Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Orbit: Science for kids on the move!
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanoboa: The largest snake that ever lived | 15 Sep 2025 | 00:32:54 | |
A 🐍 prehistoric snake that lived 60 million years ago ,was as long as a school bus and weighed as much as 100 bicycles 🚴♀️🚴? Sounds interesting 🤯 – let's learn more! We're joined in this episode by Dr. Carlos Jaramillo, from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (info)🌴.
🎙️ Orbit's sibling podcasts in Spanish:
Orbit is produced by Cumbre Kids: Website Want to collaborate? Contact our team: kids@cumbremedia.com A message for parents about our values, from our executive producer : LINK | |||
| Trailer: Get to know Orbit! | 14 Sep 2025 | 00:01:55 | |
Submit your child's questions: Fill out this short form Join Rob and Milam as they explore science with experts! Featuring questions submitted by real children and families! Why parents love podcasts by Cumbre Kids:
"Orbit" is produced by Cumbre Kids (website). Each episode is available in Spanish! Check out the podcasts:
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| Giant Pacific Octopus: 8 arms and 9 brains! | 18 Sep 2025 | 00:30:02 | |
The Giant Pacific Octopus is a true legend of the oceans: Able to open jars, solve puzzles, spray ink, change colors and so much more! 🐙🤯 In this episode, we're joined by marine biologist René Carbajal from the Monterey Bay Aquarium 🐟🌊, who shares incredible facts and stories about these mysterious (and super cool!) creatures. 🐟 Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch - to choose environmentally sustainable seafood for your family! Info
🎙️ Orbit's sibling podcasts in Spanish:
Orbit is produced by Cumbre Kids: Website Contact our team: kids@cumbremedia.com A message for parents about our values, from our executive producer : LINK | |||
| The Secret Life of Plants | 28 Oct 2025 | 00:35:26 | |
🌱 Plants are all around us! They are green science in action! We're joined in this episode by Charlie from the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami, Florida, USA! 🌴🌿 Listen with your little ones and learn all about the parts of plants, photosynthesis, life, and much more! -- 🎙️ This episode is also available in Spanish on our sister podcast, Cráneo: Ciencia para niños curiosos. 💬 Submit questions for episodes! Just fill out this short form: LINK 💛 Support this podcast by joining The Curious Club: LINK 🎧 More podcasts by Cumbre Kids: LINK A message for parents from our executive producer about our values here: LINK | |||
| Mammal teeth: Elephants, whales, humans and more! | 18 Nov 2025 | 00:31:22 | |
🦷 Why do lions have sharp teeth? Why do whales have different teeth than humans? And how can scientists learn about animals that lived millions of years ago just by studying their teeth? In this episode, paleontologist Dr. Silvia Pineda-Munoz helps Orbiters explore the fascinating world of mammal teeth. Discover what makes an animal a mammal, why different animals have different kinds of teeth, and how fossil teeth help scientists unlock secrets from the past. ➡️ Featuring Dr. Silvia Pineda-Munoz, founder of Climate Ages, a project that connects stories from Earth's past with the environmental challenges we face today. 💬 Submit your kids' questions! www.cumbrekids.org/questions ➡️ Coloring pages for each episode! www.cumbrekids.org/color-along 💛 Support this podcast by joining The Curious Club: www.cumbrekids.org/curious-club Orbit Family Conversation Starters! • If you could borrow the teeth of any animal for a day, which animal would you choose and what would you do with them? • Why do you think lions, elephants, whales, and humans all need different kinds of teeth? Continue learning as a family! • Grab a mirror and identify your incisors, canines, and molars. What job do you think each type of tooth does? • Look up photos of a lion skull, a cow skull, and a whale skull. What clues can their teeth give you about what they eat? • Visit Climate Ages to learn more about Dr. Silvia's work exploring ancient animals and environments. • Explore fossil collections from your local natural history museum or online museum resources. • Keep a "tooth detective" journal and record interesting animal teeth you discover in books, zoos, museums, or nature documentaries. 🎧 More podcasts by Cumbre Kids in English and Spanish: www.cumbrekids.org 👨👩👧👦 A message for parents about our values: www.cumbrekids.org/our-values | |||
| Why do we dream? | 09 Dec 2025 | 00:31:53 | |
Ever wonder what happens in your brain while we sleep? Or why we need to sleep at all? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Davila-Williams - a pediatric neurologist from Texas Children's Hospital - joins Orbit to discuss the science of sleep, including:
🌐 Website for Dr. Davila-Williams: LINK 💬 Complete this short form to submit questions for episodes! www.cumbrekids.org/questions 💛 Support this podcast by joining The Curious Club: LINK 🎧 More podcasts by Cumbre Kids: LINK 🎙️ This episode is also available in Spanish on our sister podcast, Cráneo: Ciencia para niños curiosos. A message for parents about our values here: LINK | |||
| Sedimentary Rocks: Nature's time machines! | 13 Jan 2026 | 00:31:08 | |
Did you know that studying rocks today can teach us about the Earth millions of years ago!? We're joined by an incredible geoscientist - Dr. Lina Perez-Angel, from Brown University - to explore the incredible world of Sedimentary Rocks, including what they're made of, how they form, and how scientists study them! 💬 Submit your kids' questions! www.cumbrekids.org/questions 💛 Support this podcast by joining The Curious Club: LINK 🎧 More podcasts by Cumbre Kids: Learn more 🎙️ This episode is available in Spanish on our sister podcast, Cráneo: Ciencia para niños curiosos. 👨👩👧👦 A message for parents about our values: LINK This episode was supported in part by the National Science Foundation Grant 2402100 from the Division of Earth Science. | |||
| The building blocks of the universe! | 03 Feb 2026 | 00:23:31 | |
Orbiters! Today we’re exploring atoms - the tiny building blocks of the universe! We’ll discover what atoms are, what they’re made of, where they’re found, how scientists discovered them, and more (including how many atoms are in a blue whale!). We’re joined by PhD scientist and chemical engineer Dr. Fernanda Sulantay-Vargas from Yale University! Dr. Fernanda is also a science communicator, active with the Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and the founder of InspiraSTEM, an organization that inspires and supports students from El Salvador in STEM. ➡️ The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE): Website ➡️ InspiraSTEM: Website ➡️ Follow Dr. Fernanda: Instagram, Tiktok 💬 Submit your kids' questions for episodes! www.cumbrekids.org/questions 💛 Support this podcast by joining The Curious Club: LINK 🎧 More podcasts by Cumbre Kids: Learn more 🎙️ This episode is available in Spanish on our sister podcast, Cráneo: Ciencia para niños curiosos. 👨👩👧👦 A message for parents about our values: LINK | |||
| What’s a cavity? | 17 Feb 2026 | 00:23:53 | |
Ever wonder what cavities are or how they form? 🦷 Or maybe why we have baby teeth? Or if the tooth fairy travels to different countries? This week we're joined by Prof. Ariana Vargas from the Texas A&M College of Dentistry! We explore the science of teeth, and amazing jobs like dental hygienists, dentists and dental assistants! This episode is part of the "Cool Jobs for Curious Kids" series, in collaboration with LevelUp Texas, powered by Texas A&M University. ➡️ Level-Up Texas: More Info ➡️ Expert guest: Prof. Ariana Vargas 💬 Submit your kids' questions for episodes! www.cumbrekids.org/questions 💛 Support this podcast by joining The Curious Club: LINK 🎧 More podcasts by Cumbre Kids: Learn more 🎙️ This episode is available in Spanish on our sister podcast, Cráneo: Ciencia para niños curiosos 👨👩👧👦 A message for parents about our values: LINK | |||
| Drones and the future of rangelands | 03 Mar 2026 | 00:27:41 | |
Ever wonder how drones can help scientists take care of wide open spaces? 🚁🌾 What do they look for from the sky—and how does that help wildlife on the ground? 🦌 This week on Orbit, we’re joined by Dr. Humberto Perotto from the Texas A&M Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management! He answers kids’ questions about how drones are used to monitor plant health, track animals, map changes across rangelands, and support conservation. We also explore what “rangeland management” really means, why these ecosystems are so important, and what it’s like to work in a STEM career that combines technology, nature, and problem-solving. This episode is part of the “Cool Jobs for Curious Kids” series, featuring STEM professionals responding to kids’ questions— a collaboration between LevelUp Texas and Cumbre Kids, powered by Texas A&M University. ➡️ Level-Up Texas: More Info ➡️ Expert guest: Dr. Humberto Perotto 💬 Submit your kids' questions for episodes! www.cumbrekids.org/questions 💛 Support this podcast by joining The Curious Club: LINK 🎧 More podcasts by Cumbre Kids: Learn more 🎙️ This episode is available in Spanish on our sister podcast, Cráneo: Ciencia para niños curiosos 👨👩👧👦 A message for parents about our values: LINK | |||
| How zoos care for animals! | 17 Mar 2026 | 00:26:08 | |
Hey there, Orbiters! This week we're visiting the incredible San Antonio Zoo in San Antonio, Texas 🦁🐒 to understand the inner workings of zoos! We're joined by Andreau Papadakis to learn why zoos exist, the role they play in protecting species through breeding and rehabilitation programs 🐢🌿, and the different jobs and education paths 🎓 that could lead curious Orbiters to work at a zoo someday! This episode is part of the “Cool Jobs for Curious Kids” series, featuring STEM professionals responding to kids’ questions— a collaboration between LevelUp Texas and Cumbre Kids, powered by Texas A&M University. ➡️ Level-Up Texas: More Info ➡️ San Antonio Zoo: https://sazoo.org🐾 💬 Submit your kids' questions for episodes! www.cumbrekids.org/questions 💛 Support this podcast by joining The Curious Club: LINK 🎧 More podcasts by Cumbre Kids: Learn more 🎙️ This episode is available in Spanish on our sister podcast, Cráneo: Ciencia para niños curiosos 👨👩👧👦 A message for parents about our values: LINK | |||
| How do satellites stay in orbit? | 31 Mar 2026 | 00:32:22 | |
This week, we orbiters learn about orbiting! 🚀 This episode dives into the science and technology of machines in outer space, zooming around the Earth! Alongside Joelle Romeu, an aerospace engineer with Boeing Company, we learn what satellites are, how they impact our life on Earth, and about the incredible job of Aerospace Engineers! 🌍 This episode is part of the “Cool Jobs for Curious Kids” series, featuring STEM professionals responding to kids’ questions— a collaboration with LevelUp Texas, powered by Texas A&M University. ➡️ Level-Up Texas: More Info ➡️ Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers: https://shpe.org/ 💬 Submit your kids' questions for episodes! www.cumbrekids.org/questions 💛 Support this podcast by joining The Curious Club: LINK 🎧 More podcasts by Cumbre Kids: Learn more 🎙️ This episode is available in Spanish on our sister podcast, Cráneo: Ciencia para niños curiosos 👨👩👧👦 A message for parents about our values: LINK | |||
| Bees: The great pollinators! | 07 Apr 2026 | 00:37:36 | |
🐝 Earth Day activities for families: LINK Ever watched bees buzzing around and thought, what are they actually up to? 🐝🌼 In this super exciting episode, we dive into the tiny (but mighty!) world of bees and discover how they help plants grow, flowers bloom, and even the food we eat! 🍓🌽 We’re joined by the amazing Dr. Laura Gonzalez Mozo from the American Museum of Natural History, who answers your curious questions ! 🐝 💬 Submit your kids' questions for episodes! www.cumbrekids.org/questions ✨ A special thanks to the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)! https://www.neefusa.org/ 🦖 American Museum of Natural History: https://www.amnh.org/ 💛 Support this podcast by joining The Curious Club: LINK 🎙️ This episode is available in Spanish on our sister podcast, Cráneo: Ciencia para niños curiosos 🎧 More podcasts by Cumbre Kids: Learn more 👨👩👧👦 A message for parents about our values: LINK | |||
| Why is it hard to make good choices? | 14 Apr 2026 | 00:28:04 | |
If you *choose* to listen to this episode, you’ll learn all about the science of making decisions! 🧠✨ We’re joined by Dr. Marco Palma from the Texas A&M Human Behavior Laboratory, as we seek to understand how the brain makes decisions, why we sometimes make bad decisions, and the biology of how the body reacts when we’re faced with decisions! This episode is part of the “Cool Jobs for Curious Kids” series, exploring 8 STEM careers and the science behind their jobs! This series is a collaboration with LevelUp Texas, powered by Texas A&M University. ➡️ Level-Up Texas: More Info ➡️ Texas A&M Human Behavior Lab: https://hbl.tamu.edu/ 💬 Submit your kids' questions! www.cumbrekids.org/questions Episode activities 🕒 10-10-10 decisions! When your family is thinking about a decision, talk about how this decision is going to make you feel in 10 minutes, in 10 days, and in 10 months! For example: “If I practice the piano today, I will probably feel pleased with myself in 10 minutes. In 10 days I might have learned something small and be happy about my progress. And in 10 months I might know several new songs!” 🛒 Grocery Store Economics! Next time you go to a grocery store, talk as a family about where things are in the store. For example: Where is the milk in the store and why? What is at ‘kid’ eye level and what is at ‘adult’ eye level? 💛 Support this podcast by joining The Curious Club: LINK 🎙️ This episode is available in Spanish on our sister podcast, Cráneo: Ciencia para niños curiosos 🎧 More podcasts by Cumbre Kids: Learn more 👨👩👧👦 A message for parents about our values: LINK | |||
| How ultrasound 'sees' inside the body | 28 Apr 2026 | 00:29:15 | |
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 ➡️ Texas Children's Hospital: https://www.texaschildrens.org 💬 Submit your kids' questions! www.cumbrekids.org/questions 💛 Support this podcast by joining The Curious Club: LINK 🎙️ This episode is available in Spanish on our sister podcast, Cráneo: Ciencia para niños curiosos 🎧 More podcasts by Cumbre Kids: Learn more 👨👩👧👦 A message for parents about our values: LINK | |||
| Whoosh! How fast are flash floods? | 13 May 2026 | 00:27:26 | |
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!
Three questions for families to discuss:
NOAA's Jetsteam resources for families:
💬 Submit your kids' questions! www.cumbrekids.org/questions 💛 Support this podcast by joining The Curious Club: LINK 🎧 More podcasts by Cumbre Kids: Learn more 👨👩👧👦 A message for parents about our values: LINK --- This work was funded by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)-Gulf Research Program, Grant # SCON-10001601 (PI: Ayça K. Fackler, Co-PI: Lourdes Cardozo-Gaibisso). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASEM. | |||
| Magma, volcanoes, and fossils! The incredible rock cycle | 27 May 2026 | 00:26:31 | |
Ever wondered if rocks can melt like cheese, explode out of volcanoes, or travel to the bottom of the ocean? Join Rob, Hank, and special cohost Kenji as 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. Together, we 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 Geological Society of America ➡️ Learn more about Dr. Lina’s science communication work with GeoChat: LINK Orbit Family Conversation Starters!
Continue learning as a family!
❓ Submit questions for upcoming episodes: LINK 💖 Support this podcast by joining our Curios Club: LINK 👨👩👧👦 A message for parents about our values: LINK 🎧 Orbit is produced by Cumbre Kids: www.cumbrekids.org | |||
| What's in the eye of a hurricane? | 03 Jun 2026 | 00:24:08 | |
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! 💬 Submit your kids' questions for episodes! www.cumbrekids.org/questions Special Middle School episode extra: YouTube After listening: 3 questions for your family:
Keep learning! Activities based in this episode:
💛 Support this podcast by joining The Curious Club: LINK 🎧 More podcasts by Cumbre Kids in English and Spanish: Learn more 👨👩👧👦 A message for parents about our values: LINK This work was funded by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)-Gulf Research Program, Grant # SCON-10001601 (PI: Ayça K. Fackler, Co-PI: Lourdes Cardozo-Gaibisso). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASEM. | |||
| The tortoise that saved the rabbit! | 24 Jun 2026 | 00:27:16 | |
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 of the Wild Critters USA series, created with PBS Nature and the National Wildlife Federation ➡️ Learn more about desert wildlife with Ranger Rick Magazine: https://rangerrick.org/ ➡️ Learn more about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: https://www.fws.gov/ ➡️ Free Wild Critters USA coloring pages: https://www.cumbrekids.org/color-along 💬 Submit your kids' questions! https://www.cumbrekids.org/questions 💛 Support this podcast by joining The Curious Club: https://www.cumbrekids.org/curious-club Orbit Family Conversation Starters!
Continue learning as a family!
🎧 More podcasts by Cumbre Kids in English and Spanish: https://www.cumbrekids.org 👨👩👧👦 A message for parents about our values: https://www.cumbrekids.org/our-values | |||
| Get ready for Wild Critters USA! | 24 Jun 2026 | 00:01:12 | |
Discover the wild side of America with Orbit’s brand-new Wild Critters USA series! Join us as wildlife experts from the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute answer real questions from curious kids about alligators, bald eagles, desert tortoises, bison, and more. Perfect for summer road trips, family adventures, and screen-free learning for kids ages 3–11. ➡️ A special summer series celebrating America’s wildlife in partnership with PBS Nature and the National Wildlife Federation ➡️ Explore more with National Wildlife Federation's Ranger Rick Magazine: https://rangerrick.org/ ➡️ Learn more about PBS Nature: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/ 💬 Submit your kids' questions for upcoming episodes! www.cumbrekids.org/questions 🎨 Free coloring pages for all episodes: https://www.cumbrekids.org/color 🎧 More podcasts by Cumbre Kids in English and Spanish: https://www.cumbrekids.org 👨👩👧👦 A message for parents about our values: https://www.cumbrekids.org/our-values | |||
| How does AC lower the temperature? | 16 Jun 2026 | 00:21:29 | |
❄️ 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's Office for Youth Engagement. ➡️Level-Up Texas: https://tx.ag/cooljobs ➡️ Skillpoint Alliance (https://skillpointalliance.org/), a nonprofit organization that helps adults prepare for skilled trades careers through hands-on training programs. 💬 Submit your kids' questions! https://www.cumbrekids.org/questions 🖍️ Coloring pages for each episode! https://www.cumbrekids.org/color-along 💛 Support this podcast by joining The Curious Club: https://www.cumbrekids.org/curious-club Orbit Family Conversation Starters!
Continue learning as a family!
🎧 More podcasts by Cumbre Kids in English and Spanish: https://www.cumbrekids.org 👨👩👧👦 A message for parents about our values: https://www.cumbrekids.org/our-values | |||
| The giant, fluffy guardians of American grasslands | 01 Jul 2026 | 00:30:05 | |
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 the way, you'll learn how these giant mammals help shape entire grassland ecosystems simply by grazing, digging, dust bathing, and being itchy! ➡️ Part of the Wild Critters USA series, created with PBS Nature and the National Wildlife Federation https://linktr.ee/wildcritters ➡️ Learn more about American bison from the Smithsonian National Zoo: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/american-bison 🖍️ Free Wild Critters USA coloring pages: https://www.cumbrekids.org/color-along 💬 Submit your kids' questions! https://www.cumbrekids.org/questions 💛 Support this podcast by joining The Curious Club: https://www.cumbrekids.org/curious-club Orbit Family Conversation Starters!
Continue learning as a family!
➡️ Explore the Smithsonian's Great Plains Science Program: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/conservation/great-plains-science ➡️ Visit the Smithsonian's "Bison: Standing Strong" exhibit: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/exhibits/bison-standing-strong ➡️ Learn more about American Prairie and bison conservation: https://americanprairie.org/ More from Cumbre Kids 🎧 More podcasts by Cumbre Kids in English and Spanish: https://www.cumbrekids.org 👨👩👧👦 A message for parents about our values: https://www.cumbrekids.org/our-values | |||