A study of orb-weaving spiders shows that the arachnids’ webs pick up a range of sounds—and that they are always “listening” for vibrations coming in over them.
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Today
Thanksgiving’s Iconic Bird Is Thriving Again in the Wild
Wild turkeys were once on the brink of disappearing from the U.S.’s forests, with populations dropping to just tens of thousands by the 1930s. Thanks to conservation efforts, their numbers have soared to more than six million today, making them one of the country’s greatest wildl ... Show More
15m 57s
Nov 24
Tamer Raccoons, COP30 Recap, New Fluoride Research
Zoya Teirstein, a senior staff writer at Grist, joins host Kendra Pierre-Louis to talk about this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP30, which wrapped up in Brazil last week. Plus, new studies debunk claims that fluoride harms children’s cognitive development ... Show More
9m 29s
Nov 21
The Hidden Worlds of ‘Nanocosmos’
In his new book, Nanocosmos: Journeys in Electron Space, artist and writer Michael Benson transforms scientific imaging into art, capturing intricate natural designs that inspire awe and wonder. Join host Kendra Pierre-Louis as they explore how science and creativity intersect at ... Show More
24m 20s
Nov 2021
How Does the Invasive Joro Spider Work?
Residents of the American South may have noticed a new spider on the, er, web -- the beautiful, fascinating Joro spider. Learn about it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/arachnids/joro-spider.htm Learn more about your ad-choic ... Show More
5m 27s
Nov 2021
Spooky spiders: silk, sex and squirting venom
We're wandering into the weird world of spiders! We'll be looking at spiders that can fly using little silk parachutes and the grisly and gruesome mating habits of black widow spiders. Plus in the news, as UK cases surge, should Covid precautions move to Plan B; how does raw sewa ... Show More
56m 8s
Oct 2023
How the internet changed the spider trade
<p>With new and exotic species available at the click of a button, the digital age forever changed the multimillion-dollar arachnid industry. What has that meant for spiders?</p>
<p>Credits: This episode was written and produced by Dean Russell. Mixing, sound design, and origina ... Show More
33m 29s