Episodes

  • Are Ghosts Real?

    Are Ghosts Real?
    Oct 29 2025
    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 scientists became ghost investigators: Sitting in on séances, inventing ghost-hunting devices, and exposing the tricks of “spirit photography.” Did you know, Thomas Edison made plans to create a phone to call ghosts? Learn all this and more when you join us on the trail of spooooky spirit science! You can learn more about Efram, and find a transcript of this episode on the blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com. Support us on Patreon! You’ll get ad free episodes, special chances to be on the show, and of course, birthday shoutouts, when you sign up at the $5 level at patreon.com/tumblepodcast. Find out what we’re up to - from live events, merch drops, and more when you subscribe to our newsletter, on sciencepodcastforkids.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube. And don't forget to visit our merch store!
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    26 mins
  • The Dino Butt Fossil

    The Dino Butt Fossil
    Oct 17 2025
    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 experts, Dr. Diane Kelly! You can learn more about Diane, and find a transcript of this episode on the blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com. Support us on Patreon! You’ll get ad free episodes, special chances to be on the show, and of course, birthday shoutouts, when you sign up at the $5 level at patreon.com/tumblepodcast. Find out what we’re up to - from live events, merch drops, and more when you subscribe to our newsletter, on sciencepodcastforkids.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube. Want to hear Aidee's Album "Nothing Rhymes With Orange?" Just click ⁠here⁠. (⁠https://platoon.lnk.to/nothing-rhymes-with-orange⁠)
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    25 mins
  • Tumble Mailbag: Season 11 starts Oct 17 + Your Universe Questions!

    Tumble Mailbag: Season 11 starts Oct 17 + Your Universe Questions!
    Oct 3 2025
    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 challenge to guess the topics of our first three episodes! Then, astrophysicist Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi (host of NOVA’s Particles of Thought and judge on Netflix’s Baking Impossible) joins us to tackle your big-universe questions: How does your body know you’re in a black hole? How do asteroids form? Why don’t we feel dizzy as Earth spins? And… what dessert would be best to eat in space? Plus we read your reviews, share how to support Tumble, and send in your own guesses and stories. Next time, we kick off a brand-new season of science adventures! LINKS! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/tumblepodcast Yoto cards: https://us.yotoplay.com/products/animal-facts-critter-curiosities-gross-science-pack Audiobook: https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/single-post/tumble-media-announces-first-audiobook-collaboration-with-rbmedia Merch store: https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/ Want to hear Aidee's Album "Nothing Rhymes With Orange?" Just click here. (https://platoon.lnk.to/nothing-rhymes-with-orange)
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    25 mins
  • The Wild Axolotl - And Tumble en Español is Coming Back!

    The Wild Axolotl - And Tumble en Español is Coming Back!
    Sep 19 2025
    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 to Tumble en Español wherever you get your podcasts. Why are there so many axolotls in fishtanks, and so few in the wild? That’s what Maximiliano wants to know. You may have found axolotls in the lush caves of Minecraft, but in real life, they live in the lakes and canals of Xochimilco, near Mexico City. But the species is slowly disappearing from its native habitat. Axolotl veterinarian Horacio Mena takes us on a journey to Xochimilco to find out what scientists are doing to save these adorable amphibians. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2415575. Want to hear Aidee's Album "Nothing Rhymes With Orange?" Just click here. (https://platoon.lnk.to/nothing-rhymes-with-orange) Also don't forget to support Tumble on Patreon by going to patreon.com/tumblepodcast. Our t-shirts can be found at tumblepodcast.dashery.com. Also subscribe to Tumble en Español wherever you get your podcasts, or at https://pod.link/1521514886 You can also find more resources about axolotls on our blog at sciencepodcastforkids.com.
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    30 mins
  • Tumble Newsflash: Yoto Cards, Audiobook, & Your Plant Questions!

    Tumble Newsflash: Yoto Cards, Audiobook, & Your Plant Questions!
    Sep 5 2025
    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 pack of 3 cards with Tumble episodes on our most popular themes - Animals, Bugs, and Gross Science - for the Yoto audio player! Get it 20% off during Yoto’s Back to School sale on educational cards: https://us.yotoplay.com/products/animal-facts-critter-curiosities-gross-science-pack Tumble Science in the Field: Europe Our first ever audiobook featuring science adventure episodes in Europe! Find it where you get your audiobooks: Audible , Libro.fm , Hoopla , Audiobooks.com , and more!! Tumble Live Events! Cambridge Science Festival in Cambridge, MA - Sept 21 Princeton Public Library, Thursday September 25th The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University. Saturday September 27th Connecticut River Museum in Essex, CT - October 11 Lincoln Center, NYC - February 7, 2025 We can’t wait to see you there.
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    27 mins
  • Tumble Mailbag: The Science of Questions and What State of Matter Is Fire?

    Tumble Mailbag: The Science of Questions and What State of Matter Is Fire?
    Aug 22 2025
    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 advisors, and respond to reviews! Somehow, the whole "cats are evil" thing just refuses to die. We want to hear from you! Send us YOUR science questions, and let us know what you think of this mailbag episode! Here's how to do it: Email Lindsay & Marshall at tumblepodcast@gmail.com Upload a voice recording on our website sciencepodcastforkids.com Want to support Tumble on Patreon? Go to patreon.com/tumblepodcast, and for a limited time you can get 75% off the first month using the code BTS2025 at check out! You can also stream Science Songs vol. 1 here, or find the album on Bandcamp here. Our merch store is tumblepodcast.dashery.com, where you can find the bird jacket t-shirt!
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    24 mins
  • How Big is the Universe?

    How Big is the Universe?
    Aug 8 2025
    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 space - until Henrietta Leavitt showed them how. Henrietta Leavitt was a "computer" in the 19th century, before there were computers, and she made an incredible discovery that would help change the way people thought about the universe - forever. Modern-day astronomer Karen Masters helps us tell her remarkable story. If you like this episode, you'll love our free audio course, "Cataloging the Universe" where you'll learn much more about how Henrietta Leavitt's discovery made a big difference in astronomy - plus, you'll become a skywatcher yourself! "Cataloging the Universe" is more than a podcast. It’s interactive! Each episode - or lesson - in the series contains activities to complete while you listen. Plus, you’ll get discussion questions, graphic organizers, and a star journal to keep your observations in. Check out the series and download all the resources at ⁠our website⁠! Hear more from Karen Masters in the bonus interview episode available to Patrons, when you pledge just $1 a month or more on our ⁠Patreon⁠ to support the show! We have free resources available on ⁠our blog⁠ to learn more about the episode. Also... psssssst.... here's that top secret crossword puzzle!
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    24 mins
  • Tumble Mailbag: Four-Leaf Clovers, Brains, Fish & Infinity!

    Tumble Mailbag: Four-Leaf Clovers, Brains, Fish & Infinity!
    Jul 25 2025
    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 listener questions with the help of Tumble’s science advisors, and respond to reviews! (Yes, we’ll talk about cats.) We want to hear from you! Send us YOUR science questions, and let us know what you think of this mailbag episode! Here’s how to do it: Email Lindsay & Marshall at tumblepodcast@gmail.com Upload a voice recording on our website sciencepodcastforkids.com Donate to Central Texas Flood Relief: bit.ly/tumbletexasfloods Support Tumble on Patreon: patreon.com/tumblepodcast Stream Science Songs Vol. 1 here!
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    29 mins