Tumble Science Podcast for Kids

How do you count the cutest seals on the planet? With the help from thousands of people around the world! Conservation scientist Leo Salas explains the story behind the first-ever global count of Weddell seals in Antarctica. Plus, you’ll find out what counting seals shares with searching for ancient tombs! Learn more about Weddell seals in our special bonus episode with Dr. Leo Salas, available to Tumble Patrons who pledge just $1 or more a month - along with an ad-free episode feed! Support us today at patreon.com/tumblepodcast. We’ll have free resources to learn more about Weddell seals (or the ‘widdle Weddells’) on the blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com. Do you speak Spanish, or are you a Spanish language learner? Subscribe to Tumble En Español to listen to episodes adapted to Spanish! The podcast relaunches on January 28. Weddell seal recordings in this episode were obtained under NMFS Permit No. 1032-1917.

All-new Tumble episodes return January 21! We can't wait to share what we have in store.  Today, we're sharing the exciting conclusion of our two part dinosaur poo series, "The Coprolite Queen." In the 1800’s, Mary Anning was known as the best fossil hunter in England. She made many great discoveries, including dinosaur poop. With help from our friend Kidosaurus and children’s science historian Melanie Keene, we dig into Mary Anning’s story and her place in the history of women in science. Check out the blog about this episode on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com. 

We have some exciting changes to share with you at the beginning of this episode!  Plus, Part 1 of our favorite-ever two part series about dinosaur poop! In "Who Dung It," paleontologist Karen Chin shares how she cracked the mystery behind an ancient dinosaur doo-doo, or coprolite. It's a super fun story, and you can learn more about ancient fossil feces on our blog. We're on winter break until January 21, when we'll be back with all new episodes.  Lindsay and Marshall had so much fun recording special video messages for new Patreons, we're extending our sign-up special through early January 2022! All you have to do is pledge at the $5 or higher level at patreon.com/tumblepodcast before Dinopoop Part 2.  HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE TUMBLE TEAM!

How do you launch the largest space telescope ever built into space? The James Webb Space Telescope will travel 1.5 million miles away from Earth to help answer some of our biggest questions about the universe. But first, it has to be launched on a rocket - and the telescope is too big to fit on a rocket. So NASA decided to fold it up. How did they do this? NASA astrophysicist Knicole Colón and NASA engineer Alphonso Stewart take us on a journey with the world’s most complicated origami project. Don't miss Webb's launch! As of this episode's release date, it is scheduled for December 22, 2021. Learn more with free resources on the blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com.  This will be our last new episode until January 21. But you can look forward to hearing a few of your favorite previously published episodes, and brand new birthday shoutouts on each episode!  Plus, if you join our Patreon at patreon.com/tumblepodcast for just $1/month, you'll get all our bonus interview episodes!

What do you need to know about the new COVID-19 vaccines for ages 5 - 11? Sam, age 8, and Natalie, age 10, are here to help! They participated in a COVID vaccine trial, which is an important part of the science that will help end the threat of coronavirus. Along with Dr. Kawsar Talaat, an epidemiologist who helped run the trials, they share the behind-the-scenes of the process that helps us know that vaccines are safe to take. Nervous about getting your shot? Natalie and Sam have some great advice to share, so you can help the world get back to normal. Visit vaccine.gov for information of where to get your shot, and answers to more common questions about the COVID-19 vaccines. We have more resources and trusted sources for vaccine information and updated coronavirus news on the blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com. Happy Thanksgiving, friends!!

What tools did Neanderthals use? That’s what Leo wants to know. We dig into the past of Neanderthal archeology, back to when people used to excavate caves with dynamite! Archeologist and author Rebecca Wragg Sykes shares the explosive story of how Neanderthals made tools, and what they can tell us about how Neanderthals lived. Listen to our bonus interview episode with Rebecca about Neanderthals caves, available for Patrons who pledge just $1/ month or more on patreon.com/tumblepodcast. Learn more about Neanderthals and their “knapping” habits with the free resources on our blog at www.sciencepodcastforkids.com.

Why do carved pumpkins rot faster than uncarved pumpkins? That’s what Ari, an 11 year old podcast host, wants to know. To find out what’s making good Jack O’Lanterns go bad, we turn to squash detective/ scientist Michael Mazourek. Together, we track down clues to crack the case - and find out how we make a Jack O’Lantern last forever. Learn more about pumpkin science, like the shocking truth of what’s in your can of pumpkin puree (spoiler alert: it’s not pumpkin), with the free resources on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com. We have a special bonus interview episode about how to breed vegetables, with Michael Mazourek! It’s available for Patrons who pledge just $1 or more a month on patreon.com/tumblepodcast. Find out what it’s like to make a brand new pepper!

How do you find out why we laugh? With tickling, of course! Gorillas and other great apes appear to love being tickled, and sound like they’re laughing just like us. Animal biologist Marina Davila-Ross thought tickling might connect humans and great apes - and hold the clues to the origin of laughter. To find out, she assembled teams of ticklers in an experiment full of giggles. It’s the silliest science you’ve ever heard, but the discoveries will blow your mind. Learn more about laughter in animals and humans in our interview with Marina Davila-Ross. Listen to the bonus interview episode available to Patrons who support Tumble at the $1/level or higher, at patreon.com/tumblepodcast. See videos of gorillas being tickled, and more free educational resources on our blog at sciencepodcast.com.

Want to explore the hidden treasures of the deep sea? Come on board the EV Nautilus, a research ship that searches the seafloor with the help of robot submarines! Our guide is Taylorann Smith, who’s on her third trip on the ship! We’ll witness a whalefall, meet the submarines, and learn how Taylorann discovered what it really means to be a marine biologist. Want more? You can visit the Nautilus from home! Join Taylorann and the Nautilus team on live deep sea exploration expeditions online at nautiluslive.org. Check out their exciting animal discovery videos, fun try-at-home activities, and explorer career features to envision yourself as a future ocean explorer! Taylorann has an amazing story of how she found her way to the Nautilus. Hear it on our bonus interview episode, when you pledge $1 or more a month on Patreon! patreon.com/tumblepodcast We’ll have more links and our favorite Nautilus materials on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com. This episode was supported by The Ocean Exploration Trust with support from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Audio from the Whalefall is credited to Ocean Exploration Trust / NOAA ONMS.

What are the worst sounds in the world? Lots of noises that can send your hands rushing to cover your ears, but only a select can be the most horrible! Fortunately, one brave acoustic scientist named Trevor Cox decided to find out, by asking hundreds of thousands of people to rank the worst of the worst sound. It was one of the first online sound experiments - and the result was a lot of fun! Note: This episode features sound effects, and if you’re sensitive to sounds, you may want to skip it. Hear more about this pioneering internet psychology study on our bonus episode with Trevor Cox, available to Tumble patrons who pledge $1 or more a month! Pledge now at patreon.com/tumblepodcast Learn more about the horrible sounds experiment on the blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com.