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 should win!

When you’re done listening, tell us if you agree with the results! Write a review on Apple Podcasts or comment on Spotify. 

Join on Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble and be featured on future episodes, and help us decide on Season 12 topics: patreon.com/tumblepodcast

Shop official Tumble merch: https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/

Submit a science question: https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/contact
Also go donate to our Joke-ha-thon fundraiser by May 27th at 9 am ET to enter a drawing for AMAZING prizes! https://tumble.science/joke2026

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 [email protected]! 

Join on Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble: patreon.com/tumblepodcast

Shop official Tumble merch: https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/

Listen to Tumble en Español: https://pod.link/1521514886
Submit a science question: https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/contact

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 Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble: patreon.com/tumblepodcast

Shop official Tumble merch: https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/

Listen to Tumble en Español: https://pod.link/1521514886

Submit a science question: https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/contact

https://tumble.science/JokeContestant

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 podcasts: https://pod.link/1521514886

Join on Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble: patreon.com/tumblepodcast

Shop official Tumble merch: https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/

Submit a science question: https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/contact

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Shhh! This link is TOP SECRET: https://tumble.science/JokeContestant

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 Curious. Mick loved the question so much that he made a whole episode about it—and today we’re sharing it with you.

Join on Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble: ⁠patreon.com/tumblepodcast⁠

Shop official Tumble merch: ⁠https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/⁠
Listen to Tumble en Español: ⁠https://pod.link/1521514886⁠
Submit a science question: https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/contact

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 limbs. 

Plus: why axolotls have to live in separate tanks (hint: they’re a little too snack-happy).

Join on Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble: patreon.com/tumblepodcast

Shop official Tumble merch: https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/

Listen to Tumble en Español: https://pod.link/1521514886

Submit a science question: https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/contact

In this episode, we talk to two scientists who study animal friendships, in different animals, and in different ways. We’ll hear from Karen Bales, who studies titi monkeys (AKA “fuzzy little guys”) and Annaliese Beery, who studies voles (AKA “the cutest rodents”). Get ready to discover how animal friends play and cuddle - and what they can teach us about our own friendships. 

This episode was produced thanks to a generous grant from the Greater Good Science Center. Check out their website for all kinds of awesome quizzes, information, and more!

Join on Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble: patreon.com/tumblepodcast

Shop official Tumble merch: https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/

Listen to Tumble en Español: https://pod.link/1521514886

Submit a science question: https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/contact

How did Earth get created? What did our planet begin as? Why does our world exist? What started our planet? These questions take us back billions of years to learn how Earth formed in the very beginning - and then, we’ll look to a group of mysterious asteroids that might reveal how Earth became the planet it is today. 

With planetary scientist Bill Bottke, we’ll hear the incredible story of Earth’s earliest days in cinematic style. And get ready for a journey to Jupiter, where a NASA mission you probably haven’t heard of is heading, in hopes of revealing mysteries hidden in the Trojan asteroids. What could they reveal about why our planet came to host life? Listen to find out!

Join on Patreon to help us continue to make Tumble: patreon.com/tumblepodcast

Shop official Tumble merch: https://tumblepodcast.dashery.com/

Listen to Tumble en Español: https://pod.link/1521514886

Submit a science question: https://www.sciencepodcastforkids.com/contact

This is a rebroadcast of one of our favorite episodes from season 9!

Do fungi breathe? That’s what listener Alice wants to know - and we’ll find out in our punniest episode yet! We visit the Fungarium - the largest and oldest collection of fungi in the world with curator Lee Davies, who describes himself as a “librarian” of mushrooms. We’ll explore how fungi live and die, and why there’s so many species left to discover. Watch out for the zombie fungi! And beware, Lindsay and Marshall don’t hold back on the “fun guy” puns!

To support Tumble on Patreon, visit patreon.com/tumblepodcast.

Our merch store is at tumblepodcast.dashery.com.

Go here to get more details about Tumble's appearance at Lincoln Center this February 7th at 11 am! It's totally free to the public!

This is a re-broadcast of a favorite episode from 2019. We actually won our first AAAS Kavli Award for this episode, along with The Cave of the Underground Astronauts. Check it out!

Why do seals have whiskers? Listener Karah’s question dives into the wonderful world of whisker science. Robyn Grant, a self-described “whisker biologist” shares her discoveries of how whiskers work, from training a friendly seal named Moe to making slow-mo movies of super speedy “whisking.” (You will find no cuter field of research… but if you do, tell us about it!) Listen to learn about humans’ hidden whisker muscles and find out to rank whiskers like the pros!

Want to learn more about whisker science? We have more from our interview with Robyn on our Patreon podcast feed! Subscribe for $1/month at patreon.com/tumblepodcast. You can also tune in on the Castbox podcast app by tuning into our Premium Channel.

Find more whiskery educational resources on our blog, at sciencepodcastforkids.com.

If you want a t-shirt from our merch store, go check it out at tumblepodcast.dashery.com.

We’re wrapping up 2025 with a final Mailbag episode, featuring some of our longest-running Patrons! Did you know, when you sign up to support Tumble on Patreon, you’ll get a personalized message from Marshall? And if you’ve been supporting us for years, we might just call you up to chat! We’ll meet our mysterious patron, MiloSloth and his family, and learn why they love to support the show. 

Plus, why is the English language so weird? Who made PB & J a combo? And do all cats hate getting wet? We have the answers.

If you want to join Milo and support Tumble on Patreon, just go to patreon.com/tumblepodcast and pledge at whatever level you want! $1 or more gets you ad-free versions of the show, and $5 and up gets you a birthday shout out! Also don't forget about gift subscriptions, which make great last-minute holiday gifts!

Want Tumble merch? Just go to tumblepodcast.dashery.com for t-shirts, mugs, hats, tote bags, and so much more.