Better Than Human

As humans we all do stupid things, like worship celebrities, troll people we don't know, waste money buying expensive organic food, or following the most recent internet trend. But the question is WHY do we do stupid things?  

What makes us want to know everything our favorite movie star is doing? Or obsessively follow our favorite musician online? We do not know these people; they are not our friends. They don’t even know we exist. So, what does science say on why we worship them?

On the flip side of that, what makes an Internet Troll? We all know to not read the comments, but what makes someone make it their job to hate on someone. (We’re talking taking hours out of their day to put one person down). Is it for attention, or do they just get joy from upsetting others? One thing we do know is that Trolls are sad, pathetic losers. 

Why do we waste our money buying organic food with no proof that is actually better for us or the environment, or when there isn't even a standard definition of what organic food is?

Why do humans follow the most recent trend, like planking or the cinnamon challenge? What is the allure in following the crowd?

Listen now to learn some of the science behind the reasons why we do stupid things. 

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We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!

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Radiodonta is an order of stem-group arthropods, which included the earliest known predators. Radiodonta were successful worldwide during the Cambrian period, and are ancient relatives to spiders, insects, and crustaceans. (Though, no living relatives exist). 

First, however, let's talk about what happened last Wednesday. Turns out Trump’s rioters were mostly sad men still living with their mothers, and Trump was upset that they were ‘low-class’.  A lot of the rioters believed in “QAnon”, and if you say what they believe in out loud, you’ll realize how stupid this conspiracy theory actually is. 

But, good news everyone, Trump is banned from Twitter! That means one less crazy person ranting on Twitter. 

Before you start to learn about Radiodonta, Google them. They are some weird Pokémon-looking animals. Their name, Radiodonta, comes from the radial arrangement of tooth plates (oral cone) surrounding the mouth, so they are literally named after their mouths. Radiodonta have an interesting history of discovery, and it wasn’t until recently that they were recognized as their own group. They also have some weird frontal appendages that makes each species unique. 

Radiodonta were recently in the news due to new research that suggests they were likely to have had excellent vision that was way more advance then scientists originally thought possible at the time. 

Listen now to learn more about this fascinating group of ancient creatures. 

(this is the paper about their cool eyes https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/49/eabc6721)

For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com

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We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!

#betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness

Welcome back, everyone, to Better Than Human the Podcast Season 2!

This week’s topic is the strange looking Potoo birds. These nocturnal insectivores’ spend their days perched on tree stumps, camouflaged like a stump. What’s noticeable about them, if you’re lucky enough to observe this mysterious bird, is their strange appearance. And trust us, Potoos are very strange, indeed.

First we start with what Jennifer and Amber shouldn’t have to tell people: don’t believe everything you see or hear. Think about it first. Does it make sense? Is it logical? Maybe do a quick Google search.  Use your brain cells to know if your looking at a lie.

Potoos, part of the Nyctibiidae family, are a group of Caprimulgiformes birds related to the nightjars and frogmouths (also an odd-looking animals). There are seven species of Potoos and they’re all native to tropical Central and South America. People have been known to call Potoos “poor-me-ones”, because of their bizarre calls. When you hear it, you’ll know what we’re talking about. Listen now to learn about this little known gem of an animal. 

For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com

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We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!

#betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness

In Part 2 of Better Than Human’s special 50th episode, who will win this epic debate of Cats vs Dogs? Will it be cats, or will dogs reign supreme? 

Dogs are great at sniffing things out, and are very useful at helping humans find things. Cats have far fewer scent receptors than dogs, however, cats may be better at discerning different smells, so should we try training them to sniff things out for us? Or more importantly could we train a cat?

Cats are more independent and less needy than dogs, is that a point for cats or a point for dogs?

Does your preference and personality decide which pet you’ll like more? Do you want an independent animal friend, or one that needs more attention?

Have you decided whose team you’re on: Team Amber in camp dog, or Team Jennifer in camp cat? 

For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com

Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1

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We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!

#betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes

In Better Than Human’s special 50th episode, throughout time it has been debated, with no clear winner, if cats are better than dogs. Who will win this epic debate of Cats vs Dogs?

It's Amber vs Jennifer, sister vs sister, the battle that was always meant to be. Listen as the sisters use facts and evidence to prove, once and for all, which are better. Will it be cats, or will dogs reign supreme?

Whose side are you on Team Amber in camp dog, or Team Jennifer in camp cat?

Listen as we debate the world's most important question of all time. 

For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com

Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1

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or Email us at [email protected]

We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!

#betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes

The Grinch is a fictional character created by Dr. Seuss. He is best known as the main character of the children's book How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1957). Hairy, pear-shaped, and snub-nosed, the Grinch has spent the past 53 years living in seclusion on a cliff, overlooking the town of Whoville. 

The Grinch is mean-tempered, with the consensus among the Whos being that he was born with a heart "two sizes too small". He especially hates the Christmas season. While we can all agree with the Grinch's anti-consumerism message, are there other reasons to dislike the holiday season? Listen as Amber, on of Better Than Human's two stellar hosts, lists all the reasons why the holidays maybe aren't the most wonderful time of the year. 

Is Amber the definition of a Grinch? Is she a wet blanket on the Christmas joy of others? Or is she right? 

For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com

Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1

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We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!

#betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes

Pseudomonas syringae is a rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacterium with polar flagella. It is a plant pathogen that can infect a wide range of plants, which you probably don’t find interesting, but the fact that they may control the weather might peak your interest. Think walking in a winter wonderland.

First though, Cat's won our Twitter poll,  (Dogs vs. Cat's coming soon), but as Amber points out, Dog people might be more likely to go outdoors and less like to be shut-ins like Jennifer, which makes Cat people more likely to be on Twitter voting in our poll.  Also, prunes are plums, one of us didn’t realize this. And anyone else remember the Goosebump episode about prunes? One of us did not.

American Society for Microbiology published an article that peaked Jennifer's interest on this week's topic. The article was called "The Discovery of Pseudomonas syringae in the Air" (see the link posted below). David Sands, a plant pathology professor at Montana State University, discovered P. syringae in the air by getting in a plane, flying said plane above some croplands, opening the window, and holding a petri dish outside the plane. Why was he interested in bacteria in the sky?  Find out why in this week's episode of Better Than Human. 

https://asm.org/Articles/2019/January/Snow-Is-Coming-Whats-That-Have-to-Do-with-Microbe 

For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com

Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1

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or Email us at [email protected]

We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!

#betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes

This week on Better Than Human, Jennifer and Amber explore the little-known lemur of Madagascar known as the Aye-Aye. 

But first, the co-hosts bitch about something all women are probably familiar with, and what most women probably find incredibly irritating: mansplaining. Women, you know what we’re talking about. Men, listen and learn. We also ask if growing your own cells in a petri dish, and then eating said cells, is cannibalism, or is it vegetarian?  

Back in the day, before Google (anyone else remember those days?), Amber did a project on Aye-Ayes, and recently was reminded of them from a Top Ten Ugliest Animals list. Are they one of the worlds ‘ugliest’ animals? Jennifer and Amber don’t think so, but will agree that they might have the weirdest looking hands of any animal. 

The aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) is a long-fingered lemur in the primate family, with rodent-like teeth that continuously grow and fingers specialized for very-specific tasks related to eating.

Sadly, aye-ayes are commonly thought to be bad omens by some of the Malagasy people. The aye-aye is often viewed as a harbinger of evil and killed on sight. Others believe that if one points its narrowest finger at someone, they are marked for death. 

The aye-aye was thought to be extinct in 1933, but was rediscovered in 1957. Recent research shows the aye-aye is more widespread than was previously thought, but its conservation status was changed to Endangered in 2014.

Listen to learn more about why we should save this remarkable species, as well as all the other Madagascar Lemurs.  Do you like aye-ayes? I can't hear you! Aye-aye, Lemur!

For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com

Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1

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or Email us at [email protected]

We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!

#betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes

This week’s topic, Hellbenders Salamanders. Also called snot otter, lasagna lizard, devil dog, mud-devil, Allegheny alligator, and mud dog, Hellbenders are the largest salamanders of North America.

But, first we talk about the stupidest things humans do, like laundry, and somehow the topic turns to cults, especially one of the most famous, called People Temple led by Jim Jones. 

The origin of the name "hellbender" is unclear, and probably derived from colonists who did not think these salamanders are as cute as Jennifer thinks they are. Despite misconceptions, Hellbenders are not poisonous; they just produce a lot of slime to protect themselves. Considered a "habitat specialist," Hellbenders have adapted to fill a specific niche within a very specific environment, and their presence shows a healthy ecosystem. So, yes, the males may like to cannibalize eggs, but that isn’t want is causing them to be endangered. That is, of course, is humans fault and the stupid Trump administration. Why should we save this interesting animal? Listen now to find out. 

For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com

Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1

on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast

on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast

on TikTok  @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander (if it still exists in the US)

or Email us at [email protected]

We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!

#betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes

What’s most exciting about this 2020 American Election is that we, Americans, elected someone who believes in science. Sad, but true. There are going to be actual scientist in charge of the EPA and CDC. There are going to be actual professionals in different cabinet positions instead of people looking out only for their own interests. Hey, we might even decide to start taking global climate change seriously. 

The immediate future is even more unpredictable than usual, but what we do know is that Better Than Human is here with a phew skunk facts, and to tell you that you shouldn't judge skunks based on their smell.  Skunks are actually adorable, even if they have  scent glands that allow them to spray noxious chemicals with a high degree of accuracy, as far as 10 feet. 

Skunks are omnivorous that can easily adapt to human environments, which is why you might find them hanging out in your backyard. But why are Skunk’s better than human? Listen now to find out.