Episode notes
Do trees think? That’s what our listener Alden wants to know. He has an idea that scientists might study mushroom roots to find out if trees are sending messages. Is that true? And if so, what do trees have to say?!We travel deep into the forest with a young soil scientist named Natalia Mondi from the Mother Tree Project, to find out how and why trees communicate through the ecosystem. Along the way, we’ll discover what trees are asking for, how their “forest buds” help them out, and how Natalia is using this knowledge to restore a forest in Canada, guided by the Kwiakah Nation. Join on…
Tumble Science Podcast for Kids
by Tumble Media · English · Kids & Family
A Common Sense Selection! Exploring stories of science discovery. Tumble is a science podcast created to be enjoyed by the entire family. Hosted & produced by Lindsay Patterson (science journalist) & Marshall Escamilla (teacher). Visit www.tumblepodcast.com for educational content.
More from Tumble Science Podcast for Kids
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15 May 2026 · 24 min
Pluto and the Planetary Pandemonium - Encore
This is a rebroadcast of one of our favorite episodes from the past! It’s a scientific controversy of planetary proportions! Is Pluto a planet, or not? You decide, after we present two sides of an epic astronomy argument. Back in 2006, the International Astronomer’s Union voted on a definition of the word “planet” that excluded Pluto and other newly dubbed “dwarf planets” from planethood status. Astronomers - and everybody else - quickly chose sides. We dive deep into the debate and learn that Pluto’s not the only Space Object Formerly Known As A Planet. Then we’ll ask you to weigh in with…
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S11 · E10 · 1 May 2026 · 27 min
Who Works Harder: Ants or Bees?
Both ants and bees work hard. So which one works harder? That’s what our listener Hadi wants to know! So we’re pitting insect against insect in a battle of industriousness. Ants or bees: Who will win?! Tune in as we attempt to crown the Hardest Working Insect! To help, we’ve recruited Dr. Sammy Ramsey, an entomologist, National Geographic Explorer, and host and producer of the Disney+ documentary, “Secrets of the Bees.” In a series of very competitive rounds, Dr. Sammy shares the research to stack up the habits of ants and bees. Plus, Tumble Patreon members weigh in with who THEY think…
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17 Apr 2026 · 21 min
Mailbag: Are Animals Ticklish? + New Song!
A special “tickle attack” Mailbag edition of Tumble! We’re tackling your questions about whether animals can be tickled, and why we laugh when we’re tickled. David Leavens, a professor of psychology, helps us break down the not-so-silly science of tickling. Plus, a brand NEW SONG from Marshall based on a listener request! Want to be on a future mailbag episode? With an adult, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, a comment on Spotify, or email us at tumblepodcast@gmail.com! Join on Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble: patreon.com/tumblepodcast Shop official Tumble merch:…
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S11 · E8 · 20 Mar 2026 · 25 min
What's Dark Matter?
What is dark matter? Why do scientists think it exists? How are they searching for it, and why are they doing it in an underground lab?! Join us on the search for dark matter with Alvaro Chavarria, a physicist running a dark matter detector underneath a mountain in the French Alps. We’ll take you inside the lab to visit the detector, and find out why everything we think we know about dark matter… could be wrong. For more, visit our website! Our question comes from Jeronimo, a Tumble en Español listener! To listen to Tumble en Español, use this link to subscribe wherever you get your…
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6 Mar 2026 · 38 min
Who Invented the Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich? (with The Past and the Curious)
Who invented the peanut butter and jelly sandwich? And how did it become one of the most famous lunches in America? In this episode, a question from listener Leila sends us on a trip through history to find out how peanut butter, jelly, and sliced bread came together to make the classic PB&J. Along the way, we learn about the first written recipe for the sandwich in 1901, how peanut butter went from a fancy food to a lunchbox staple, and why sliced bread changed everything. To help answer Leila’s question, we turned to our buddy Mick Sullivan, host of the history podcast The Past and the…
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S11 · E7 · 20 Feb 2026 · 23 min
Can Axolotls Teach Us to Grow New Hands?
Why do humans usually have five fingers on each hand? And what if one day, we could grow a new finger if we lost one? In this episode, a question from six-year-old listener Ayla sends us on a journey from tiny developing embryos to one of the most amazing animals on Earth: the axolotl. We talk with Dr. Jessica Whited, a Harvard-based biologist who studies how axolotls regrow their limbs - and why humans can’t do the same… for now! Along the way, we discover how our hands develop before we’re born, why evolution settled on five fingers, and axolotls might show us the way to regrow our own…
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S12 · E3 · 9 Oct 2026 · 26 minNew
The Hugging Robot
What makes a good hug? That’s what Ryder wants to know. Enter HuggieBot - a robot that helped discover the 11 “ingredients” of a meaningful embrace. We’ll learn why HuggieBot’s creator, Dr. Alexis Block, decided to build a hugging robot, and what a robot can tell us about why hugs matter so much to humans. Watch videos of HuggieBot in action and read the full episode transcript on our blog. Vote for Tumble! We’re a finalist in the Signal Awards, and you can help us win the Listener’s Choice Award. Voting closes October 15. Join us on Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble, hang out…
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2 Oct 2026 · 21 min
Mailbag: What Happens When Galaxies Crash?
In this mailbag episode, astronomer Karen Masters joins Marshall and Lindsay to answer a listener's question: what happens when Andromeda crashes into the Milky Way? Plus, we're launching a brand-new segment: The Kid Quiz! Find Tumble Cards on Yoto here. To get an invite to the next Tumble meetup, as well as receive birthday shout outs and ad free versions of the show, go to patreon.com/tumblepodcast and support us! For Tumble t-shirts, visit our store on Dashery: tumblepodcast.dashery.com And don't forget to keep checking our blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com for NGSS…
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S12 · E2 · 25 Sep 2026 · 25 min
Why Does Earth Have a Magnetic Field?
How did Earth get its magnetic field? And why does it move around? Our listeners have questions about one of Earth’s most mysterious forces. To find out, we go on an archeological expedition in the Middle East, with pioneering paleomagnetist Lisa Tauxe. Lisa has spent decades “hunting” the magnetic field through time, to understand what ancient artifacts can tell us about how the magnetic field has changed. Did you know, magnetic north doesn’t stay in one place – and sometimes it flips? If you feel yourself pulled into this mystery, hit play on this episode! Join on Patreon to help us…
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18 Sep 2026 · 15 min
Mailbag: Do Space Wormholes Exist?
In this mailbag episode, Marshall and Lindsay tackle two listener questions — whether space wormholes are real, and what a fly wing and a carrot could possibly have in common under a microscope. Plus, listener reviews and comments from China! To get an invite to the next Tumble meetup, as well as receive birthday shout outs and ad free versions of the show, go to patreon.com/tumblepodcast and support us! For Tumble t-shirts, visit our store on Dashery: tumblepodcast.dashery.com And don't forget to keep checking our blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com for NGSS alignment,…
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