The Conversation's Curious Kids

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 straight from academic experts. Full credits available here.This season is supported by the University of Southampton in the UK, a world-leading research-intensive university with a global network of international students and campuses in Malaysia and Delhi. Are you a curious kid with a question? Pop it in an email, or record it and send us the audio to curiouskids@theconversation.com. We've discovered how diamonds make their way to the surface and it may tell us where to find themWhat causes volcanoes to erupt?Curious Kids: How can we tell when a volcano is going to erupt?

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 supported by the University of Southampton in the UK, a world-leading research-intensive university with a global network of international students and campuses in Malaysia and Delhi. Are you a curious kid with a question? Pop it in an email, or record it and send us the audio to curiouskids@theconversation.com. Curious Kids: how likely is it that there are parallel universes and other Earths?Curious Kids: how are galaxies formed?How could an explosive Big Bang be the birth of our universe?What if the Big Bang wasn't the beginning? Our research suggests it may have taken place inside a black hole

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 experts. Full credits available here.This season is supported by the University of Southampton in the UK, a world-leading research-intensive university with a global network of international students and campuses in Malaysia and Delhi. Are you a curious kid with a question? Pop it in an email, or record it and send us the audio to curiouskids@theconversation.com.

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 not-for-profit news organisationthat brings you news straight from academic experts.This season is supported by the University of Southampton in the UK, a world-leading research-intensive university with a global network of international students and campuses in Malaysia and Delhi. Are you a curious kid with a question? Pop it in an email, or record it and send us the audio to curiouskids@theconversation.com.

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 curiouskids@theconversation.com or record it and send your question to us directly at funkidslive.com/curious. And explore more articles from our Curious Kids series on The Conversation.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 your question to curiouskids@theconversation.com or record it and send your question to us directly at funkidslive.com/curious. And explore more articles from our Curious Kids series on The Conversation.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 curiouskids@theconversation.com or record it and send your question to us directly at funkidslive.com/curious.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 curiouskids@theconversation.com 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 Curious Kids series on The Conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 curiouskids@theconversation.com or record it and send your question to us directly at funkidslive.com/curious.  And explore more articles from our Curious Kids series on The Conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 question for an expert, email us at curiouskids@theconversation.com or record it and send your question to us directly at https://funkidslive.com/curious.  And explore more articles from our Curious Kids series on The Conversation including a print version of the story in this episode.  **Disclosure statement:** _Sam Baron receives funding from the Australian Research Council. _See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine you're lucky enough to travel all the way to the Moon, and you're bouncing around in your space suit, exploring. How high could you jump? That's what Miles, aged nine, from London, wanted to know. And so he joined our host Eloise to ask Jacco von Loon, an astrophysicist at Keele University in the UK to find the answer!  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 Stevens and Gemma Ware is the executive producer. Full sound credits available here.  If you have a question for an expert, email us at curiouskids@theconversation.com or record it and send your question to us directly at https://funkidslive.com/curious.  And explore more articles from our Curious Kids series on The Conversation including a print version of the story in this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do whales sneeze? That's what ten-year-old Guy from Sydney wanted to know. He joined our host Eloise to ask Vanessa Pirotta, a wildlife scientist at Macquarie University in Australia who is also an expert in whale snot!  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 Stevens and Gemma Ware is the executive producer. Full sound credits available here.  If you have a question for an expert, email us at curiouskids@theconversation.com or record it and send your question to us directly at funkidslive.com/curious.  And explore more articles from our Curious Kids series on The Conversation including a print version of the story in this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 just sooooo cute. A podcast from The Conversation, the independent website that brings you news straight from scientists and scholars, in partnership with Fun Kids. Email your questions to curiouskids@theconversation.com or record it and send your audio recording to us directly at https://funkidslive.com/curiousSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.