Short Wave

Snow Flies Pay An Arm And A Leg For Love


Listen Later

The winter is usually when insects die or go into a state of paused development, but for tiny specks on the white snow called snow flies, it's time to run around, find a lover and make baby snow flies. Neuroscientist John Tuthill has been studying these creatures since he first came across them in 2016. He's found that not only can they survive in the cold, but if one of their limbs starts to freeze, they can self-amputate and pop it right off. That buys the snow fly time to find a mate and make sweet, sweet snow fly love.

Interested in other winter biology? Email us at [email protected] — we'd love to hear from you!

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Short WaveBy NPR

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

6,381 ratings


More shows like Short Wave

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

91,074 Listeners

Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,956 Listeners

Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,723 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,622 Listeners

The NPR Politics Podcast by NPR

The NPR Politics Podcast

25,816 Listeners

Science Vs by Spotify Studios

Science Vs

12,223 Listeners

Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Science Friday

6,482 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,225 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

56,639 Listeners

The Indicator from Planet Money by NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

9,546 Listeners

Today, Explained by Vox

Today, Explained

10,285 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

16,394 Listeners

Life Kit by NPR

Life Kit

4,796 Listeners

Consider This from NPR by NPR

Consider This from NPR

6,402 Listeners

Unexplainable by Vox

Unexplainable

2,307 Listeners