Life, Death, and Taxonomy

“…and today we’re talking about an ant that is-ant… but more on that later.” Somewhere between a plush toy and the insect version of a honey badger lies the velvet ant. This borderline cute cluster of pom pom balls glued together hides a surprisingly complicated security system behind its pizazz. Bright colors, weird noises, suspicious […]

“…and today we’re talking about a deep diving elephant. But more on that later.” The deeper you go in the ocean, the more alien it becomes… crushing pressure and oppressive darkness… It’s no place for a rotund mammal that spends several months of the year on land… but there’s food down there, and fewer things […]

“…and today we’re talking about a modern insulator… but more on that inso-later.” Description of the Foam Nest Tree Frog Measure Up Welcome to the beloved Measure Up segment. The official listener’s favorite part of the show! The part of the show when we present the animal’s size and dimension in relatable terms through a […]

“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 […]