Tumble Science Podcast for Kids

In this mailbag episode, Marshall and Lindsay tackle two great questions from listeners about rainbows and how Mars formed. Also, you'll get to hear about Marshall's trip to the Cambridge Science Carnival in Cambridge, MA, and as always your listener reviews.

Help Tumble on our quest to 4.4 stars! Go here to leave a rating and review!

Get Tumble merch at tumblepodcast.dashery.com

Also join Marshall at his Kid Quiz / Science Question meetup by becoming a subscriber on Patreon at patreon.com/tumblepodcast

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. That’s where sleep scientist Rebecca Spencer will help us plunge the depths of our subconscious to discover the power of nightmares, dreams, and… hold on – what are night terrors!?!

Discover how scientists capture dreams and nightmares, why your body is paralyzed every night during deep sleep, and the best way to remember your dreams (or nightmares!). If you dare, join us in the … SLEEP LAB! (evil laugh)

🏆 Tumble won Gold in the Science category at the 2026 Signal Awards! Check it out: https://www.signalaward.com/winners/details/tumble-media-tumble-science-podcast-for-kids-716859/

Join on Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble and be featured on future episodes: patreon.com/tumblepodcast

Shop official Tumble merch: https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/

Submit a science question: https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/contact

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, actors, and musicians. Listen to Story Pirates here: https://www.storypirates.com/

Join us on Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble, hang out with us, and be featured on future episodes!

Shop official Tumble merch

Submit a science question

Shop Tumble on Yoto

Bring Lindsay & Marshall to your school or event

Subscribe to Tumble en Español

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 build a hugging robot, and what a robot can tell us about why hugs matter so much to humans.

Watch videos of HuggieBot in action and read the full episode transcript on ⁠our blog⁠.

Vote for Tumble! We’re a finalist in the Signal Awards, and you can help us win the Listener’s Choice Award. Voting closes October 15.

Join us on Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble, hang out with us, and be featured on future episodes!

Shop official Tumble merch

Submit a science question

Shop Tumble on Yoto

Discover Tumble’s live events

Subscribe to Tumble en Español

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 Quiz!

Find Tumble Cards on Yoto here.

To get an invite to the next Tumble meetup, as well as receive birthday shout outs and ad free versions of the show, go to patreon.com/tumblepodcast and support us!

For Tumble t-shirts, visit our store on Dashery: https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/

And don't forget to keep checking our blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com for NGSS alignment, activities, and more!

Submit your own question and be on our show here!

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 pioneering paleomagnetist Lisa Tauxe. Lisa has spent decades “hunting” the magnetic field through time, to understand what ancient artifacts can tell us about how the magnetic field has changed. Did you know, magnetic north doesn’t stay in one place – and sometimes it flips? If you feel yourself pulled into this mystery, hit play on this episode!

Join on Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble: http://patreon.com/tumblepodcast

Shop official Tumble merch: https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/

Submit a science question: https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/contact

Bring Lindsay & Marshall to your school or event: https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/school-visits

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 and comments from China!

To get an invite to the next Tumble meetup, as well as receive birthday shout outs and ad free versions of the show, go to patreon.com/tumblepodcast and support us!

For Tumble t-shirts, visit our store on Dashery: https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/

And don't forget to keep checking our blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com for NGSS alignment, activities, and more!

Submit your own question and be on our show here!

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 have been coming up with answers for this question for decades — but science is never settled. Paleontologist Elizabeth Steell has walked into the debate with a stunning theory involving giant heads, evolutionary tradeoffs, and some serious math. Will it convince you? Listen and find out!

Join on Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble and be featured on future episodes: http://patreon.com/tumblepodcast

Shop official Tumble merch: https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/

Submit a science question: https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/contact

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 Tumble meetup, as well as receive birthday shout outs and ad free versions of the show, go to patreon.com/tumblepodcast and support us!

For Tumble t-shirts, visit our store on Dashery: https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/

And don't forget to keep checking our blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com for NGSS alignment, activities, and more!

Submit your own question and be on our show here!

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 to REAL scientists for the REAL stories behind discovery (plus the jokes and sound design you know we can't resist).

Almost 200 episodes in, and we're just getting started. 🚀

🎧 Want it early + ad-free? Pledge $1+ at patreon.com/tumblepodcast
🌐 More at sciencepodcastforkids.com

Follow/subscribe now so you don't miss episode 1

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 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 https://www.patreon.com/tumblepodcast.

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

In this special summer mailbag episode, Marshall and Lindsay help answer three kid questions:

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How do stem cells decide what to become?

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How do chameleons change color? and...

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What is Morse code?

This special episode features answers from Jessica Whited, Michel Milinkovich, and Mick Sullivan, from The Past and the Curious! As well as a roundup of listener reviews, and more!

For more information about Tumble, go visit our website at sciencepodcastforkids.com. To send us a question and get it answered on our show, go to https://tumble.science/Question.

Also support us on Patreon! patreon.com/tumblepodcast

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 on the hunt in the grasslands of the Serengeti. We’ll discover how cheetahs’ incredible speed is linked to their survival - and what they do when being fast isn’t enough. On our special bonus interview episode - available to our Patreon supporters - Anne shares the amazing story of how being photographed while dropping cheetah poop on herself became both her most embarrassing and her proudest moment. Photos on the blog! Pledge at patreon.com/tumblepodcast. Only $1/month gets you double the Tumble, and $5/month comes with a shoutout on the show, a birthday greeting, and opportunities to be on the show! Want to learn more about cheetah science, and reputable conservation organizations? Check out our blog at

⁠www.sciencepodcastforkids.com

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 that’s found nearly everywhere… but you’d never heard of it! That’s what happened to environmental scientist Jace Tunnell several years ago, and he’s been on a great nurdle hunt ever since! This episode on fighting plastic waste comes with a special bonus: the opportunity to enroll in a “Nurdle Patrol” and lead the Nurdle search in your community!

Join the Nurdle Patrol Special Agent Training Course at ⁠sciencepodcastforkids.com/nurdles⁠

If you want to support Tumble on Patreon, just go to patreon.com/tumblepodcast. Ad-free early access to episodes is just $1/month, and for just $5/month you can get a birthday shout out on our feed!

T-shirts and other merch (including merch specific to this episode) are available at the Tumble merch store, at tumblepodcast.dashery.com.

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!

If you want to have your comment or review read on our show, leave one! Write a review on ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠ or comment on ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠.

Join on Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble and be featured on future episodes, and help us decide on Season 12 topics: ⁠⁠patreon.com/tumblepodcast⁠⁠

Shop official Tumble merch: ⁠⁠https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/⁠⁠

Submit a science question: ⁠⁠https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/contact

Watch the Joke-ha-thon here!

Other Tumble episodes mentioned in this mailbag:

"What Would Happen If There Was No Moon?" (in Spanish).

"The Quest for the Edge of the Universe with Katie Mack"

"How Big is the Universe?"

Cataloging the Universe - Audio Course

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 Paul Olsen! Discover the secrets behind dinosaur tracks and how these ancient prints can tell us incredible stories about the lives of dinosaurs. From the science of fossilization to what these footprints reveal about dinosaur behavior and habitats, Paul Olsen will guide us through the fascinating world of these mysteries left in stone - and share how he discovered thousands of dino tracks when he was just a kid.

Join us on a Dino Map Adventure at ⁠nepm.org/dinomap⁠! We’ve created a free audio tour to explore the science and history of dinosaur tracks in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts. Lindsay and Marshall will guide you through the place where dinosaur footprints were first discovered - and put you on the path to becoming dino track explorers! Dinosaur Adventures in the Pioneer Valley are supported by The Bement School, The Center School, and HCS Headstart.

If you like this episode, consider supporting Tumble on Patreon by going to patreon.com/tumblepodcast. Get ad-free episodes for just $1 a month!

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 get answers from real experts, as well as reading your reviews and comments!

Also, the Joke-ha-thon is coming up on June 3rd! Go here to donate and pick your champion, and also win some amazing, amazing prizes for yourself and your school.

If you want to have your comment or review read on our show, leave one! Write a review on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ or comment on ⁠Spotify⁠.

Join on Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble and be featured on future episodes, and help us decide on Season 12 topics: ⁠patreon.com/tumblepodcast⁠

Shop official Tumble merch: ⁠https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/⁠

Submit a science question: ⁠https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/contact⁠

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 argument. Back in 2006, the International Astronomer’s Union voted on a definition of the word “planet” that excluded Pluto and other newly dubbed “dwarf planets” from planethood status. Astronomers - and everybody else - quickly chose sides. We dive deep into the debate and learn that Pluto’s not the only Space Object Formerly Known As A Planet. Then we’ll ask you to weigh in with your opinion, and see if you can find “consensus” on what should be called a planet. Featuring planetary astronomer Kirby Runyon. We have a present for your birthday!! We’ll be doing birthday shoutouts for our Patreon members, beginning next month. Want to hear a message on the podcast just for your special day? Pledge at the $5 level at patreon.com/tumblepodcast. You’ll be helping us make the show, and we also have extra audio goodies for you. Hear more from our interviews with scientists! For this episode, Kirby Runyon expands on the different types of planets, and the fascinating features you can find on each one. There’s more about planets, on our website at sciencepodcastforkids.com. Don’t forget to subscribe to Tumble and tell your friends!

See the new "Eight Planets in the Solar System" video here.

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 attempt to crown the Hardest Working Insect!

To help, we’ve recruited Dr. Sammy Ramsey, an entomologist, National Geographic Explorer, and host and producer of the Disney+ documentary, “Secrets of the Bees.” In a series of very competitive rounds, Dr. Sammy shares the research to stack up the habits of ants and bees. Plus, Tumble Patreon members weigh in with who THEY think should win!

When you’re done listening, tell us if you agree with the results! Write a review on Apple Podcasts or comment on Spotify.

Join on Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble and be featured on future episodes, and help us decide on Season 12 topics: http://patreon.com/tumblepodcast

Shop official Tumble merch: https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/

Submit a science question: https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/contact
Also go donate to our Joke-ha-thon fundraiser by May 27th at 9 am ET to enter a drawing for AMAZING prizes! https://tumble.science/joke2026

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 down the not-so-silly science of tickling. Plus, a brand NEW SONG from Marshall based on a listener request!

Want to be on a future mailbag episode? With an adult, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, a comment on Spotify, or email us at tumblepodcast@gmail.com!

Join on Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble: http://patreon.com/tumblepodcast

Shop official Tumble merch: https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/

Listen to Tumble en Español: https://pod.link/1521514886
Submit a science question: https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/contact