STEM with Dr. Owl

Biology of baby features, dopamine brain chemicals, and the science of "cuteness" are explored in this heartwarming episode about our animal best friends. Join Dr. Owl and Emma as they discover why certain features switch on our "Care Mode" and how our brains give themselves a "hug" whenever we see a puppy, kitten, or bird.

Don't forget to check out our previous episode on how animals became our partners over thousands of years: "Where Did Our Pets Come From?" . Click to listen --> https://pod.link/1803048567/episode/c3RlbS13aXRoLWRyLW93bC5wb2RiZWFuLmNvbS81YmM2MTQ1MS0yNmU3LTNiYWEtOGY2OS02NDkwMjk5YzI4MWI

Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: LS4.C – Adaptation (Domestication and Social Bonding)

Crystals grow from cooling magma and mineral-rich water using invisible building blocks called atoms. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy on a subterranean adventure from the glowing Earth's mantle to a secret dripping cave to solve the mystery of the "lava smoothie." You’ll even learn how to build your own crystals at home using simple kitchen ingredients!

Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: ESS2.A – Earth Materials and Systems

Discover how a piano works through the physics of levers, hammers, and sound vibrations. Join Dr. Owl and Emma as they rescue a shrunken Ziggy from inside the piano's "secret launcher" mechanism! You'll learn why short strings sound high, long strings sound low, and how a big wooden board acts like a giant amplifier.

Educational Alignment: Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: PS4.A – Wave Properties (Sound and Vibrations)

In this episode, children will discover the geological forces behind how massive mountains are created, including tectonic plate folding, cracking faults, and volcanic magma eruptions. Join Emma, Dr. Owl, and Ziggy as they use a virtual teleporter to visit the snowy Himalayas, the sheer cliffs of Yosemite, and the bubbling Mount Fuji. Get ready for a hands-on towel experiment to see plate tectonics in action right from your living room!

Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free materials and experiments related to this episode. Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: ESS2.B – Plate Tectonics and Large-Scale System Interactions

Kids will learn the science behind heat, energy transfer, and exothermic chemical reactions in this chilly-weather episode. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy as they discover how simple hand warmers turn iron and oxygen into a cozy wiggle dance of heat, and find out how our own bodies are exactly like walking hand warmers! Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free materials and experiments related to this episode. Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: PS3.B – Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer

Discover how biology and DNA make twins look identical or fraternal in this fun science adventure. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and a very confused Ziggy as they explore the "instruction book" inside every cell and find out why even identical twins have unique fingerprints. You will also learn which amazing animal always gives birth to identical quadruplets!

Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free materials and experiments related to this episode.

Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: LS3.A – Inheritance of Traits

Learn how gravity and mass keep us on the ground and why people in Australia aren't actually standing upside down. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy the Robot as they discover the "Stuff Rule" and find out why the Moon has a much weaker gravity hug than Earth. Plus, see what happens when Ziggy tries to find a "gravity off" switch on a robot!

Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free materials and experiments related to this episode.

Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: PS2.B – Types of Interactions (Gravity)

Children will discover how energy transforms from fuel and food into motion, electricity, and light in this exciting introductory physics episode. Join Emma, Dr. Owl, and Ziggy the Robot as they trace the hidden energy chain inside a car, learn what an "alter-gator" is, and find out how playing ice hockey or the piano uses the exact same science! Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free materials and experiments related to this episode. Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: PS3.B – Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer

Discover how credit cards, digital wallets, and online security work in this fun financial literacy episode. Dr. Owl uses a soccer scoreboard to explain how invisible value moves through the internet, while Ziggy learns a hilarious lesson about spending real money on digital video game costumes. Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free materials and experiments related to this episode.

This episode is part of the mini series: Money, Market, and Me! — listen to the full collection HERE. 

Discover how the human brain and heart work together to create feelings like love, happiness, and excitement. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy the Robot as they unmask the "boss" of the body, explain the "superpower" of dopamine, and find out why we get butterflies in our tummies. This Valentine’s Day special makes complex neuroscience simple and fun for little explorers!

Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: LS1.D – Information Processing (How the brain and body respond to feelings and environment)