STEM with Dr. Owl

Orbital Owl

STEM with Dr. Owl

Join our endlessly curious explorer Emma, her wise feathered mentor Dr. Owl 🦉, and their goofy robot sidekick Ziggy 🤖, as they dive into the wonders of STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math! 🚀🧪📚

In STEM with Dr. Owl, each 10-minute episode turns everyday questions into exciting adventures. Why is the ocean salty? How do fish breathe underwater? What makes robots “think”? Powered by friendly AI voices, the stories come to life with answers that make you say “wow!” and giggles that make you say “again!”

Our mission is to inspire curiosity, encourage kids to ask questions, and help them see that STEM is everywhere 🌍—in the kitchen, in the sky, even in their own backyard.

✨ What is STEM? ✨
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math—the four magical keys that help us unlock how the world works! From the tiniest atoms to the farthest galaxies, STEM is everywhere.

So grab your imagination, bring your questions, and let’s blast off into discovery together! 🚀

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42 episodes
a few times a week
Avg 11 min
English

Episodes 42

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#246
August 10 · 13 min
How Do Self-Driving Cars Drive? – Robotics & Engineering for Kids
Children will explore the engineering and robotics behind autonomous vehicles by learning how sensors, radar, and Lidar allow computers to see, think, decide, and act. Join Emma and Dr. Owl as they set up a cardboard obstacle course to test Ziggy's "mind-drive" car. Find out how self-driving cars avoid squishing Mr. Snuggles and why a robot might need to pull over during a snowstorm! Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: K-2-ETS1 – Engineering Design
#245
August 7 · 12 min
[Ziggy’s Mailbag] Where Does the Sky End & Why Do Stars Twinkle? – Astronomy & Space Science for Kids
Explore Earth’s atmosphere, twinkling stars, Neptune’s formation, the size of the solar system, and distant galaxies in this space science Q&A for kids. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy as they rapidly answer listener questions about the Kármán line, the Oort Cloud, the Milky Way, Andromeda, and other mysteries of the universe.
#244
August 5 · 11 min
Where Does Wind Come From? – Earth Science & Meteorology for Kids
Discover the science of air pressure, invisible gas particles, and uneven heating from the Sun in this educational Earth Science episode. Join Emma and Ziggy as they try to catch a sneaky "sky-ghost" with a butterfly net and learn exactly why warm air rising creates ocean breezes. Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: ESS2.D – Weather and Climate
#243
August 3 · 11 min
How Do Bodies Grow? – Human Biology & Cell Science for Kids
In this episode, kids will learn the science behind how the human body grows by exploring cell division, bone growth plates, and the role of nutrition and sleep. Join Emma and Dr. Owl as they discover the trillions of tiny building blocks that make up our bodies. Meanwhile, watch out for Ziggy the robot, who hilariously tries to hack his own height using motor oil and a tall stack of dictionaries! Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: LS1.B – Growth and Development of Organisms
#242
July 31 · 12 min
[Ziggy’s Mailbag] How Do Animals Glow & More? – Animal Biology & Zoology for Kids
Explore animal biology and zoology as we open Ziggy's latest mailbag to discover how bioluminescent creatures glow in the dark, why owls have incredible night vision, and the amazing way bees make honey. Join Emma, Dr. Owl, and Ziggy the Robot as they boot up the Mail-o-Matic Sorter to answer an all-animal mailbag filled with fun listener questions. From ladybug warning colors to the acrobatic mid-air landings of wildcats, this episode is a wild STEM adventure! Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: 4-LS1-1 – Plant and Animal Structures for Survival
#241
July 29 · 10 min
How Do Ocean Waves Form? – Earth Science & Physics for Kids
Discover the physics of ocean waves, wind energy transfer, and coastal science as we answer a listener question. Emma and Dr. Owl investigate how wind creates ocean swells, while Ziggy the Robot hilariously tests his own mega-fan wave generator. Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: PS4.A – Wave Properties
#240
July 27 · 11 min
How Do Glasses Work? – Optics & Physics for Kids
Kids will learn the physics of light, how the human eye works, and what refraction means as they discover the science behind lenses. Join Emma, Dr. Owl, and Ziggy the Robot as they explore why putting on the wrong glasses makes everything blurry and how microscopes reveal hidden details. From bending light with water to using a microscope's lenses like a relay race, this episode brings the invisible world into clear focus. Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: 4-PS4-2 – Light and Vision
#239
July 24 · 13 min
[Ziggy’s Mailbag] Why Is Grass Green & How Does Corn Grow? – Plant Science Q&A for Kids
Discover the plant biology behind roots, corn, moss, flowers, chlorophyll, and colorful fruits in this exciting mailbag episode! Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy as they rapidly answer listener questions about why some vegetables grow underground, how corn silks become kernels, why moss grows on trees, why grass is green, and how flowers and fruit pigments work.
#238
July 22 · 12 min
Why Does Time Keep Going? – Physics & Clocks for Kids
Kids learn what time is, how clocks measure repeating patterns, and why physics gives time a one-way direction. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy as they investigate sundials, melting ice, the arrow of time, and even Einstein’s surprising discovery about gravity and time. Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: ESS1.A – Patterns in the Sun and Sky
#237
July 20 · 11 min
How Does a Submarine Dive? – Buoyancy & Physics for Kids
Discover the physics of buoyancy, water displacement, and how heavy metal objects can float in this exciting underwater adventure. Join Emma, Dr. Owl, and Ziggy the Robot as they explore the secrets of ballast tanks, neutral buoyancy, and compressed air, plus stick around until the very end for a secret, high-energy hyperpop song about submarines! Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: PS2.A – Forces and Motion
#236
July 17 · 11 min
[Replay] Who Lives the Longest on Earth? – Biology & Animal Science for Kids
Discover the fascinating world of animal biology as we explore creatures that can outlive humans by hundreds of years. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy as they dive into the science of aging to uncover the secrets of 500-year-old sharks, ancient clams, and a jellyfish that can press the restart button on its own life! It's a time-traveling journey to meet the oldest animals on our planet. 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: LS1.B – Growth and Development of Organisms
#235
July 15 · 10 min
[Replay] Why Doesn't Plastic Rot? – Chemistry & Environmental Science for Kids
In this episode, kids will learn the foundational chemistry of plastic molecules and the environmental science behind why plastic takes hundreds of years to break down. Join Dr. Owl, Curious Emma, and a very confused robot named Ziggy as they discover the sneaky "LEGO chains" that make up our everyday lunchboxes! Plus, play along with our interactive trivia to find out how small choices can help protect our oceans and wildlife. 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: 5-ESS3.C – Human Impacts on Earth Systems
#234
July 13 · 11 min
[Replay] How Do Animals Get Their Names? – Biology & Taxonomy for Kids
🐾 Kids will learn the fundamentals of biology, animal classification, and the scientific naming system known as binomial nomenclature in this fun-filled episode! Discover why a mountain lion and a puma are the exact same cat, and find out the hilarious meanings behind the names of famous dinosaurs and silly insects. Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free materials and experiments related to this episode.
#233
July 10 · 11 min
[Replay] How Can Gems Grow? – Geology & Crystals for Kids
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
#232
July 8 · 11 min
[Replay] How Do Microwaves Cook Food? – Physics & Energy for Kids
Learn how microwave ovens use invisible electromagnetic waves to vibrate water molecules and create heat. Join Dr. Owl, curious Emma, and Ziggy the Robot as they discover why soup gets hot faster than crackers and why metal causes sparks inside the oven. 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: PS4.B – Electromagnetic Radiation & Heat Transfer
#231
July 6 · 13 min
[Replay] How Does a 3D Printer Work?
🖨️ Oh no! Ziggy broke his space helmet latch right before a mission! Join Dr. Owl and Emma as they fire up the lab's 3D printer to save the day. We’ll discover how these amazing machines act like robotic hot glue guns to build objects layer by layer—just like frosting a cake! 🍰 Parents, want to keep the learning going? Sign up for our email list to get useful science materials and activity sheets at orbitalowl.com! Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: ETS1.B – Developing Possible Solutions.
#230
July 3 · 13 min
Why Are Penalty Saves Hard? – Physics & Biology for Kids
Kids will discover the real-world physics, math, and human biology behind why stopping a high-speed soccer penalty kick is so incredibly difficult. Learn exactly how fast the human brain can react to a 67-mile-per-hour ball and how goalkeepers use visual clues to predict the future. Join the team for a high-speed clapping experiment to test your reaction time and find out if you have what it takes to make a World Cup save! Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: LS1.D – Information Processing
#229
July 1 · 10 min
Why Does the Ball Curve? – Physics & Aerodynamics for Kids
Children will learn the physics of the Magnus effect, aerodynamics, and how air pressure causes a spinning soccer ball to bend in flight. Join Emma and Dr. Owl as they investigate a mind-bending World Cup free kick while Ziggy tries to invent the ultimate knuckleball! Discover why a spinning ball creates an uneven push in the air to make a magical, curving shot. Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: PS2.A – Forces and Motion
#228
June 29 · 13 min
Where Did All the Water Go? – Earth Science & Weather for Kids
Children will discover the science behind droughts, evaporation, and the water cycle as they learn what happens when the Earth's natural water supply runs low. Join Emma, Dr. Owl, and Ziggy the Robot as they investigate a crunchy, brown backyard to solve the mystery of the missing water. Find out how plants sweat, where the mountains hide their frozen water, and how you can become an Earth water detective! Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: ESS2.C – The Roles of Water in Earth's Surface Processes
#227
June 26 · 11 min
[Ziggy's Mailbag] Are Windows Made of Sand & How is Metal Made? – Science Q&A for Kids
Discover the science behind what everyday things are made of in this exciting mailbag episode! Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy as they rapidly answer listener questions about the materials that make up our world, including the secrets of marker ink, how sand becomes glass, the origins of metal, and the difference between cement and concrete.

Showing 21–40 of 42 episodes