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In this out-of-this-world episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole unravel the story of two unexpected astronauts: Anita and Arabella, the garden spiders launched aboard Skylab 3 in 1973.

🕸️ Can spiders spin webs in zero gravity?
 🕷️ How do they adapt without gravity to guide them?
 🛰️ What can eight-legged astronauts teach us about behavior and resilience in space?

Anita and Arabella weren’t just part of a quirky science experiment—they were pioneers in understanding how instinctual behavior and motor coordination function in microgravity. From chaotic silk chaos to stunning symmetrical webs in just two days, these space spiders proved life can adapt in the most alien environments.

Whether you're an arachnid enthusiast, a space nerd, or just love weird science history, this episode is for you.

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Why do we sleep? What’s going on in our brains while we dream about flying bagels and dolphin taxis? In this episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole stay up late to explore the science of sleep, REM cycles, lucid dreaming, and why getting less than 5 hours can mess with your memory, mood, and metabolism.

🧠 From brain waves and neurotransmitters to memory formation and emotional resets
 😴 The truth about sleep deprivation, circadian rhythms, and why you might be hallucinating
 💭 Plus: weird dreams, sleepwalking, dream interpretation, and the neuroscience of it all

Whether you're curious about why sleep matters, how your brain detoxes overnight, or what dreams really mean, this episode has you covered—with science, laughter, and a few too many dolphin references.

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Before astronauts, there were monkeynauts. In this episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the bizarre and often tragic history of the first primates sent to space—Albert I, II, III, and IV.

The U.S. was determined to test the limits of space travel, and what better way than by strapping a rhesus macaque to a rocket? Unfortunately for the Alberts, early spaceflight engineering wasn’t exactly foolproof (seriously, how hard is it to pack a working parachute?!). From launch failures to unexpected explosions, these monkeys became unwilling pioneers in the quest to understand weightlessness, high-altitude survival, and just how many things can go wrong in a single mission.

Join us as we unpack the history, science, and ethics of these doomed primate test pilots. If you love space history, weird animal experiments, and questioning past scientific decisions, this episode is for you!

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From sky-high lightning bolts that span hundreds of miles to walls of sand swallowing cities whole, extreme weather is wild—and sometimes, just plain weird. 🌩️💨 In this episode of Wildly Curious, Katy and Laura break down some of nature’s most shocking meteorological events, including lightning that’s hotter than the sun, haboobs that turn day into night, and actual raining animals (yes, really).

But that’s not all! We also dive into pink snow (that smells like watermelon), blood rain, and the terrifying reality of firestorms that create their own weather systems. Whether you love a good thunderstorm or prefer to stay inside during a drizzle, this episode will have you looking at the sky in a whole new way.

🔊 Tune in for science, comedy, and the most bizarre weather facts you never knew you needed!

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Frogs. In. Space. Yep, you read that right! In this episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole take you on a hilarious and mind-blowing journey into the weirdest space experiment you’ve probably never heard of—the Orbiting Frog Otolith mission.

Back in the 1970s, NASA decided that launching two bullfrogs into orbit was a great idea. Why? To study how weightlessness affects the inner ear and balance. But the story doesn’t stop there—these amphibian astronauts, named Pierre and Tinam, endured some wild conditions, from pressure changes to a rather unfortunate fate.

Join us as we dive into the bizarre, laugh at the absurd, and uncover why frogs were chosen for space travel in the first place. If you love strange science, history’s quirkiest experiments, or just want to hear about a frog named Pierre floating in space, this episode is for you!

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Could dinosaurs be the next great delivery workers, pest control experts, or even search-and-rescue heroes? In this episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole take a deep dive into the wild world of dinosaur training—imagining what it would take to turn prehistoric creatures into modern-day workers. From speedy compies delivering packages through city streets to armored Borealopelta stopping high-speed car chases, they explore the science behind animal training, intelligence, and behavior.

Packed with humor, science, and the ultimate “what if” scenarios, this episode is a must-listen for dinosaur lovers, science buffs, and anyone who’s ever wondered: Could you actually train a dinosaur?

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Blast off into the strange world of space-bound critters with Wildly Curious! In this episode, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole uncover the bizarre true story of Félicette—the first (and only) cat launched into space. From rigorous astronaut training (including high-G centrifuge spins) to a suborbital flight with no windows, Félicette’s journey was as weird as it was historic.

Why did France decide to send a stray tuxedo cat into the cosmos? What did scientists hope to learn? And how does Félicette’s story compare to other space animals like Laika? With a mix of humor and deep dives into science history, this episode explores one of the most unexpected tales of the space race.

Whether you’re a space buff, science enthusiast, or just love a wild story, this episode has something for everyone!

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In this episode of Wildly Curious, Katy and Laura dive deep into the prehistoric past to separate dinosaur fact from fiction. From Hollywood myths to groundbreaking discoveries, they explore how our understanding of dinosaurs has evolved over time. Were all dinosaurs cold-blooded? Did they all go extinct at the same time? What even is a dinosaur? Prepare to have your dino knowledge challenged as they break down the latest fossil evidence, debunk common misconceptions, and reveal the fascinating science behind these ancient creatures. 

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Blast off with Wildly Curious as Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole launch into the incredible story of Laika, the first living creature to orbit Earth. This fearless stray dog from the streets of Moscow became a space pioneer aboard Sputnik 2, forever changing our understanding of space travel. But her journey wasn’t just about science—it was a tale of sacrifice, Cold War competition, and the early days of the space race.

From the first fruit flies sent skyward to the wild world of animal astronauts, this episode kicks off our  explores the unexpected ways animals shaped human spaceflight. With a mix of humor and history, Katy and Laura unravel the legacy of Laika and the groundbreaking (and sometimes heartbreaking) missions that paved the way for human exploration beyond our planet.

Whether you’re a space enthusiast, science history buff, or just love a good underdog story, this episode is a must-listen!

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Dive into the mysterious world of freshwater ecosystems with Wildly Curious! In this episode, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole uncover some of the strangest and most fascinating creatures lurking in rivers and lakes worldwide. From the razor-toothed vampire fish of the Amazon to the ancient Chinese giant salamander, and even the armored Arapaima of the Amazon River Basin, each bizarre species has evolved incredible adaptations for survival. With a mix of humor and deep dives into science, this episode reveals why freshwater ecosystems are home to some of the most freaky and fascinating creatures on Earth. 

Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, science buff, or just curious about the weird wonders of water, this episode has something for everyone!

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