logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2023
50m 21s

Animal Enigmas

NPR
About this episode
From the bugs in our backyards to prehistoric reptiles, animal biology and behavior are full of puzzles and conundrums. On this episode, we hear from experts solving the mysteries of the animal kingdom. Guests include paleontologist Dean Lomax, biochemical engineer Saad Bhamla, herpetologist Gowri Shankar and conservation biologist Patrícia Medici.

TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) without sponsors. Sign-up at: plus.npr.org/ted

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
Up next
Jun 19
Sports psychology for everyday life
The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat — sports cliches are everywhere. But what does it actually take to think like a winner? This hour, TED speakers explore the psychology of winning and losing.Original broadcast date: July 19, 2024TED Radio Hour+ listeners now get access t ... Show More
49m 50s
Jun 12
How predictions took over our lives
From betting apps to AI models, prediction has become big business. This hour, why we're so drawn to certainty, and what happens when we mistake forecasts for facts. Guests include professor Brendan Dwyer, philosopher Carissa Véliz, and journalist Simone Stolzoff.TED Radio Hour+ ... Show More
49m 52s
Jun 5
The case for merging human bodies with machines
From robot helpers to smart body parts, the line between human and machine is blurring. This hour, TED speakers design tech that enhances us without diminishing our humanity. Guests include robot choreographer and computer scientist Catie Cuan, engineer and biophysicist Hugh Herr ... Show More
49m 52s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
How Do Animals Change Over Time?
Want to learn some cool fun facts about some of your favorite animals? And how they might have changed over time? Take a listen to our guest, Alex Re, host of the On Wildlife podcast as he chats with us and teaches us some interesting information about the world of animals.  #sci ... Show More
29m 56s
Jul 2024
Digital Dr. Dolittle: decoding animal conversations with artificial intelligence (reprise)
Artificial Intelligence is making the stuff of science fiction a science reality, changing how humans interact with the world. It could also change the way we interact with wildlife, giving us the ability to talk to animals...but are we ready? On this episode Chris talks to Aza R ... Show More
50m 2s
Jan 2025
Smarty Plants
<p>In an episode we first aired in 2018, we asked the question, do you really need a brain to sense the world around you? To remember? Or even learn? Well, it depends on who you ask. Jad and Robert, they are split on this one. Today, Robert drags Jad along on a parade for the sur ... Show More
34m 35s
Dec 2024
The New Conservationists: AI is Making Meaning from the Sounds and Visuals of Wildlife (Part 2)
Ashleigh Papp, an animal scientist turned storyteller, takes us on into the field. Conservationists and animal behaviorists were once restricted to wildlife data gathered manually. Now new technologies are expanding the amount of passively collected data—and machine learning is h ... Show More
17m 55s
Jul 2024
The BEST of Animals - Take Two
The Solve It! for Kids Podcast is on summer break! Enjoy our BEST of ANIMALS podcast while we are away. You'll hear clips from: Ep 212 How do you Rescue Raptors? Ep 206 Why are Whales Important? Ep 203 How do Dolphins Recognize Humans?    #sciencepodcast #sciencepodcastforkids #s ... Show More
32m 58s
Apr 2024
How Do Birds Fly?
Have you ever watched birds soaring in the sky and wondered... How do they fly like that? Our guest,  Alex Troutman, wildlife biologist and science communicator, is here to explain it all. A lifetime birding enthusiast, Alex turned his interest in birds into a job as a scientist. ... Show More
28m 45s
Oct 2024
Terrestrials: Stumpisode
<p>As dead as they seem, tree stumps are hubs of life and relationships. <br /><br />Co-host Lulu Miller is back with another season of her hit spinoff show <i>Terrestrials</i>, and to celebrate, we’re sharing the first episode with you. From stumps to snags, dead wood provides h ... Show More
32m 37s
Jul 2023
FE5.2 - Spiders Song (Part 2)
Spiders Song is a story about a quest to hear the greatest symphony on Earth: the music of evolution. Along the way, we get to know some of nature’s most surprising musicians — the paradise jumping spiders.Part 1 is the SpidersPart 2 is the SongHeadphones advised.— — —For credits ... Show More
50m 46s
Sep 2025
Igniting curiosity with Sean The Science Kid
At just 10 years old, Sean The Science Kid is our youngest guest ever. Sean is an internet educator with a voracious appetite for learning and a contagious passion for sharing his knowledge. In this episode, Adam chats with Sean and his mother Eunice about the origins of Sean’s c ... Show More
34m 3s