TUMBLE
SCIENCE

So far in Life Lab, we’ve uncovered the power of synthetic biology. But with great power comes great responsibility! In this episode, we’ll ask “Is this a good idea?” when it comes to changing the DNA of mosquitoes to fight a deadly virus. Welcome to Life Lab! This is the third part of our five part series about how tiny life can change our world. In Life Lab, we explore the incredible power of synthetic biology to solve some of our biggest challenges - and ask how it could

Should we make the move to Mars? And how would we live there? Join us as we pack our bags for Mars with the help of synthetic biology. We’ll find out how astronauts could grow their own food, medicine, and even building materials on the Red Planet. But when Lindsay and Marshall start to disagree about moving to another planet, some tricky questions threaten the mission… This is the second part of our five part series about how tiny life can change our world. In Life Lab, we

What does cheese have to do with technology? What does engineering have to do with biology? And why should we know about it? We’ll slice into these questions to get a taste of what synthetic biology is, how it's already in our lives, and how it got there. Welcome to Life Lab! This is the first part of our five part series about how tiny life can change our world. In Life Lab, we explore the incredible power of synthetic biology to solve some of our biggest challenges - and as

Why do colors exist in the world? That’s what Phoebe wants to know. The answer might change how you think about the colors that you see!

EDUCATION RESOURCES: NGSS Standards: LS 4-LS1-1 Crosscutting Concept: Systems and System Models What is a butt? That’s what science journalist Katherine Wu wanted to know. Her quest for an answer leads her into a web of big butt questions, and a search to find the top butt scientists in the world. She discovers a debate over where butts come from, and a very strange butt that could rewrite the annals of butt history. "THE MASTERPIECE OF BUTT SCIENCE JOURNALISM" This episode f

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: NGSS Standards: LS 4-LS1-1, 4-LS1-2 Crosscutting Concepts: Systems and System Models 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

How does our brain remember things? That's what listener Fiona wants to know. In this episode, we learn that scientists are still searching for the answers. EDUCATION RESOURCES: NGSS Standards: LS Andre Fenton had the same question as Fiona when he was a kid. He wondered how people understand their own experience. "I thought it was magic," he told us. For a long time, he was interested in philosophy - the study of knowledge. But when he found out that people could study the b

EDUCATION RESOURCES: NGSS Standards: LS What happens to your brain when you get a concussion? It's common to get hit in the head when you play rough or risky sports. Everyone knows a concussion makes you woozy for a while. But the impacts of repeated concussions can last much longer. American football players have helped scientists unravel a mystery that could change the way that sports are played. Repeated concussions can trigger a brain disease called Chronic Traumatic E