Get ready for Wild Critters USA!

More from Orbit: Science for kids on the move! All episodes →

1. 

   21 Jul 2026 · 21 min

   Why does welding create sparks? ⚡

   Did you know the welding arc can get even hotter than the surface of the Sun? 🔥 This week, we meet Rudy Rodriguez, a welding instructor at Weimar High School in Weimar, Texas. Together, we discover how welders use heat to join metal together, why they wear special helmets, what causes those bright sparks, and how welding helps build everything from playgrounds and roller coasters to bridges, airplanes, and even rockets! ➡️ Part of the Cool Jobs for Curious Kids series, made possible by ...

2. 

   15 Jul 2026 · 28 min

   How do tiny mussels clean our rivers?

   Who cleans a river? It turns out some of the hardest workers are animals you may have never heard of: freshwater mussels. Join Tyler Hern from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as we discover how these amazing animals help keep rivers healthy, how baby mussels hitch rides on fish, and why scientists are working hard to protect them. ➡️ Part of the Wild Critters USA series, created with PBS Nature and the National Wildlife Federation ➡️ Learn more about freshwater ecosystems with Ranger...

3. 

   8 Jul 2026 · 27 min

   Why are alligator moms so awesome?

   Did you know that American alligator moms build nests, guard their eggs, carry their babies to the water, and come running when their little ones call for help? They might just be contenders for Wild Critter Mom of the Year! This week, we travel to Florida's Everglades National Park with Yvette Cano, director of education at Everglades National Park! ➡️ Part of the Wild Critters USA series, created with PBS Nature and the National Wildlife Federation ➡️ Learn more about Everglades National Pa...

4. 

   1 Jul 2026 · 30 min

   Why do bison body-slam trees?

   Did you know that American bison help prevent grasslands from turning into forests by body-slamming young trees? And that they once lived in herds so enormous they stretched all the way to the horizon? This week, we travel to the grasslands of Montana with Dr. Andy Boyce, a research ecologist at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Discover why bison live in herds, how they defend themselves from predators, and why scientists call them a keystone species. Along t...

5. 

   24 Jun 2026 · 27 min

   The tortoise that saved the rabbit!

   Did you know a single Mojave Desert tortoise burrow can become a shelter for rattlesnakes, owls, kangaroo rats, and many other desert animals? This week, we explore the Mojave Desert with wildlife biologist Brianna Fogel from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Learn how desert tortoises survive in one of North America's harshest environments, why they spend so much time underground, and why scientists call them a keystone species that helps support an entire desert community. ➡️ Part o...

6. 

   16 Jun 2026 · 21 min

   How does AC lower the temperature?

   ❄️ Do air conditioners actually make cold air? How was air conditioning invented? And what does an HVAC technician do all day? In this episode, HVAC instructor John Vernon helps Orbiters discover the surprising science behind air conditioning. Learn how refrigerant carries heat, why compressors are so important, and how air conditioning changed homes, schools, hospitals, and cities around the world. This episode is part of our Cool Jobs series with Level Up Texas and Texas A&M University'...

7. 

   3 Jun 2026 · 24 min

   What's in the eye of a hurricane?

   Ever wonder how hurricanes form, why they spin, or why some storms get names? Join Rob, Hank, and cohost Milam as we explore the wild science of hurricanes with meteorologist Steve LaVoie from the National Weather Service! Special Middle School episode extra: YouTube Family conversation starter: What did you learn about hurricanes?Steve was very interested in weather when he was a kid. Do you have one favorite topic, like Steve, or do you enjoy learning about many topics?Keep lear...

8. 

   27 May 2026 · 27 min

   Magma, volcanoes, and fossils! The incredible rock cycle

   Ever wondered if rocks can melt like cheese, explode out of volcanoes, or travel to the bottom of the ocean? Today, we follow the incredible adventure of Walter the Rock through the rock cycle with geoscientist Dr. Lina Pérez-Angel from Brown University and the Geological Society of America. We'll discover how rocks form, melt into magma, cool into igneous rocks, break into sediments, and transform deep underground over millions of years. ➡️ This episode is possible thanks to the Geolog...

9. 

   13 May 2026 · 27 min

   Whoosh! How fast are flash floods?

   Ever wonder what exactly is a flash flood? Are all floods flash floods? We have a fascinating episode featuring Nichole Cronce, a hydrologist from the National Weather Service. Join Rob, Hank and Sam as we learn not only about the science of floods, but how to stay safe when the storms get strong or the river starts running high! Episode Extra for middle school: LINKThree questions for families to discuss: Where is a safe place we can go if there is flooding? What should we b...

10. 

    28 Apr 2026 · 29 min

    How ultrasound 'sees' inside the body

    This week, we dive beneath the surface - exploring the human heart not through sight, but through sound. Joined by Victoria Rivera, a cardiac sonographer at Texas Children’s Hospital, we uncover the fascinating world of sonography and echolocation. Discover how sound waves reveal the inner workings of the heart, and get an inside look at one of the most incredible careers in modern medicine. ➡️ Level-Up Texas: ⁠More Info⁠ ➡️ Explore Cool Jobs in the classroom! K-5 classroom resources: https:/...