It's the hottest day of the year, and deep underground, a mysterious countdown has finally hit zero. After years of silence, millions of cicadas are emerging from the earth, ready to take the stage in a once-in-a-lifetime event. But how do these creatures synchronize their grand entrance?

In this episode of The Show About Science, Nate explores the fascinating world of cicadas emerging en masse after years of living underground. Joined by Jorin Graham, a physics PhD student from Northwestern University, they dive into the science behind cicada synchronization, the role of xylem in their lifecycle, and how synchronization mechanisms are key in nature.

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