Podcasts · Kids & Family

Tumble Science Podcast for Kids

Tumble Media

300 episodes

A Common Sense Selection! Exploring stories of science discovery. Tumble is a science podcast created to be enjoyed by the entire family. Hosted & produced by Lindsay Patterson (science journalist) & Marshall Escamilla (teacher). Visit www.tumblepodcast.com for educational content.

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. The Science of Nightmares

    · 27 min · S12 E4

    Do we remember our dreams more than our nightmares? That’s what Lennon wants to know! In this special Tumble Halloween episode, we’re going to a (not-so evil) laboratory where scientists study the science of sleep.…

  2. Fact or Fiction: Sloths (Featuring the Story Pirates)

    · 36 min

    Explore the wild world of kids’ imaginations with Story Pirates! Story Pirates is a podcast that takes stories written by kids and brings them to life as hilarious sketches and songs, performed by a crew of comedians,…

  3. The Hugging Robot

    · 26 min · S12 E3

    What makes a good hug? That’s what Ryder wants to know. Enter HuggieBot - a robot that helped discover the 11 “ingredients” of a meaningful embrace. We’ll learn why HuggieBot’s creator, Dr. Alexis Block, decided to…

  4. Mailbag: What Happens When Galaxies Crash?

    · 21 min

    In this mailbag episode, astronomer Karen Masters joins Marshall and Lindsay to answer a listener's question: what happens when Andromeda crashes into the Milky Way? Plus, we're launching a brand-new segment: The Kid…

  5. Why Does Earth Have a Magnetic Field?

    · 25 min · S12 E2

    How did Earth get its magnetic field? And why does it move around? Our listeners have questions about one of Earth’s most mysterious forces. To find out, we go on an archeological expedition in the Middle East, with…

  6. Mailbag: Do Space Wormholes Exist?

    · 15 min

    In this mailbag episode, Marshall and Lindsay tackle two listener questions — whether space wormholes are real, and what a fly wing and a carrot could possibly have in common under a microscope. Plus, listener reviews…

  7. Why Do T. Rexes Have Small Arms?

    · 24 min · S12 E1

    Why did T. Rex have such tiny arms? That’s what our listener Nora wants to know. We’re going to find out why the biggest, most powerful predator to ever walk the Earth did it with a teeny tiny set of arms. Scientists…

  8. Mailbag: Why Does the Left Brain Control the Right Side of Your Body? Are Dinosaurs Reptiles or Birds?

    · 18 min

    In this final mailbag episode of Summer 2026, Marshall and Lindsay address two listener questions, and learn about a surprising twist of evolution. Plus, listener reviews and comments! To get an invite to the next…

  9. Tumble Science Podcast for Kids Season 12 Starts September 11!

    · 1:40

    Why do T. Rexes have tiny arms? Can dogs actually talk? Do we remember dreams or nightmares more? Season 12 of Tumble Science Podcast for Kids drops September 11th — and we're bringing kids' wildest science questions…

  10. The Science of Your Favorite Foods [ENCORE]

    · 21 min

    This is a rebroadcast of a favorite episode of Tumble from season 6. 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…

  11. Mailbag: How Do Stem Cells Decide What to Become? What's Morse Code?

    · 24 min

    In this special summer mailbag episode, Marshall and Lindsay help answer three kid questions: • How do stem cells decide what to become? • How do chameleons change color? and... • What is Morse code? This…

  12. The Secret to Cheetah's Super Speed [Encore]

    · 18 min

    How do cheetahs get their super speed? We talk to a cheetah scientist to find out why a spotted cat is the fastest animal on Earth. Cheetahs are literally built for speed! Anne Hilborn spent months scoping out cheetahs…

  13. The Plastic Pollution Patrol [ENCORE]

    · 21 min

    This is a rebroadcast of one of our favorite episodes from last season, and one that is particularly timely for the summer! What if you found out that there was a tiny, nearly invisible type of plastic pollution…

  14. Mailbag: What would happen if the Moon disappeared? How big is the universe, really? Are there atoms in a black hole?

    · 21 min

    What would happen if the Moon disappeared? How big is the universe, really? And what happens to atoms inside a black hole? Marshall and Lindsay get the answers to some cosmic questions in this special mailbag episode!…

  15. How Were Dinosaur Tracks Made?

    · 23 min

    This is a rebroadcast of one of our favorite episodes from season 10! Ever wondered how dinosaurs left their footprints behind millions of years ago? We embark on a prehistoric adventure with renowned paleontologist…

  16. Mailbag: Could a Peacock and Platypus Be Friends? Why does the ground keep spinning? Do magnets work in space?

    · 25 min

    You asked, we answered! In this mailbag episode, we're tackling three big kid questions: why does the ground keep spinning after you stop? Do magnets work in space? And could a peacock and a platypus ever be BFFs? We…

  17. Pluto and the Planetary Pandemonium - Encore

    · 24 min

    This is a rebroadcast of one of our favorite episodes from the past! It’s a scientific controversy of planetary proportions! Is Pluto a planet, or not? You decide, after we present two sides of an epic astronomy…

  18. Who Works Harder: Ants or Bees?

    · 27 min · S11 E10

    Both ants and bees work hard. So which one works harder? That’s what our listener Hadi wants to know! So we’re pitting insect against insect in a battle of industriousness. Ants or bees: Who will win?! Tune in as we…

  19. Mailbag: Are Animals Ticklish? + New Song!

    · 21 min

    A special “tickle attack” Mailbag edition of Tumble! We’re tackling your questions about whether animals can be tickled, and why we laugh when we’re tickled. David Leavens, a professor of psychology, helps us break…

  20. Do Trees Think?

    · 24 min · S11 E9

    Do trees think? That’s what our listener Alden wants to know. He has an idea that scientists might study mushroom roots to find out if trees are sending messages. Is that true? And if so, what do trees have to say?!We…

  21. What's Dark Matter?

    · 25 min · S11 E8

    What is dark matter? Why do scientists think it exists? How are they searching for it, and why are they doing it in an underground lab?! Join us on the search for dark matter with Alvaro Chavarria, a physicist running…

  22. Who Invented the Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich? (with The Past and the Curious)

    · 38 min

    Who invented the peanut butter and jelly sandwich? And how did it become one of the most famous lunches in America? In this episode, a question from listener Leila sends us on a trip through history to find out how…

  23. Can Axolotls Teach Us to Grow New Hands?

    · 23 min · S11 E7

    Why do humans usually have five fingers on each hand? And what if one day, we could grow a new finger if we lost one? In this episode, a question from six-year-old listener Ayla sends us on a journey from tiny…

  24. Do Animals Have Friends?

    · 27 min · S11 E6

    In this episode, we talk to two scientists who study animal friendships, in different animals, and in different ways. We’ll hear from Karen Bales, who studies titi monkeys (AKA “fuzzy little guys”) and Annaliese Beery,…

  25. How Did Earth Begin?

    · 24 min · S11 E5

    How did Earth get created? What did our planet begin as? Why does our world exist? What started our planet? These questions take us back billions of years to learn how Earth formed in the very beginning - and then,…

  26. The Science of Fungi

    · 27 min · Bonus

    This is a rebroadcast of one of our favorite episodes from season 9! Do fungi breathe? That’s what listener Alice wants to know - and we’ll find out in our punniest episode yet! We visit the Fungarium - the largest…

  27. The Science of Whiskers

    · 17 min · Bonus

    This is a re-broadcast of a favorite episode from 2019. We actually won our first AAAS Kavli Award for this episode, along with The Cave of the Underground Astronauts. Check it out! Why do seals have whiskers?…

  28. Mailbag: Why is English so weird? Do all cats hate getting wet? Who made PB&J a combo?

    · 24 min · Bonus

    We’re wrapping up 2025 with a final Mailbag episode, featuring some of our longest-running Patrons! Did you know, when you sign up to support Tumble on Patreon, you’ll get a personalized message from Marshall? And if…

  29. The Minecraft Experiment

    · 25 min · S11 E4

    How do people learn — and how can a video game help us find out? In this episode, we meet cognitive scientist Charley Wu, who built the ultimate science “mod” in Minecraft! Journey into a video game world of science to…

  30. The Science of Snot

    · 22 min · Bonus

    Why do we have snot? Do animals get stuffy noses, too? We delve into the world of thick secretions with the help of Dani Rabiaotti, zoologist and author of “Believe it or Snot: The Definitive Field Guide to Earth’s…

  31. What Sounds Do Fish Make?

    · 23 min · S11 E3

    What sounds do fish make? 🐟🎶 We know that cows say moo, and sheep say baa, but what do fish say? Come explore “Under the Sea” to discover the chorus of fish noises with help from fish ecologist Audrey Looby. We’ll find…

  32. Are Ghosts Real?

    · 26 min · S11 E2

    Are ghosts real… or not? That’s what Lily wants to know. To find out, we talk to a real-life Ghostbuster and science historian Efram Sera-Shriar, who takes us on a journey back in time to when the world’s most famous…

  33. The Dino Butt Fossil

    · 25 min · S11 E1

    Did dinosaurs sniff each other’s butts like dogs? That’s what listener Ernie wants to know! We’ll dig up the surprising dino discovery that leads to our answer with the help of one of the world’s foremost animal butt…

  34. Mailbag: How do asteroids form? Why don't we feel dizzy as Earth spins? Would we know if we were in a black hole?

    · 25 min

    This is our final Mailbag episode before all-new stories of science discovery arrive on Friday, October 17. Lindsay and Marshall share behind-the-scenes updates on what’s coming up in Season 11 — plus a special…

  35. The Wild Axolotl - And Tumble en Español is Coming Back!

    · 30 min

    We have a big announcement: Tumble en Español is returning on September 25th! This is a rebroadcast of an episode of Tumble from last season. If you can't wait to hear the Spanish-language version, just go subscribe…

  36. Tumble Newsflash: Yoto Cards, Audiobook, & Your Plant Questions!

    · 27 min · Bonus

    There’s so much happening in the world of Tumble, and we’re excited to share it all with you! Plus we answer questions about plants with the help of plant biologist Carina Baskett. • Tumble Yoto Cards A brand-new…

  37. Mailbag: What state of matter is fire? What's the science of asking good questions?

    · 24 min · Bonus

    Is fire a liquid, a solid, or is it even matter at all? And what is the science of asking good questions? Lindsay and Marshall dig into the Tumble mailbag to answer listener questions with the help of Tumble's science…

  38. How Big is the Universe?

    · 24 min

    This is a summer rebroadcast of an episode of Tumble from a few years ago. How big is the universe? And how do we know? It's a question that puzzled astronomers for centuries. They had no way to measure distance in…

  39. Mailbag: Why are four leaf clovers rare? Can one side of our brain fall asleep? Why do fish have different colors? How big is infinity?

    · 29 min

    Do you know why four leaf clovers are so rare? Or if just one side of our brain can fall asleep? Why do fish have different colors, and how big is infinity? Lindsay & Marshall dig into the Tumble mailbag to answer…

  40. Summer Episode: Science Songs and Games!

    · 41 min

    Listen to our brand new album of science songs, and play some games along with us as we celebrate the release of our album: Science Songs Vol. 1! It’s a special summer episode that will get you singing along and…

  41. The Volcanic Eruption Adventure

    · 19 min

    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…

  42. The Plastic Pollution Patrol

    · 20 min

    What if you found out that there was a tiny, nearly invisible type of plastic pollution that’s found nearly everywhere… but you’d never heard of it! That’s what happened to environmental scientist Jace Tunnell several…

  43. Did Dinosaurs Burp?

    · 25 min

    To support the Tumble Joke-ha-thon and win awesome prizes, go here! “Did dinosaurs burp?” Tune into our Season 9 premiere to find out the answer to this stinky question. We’ll hear about dino gasses from returning…

  44. Tumble Sonic Saturday May 10th! Featuring the Science of Ocean Sounds

    · 24 min

    🎉 We’re getting ready for our biggest live event ever — Sonic Saturday! It’s a day of science, sound, and storytelling in Brooklyn, NY on May 10, and we’re celebrating by rebroadcasting one of the episodes that…

  45. Why Is It Calm in the Eye of a Hurricane?

    · 23 min · S10 E14

    Why is the center of a raging storm so… calm? Tumble listener Lydia wants to know what’s really going on in the eye of a hurricane. To find out, we’re flying into the storm — literally — with meteorologist Shirley…

  46. Was There Ever Nothing?

    · 23 min · S10 E13

    Was there ever nothing in the universe? What is nothing? That’s what listener Aviva wants to know. We turned to particle physicist Dr. Jessica Esquivel to find out! She takes us on a mind-bending journey to ask what…

  47. What If Trees Didn't Exist?

    · 22 min · S10 E12

    Have you ever wondered what life on Earth would be like without trees? In this episode of Tumble Science Podcast for Kids, we’re exploring that big question with the help of two curious listeners, Rowan and Neesha!…

  48. How To Be An Inventor

    · 25 min · S10 E11

    What does it take to become an inventor? To find out, we spoke with an inventor named Josh Miele about one of his greatest inventions: tactile maps! Tactile maps use braille technology to help blind people explore…

  49. Why Do Animals Play?

    · 25 min · S10 E10

    Why do some animals play - and some don’t? That’s what Meredith wants to know. In this special collaboration with Outside/In, we investigate how and why animals - and people! - of all shapes and sizes play. Play…

  50. Why are Capybaras So Big?

    · 23 min · S10 E9

    Why do capybaras have such big teeth? Adrian had to know! To get to the bottom of this, we spoke to a biologist named Santiago Herrera Alvarez. Capybaras are Internet sensations, and Santiago can't get enough of them!…

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