Tumble Science Podcast for Kids Tumble Media

Scientists stage an alien abduction to learn how bacteria avoid antibiotics, in this fact-meets-fiction episode! Meet our alien bacteria invaders (fiction) and our real life scientist, Caroline Blassick (fact) as they face off in a battle of microbial life and death. We’ll find out how Caroline implants mind-control devices in bacteria to improve human health, in bioengineer Mary Dunlop’s lab.
Our bacteria are played by Clara and Elijah, middle school STEM students. 
This episode is supported by the National Science Foundation under award number MCB 2032357. 
Learn more about “alien bacteria” on the bonus interview episode on our Patreon, at patreon.com/tumblepodcast. 
We have more free resources about bacteria and antibiotics available on the blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com

Why can’t we see black holes? Can we see black holes with a telescope? That’s what Tumble listener James wants to know. We explore the science of supermassive black holes and gravitational waves, with the help of astronomer Maura McLaughlin. Find out how the LIGO telescope is aiding in the search for supermassive black holes on an intergalactic collision course!

ANNOUNCEMENT: Tumble en Español, the Spanish adaptation of Tumble, is back for Season 3! Listen here: https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/tumble-en-espanol

Learn more about black holes and gravitational waves on the science podcast for kids blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com

Listen to Maura talk about the science of pulsar stars - the key to finding gravitational waves and black holes - in our bonus interview episode, available when you support us on Patreon for just $1 or more a month on Patreon.com/tumblepodcast.

What does a spider web sound like? Join us as we weave a web of connections between science and music - and learn some truly mind-blowing facts about spiders! MIT scientist and musician Markus Buehler shares his journey into the spiderverse, turning spider silk into instruments and making materials from nature. 

Watch Markus’ spider music videos on the blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com
The song "Spider Variations" by Markus Buehler was used with permission from Markus. The sounds are based on a sonification method of a spider web as described in the references below [1-2], part of a larger collaboration with Tomás Saraceno, Saraceno Studios, Ally Bisshop, Thomas Muehletahler, and Evan Ziporyn, and the MIT Center for Art, Science and Technology (CAST). Hear more of Markus' songs on his Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-275864738
Hear more from Markus about materials and music in our bonus interview episode, available when you support us on Patreon for just $1 or more a month on Patreon.com/tumblepodcast.

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse is coming to the United States! Join us for Tumble’s Eclipse Spectacular with games, music, and a thrilling audio experience to learn what it’s like to be on the path of totality. Eclipse expert Vivian White guides us and our listeners through the mysteries of this rare astronomical event. You’ll be singing our new song, “Total Eclipse of the Sun” with your eclipse glasses on! 
Hear our bonus interview episode with Vivian on our Patreon feed at patreon.com/tumblepodcast, when you pledge just $1 or more a month.
There’s more free resources to learn about the eclipse on the blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com
“Total Eclipse of the Sun” will be available on Spotify by eclipse day! 

When human health is on the line, it’s a case for a molecular detective! Meet Mona Minkara, a scientist who studies molecular clues to solve big crimes inside the body. She’s tracking down the criminals who creep into our bodies to make us sick. Find out how Mona uses her powers of observation to solve mysteries just like her hero, Sherlock Holmes.

Support Tumble on Patreon to join Lindsay and Marshall on Zoom! Just go to patreon.com/tumblepodcast and support at ANY LEVEL!

Learn more about Mona's work on the bonus interview episode on our Patreon, at ⁠⁠patreon.com/tumblepodcast⁠⁠. 

Check out free resources for this episode available on the blog on our website, ⁠⁠https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/

How do you think a stadium full of Taylor Swift fans would shake the earth? Tumble enters the Swiftiverse with Jackie Caplan-Auerbach, the scientist who discovered the “Swift Quake” - a type of earthquake created by fans at Taylor Swift concerts. Find out who really “shakes it off” - when it comes to music and seismic energy.



Hear the other "sounds" of Jackie's earthquake and volcano research on the bonus interview episode on our Patreon, at ⁠patreon.com/tumblepodcast⁠. 



Check out free resources for this episode available on the blog on our website, ⁠https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/



Concert music in this episode was recorded by Ana Hedrick at a Taylor Swift show in Seattle, and used as data by Jackie Caplan-Auerbach.