Tumble Science Podcast for Kids

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 chang...

Do you love fossils and dinosaurs? Let us introduce you to Myria Perez, a paleontology-obsessed kid who grew up to get her dream job! Myria is a 24 year old fossil preparator, which means she prepares fossils to study and display in museums. She shares her journey of how a visit to her local museum set her on the path to follow her dino dreams.  Myria is an If/Then Ambassador. IF/THEN seeks to fur...

Tumble returns with all new episodes starting January 22! We’ll have stories about fossils, telescopes, and baby falcons getting into big trouble. How does a koala eat eucalyptus leaves? Eucalyptus is toxic to most animals, but they’re a koala’s only food. In this episode, we look past the cuddliness to discover how koalas manage to chow down on the Australian tree species. Biologist Michaela Blyt...

A log that poops presents? Find out about Lindsay and Marshall’s favorite holiday tradition, Tió de Nadal! Followed by one of Tumble’s favorite-ever episode, The Secret Life of Plants. We’ll be back with brand new episodes in January. Thank you for listening to Tumble this year! Happy Holidays and see you in 2021!

How did scientists develop coronavirus vaccines in record time? New York Times science reporter Carl Zimmer is our guide to the coronavirus vaccine race - from the starting line, to the point when several teams are racing to the finish line. Find out how science gave the competitors a turbo boost that could save hundreds of millions of lives. The information in this episode is accurate as of its r...

Bacteria are among the simplest forms of life on Earth. Each cell is identical to the one next to it, sharing the same DNA. So why do they all act so differently? Turns out, there’s a “cookbook” inside each teeny tiny bacteria cell, and every single bacteria has different ideas about the recipes it wants to make. Mary Dunlop is a biological engineer who’s a creative cook both in the kitchen and th...

What are protons, neutrons, and electrons made out of? That’s what listener Xander wants to know. Physics expert Aatish Bhatia takes us on a journey into the atom, and explains how scientists discover things that are too small to see. You’ll find out how Albert Einstein helped prove the existence of atoms, and why physicists smash particles like piñatas in massive tunnels. You can learn more about...

Happy Halloween! We’re headed to Candy Land, a sugary laboratory where mathematicians found a mysterious candy dagger appear - over and over again. So gather up your candy box, and let’s discover out why mathematicians are studying candy to understand the real-life landscapes around us. Mathematician Leif Ristroph shares how he stumbled into making sweet experiments.  Want to learn more about the...

How do whales use their blowholes to breathe, and what keeps them from filling up with water? There’s no better way to find out than getting up close and personal with whales! That’s what marine mammal biologist Justine Hudson did when she collected whale snot from belugas. Snot or “blow” is the watery cloud that sprays up when whales exhale. Justine shares her incredible snotty adventure in the A...

Why do some trees go dormant? You’ll discover the answer for yourself in this interactive episode, with the help of tree scientist Nalini Nadkarni! Nalini has loved trees since she was little, and dreamed of inventing a special tree microphone to ask them questions. But she found the scientific process was a way to get answers, no special equipment needed. Nalini will guide you through making obse...

If someone asked you to collect your poop every day for a year, would you say yes? That’s what microbiologist Lawrence David did, after watching a movie about a man who said yes to everything. Accepting the challenge led to a year of very stinky international adventures, turning Lawrence into the James Bond of poo. And, he loved every minute of it. Join us for the incredible story of a secretive p...

All new episodes of Tumble are starting on Friday, September 18! We have a preview of what’s coming (for kids!) and helpful advice from a teacher (for parents!). Our co-host Marshall has been a teacher for almost 17 years. He’s putting together a podcast mini-series for parents on Patreon called, “Tumble Teaching Tips.” In this first episode, he answers a BIG question: “How do I keep my kid(s) eng...

Tumble will return with Season 6 in September! In the meantime, please enjoy one of our favorite episodes from Season 5. Craving new Tumble? Check out our brand new audio course on Himalaya Learning at himalaya.com/tumble! “The Wildlife Of Your Home” has new episodes every week. Use code TUMBLE at checkout for a free 14 day trial. “What’s the oldest dinosaur?” “How did dinosaurs come alive?” We ta...

New Tumble episodes are coming next month, in Season 6! For now, please enjoy one of our favorite episodes of Season 5, with NASA astronaut Dr. Serena Auñon-Chancellor. How do you become an astronaut? That’s what Tumble listener Margaret wants to know. We go straight to the source to get an answer: A NASA astronaut! Dr. Serena Auñon-Chancellor shares her journey to outer space with us. Starting fr...

We're so excited to share the first episode of The Wildlife of Your Home Podcourse with you! We think of it as a true crime science story, happening in your own home. But don't be scared - this is definitely a kid-friendly who-dunnit!  The Wildlife of Your Home is an interactive, educational audio experience - based on one of our favorite episodes of Tumble! Join me and scientist Rob Dunn for a 10...

Join Tumble for a first-of-its-kind, interactive, educational audio experience. The Wildlife of Your Home Podcourse is a 10 episode series that will train you to become an indoor wildlife investigator - a rare kind of scientist! You’ll learn about ecosystems, by discovering the unknown creatures you wake up with every day. As you listen, you’ll be writing, observing, and getting on your hands and...

Mystery Recipe is a children’s podcast about cooking from America’s Test Kitchen Kids. Hosted by Molly Birnbaum (our guest on “The Science of Smell”), the series is a journey through different ingredients, all leading up to a grand finale cook along! The recipe is a MYSTERY—will you be able to guess what it is? Today we’re featuring the first episode. If you like what you hear, the first season is...

Stoopkids Stories is a storytelling podcast about Black characters navigating and overcoming different obstacles with family, friends and community. It’s hosted and written by performer Melly Victor. This episode, called “The BB Twins” is all about dance. It’s about two twins who hit it big with a dance they upload to the internet. Their success opens a big new opportunity - but is it one they wan...

How would you reinvent something that’s been used for thousands of years, by millions of people? In this episode, we discover the process of invention with Rory Cooper, an engineer who revolutionized the wheelchair. He’s our guide to time traveling back to the kings and queens who used wheelchairs, and to the future of rideable robots. Anyone want a ride on a Mars rover?! Listen to more of our int...

Would you fly to the top of a volcano that’s about to erupt at any moment? Volcanologist Helena Buurman did, and survived to tell the tale! In 2008, Helena was monitoring Mount Redoubt in Alaska, when the ground beneath the volcano began to shake. What follows is a tale of volcanic adventure, involving earthquakes, helicopters, and a massive eruption!  We invite you to invent your own volcano! Fin...

What happened when astronomers discovered the first alien from another solar system? This is a true story! In 2017, a telescope in Hawaii spotted a distant object in the night sky, behaving like nothing we’d ever seen before. They named it ‘Oumuamua, and an astronomical chase began! Join astronomer Jane Luu on her quest to track it down and figure out how the first interstellar visitor arrived in...

We’re back with a new set of kids’ questions about COVID19, as well as some important updates on questions from our first coronavirus episode. Dr. Juan Dumois, infectious disease pediatrician, answers some tricky questions like, “If you were the coronavirus, what would life feel like?” and “Can I play with my friend?”  * *Our interview with Dr. Dumois was recorded on April 17, 2020. If you’re list...

Why do foods smell the way that they do? A would-be chef goes on a quest to find out, after she loses the ability to smell. Molly Birnbaum, editor of America’s Test Kitchen Kids and host of the podcast, Mystery Recipe, navigates us through the olfactory organs and the startling chemistry of food. Join us to discover the science of smell, and how your nose helps you cook and taste. Want to hear mor...

Los virus son como los ninjas más pequeños del planeta. Tienen infinidad de trucos y misterios. ¿Cómo adquieren los animales los virus y cómo se lo pasan a los humanos? Esa era la pregunta de uno de nuestros oyentes. Para averiguar la respuesta, nos adentramos en la ciencia de la virología, el estudio de los virus. El Dr. Jasdave Chahal es un virólogo y nos explica cómo el coronavirus saltó por do...

How do animals get viruses to pass on to humans? That’s what listener Ian wanted to know. To find out, we’re exploring the science of virology - the study of viruses. Virologist Dr. Jasdave Chahal explains how coronavirus jumped through two species into humans, and where they came from in the first place. Plus, we’ll find out how scientists discovered viruses before even seeing them, and how they...