Ep. 480 - Understanding Bark Beetles

Plants don't have ears, a nervous system, or any sort of brain-like organ, yet they have the capacity to detect and respond to sounds. Moreover, the vibrations they are exposed to, AKA their 'vibroscape,' is highly complex and we are only beginning to understand this on a deeper ...  Show more

Bee cognition is an important topic in the world of plants and pollination. How various bumblebees learn and remember to visit various flowers influences how plants reproduce and evolve. Plants also have a major role to play in the form of floral traits as well as nectar and poll ...  Show more

In this episode, Anja and Matthias go on an underground safari through the hidden jungle of the soil. We hear from Diana Wall about a tiny worm that is so tough it survives in Antarctica. Richard Bardgett introduces us to collembola, also known as springtails. Stefan Scheu and Ma ...  Show more

Find out how and why dung beetles have been capitalizing on poop in a big way for 30 million years. Also, these little guys may be the world's tiniest astronomers. Robert and Julie reveal why.

How do insects factor into our traditions of death -- and how do insects handle their own burials? Find out in this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind as Robert and Joe discuss ants, termites, Virgil, ancient civilizations, bees and more. (originally published 1/21/2021) ...  Show more

An entomologist shares surprising insights about the invasive bug, which is wreaking havoc on crops and trees across 14 U.S. states. Plus: A poster with our facts that you can print out at home. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for ...  Show more