Episode List

“…and today we’re talking about a modern insulator… but more on that inso-later.”

“And today we’re talking about the fastest animal alive. But more on that later.” Speed is a key stat in the animal kingdom… the peregrine falcon, the cheetah, and the sailfish all have their speed superlatives… but one bug doesn’t need to be the fastest flyer, sprinter, or swimmer… he just needs to be fastest […]

“…and today we’re talking about the stolen valor of the insect world. But more on that later.” Many plants rely on animals known as pollinators in order to reproduce and everyone likes pollinators—in part because plants are pretty great but also due to the fact that bees and butterflies have some pretty great PR. However, […]

“And today we’re talking about a sphinx with a fascinating riddle. But more on that later.” What happens to the very hungry caterpillar in the last pages of the book? “He stayed inside for more than two weeks,” it says… but did he really stay? Did he remain? Everyone learns about metamorphosis in school, but […]

“…and today we’re talking about a sea rug that expresses deep sorrow and wretchedness, but more on that later.” The 70s and your average coral reef have one thing in common: shag carpets are a bad idea. In either case, you need to watch where you step, because you never know what lurks underneath. The […]

“…today we’re talking about a toothy torpedo. But more on that later.” The leopard seal is a terrifying arctic predator. With a mouth full of teeth and a long jaw built for coming, it looks as much like a dinosaur as it does a sea mammal. Despite its efficiency as a fighter, it’s also something […]

“…and today we’re talking about a bird that knows your schedule. But not really.”  The combination of a velociraptor and an HR manager somehow produced a pretty elegant bird with a mean left hook. The secretary bird struts across the African savanna with confidence that is definitely well-earned. Long-legged, laser-focused, and lighting-fast, this feathered fighter […]

“…and today we’re talking about a creature that can walk forward and why that’s interesting. But more on that later.” Two cohorts meet on a beach, marching forward to meet one another head on… both flying the same blue colors. There’s no reason to fight, in fact, they are much stronger together… the soldier crabs […]

“…and today we’re talking about a blistering bug in the blistering heat of summer. More on that later.” Some creatures kick in your front door. Others pick the lock, raid the fridge, and somehow convince you to thank them for stopping by. The European blister beetle belongs squarely in that second category. It’s a glossy […]

“…and today we’re talking about a tiny brain with big thoughts. But more on that later.” The regal jumping spider has those signature big round eyes that make this arthropod kind of cute… but if you watch them long enough, you might see that there’s thoughts behind those black pearls. Jumping spiders have tiny brains, […]