to our special bonus interview episode available for patrons who pledge $1 or more a month on patreon.com/tumblepodcast.

Visit our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com, for more resources to learn about the search for life and viruses in our solar system.

Parents! This week, we're recommending Science Vs, a science podcast for adults! Find it wherever you listen to podcasts.

How To Name A Galaxy Apr 16, 2021

Show notes

How do you get a galaxy named for you? In this episode, we learn about the incredible life of Burçin Mutlu-Pakdil, who discovered a new type of galaxy now known as “Burçin’s Galaxy.” Since she was young, Burçin dreamed of studying the stars as an astrophysicist. But she faced many challenges to getting an education, because of what she wanted to wear. Burçin was determined to both be true to her beliefs, and become a scientist. Find out how she did it, and made a huge discovery that changes the way we think about the universe. Hear more from Burcin about her work on dark matter! Listen to our special bonus interview episode available for patrons who pledge $1 or more a month on patreon.com/tumblepodcast. Visit the blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com, for more resources on this episode including videos, photos, and links to more galaxy science.

What If Fish Had Legs? Apr 02, 2021

Show notes

Fish with legs? Crazy, right? Turns out, fish with legs are a lot more real than you might think! We teamed up with What If World, one of our favorite storytelling podcasts, to answer this question both scientifically and creatively! In our “science version,” we consult with the funniest fish biologist you’ll ever meet, Solomon David. He’s obsessed with creating puns for gars, the prehistoric fish that he studies. And he explains why fish are the reason that we have legs! Plus, you’ll meet fish that can “walk” on land. It’s nuts. On April 5 - three days after this episode is released - you’ll want to tune into fellow kidcast What If World to hear Marshall and Lindsay guest-star in a story about their pet gar who grows legs and puts them in a tank! It’s the “creative version” of the story, and What If World’s 200th episode! Wait, want more science? Listen to the bonus interview episode with Solomon David, when you support Tumble at the $1 level or higher on Patreon. You’ll also get an ad-free feed! Pledge at patreon.com/tumble podcast. We’ll also have videos of gars, amphibious fish, and images of Tiktaalik on the blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com.

Whooo Are Owls? Mar 19, 2021

Show notes

What are the origins of owls, and why do they stay up at night? We answer questions from two owl-curious Tumble listeners. with the help of Harvard ornithologist Dr. Scott Edwards. He takes us on a journey starting in the time of the dinosaurs, to unravel the secrets of what made owls WHOOOO they are today. This episode is brought to you with support from Turing Tumble! (Note: No relation to our podcast.) Turing Tumble is an educational game where players build marble-powered computers to solve puzzles - with no screens necessary! Marshall and Lindsay tried it out with their son, and genuinely love it. Go to turingtumble.com/tumble to see how it works. Enter code TUMBLE for 10% off your order. Learn more about owls with Scott Edwards, in our bonus interview episode! It’s available to Patrons who pledge just $1/month. Support Tumble today at patreon.com/tumblepodcast. Check out the bird family tree, and then draw your own version! It’s on our blog at sciencepodcastforkids.com, along with other free educational resources. Click here to watch Marshall & Wingo’s “True or Poo” game show with Tumble listener Orla!

Music Meets Science Mar 05, 2021

Show notes

What happens when a scientist is also a musician? For Barbara McClintock, the combination may have led the way to a Nobel Prize in genetics. Science historian Jocelyn Bosley tells us the story of Barbara’s remarkable life, and how her experience playing banjo in a jazz band (yes) helped her discover “jumping genes.” This is a very musical episode, with special guest jazz banjoist Mick Sullivan of The Past & The Curious! We highly recommend his history podcast. Want to hear more from our interview with Jocelyn? Listen to our exclusive interview episode on Patreon, available to those who pledge just $1 or more a month! We have more resources to learn about Barbara McClintock on our website, as well as links to Jocelyn’s podcast, Science! With Friends. Just go to sciencepodcastforkids.com!

The Bird and The Balloon Telescope Feb 19, 2021

Show notes

What happens when a baby falcon meets a balloon telescope in an old Wild West town? An astrophysics animal adventure, of course! Erika Hamden is an astrophysicist who’s attempting to launch a space balloon telescope called FIREBall, an experiment to study distant galaxies. But her mission to the stratosphere leads her to wild nature, when a baby falcon falls out of its nest and onto the telescope. It turns out, launches don't always go as planned. To learn more about Erika and FIREBall, listen to our bonus interview episode on Patreon! It’s available to Tumble fans who pledge just $1 or more a month. Pledge today at patreon.com/tumblepodcast. Plus, there are free educational resources for this episode on our blog, at sciencepodcastforkids.com.

Do Trees Fart? Feb 05, 2021

Show notes

Do trees fart? It’s a question that stumped scientists, and sends us on a journey to some serious science! Come with us as we ponder if trees are butts, whether farts are defined by gas or digestive systems, and why “even the smallest fart counts.” You’ll meet Mary Heskel, a plant biologist who wonders if she’s accidentally been studying tree farts, and Melinda Martinez, who studies climate change and identifies as a tree fart scientist. You’ll also hear from Tumble fans celebrating the fact that THIS IS OUR 100th ORIGINAL EPISODE! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for listening! We hope you’ll stick around for the next hundred science stories! Listen to our bonus interview episode about tree fart research with Melinda Martinez, available to Patrons who pledge $1/month on patreon.com/tumblepodcast. Find more resources (including tree farts being set on fire!) on the blog about this episode on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com.

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