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Everything Under The Sun

Molly Oldfield

Children are full of curiosity and questions about the world.

Each Friday, join Molly Oldfield, write of the weekly kids quiz in the Guardian each Saturday, the original QI elf and author and host of Everything Under The Sun (both the book and podcast) as she answers questions sent in by children around the world with the help of experts including Neil Gaiman, Heston Blumenthal, Grayson Perry, Lauren Child, Richard Branson and Sophie Dahl to the fish curators at the Natural History Museum.

If you're a kid - big or small - with questions you want answered or if you want to learn interesting facts about life on earth, this is the award winning podcast for you.

Do check out Everything Under The Sun - a curious question for every day of the year, published by Ladybird books now!

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Kids & FamilyKids & Family
Education for KidsEducation for Kids

Episodes

Why do people yawn? With Dr Sarah Holper. Why do lions have manes? Which ocean animals are already extinct?
May 10 2024
Why do people yawn? With Dr Sarah Holper. Why do lions have manes? Which ocean animals are already extinct?
Welcome to Episode 18 of Season 7 everyone! Everything Under The Sun has been nominated for Best British Podcast in the kids category, has moved to Bali, Indonesia, and the paperback book of Everything Under The Sun is OUT NOW!! We've got some very exciting questions coming up for you this week! First off: why do people yawn? It's a question people have been asking for centuries! And it turns out, no one is really sure... we've asked Dr Sarah Holper for help, as she's an expert on the human body- she’s even written a book called What’s Wrong with You: An Insider’s Guide to Your Insides. You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Whats-Wrong-You-Insiders-Insides/dp/1743797117?ref_=ast_author_dp Next up: why do lions have manes? We learn about male lions and their majestic hairstyles.    And lastly: which ocean animals are already extinct? We learn about the weird and wonderful creatures which used to live in our ocean, but sadly don't anymore.    Happy listening everyone!   And do buy the brand new PAPERBACK edition of Everything Under The Sun - a year of curious questions - out now!   Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-Under-Sun-curious-question/dp/0241433460   Target Australia: https://www.target.com.au/p/everything-under-the-sun-molly-oldfield/65704592   And order it in any beautiful bookshop! Thank you! Hope you love it.   Instagram: @mollyoldfieldwrites Pod Instagram: @everythingunderthesunpod   Do check out our website www.mollyoldfield.com for more info about how to send in questions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Can animals laugh? Why do sperm whales sleep vertically? With Felix Marx from Te Papa Museum. Why do people say that cats have nine lives?
May 2 2024
Can animals laugh? Why do sperm whales sleep vertically? With Felix Marx from Te Papa Museum. Why do people say that cats have nine lives?
Welcome to Episode 17 of Season 7 everyone! Everything Under The Sun has been nominated for Best British Podcast in the kids category, has moved to Bali, Indonesia, and the paperback book of Everything Under The Sun is OUT NOW!!   This week we have a very special episode featuring questions I’ve been collecting here in Bali! It’s been fantastic hearing so many curious thoughts and clever ideas, so thank you to everyone who’s shared them with me.   First off, we’ve got a brilliant question from Grade 1 at Green School: can animals laugh? We learn all about our furry friends who like to chuckle.   Next we’ve got a great question from Bei, who’s in Grade 4 at Green School here in Bali: why do sperm whales sleep vertically? Dr Felix Marx from Te Papa Museum of Natural History in Wellington, New Zealand answers this one, as he’s a whale expert!   And lastly, a question from Ava, who I met at my local children’s bookshop in Bali, called Si Kecil: why do people say cats have nine lives? We find out all about the amazing resilience of daredevil cats.   Happy listening everyone!   And do buy the brand new PAPERBACK edition of Everything Under The Sun - a year of curious questions - out now!   Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-Under-Sun-curious-question/dp/0241433460   Target Australia: https://www.target.com.au/p/everything-under-the-sun-molly-oldfield/65704592   And order it in any beautiful bookshop! Thank you! Hope you love it.   Instagram: @mollyoldfieldwrites Pod Instagram: @everythingunderthesunpod   Do check out our website www.mollyoldfield.com for more info about how to send in questions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How did the Milky Way form? With Jim Al-Khalili. Why is there no gravity on space? Why is Earth called Earth?
Apr 26 2024
How did the Milky Way form? With Jim Al-Khalili. Why is there no gravity on space? Why is Earth called Earth?
Welcome to Episode 16 of Season 7 everyone! Everything Under The Sun has been nominated for Best British Podcast in the kids category, has moved to Bali, Indonesia, and the paperback book of Everything Under The Sun is OUT NOW!!   This week we have three fascinating questions about our weird and wonderful universe! So get your space helmets on... we're taking a trip through the Solar System!   How did the milky way form? Jim Al-Khalili answers this one. He is a theoretical physicist with his own radio show called The Life Scientific!    Why is there no gravity on space? We find out all about the very important force of gravity, and how it works in space (spoiler alert: there IS gravity in space!).   Why is Earth called Earth? Ever wondered how our beautiful little planet got its name? We trace Earth's name all the way back to hundreds of years ago.   Happy listening everyone!   And do buy the brand new PAPERBACK edition of Everything Under The Sun - a year of curious questions - out now!   Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-Under-Sun-curious-question/dp/0241433460   Target Australia: https://www.target.com.au/p/everything-under-the-sun-molly-oldfield/65704592   And order it in any beautiful bookshop! Thank you! Hope you love it.   Instagram: @mollyoldfieldwrites Pod Instagram: @everythingunderthesunpod   Do check out our website www.mollyoldfield.com for more info about how to send in questions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why do people's voices sound different? With Professor Guri Sandhu. How do echoes work? How did the Grand Canyon open up?
Apr 5 2024
Why do people's voices sound different? With Professor Guri Sandhu. How do echoes work? How did the Grand Canyon open up?
Welcome back to Everything under the Sun everyone! We've missed you! We've been taking a little break but now we are BACK and ready for another fantastic episode.    This week we're learning all about SOUNDS! And we've got some very interesting questions indeed, from Sam, Florrie and Bruno.   Why do people's voices sound different? Professor Guri Sandhu answers this one, as he is a doctor who takes care of the human voice.   How do echoes work? Have you ever shouted into a big empty space, and then heard your voice coming back towards you? We learn all about the mysterious way that we hear echoes.   How did the Grand Canyon open up? The Grand Canyon is famous for its powerful echoes, and its breathtaking views. We learn about how the canyon came to be!   Don't forget to buy your copy of the PAPERBACK edition of Everything Under The Sun - a year of curious questions - out now!   Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-Under-Sun-curious-question/dp/0241433460   Target Australia: https://www.target.com.au/p/everything-under-the-sun-molly-oldfield/65704592   And order it in any beautiful bookshop! Thank you! Hope you love it.   Instagram: @mollyoldfieldwrites Pod Instagram: @everythingunderthesunpod   Do check out our website www.mollyoldfield.com for more info about how to send in questions.   Have a lovely listen and a great week!        See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What happens to garbage that is not recycled? With James Piper. Why does pollution cause climate change? Which part of the world is most affected by global warming?
Feb 23 2024
What happens to garbage that is not recycled? With James Piper. Why does pollution cause climate change? Which part of the world is most affected by global warming?
Welcome to Episode 14 of Season 7 everyone! Everything Under The Sun has been nominated for Best British Podcast in the kids category, has moved to Bali, Indonesia, and the paperback book of Everything Under The Sun is OUT NOW!!   This week we have a special episode about global warming and protecting our beautiful planet. We've got some super important questions coming up:   What happens to garbage that is not recycled? James Piper, Rubbish Expert and author of The Rubbish Book: A Complete Guide to Recycling, answers this one. We learn all about where our rubbish goes, and the power of recycling.   Why does pollution cause climate change? We learn about greenhouse gases, and how they are heating up our planet. We also find out what WE can do to help.   Which part of the world is most affected by global warming? We learn about how rising sea levels are threatening some beautiful low-lying islands, and how those places are protecting themselves.   Find out all about the dangers our planet is facing, and learn how YOU can help slow down global warming and be a Climate Hero!   And do buy the brand new PAPERBACK edition of Everything Under The Sun - a year of curious questions - out now!   Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-Under-Sun-curious-question/dp/0241433460   Target Australia: https://www.target.com.au/p/everything-under-the-sun-molly-oldfield/65704592   And order it in any beautiful bookshop! Thank you! Hope you love it.   Instagram: @mollyoldfieldwrites Pod Instagram: @everythingunderthesunpod   Do check out our website www.mollyoldfield.com for more info about how to send in questions.   Have a lovely listen and a great week!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why do our hearts beat when we're afraid? How are spiders born? Why do some children look like their parents?
Feb 9 2024
Why do our hearts beat when we're afraid? How are spiders born? Why do some children look like their parents?
Welcome to Episode 13 of Season 7 everyone! Everything Under The Sun has been nominated for Best British Podcast in the kids category, has moved to Bali, Indonesia, and the paperback book of Everything Under The Sun is OUT NOW!!   We're going to be having lots of fun answering kids' questions from all over the world.   This week we have some super exciting questions coming up:   Why do our hearts beat when we're afraid? Teddy Keen, adventurer and author of The Lost Book of Adventure and Journey to the River, answers this one for us. We learn about our survival instincts, and how to stay calm when we're feeling scared.    How are spiders born? Have you ever seen a spider egg? We find out how these incredible creepy crawlies produce little spiderlings!    Why do some children look like their parents? Have you ever wondered why you have the same nose as your dad, or the same colour eyes are your mum? We learn about how and why we inherit certain parts of the way we look from our mums and dads.    Find out all about why are heart speeds up when we're scared, how spiders have babies and why we look like our parents in this weeks fantastic episode!   And do buy the brand new PAPERBACK edition of Everything Under The Sun - a year of curious questions - out now!   Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-Under-Sun-curious-question/dp/0241433460   Target Australia: https://www.target.com.au/p/everything-under-the-sun-molly-oldfield/65704592   And order it in any beautiful bookshop! Thank you! Hope you love it.   Instagram: @mollyoldfieldwrites Pod Instagram: @everythingunderthesunpod   Do check out our website www.mollyoldfield.com for more info about how to send in questions.   Have a lovely listen and a great week!    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How are robots made? Why is the immortal jellyfish immortal? Can babies talk to other babies?
Feb 2 2024
How are robots made? Why is the immortal jellyfish immortal? Can babies talk to other babies?
Welcome to Episode 12 of Season 7 everyone! Everything Under The Sun has been nominated for Best British Podcast in the kids category, has moved to Bali, Indonesia, and the paperback book of Everything Under The Sun is OUT NOW!!   We're going to be having lots of fun answering kids' questions from all over the world.   This week we have some super exciting questions coming up:   How are robots made? Raia Hadsell from Deep Mind is answering this one for us! She tells us all about the amazing ways in which robots come to life...   Why is the immortal jellyfish immortal? This incredible sea creature can supposedly live forever! We find out how.   And finally: can babies talk to other babies? We've all seen babies making crazy noises and speaking in baby-talk, but can they really communicate with eachother?   Find out all about robots, immortal jellyfish and the mysterious language of babies in this week's fantastic episode!    And do buy the brand new PAPERBACK edition of Everything Under The Sun - a year of curious questions - out now!   Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-Under-Sun-curious-question/dp/0241433460   Target Australia: https://www.target.com.au/p/everything-under-the-sun-molly-oldfield/65704592   And order it in any beautiful bookshop! Thank you! Hope you love it.   Instagram: @mollyoldfieldwrites Pod Instagram: @everythingunderthesunpod   Do check out our website www.mollyoldfield.com for more info about how to send in questions.   Have a lovely listen and a great week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Where were the first schools? With Jonathan Taylor. How did some homo sapiens survive the Ice Age? Why do men have beards?
Jan 26 2024
Where were the first schools? With Jonathan Taylor. How did some homo sapiens survive the Ice Age? Why do men have beards?
We're back for our first episode of 2024, Episode 11 of Season 7! Happy New Year everyone! This week our fantastic questions are: Where were the first schools? We've got Jonathan Taylor in to answer that one. He's a curator at the British Museum, and an expert on human life many thousands of years ago... we can't wait to hear what he's got to say about the very first schools.  How did some homo sapiens survive the cold of the Ice Age? We'll find out all about how early human beings managed to survive chilly temperatures and harsh conditions in prehistoric times! And finally, why do men have beards? We'll take a look at the science behind facial-hair, long or short, fluffy or furry. We'll also investigate some of the other unique reasons men have to grow their beards. Happy listening everyone!! Make sure you buy all your friends a copy of the PAPERBACK edition of Everything Under The Sun - a year of curious questions - out now! Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-Under-Sun-curious-question/dp/0241433460   Target Australia: https://www.target.com.au/p/everything-under-the-sun-molly-oldfield/65704592   And order it in any beautiful bookshop! Thank you! Hope you love it.   Instagram: @mollyoldfieldwrites Pod Instagram: @everythingunderthesunpod   Do check out our website www.mollyoldfield.com for more info about how to send in questions.   Have a lovely listen and a great week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why do people get wrinkles? With Ross Barr. How does sunscreen work? How are stars made?
Dec 15 2023
Why do people get wrinkles? With Ross Barr. How does sunscreen work? How are stars made?
We're back for the ninth episode of Season 7! Everything Under The Sun has been nominated for Best British Podcast in the kids category, has a paperback book of Everything Under The Sun OUT NOW and has moved to Bali, Indonesia!   We're going to be having lots of fun answering kids' questions from all over the world.   This week the questions are:   Why do people get lines on their face when they get old? Answering this one we have Ross Barr. He's a specialist in women's health, and an acupuncturist. That means he sticks tiny little needles into people's bodies to cure them of all sorts of things! It sounds painful, but it really isn't—in fact most people find it very relaxing! And he certainly knows a thing or two about wrinkles...   How does sunscreen work? It's super important that you wear it in the sun, and I'm sure everyone listening has—but how does it actually work?   And finally: How are stars formed? We zoom off into outer space to find out how those mysterious balls of light are made in the first place.    And do buy the brand new PAPERBACK edition of Everything Under The Sun - a year of curious questions - out now!   Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-Under-Sun-curious-question/dp/0241433460   Target Australia: https://www.target.com.au/p/everything-under-the-sun-molly-oldfield/65704592   And order it in any beautiful bookshop! Thank you! Hope you love it.   Instagram: @mollyoldfieldwrites Pod Instagram: @everythingunderthesunpod   Do check out our website www.mollyoldfield.com for more info about how to send in questions.   Have a lovely listen and a great week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What noises did dinosaurs make? With Jack Horner. Who built the Eiffel Tower? Why do nails grow?
Dec 1 2023
What noises did dinosaurs make? With Jack Horner. Who built the Eiffel Tower? Why do nails grow?
We're back for the eighth episode of Season 7! Everything Under The Sun has been nominated for Best British Podcast in the kids category, has a paperback book of Everything Under The Sun OUT NOW and has moved to Bali, Indonesia!   We're going to be having lots of fun answering kids' questions from all over the world.   This week the questions are:   How do we know what noises dinosaurs made? Answering this one we have Jack Horner, a well-known palaeontologist—that's a scientist who studies dinosaurs!   Who built the Eiffel Tower and when and why? We find out all about the amazing history behind Paris's fabulous tower. Croissant anyone?!   And finally: why do nails grow? We see them every day—but have you ever stopped to think about why we actually have nails on the ends of our fingers? Well if not, now's the time!    And do buy the brand new PAPERBACK edition of Everything Under The Sun - a year of curious questions - out now!   Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-Under-Sun-curious-question/dp/0241433460   Target Australia: https://www.target.com.au/p/everything-under-the-sun-molly-oldfield/65704592   And order it in any beautiful bookshop! Thank you! Hope you love it.   Instagram: @mollyoldfieldwrites Pod Instagram: @everythingunderthesunpod   Do check out our website www.mollyoldfield.com for more info about how to send in questions.   Have a lovely listen and a great week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why is lava so hot? With Robin Andrews. What are fireworks made of? Why do pandas eat bamboo?
Nov 24 2023
Why is lava so hot? With Robin Andrews. What are fireworks made of? Why do pandas eat bamboo?
We're back for the seventh episode of Season 7! Everything Under The Sun has been nominated for Best British Podcast in the kids category, has a paperback book of Everything Under The Sun OUT NOW and has moved to Bali, Indonesia!   We're going to be having lots of fun answering kids' questions from all over the world.   This week the questions are:   Why is lava so hot? Answering this one we have Robin Andrews, a science journalist and an expert in all things volcanoes.   What are fireworks made of? We find out what the secret ingredients are to making our party rockets whizz off into the sky!   And finally: why do pandas eat bamboo? A great question—it seems a little… tough, doesn’t it? But we’ll learn all about why those black and white bears love it so much!    And do buy the brand new PAPERBACK edition of Everything Under The Sun - a year of curious questions - out now!   Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-Under-Sun-curious-question/dp/0241433460   Target Australia: https://www.target.com.au/p/everything-under-the-sun-molly-oldfield/65704592   And order it in any beautiful bookshop! Thank you! Hope you love it.   Instagram: @mollyoldfieldwrites Pod Instagram: @everythingunderthesunpod   Do check out our website www.mollyoldfield.com for more info about how to send in questions.   Have a lovely listen and a great week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why does an elephant's tummy rumble? With Jonathan Balcombe. Why do we get pins and needles? How do mirrors reflect?
Nov 17 2023
Why does an elephant's tummy rumble? With Jonathan Balcombe. Why do we get pins and needles? How do mirrors reflect?
We're back for the sixth episode of Season 7! Everything Under The Sun has been nominated for Best British Podcast in the kids category, has a paperback book of Everything Under The Sun OUT NOW and has moved to Bali, Indonesia!   We're going to be having lots of fun answering kids' questions from all over the world.   This week the questions are:   Why does an elephant's tummy rumble? Answering this one we have Jonathan Balcombe—a scientist and animal-lover based in Canada, and an expert in all things elephants! Thank you so much Jonathan.   Why do we get pins and needles? We learn about that horrid tingly feeling we get under our skin for when we've been sitting still for just a little too long!   How do mirrors reflect? I'm sure we've all wondered about how we can see ourselves in a mirror—and no, it's not magic! I'm so excited to tell you about the science behind seeing your own reflection.   Find out all about elephants, our wonderful bodies, and the mysteries of light on this week's episode!   And do buy the brand new PAPERBACK edition of Everything Under The Sun - a year of curious questions - out now!   Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-Under-Sun-curious-question/dp/0241433460   Target Australia: https://www.target.com.au/p/everything-under-the-sun-molly-oldfield/65704592   And order it in any beautiful bookshop! Thank you! Hope you love it.   Instagram: @mollyoldfieldwrites Pod Instagram: @everythingunderthesunpod   Do check out our website www.mollyoldfield.com for more info about how to send in questions.   Have a lovely listen and a great week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why are bugs so little? With Erica McAlister. What are electrons made of? What is the richest place in the world?
Sep 29 2023
Why are bugs so little? With Erica McAlister. What are electrons made of? What is the richest place in the world?
We're back for the fifth episode of Season 7! Everything Under The Sun has been nominated for Best British Podcast in the kids category, has a paperback book of Everything Under The Sun OUT NOW and has moved to Bali, Indonesia!We're going to be having lots of fun answering kids questions from all over the world.This week the questions are:Why are bugs so little? Answering this one we have Erica McAlister from the Natural History Museum in London! Thank you so much Erica. What is an electron made of? We learn all about atoms, the little particles that make up everything in the world! Atoms and their electrons are such amazing things, I'm really excited to tell you all about them. What is the richest place in the world? It's a really interesting answer all about how we can calculate how much money each place in the world has, and about how that money is spread across different people. Find out all about bugs, electrons, and the world's money on this week's episode!And do buy the brand new PAPERBACK edition of Everything Under The Sun - a year of curious questions - out now!Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-Under-Sun-curious-question/dp/0241433460Target Australia: https://www.target.com.au/p/everything-under-the-sun-molly-oldfield/65704592And order it in any beautiful bookshop! Thank you! Hope you love it.Instagram: @mollyoldfieldwritesPod Instagram: @everythingunderthesunpodDo check out our website www.mollyoldfield.com for more info about how to send in questions.Have a lovely listen and a great week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Would it be possible to transfer your body onto a computer? With Lath Carlson. How do aeroplanes fly? How many eggs does an octopus lay?
Sep 22 2023
Would it be possible to transfer your body onto a computer? With Lath Carlson. How do aeroplanes fly? How many eggs does an octopus lay?
We're back for the fourth episode of Season 7! Everything Under The Sun has been nominated for Best British Podcast in the kids category, has a paperback book of Everything Under The Sun OUT NOW and has moved to Bali, Indonesia!We're going to be having lots of fun answering kids questions from all over the world.This week the questions are:Would it be possible to transfer your body onto a computer? Answering this one we have Lath Carlson from the Museum of the Future! Thank you so much Lath.How do aeroplanes fly? We learn all about how aeroplanes so cleverly use forces to keep them up in the air.How many eggs does an octopus lay? It's a great answer all about how octopuses reproduce (which means become pregnant!) and find special places to have their babies. Female octopuses are such incredible mummies, I'm really excited to tell you all about them.Find out all about computers, aeroplanes and octopuses on this week's episode!And do buy the brand new PAPERBACK edition of Everything Under The Sun - a year of curious questions - out now!Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-Under-Sun-curious-question/dp/0241433460Target Australia: https://www.target.com.au/p/everything-under-the-sun-molly-oldfield/65704592And order it in any beautiful bookshop! Thank you! Hope you love it.Instagram: @mollyoldfieldwritesPod Instagram: @everythingunderthesunpodDo check out our website www.mollyoldfield.com for more info about how to send in questions.Have a lovely listen and a great week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.