
Why Are Sticky Things Sticky? – Materials Science & Everyday Physics for Kids
From STEM with Dr. Owl by Orbital Owl
April 22, 2026 · 13 min · Episode 199
About this episode
Dr. Owl and friends explore the science behind stickiness and adhesives.
Learn the fascinating materials science and physics behind adhesives, tape, and stretchy toys! Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy investigate microscopic bumps and sticky bonds to find out why duct tape is super strong, why Post-it notes are reusable, and how squishy sticky hands hold onto windows. Plus, find out why dust is the ultimate enemy of stickiness, and hear the amazing true story of how astronauts used duct tape on the Moon! Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: 2-PS1-2 – Structure and Properties of Matter
People in this episode
Host: Dr. Owl
Topics covered
- materials science
- physics
- adhesives
- duct tape
- stickiness
- space exploration
Keywords
- sticky things
- materials science
- duct tape
- Post-it notes
- physics for kids
- stretchy toys
- space
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NASA
More episodes of STEM with Dr. Owl
- Why Is Fog Invisible & Who Made Pi? – Science Q&A for Kids · June 12, 2026 · 9 min
- How Do Seeds Travel? – Plant Biology & Nature Science for Kids · June 10, 2026 · 12 min
- How Do Walkie-Talkies Work? (And Why We Say 'Over') – Radio Waves for Kids · June 8, 2026 · 9 min
- How Do Caterpillars Make Wings? – Biology & Metamorphosis for Kids · June 5, 2026 · 12 min
- Why Are We Ticklish? – Human Body & Nervous System for Kids · June 3, 2026 · 10 min
- How Does The Toilet Work? – Physics & Engineering for Kids · June 1, 2026 · 11 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the STEM with Dr. Owl podcast page.