How Bugs can harm AND help us

A quick glance around the world or through history will reveal that no matter what we happen to believe is morally right and wrong, there is at least one person or culture that believes differently, and holds their belief with as much conviction as we do. 

When we think about the Greek myths we think of beasts like multi-headed dogs or giant eagles, but what about insects? 

Green spaces in cities are vital for our wellbeing, but did you know that here in Sydney we have access to some of the best parks in the world? Elizabeth Mossop, Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Technology, Sydney teaches us all about it for Self Improveme ... Show More

It's a gross but very useful fact that some insects will eat deceased humans, because scientists can observe those insects to learn about where and when a person died. Learn about forensic entomology in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffwo ... Show More

Prof Adam Hart stirred a hornet’s nest of controversy by asking the public to kill wasps for science. He explores why scientists kill insects to save them from extinction.The work of the entomologist often involves the killing of insects in large numbers. This happens in the sear ... Show More

This is a big year for bug science as two broods of cicadas are set to emerge. We connected with Emma Grace the entomologist to learn about women in entomology, bug science, cicadas and Star Wars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

<p>Are insects the sustainable food source of the future? </p> <p><br></p> <p>In this podcast, we’re going to take a look at edible bugs as an alternative protein source. Some say that we should be eating bugs by 2050 because of the growing population. Some blame climate change o ... Show More

Mosquitoes are common flying insect that inhabit all continents except Antarctica. There are over 3500 species of mosquitoes worldwide, but only somewhere between 6 and 9.3% bite humans and are disease vectors. That said, mosquitos are the deadliest animal on the planet, thanks t ... Show More

Blowflies may be some of the most reviled insects on the planet, but as Erica McAlister discovers, they are central to the surprisingly long tradition of forensic entomology and how there's more than meets the eye in the distinctive structural colour of the morpho butterfly wing, ... Show More

<p>There are many ways people get sick, but sometimes diseases are carried to people by insects. Dr. Sydnee and Justin talk about the top ten "bad bugs" including mosquitoes, ticks, assassin bugs, and some beetles that are big and bad. </p><p>Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers h ... Show More

Neil and Sam discuss eating insects and teach you related vocabulary. 

After centuries of use in wound-healing, the maggot is back. The rise of the drug-resistant superbug means fresh eyes are focused on the superpowers of the larvae of the greenbottle fly species, Lucilia Sericata. James Gallagher reports on the healthcare professionals who are tur ... Show More

<p>Insect Love Song: The night is alive with insects. To our human ears their song is mere cacophony, but it's actually a vast web of communication signals. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Julie decode the Insect Internet for the meanings behind insect song ... Show More