TUMBLE
SCIENCE

How do people learn — and how can a video game help us find out? In this episode, we meet cognitive scientist Dr. Charley Wu, who turned Minecraft into a giant science experiment. With help from a “braintrust” of kid Minecraft experts, Lindsay and Marshall explore how Charley used pumpkins, watermelons, and blocky rewards to study when we learn on our own and when we learn from others. Plus, ideas for turning your own games into experiments! 🎧 Listen to the Episode ⛏️ What K

Ever wondered what a fish sounds like? Spoiler: it’s way more interesting than “blub blub blub.” In this episode of Tumble Science Podcast for Kids, we explore the strange and hilarious noises that fish use to communicate underwater — from tiny ticking herrings to the booping Gulf toadfish. Grab your imaginary snorkel, because we’re going underwater to hear the ocean in a whole new way. 🎧 Listen to the Episode 🌊 What Kids Will Learn How fish make sounds underwater using s

Are ghosts real? Or are they just in our heads?   That’s what six-year-old Lily from Hawaii wants to know — and she’s not the only one! In this spooky Halloween episode of Tumble , Lindsay and Marshall team up with a real-life ghost historian, Dr. Efram Sera-Shriar, to explore how scientists once tried to prove the existence of spirits. From floating tables to “spirit photography” and even Thomas Edison’s plans for a ghost phone, it’s a chilling journey through the science of

Ever wondered if dinosaurs sniffed each other’s butts like dogs? In our latest episode, The Dino Butt Fossil , we dig into one of the strangest and funniest fossil discoveries ever made—one that helps scientists understand how dinosaurs communicated, smelled, and even pooped! 🎧 Listen to the Episode 🦕 What Kids Will Learn How scientists studied a rare fossilized dinosaur butt. How comparing it to modern animals helps reveal dinosaur behavior. How scientists use evidence t

What’s small, round, and threatening the health of our oceans? You guessed it— nurdles ! In our latest episode, we dive into the surprising world of these tiny plastic pellets with Jace Tunnell, founder of Nurdle Patrol . He’s turned beachcombers into citizen scientists, all on a mission to track—and stop—plastic pollution at its source. 🎧 Listen to the Episode 🌊 What Kids Will Learn In this episode, kids will learn: What nurdles are and why they’re a big problem How a simp

Have you ever wondered why the eyes of hurricanes are so calm? That's what Lydia wanted to know. To find out the answer, we called up Dr. Shirley Murillo, a meteorologist who studies hurricanes by flying right into them! The data she collects from flying into hurricanes turns out to be vital to people on the ground, who use it to understand how severe a hurricane might be if it hits land. Shirley is motivated to learn as much as she can about these dangerous weather events s

What is nothing? Is it empty space?

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! Join Lindsay and Marshall as they talk to plant ecophysiologist Angelica Patterson to uncover the essential role trees play in our world. From providing oxygen to supporting animals and keeping water clean, trees are a crucial part of life as we know it. But could

Have you ever had a brilliant idea and thought, Hey, why doesn’t this exist yet? Well, congratulations—you might be an inventor in the making!

Why do some animals play-and some don't? That's what Evelyn 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 scientists Juny Chu and Jackson Ham help us ask the important questions like: Can you tell an octopus to play? And what can rats teach us about why taking turns is important? It turns out that play is serious science! 🎧 Listen to the Episode This episode is a collaborat