How Big is the Universe?

Tumble Science Podcast for Kids

Tumble Media

Kids & Family, Education For Kids

4.3 • 2.8K Ratings

🗓️ 8 August 2025

⏱️ 25 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This is a summer rebroadcast of an episode of Tumble from a few years ago. How big is the universe? And how do we know? It's a question that puzzled astronomers for centuries. They had no way to measure distance in space - until Henrietta Leavitt showed them how. Henrietta Leavitt was a "computer" in the 19th century, before there were computers, and she made an incredible discovery that would help change the way people thought about the universe - forever. Modern-day astronomer Karen Masters helps us tell her remarkable story. If you like this episode, you'll love our free audio course, "Cataloging the Universe" where you'll learn much more about how Henrietta Leavitt's discovery made a big difference in astronomy - plus, you'll become a skywatcher yourself! "Cataloging the Universe" is more than a podcast. It’s interactive! Each episode - or lesson - in the series contains activities to complete while you listen. Plus, you’ll get discussion questions, graphic organizers, and a star journal to keep your observations in. Check out the series and download all the resources at ⁠our website⁠! Hear more from Karen Masters in the bonus interview episode available to Patrons, when you pledge just $1 a month or more on our ⁠Patreon⁠ to support the show! We have free resources available on ⁠our blog⁠ to learn more about the episode. Also... psssssst.... here's that top secret crossword puzzle!

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, it's Lindsay.
0:01.8	And it's also Marshall.
0:03.5	Hi.
0:04.5	Hello.
0:05.5	Hello.
0:07.0	So, y'all, this summer we're trying out a lot of new ideas for the podcast, and we just came up with a new one.
0:12.7	We usually share stories of scientists making discoveries, but what if we shared your stories of science discovery?
0:19.6	We were thinking about it because we have gotten so many great emails and recordings
0:25.0	over the years from listeners who've gotten inspired by scientists they hear on Tumble
0:30.7	to do their own science and their own experiments.
0:35.0	So if you listen to our mailbag episode we did this summer, you heard our
0:39.7	listener Zoe describe her ingenious experiment on a patch of four-leaf clover she found in her yard.
0:47.0	Yeah, I mean, it's seriously an amazing experiment. She did a great job and actually confirmed
0:51.6	results that scientists seem to be finding on a mystery that they
0:54.6	don't know the answer to. So it's pretty amazing. Yeah, we're still blown away. Yeah, like,
0:59.3	go Zoe, seriously. But anyway, we want to know, have you done your own experiment? And if so,
1:06.3	tell us. Yeah, so here's how to tell us. With the help of an adult, make a video or voice recording in a quiet place so that we can hear you clearly.
1:18.7	Yeah, like ideally not at a marching band performance or rehearsal.
1:22.6	When you go to a circus, that is not the time to make this recording.
1:27.1	Exactly. So on this recording,
1:29.3	please tell us your first name and age. What made you curious to do your experiment,
1:35.2	describe your experiment, and tell us what you found, or if you didn't find anything at all,
	...

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