Episode notes
Seven year old Julia in London thinks that rainbows and the recent Northern Lights are magical. But if a scientist tells her how they work, will she still believe they are? Join us to find out! Featuring Partha Chowdhury, professor of physics at UMass Lowell in the US. The Conversation’s Curious Kids podcast is published in partnership with FunKids, the UK’s children’s radio station. It’s hosted and produced by Eloise. The executive producer is Gemma Ware. Email your question to [email protected] or record it and send your question to us directly at funkidslive.com/curious. And…
Podcast
The Conversation's Curious Kids
The Conversation · Kids & Family · English
Kids ask the coolest questions! And on The Conversation’s Curious Kids, we get the brainiest people we can to answer them! Every week, a curious kid joins host Eloise to ask the world’s top researchers their burning question – whether it’s about space, dinosaurs, trees or even why their dog is jus
More from The Conversation's Curious Kids All episodes →
-
S2 · E4 · 30 Jun 2026 · 15 min
Do whales fart?
itA few years ago, 10-year-old Guy was driving along the Australian coast when he saw whales, spouting water up into the air. He was amazed. “Then my brother farted, and then I wondered if whales fart,” says Guy. Guy joined our host Eloise to put his question to Vanessa Pirotta , a wildlife scientist at Macquarie University in Australia on this episode. A podcast from The Conversation , the independent not-for-profit news organisation that brings you news and analysis straight from academic experts. Full credits available here . This season is supported by the University of Southampton in…
-
S2 · E3 · 23 Jun 2026 · 16 min
How high can a volcano throw lava up in the air?
Erupting volcanoes spew molten lava, gas and rocks up into the air. But just how high can the lava go and how do eruptions work? That’s what eight-year-old Thomas from Leeds in the UK wanted to know. Thomas joined our host Eloise to put his question to volcanologist Martin Mangler from the University of Southampton. If you'd like to join in with the experiment in this episode, you'll need some bicarbonate of soda, some vinegar, honey, a bottle or mug and a straw, to hand. A podcast from The Conversation , the independent not-for-profit news organisation that brings you news and analysis…
-
S2 · E2 · 16 Jun 2026 · 17 min
What came before the Big Bang?
It’s a question big enough to make your head spin! Eight-year-old Ellie from Atlanta, Georgia, wants to know what came before the Big Bang? Ellie joins our host Eloise to delve into the origins of our universe with astronomer Michael Lam from Rochester Institute of Technology. If you'd like to join in with the experiment in this episode, make sure you have a balloon and a pen on hand while you listen. A podcast from The Conversation , the independent not-for-profit news organisation that brings you news and analysis straight from academic experts. Full credits available here . This season is…
-
S2 · E1 · 9 Jun 2026 · 15 min
Why do my fingers go wrinkly in the bath?
Have you ever stayed in the bath or swimming pool for ages and noticed that your fingers and toes went all wrinkly? Well, 11-year-old Maya from London wanted to know why that happens. She joins host Eloise to get the answer from biologist Tom Smulders from Newcastle University on the first episode of our second season! There’s an experiment in this episode which you can try out too while you listen. If you want to join in, prepare a bowl of warm water. A podcast from The Conversation , the independent not-for-profit news organisation that brings you news and analysis straight from academic…
-
S2 · 2 Jun 2026 · 1 min
New season coming soon!
We've had some fantastic questions sent in by listeners around the world and now we're back with a second season of The Conversation's Curious Kids! And we're beaming at being named Best Kids podcast at the British Podcast Awards 2025 too. Each episode, a curious kid joins host Eloise to ask a top researcher their burning question, such as: why do your fingers and toes go wrinkly in the bath? Why our taste in food changes as we get older? How high can volcanoes actually send molten lava up into the air? New episodes from June 9th. A podcast from The Conversation , the independent…
-
S1 · E7 · 1 Jun 2024 · 21 min
Can chameleons change colour in their sleep?
Have you ever wondered how chameleons change colour? And can they do this while they're asleep? What about if they are able to dream? Does their dream flash across their bodies in reds, turquoises and greens? Join curious ten-year-old Ikechukwu from Lagos, Nigeria, as he takes all his questions to an expert! Featuring Russell Ligon, a recent postdoctoral researcher at Cornell University in the US. The Conversation’s Curious Kids podcast is published in partnership with FunKids, the UK’s children’s radio station. It’s hosted and produced by Eloise. The executive producer is Gemma Ware. Email…
-
S1 · E6 · 25 May 2024 · 20 min
If an asteroid hit Earth, and all the humans died, would the dinosaurs come back?
Many, many years ago dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Six year old Aga knows that a meteorite wiped them out... but could another meteorite bring them back? You can read a print version of this story here, and explore more articles from our Curious Kids series on The Conversation . The Conversation’s Curious Kids podcast is published in partnership with FunKids, the UK’s children’s radio station. It’s hosted and produced by Eloise. The executive producer is Gemma Ware. Email your question to [email protected] or record it and send your question to us directly at…
-
S1 · E5 · 18 May 2024 · 20 min
Why is my dog so cute?
Do you think your dog is the cutest thing you've ever seen? Ten-year-old Grace does! But why? She joins our host Eloise and psychologist Deborah Wells to find out! The Conversation's Curious Kids podcast is published in partnership with FunKids, the UK's children's radio station. It's hosted and produced by Eloise and Gemma Ware is the executive producer. If you have a question for an expert, email us at [email protected] or record it and send your question to us directly at funkidslive.com/curious . You can read an article of this episode here or explore more articles from our…
-
S1 · E4 · 11 May 2024 · 18 min
Why do some trees lose their leaves and others don't?
As spring started springing, and leaves started to reappear on the trees, Robi-Jo wanted to find out why some trees lose their leaves and others don't. He joined our host Eloise to ask Paul Ashton, a botanist at Edge Hill University in the UK, who took them into the secret life of our big, leafy friends! The Conversation's Curious Kids podcast is published in partnership with FunKids, the UK's children's radio station. It's hosted and produced by Eloise and Gemma Ware is the executive producer. Full sound credits available here . If you have a question for an expert, email us at…
-
S1 · E3 · 4 May 2024 · 14 min
What is energy made of?
Have you seen that scene from Star Wars where Yoda uses the force to lift the spaceship out of a swamp? Its energy is so powerful, but what exactly is it made of? That's what Ela, aged 10 from Melbourne, wanted to know. And so she joined our host Eloise to ask Sam Baron, a science philosopher at The University of Melbourne to find the answer! The Conversation's Curious Kids is published in partnership with FunKids, the UK's children's radio station. It's hosted and produced by Eloise, and this episode was executive produced by Stephen Harris. Full sound credits available here. If you have a…
Take it with you
The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.
