Tumble Science Podcast for Kids

What makes dogs loyal? This question comes from Amalia, a sixth grade student. We ask two different dog scientists, and their answers will surprise you. We learn about an experiment that tests dogs’ loyalty - or does it? Get ready to get inside the head of a dog! We want to hear about your dogs! Email us at tumblepodcast@gmail.com, visit us at tumblepodcast.com, and like us on Facebook. Photo courtesy of Mia Cobb.

Why do bats hang upside down? That's what fifth graders living in the Bat Capital of the World - Austin, Texas - want to know. We visit Micaela Jemison at the world headquarters of Bat Conservation International to figure out why bats have such weird sleep habits. Plus, why would bats walk on treadmills? They're mysterious creatures. This is the first in a series of shows featuring kids' questions. We want to hear what you think! Email us at tumblepodcast@gmail.com, message us on Facebook, and tweet us on Twitter. Send us your bat t-shirt designs and we'll share them!

Sarah Richardson, a biologist, dreams of being of a farmer. Instead of tending to barns full of cows making milk, she'll have petri dishes full of bacteria. They'll be making a brand new kind of fuel that could replace gas we put in our cars. But just like the first human to milk a cow, Sarah has a difficult job to do. In this episode, she explains how she's trying to convince bacteria to make the things we need - but will they listen? Learn more about Sarah's story at www.tumblepodcast.com, and sign up for our weekly kid-friendly podcast recommendation newsletter. Subscribe on iTunes and leave us a review. Want to ask a question on Tumble? Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or email and ask away. Photo credit: Microbe World

What would the world be like if there were no parasites? You might actually miss those mind-controlling blood suckers. Science writer Carl Zimmer tells us how scientists are discovering the hidden importance of parasites' dirty work.

[Now, with new information on decoy spider research!] One dark night in the Amazon, three guys stumble face first into a new discovery - and capture it all on video. Joe Hanson, from It's Okay to Be Smart, tells the story. Music in this episode by Broke for Free.

No one knows what dark energy is or why it exists. So how did astronomers discover the mysterious force that's pulling the universe apart? Astronomer Jeff Silverman explains one of the universe's biggest mysteries. Learn more at www.tumblepodcast.com! Subscribe on iTunes and leave us a review. Music by Noveller and YACHT, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

Emily Graslie, host of the YouTube science show The Brain Scoop, explains how an encounter with a dead mouse at a natural history museum steered her toward one of the most important discoveries of her life. (This episode contains references to preserving dead animals.) Music in this episode is by Podington Bear. Brain Scoop clips used with permission

Dinosaurs never went extinct. They're living in our backyards. How did scientists discover that birds are secretly dinosaurs? Science writer Riley Black tells us how some suspicious fuzz on a farmer's fossil find cracked open the biggest case in dinosaur paleontology. Note, Riley Black is referred to in this episode as Brian Switek. Music in this episode by Podington Bear, Noveller, and Johnny the Ripper, courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

A mystery that began with an unusual star spotted in the year 1054 took almost a thousand years to solve. In this episode, supernova expert Jeffrey Silverman explains how astronomers cracked the case and discovered what happened in the ancient night sky. Hint: It involves a massive explosion. Music by Podington Bear and Broke For Free.

When a tiny beetle starts destroying farmers' fields in Australia, scientists decide to bring in a giant toad to bite back. But they never predicted what would happen next. In this episode, science writer Sheril Kirshenbaum tells a story of science gone wild. Music in this episode is by Podington Bear.