Have you ever wondered what would happen if you dug a hole straight through the planet? In this episode, Andy explores this wild thought experiment and dives deep (literally!) into Earth science.

What You'll Learn

• The different layers that make up our planet
• Why digging through the Earth is impossible with current technology
• Where you would actually end up if you dug straight down (hint: probably not China!)
• How long it would take to fall through a tunnel in the Earth
• What happens to gravity at the Earth's center
• The extreme conditions inside our planet

Fun Facts from the Episode

• The Earth's core is hotter than the surface of the Sun
• If you could dig through the Earth, a trip from one side to the other would take about 84 minutes
• At the exact center of the Earth, you would float weightlessly
• If you dug from New York, you'd come out in the Indian Ocean near Australia
• The deepest hole humans have ever dug is only about 7.5 miles deep
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Episode Quiz

Question 1: If you dug a tunnel from New York City straight through the Earth, where would you come out?

Question 2: How long would it take to fall all the way through the Earth in a frictionless tunnel?

Question 3: What would happen to you if you could somehow stop exactly at the center of the Earth?

Vocabulary Words

• Antipode - The point on the exact opposite side of the Earth
• Crust - The outermost layer of the Earth
• Mantle - The thick layer between the crust and the core
• Core - The center part of the Earth, made of iron and nickel
• Harmonic oscillation - A back-and-forth motion, like a pendulum
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Try This at Home

Use a globe or online map to find the antipode of where you live. What's on the exact opposite side of the Earth from your house? Is it land or water?

Connect With Us

Have a question for Andy? Send it to questions@curiouskidcast.com

Visit our website: curiouskidcast.com

Follow us on social media: @CuriousKidcast

In this laugh-out-loud episode of The Curious Kidcast, host Andy explores the surprising world of animal sunburns! Kids will discover which animals can get sunburnt, how different creatures protect themselves from the sun, and learn some amazing animal sun facts that will blow their minds.

What You'll Learn

• Why many animals like pigs, horses, and even dolphins can get sunburnt
• The clever ways animals protect themselves from the sun
• How hippos produce their own natural sunscreen
• Why even polar animals need sun protection
• How humans can stay safe in the sun by learning from animals

Fun Facts from This Episode

• Pigs roll in mud as a natural sunscreen to protect their sensitive skin
• Hippos produce special red sweat that acts like sunblock
• Even whales and dolphins can get sunburnt when swimming near the surface
• Elephants throw dust on themselves as a natural sun shield
• Polar bears have black skin under their white fur to help protect from sunburn

Quiz Questions

Test your knowledge with these fun questions from the episode:

1. Which animal produces red sweat that acts as natural sunscreen?
2. Can whales and dolphins get sunburnt while swimming?
3. What do pigs use as natural sunscreen?

(Find the answers by listening to the episode!)

Vocabulary Words

• Ultraviolet (UV) rays - Invisible rays from the sun that can damage skin
• Melanin - A natural chemical in skin that helps protect against UV rays
• Nocturnal - Animals that are active during the night
• Crepuscular - Animals that are active at dawn and dusk

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think different animals have different ways of protecting themselves from the sun?
• What animal's sun protection method do you think is the most interesting?
• How are human sun protection methods similar to or different from animals?
• If you could design sun protection for any animal, which animal would you choose and what would you create?

Connect With The Curious Kidcast

Have a curious question you'd like answered on the show? We'd love to hear from you!

• Email your questions to: questions@curiouskidcast.com
• Visit our website: www.curiouskidcast.com
• Subscribe to never miss an episode
• Share this episode with friends who love animals and science

New episodes of The Curious Kidcast are released every Wednesday!

In this cosmic adventure, host Andy explores what would happen if the Moon suddenly vanished from our night sky. Discover how the Moon affects Earth's tides, seasons, and even the darkness of night in this kid-friendly scientific journey.

In This Episode

• How the Moon creates tides and why they're important for sea creatures
• The Moon's role in keeping Earth's spin steady
• What nights would be like without moonlight
• No more eclipses - a cosmic bummer!
• How the Earth and Moon became space buddies
• Ways humans rely on the Moon culturally and scientifically
• Could we survive without the Moon?
• Fun activities to help you become a "Moon Protector"
• Lunar Quiz Challenge with three moon-tastic questions

Fun Facts from the Episode

• The Moon is slowly moving away from Earth - but only about as fast as your fingernails grow
• The Moon formed over 4 billion years ago when a giant space rock smashed into Earth
• The Moon helps protect Earth by acting as a shield against some asteroids
• Many holidays like Easter and Ramadan follow the Moon's cycles
• Without the Moon, Earth might wobble more, causing extreme and unpredictable seasons

Activities for Curious Kids

• Look at the Moon through binoculars or a telescope
• Start a Moon journal to track the Moon's phases
• Read Moon stories and myths from different cultures
• Build a model of the Earth, Sun, and Moon
• Visit a planetarium to learn more about our lunar neighbor

Get in Touch

Have a question for a future episode? Ask your grown-up to help you email us at questions@curiouskidcast.com

Visit our website: curiouskidcast.com

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and tell your friends about The Curious Kidcast!