CrunchLabs by Mark Rober: The STEM Toy Line Coming to the UK in Autumn 2026
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If your child has ever watched Mark Rober on YouTube, chances are they've sat open-mouthed at a squirrel obstacle course, a glitter bomb, or a 15-foot eruption of elephant toothpaste. Now, those viral science experiments are becoming real toys โ and they're coming to the UK.
Moose Toys has partnered with CrunchLabs, the education and entertainment company founded by Mark Rober (former NASA engineer turned YouTube phenomenon), to launch CrunchLabs by Mark Rober: a range of STEM toys designed to recreate some of his most iconic experiments at home. The line is set to hit UK shelves in autumn 2026.
This is one of the most interesting STEM toy launches we've seen in a long time, and it could genuinely change the way parents think about science kits. Here's everything you need to know.
Who Is Mark Rober?
If you're not already familiar, Mark Rober is one of YouTube's most popular science communicators โ with over 60 million subscribers and videos that regularly rack up hundreds of millions of views. A former NASA engineer who spent nine years working on the Mars Curiosity rover, Rober left the space agency to pursue science communication full-time.
His videos are masterclasses in making science irresistible. Whether he's building the world's largest Nerf gun, engineering the perfect squirrel obstacle course, or setting a Guinness World Record with the biggest elephant toothpaste eruption in history, Rober has a gift for turning complex scientific principles into moments of pure, joyful "wait, how does that work?!"
His CrunchLabs subscription box service (an existing US product) already sends monthly STEM kits to tens of thousands of families. The Moose Toys partnership takes that concept much further โ mass retail, UK availability, and a range broad enough to suit different ages, budgets, and interests.
What Is the CrunchLabs by Mark Rober Range?
The full line is built around Rober's most famous experiments and videos, reimagined as safe, packaged, repeatable products for kids. Each toy includes exclusive video content from Rober himself, accessed via QR code โ walking kids through the science behind what they're doing.
Here's what's in the range:
๐ฆพ The Crunchinator
Perhaps the most inventive product in the line. The Crunchinator uses real scientific principles โ torque, force, and mechanical advantage โ to let kids crush everyday objects with their bare hands, multiplied more than 30 times their actual strength. Interchangeable crunch plates let kids experiment with different household items. There's even an adjustable phone holder so they can film their experiments.
The physics at work here (levers, mechanical advantage) are genuinely curriculum-relevant for Key Stage 2 and 3 children. But more importantly, it looks absolutely brilliant fun.
๐งช Elephant Toothpaste Blast
Rober's Elephant Toothpaste video โ in which he triggered an eruption large enough to set a Guinness World Record โ has surpassed 300 million views. The at-home version promises a 15-foot-plus mega-eruption using kid-safe chemistry.
Kids mix the included ingredients, adjust the nozzle to control the type of blast, and trigger the reaction. Six rounds of ingredients means six attempts to perfect the experiment (or just six attempts to make the biggest mess possible, which is equally valid).
๐ฅ Egg Drop Challenge
Inspired by Rober's "Egg Drop from Space" video (142 million views), this kit challenges kids to build a protective structure around a slime-filled egg, attach a parachute, and drop it from height to see if it survives. The genius is the open-ended engineering element โ there's no single right answer. Kids design, test, fail, redesign, and test again. That process is STEM education at its best.
๐ธ Hover Ring Blaster
A ring-shooting launcher that uses aerodynamics and fluid dynamics to fire stable hovering rings. Simpler than some of the others, but a great entry point for younger children curious about air pressure and flight.
โ๏ธ Turbo Trick Planes
Paper planes but engineered โ Rober's take on aerodynamics for kids, with trick shots, loops, and launchers that help kids understand lift, drag, and thrust.
๐๏ธ Stunt Bike Launcher
A launcher that uses stored mechanical energy to send a stunt bike through tricks and jumps, exploring momentum and energy transfer.
๐งซ Slime Prank Lab
Chemistry through slime โ kids mix polymers to create slimes of different viscosities and consistencies. Messy, educational, very popular with the 7-10 age group.
๐ฟ๏ธ Squirrel Dash Game
Rober's famous viral squirrel obstacle course becomes a tabletop chain-reaction game. Not purely a science kit, but a fun group activity rooted in the same engineering curiosity Rober is famous for.
Why This Launch Matters for UK Parents
The UK STEM toy market is solid but, until now, has lacked a genuinely viral product line with mainstream cultural recognition. Brands like Sphero, BBC micro:bit, and Arduino are fantastic for kids who are already interested in coding and robotics. But they ask kids to meet them halfway.
CrunchLabs is different. It starts with content that kids already love โ the YouTube videos โ and works backwards to create toys that recreate those moments. That's a fundamentally smarter approach to user acquisition than "here's a coding robot, now learn to code."
Mark Rober's brand is built on demonstrating that science is inherently entertaining, not that it should be entertained despite itself. If the toy line delivers on that promise, it could be one of the biggest STEM launches in UK toy retail history.
The "STEM Done Differently" Philosophy
One of the most interesting aspects of CrunchLabs is the stated philosophy: "STEM done differently."
Traditional STEM toys often fall into one of two traps:
- Too gamey โ they wrap educational content in so much entertainment scaffolding that the science gets lost entirely
- Too worthy โ they're obviously educational products bought by parents for improving children's futures, and children can tell the difference
CrunchLabs is attempting to thread that needle by connecting the toys to content kids have already chosen to watch, in their own time, for fun. When a child has already watched Rober's elephant toothpaste video 12 times on their own initiative, the toy version isn't "educational content" โ it's a way to be in the video.
Each product includes a dedicated video from Rober explaining the science. That's not a tutorial you're forced to watch โ it's the guy you already watch on YouTube, talking directly to you about the thing you're playing with. That's a very different psychological proposition.
What Age Range Is CrunchLabs Suitable For?
Based on the announced product descriptions, we'd estimate:
| Product | Recommended Age |
|---|---|
| Elephant Toothpaste Blast | 8+ (chemistry, adult supervision) |
| Crunchinator | 8+ (physics experiments) |
| Egg Drop Challenge | 7+ (engineering design) |
| Hover Ring Blaster | 6+ (simpler, great entry point) |
| Turbo Trick Planes | 6+ (aerodynamics for beginners) |
| Stunt Bike Launcher | 6+ (energy, momentum) |
| Slime Prank Lab | 7+ (polymer chemistry) |
| Squirrel Dash Game | 6+ (group play, chain reactions) |
The broader range appears to be pitched at ages 6-14, with the more chemistry-intensive products suitable for older children or requiring adult supervision.
How Does It Compare to What's Already Available?
The UK STEM toy market already has some excellent options โ most of which you'll find reviewed here on AIToys.co.uk. Here's how CrunchLabs positions itself:
vs. Traditional chemistry kits (Thames & Kosmos, etc.): CrunchLabs has the cultural cachet and viral content link that traditional kits lack. The experiments are tied to specific moments kids recognise.
vs. Coding robots (Edison V3, Sphero BOLT): Completely different category โ CrunchLabs is physical science and engineering, not programming. Complementary, not competitive.
vs. STEM subscription boxes: CrunchLabs' existing US subscription box has an excellent reputation. The retail line will be more accessible (no subscription) but won't have the monthly novelty factor.
vs. LEGO: LEGO Technic touches similar physics concepts but doesn't have the same experiment-based, science-demo approach. Different play pattern entirely.
When Can UK Parents Buy CrunchLabs Toys?
The announcement confirmed UK availability in autumn 2026. Given the timing of major toy retail seasons, we'd expect to see this range hitting shelves in September/October 2026 โ perfectly timed for Christmas shopping.
UK retail partners haven't been confirmed at time of writing, but Moose Toys has strong relationships with Argos, Smyths, The Entertainer, Amazon UK, and major supermarket toy sections. Expect wide distribution.
Pricing hasn't been announced for UK retail yet. In the US, comparable Moose Toys products typically range from ยฃ15 to ยฃ45, so expect the CrunchLabs range to sit in a similar bracket โ affordable enough for birthday presents, with some premium items for the Christmas wishlist.
Should You Pre-Plan for This?
Honestly? Yes โ especially if your child is already a Mark Rober fan.
Here's our honest assessment:
โ Looks genuinely excellent if:
- Your child watches Mark Rober's YouTube channel
- They're interested in science but find traditional kits boring
- You want an experiment-based, hands-on experience rather than screen-based learning
- You're buying for ages 6-14
โ ๏ธ Consider alternatives if:
- Your child is more interested in coding and programming (see our best coding robots guide)
- You want something they can use independently without supervision (some chemistry experiments will need an adult)
- You need something available now rather than autumn 2026
The Bigger Picture: YouTube + Toys = The Future?
CrunchLabs isn't the only brand making this connection. Mattel's partnership with OpenAI signals that major toy companies are actively looking for ways to integrate with the digital platforms where children spend their attention. The question is always whether the physical product can live up to the digital experience.
Mark Rober's content is extraordinary โ genuinely world-class science communication. The toy line will succeed or fail based on whether the at-home experience captures even a fraction of the wonder that makes his videos so compelling. The early product descriptions are genuinely promising.
We'll be reviewing individual CrunchLabs products as soon as they're available in the UK. In the meantime, if you're looking for STEM toys available right now, our guides below will help:
- ๐ Best STEM Toys UK 2026 โ our top picks across all ages and budgets
- ๐ฌ Best STEM Kits Under ยฃ100 UK 2026 โ hands-on experiment kits available now
- ๐ค Best Coding Robots for Beginners UK 2026 โ if your child wants to go further into tech
- ๐ฎ Coding Robots vs Video Games โ Which Is Better for Your Child?
Can't Wait Until Autumn? Try These STEM Kits Now
While CrunchLabs won't arrive until autumn 2026, there are excellent hands-on science and STEM kits available right now on Amazon UK. The Arduino Starter Kit is one of our top picks for children aged 10+ who love building and experimenting โ and it's available today.
For younger children, the Snap Circuits Jr. Plus is a brilliant hands-on electronics kit that makes science tangible and exciting without the wait.
FAQ
When will CrunchLabs toys be available in the UK?
Moose Toys has confirmed UK launch in autumn 2026. Exact retail dates haven't been announced, but expect September/October 2026 timeframe.
How much will CrunchLabs toys cost in the UK?
UK pricing hasn't been announced yet. Based on Moose Toys' typical pricing, expect a range from approximately ยฃ15 to ยฃ45 per product.
Are CrunchLabs experiments safe for children?
The products are being designed with kid safety in mind, using kid-safe chemistry formulations. However, some experiments (particularly the Elephant Toothpaste Blast) will require adult supervision for younger children.
Is CrunchLabs already available in the UK?
Mark Rober's existing CrunchLabs subscription box service ships from the US and is not officially available through UK retail. The Moose Toys partnership brings CrunchLabs to mass UK retail for the first time.
Who is Mark Rober?
Mark Rober is a former NASA engineer who became one of YouTube's most popular science communicators, with over 60 million subscribers. He's known for viral experiments including the world's largest Nerf gun, glitter bomb revenge packages, and record-breaking science demonstrations. He also hosts a show on Netflix.
What age is CrunchLabs suitable for?
The range appears suited to ages 6-14, with different products targeting different age groups. Chemistry-intensive products like Elephant Toothpaste Blast are better suited to ages 8 and above with adult supervision.