logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2025
1h 7m

Lampyridology (FIREFLIES) aka Sparklebut...

ALIE WARD
About this episode
Let’s light up your life and butt. World-renowned firefly expert Dr. Sara Lewis of Tufts University gives us some updates to her 2021 episode, sharing her love of a bug that many think is merely mythological. Learn how these tiny animals illuminate the night, the dos and don’ts of firefly observation, how to take good firefly photos, femme fatales, pink glow ... Show More
Up next
Yesterday
Bonus Episode: How to Beat Perfectionism and Make a Quilt
Our Culcitology (QUILTS) episode taught you why quilts are agents of rebellion, community, and chill vibes all in one. This bonus episode will tell you how to start and how to dive into anything creative without freaking out first, featuring advice from Joe Cunningham and Kule Ha ... Show More
34m 55s
Mar 4
Quantum Ontology (WHAT IS REAL?) Encore with Adam Becker
Is anything real? How many universes are there? Is everything a simulation being run by a quantum computer through a wormhole from a future era? Is the answer to everything really ... 42? The affable and charming astrophysicist, author and philosopher of tiny particles Dr. Adam B ... Show More
1h 19m
Feb 26
Culcitology (QUILTS) with Luke Haynes, Olivia Joseph, and Joe Cunningham
Scrap quilts. Sewing bees. Secret codes. Political activism. Controversies. Three of your new favorite Culcitologists – Olivia Joseph, Luke Haynes, and Joe Cunningham – are stitched together for one mega episode on one of the most underappreciated and widely practiced arts in the ... Show More
1h 46m
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2025
What makes fireflies glow?
<p>Melissa and Jam delve into the fascinating chemistry behind fireflies' bioluminescence. They explore how fireflies produce light through a complex series of chemical reactions involving specific molecules like luciferin and enzymes like luciferase. The discussion extends to ho ... Show More
56m 31s
Nov 2024
Humans Inherited a World That Insects Made
What does the Declaration of Independence have in common with Vincent van Gogh’s sketches? The ink used to produce them came from wasps. From pests to products, insects have played an enormous role in human history. Entomologist and animal behaviorist Barrett Klein encourages a h ... Show More
17m 1s
Jan 2025
Fire and a Broken Heart: The 260th Evolutionary Lens with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying
<p>In this week’s episode, we continue our discussion of the Los Angeles Fires, sharing stories, analysis, and an apology from the owner of the LA Times, a publication which endorsed Karen Bass, LA’s current mayor. Even if diversity and inclusion have value, we need skill and exp ... Show More
1h 58m
Jul 2024
Cicadas
This summer's hottest North American bug is without question, the cicada. They've got everything: neon-colored wing veins, bendy-straw-style exoskeletons, an insatiable thirst for tree goo, and after 17 years of napping, they're bursting out of the ground ready to par-tay!SciShow ... Show More
48m 7s
Dec 2024
7. Bonus Episode - Extra Dose
Right, roll up your sleeve, it’s time for an extra dose of Best Medicine!This is a special episode of unheard bits that couldn’t be squeezed into Series 2, featuring more fascinating medical insights, extended bits and a whole Petri dish of jokes – some more cultured than others. ... Show More
40m 34s
Jan 2025
Poodle Sled Dogs, Why Orange Cats Are "Like That," Seal Nose Anatomy
Welcome to SEASON 9!! MIT Technology Review science editor (and former Weirdest Thing champ) Mary Beth Griggs joins the show to talk about self-sealing seal noses. Plus, Laura jumps on to talk about poodles running the Iditarod, and Rachel explains why orange cats are... you know ... Show More
47m 35s
Dec 2024
What are LEDs and how are they different from other bulbs?
<p><strong>#075 Rebroadcast</strong></p> <p>Happy holidays, we hope you have a wonderful season whatever you celebrate! We've got a holiday related episode for you: LEDs. Well I guess we use them all year round, but they get an extra spotlight this time of year. What are they? Ho ... Show More
37m 42s
Sep 2025
Kissing Bugs, Koalas and Clues to Life on Mars
A paper published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention argues that Chagas disease is now endemic in the U.S. Koalas may finally be spared from a deadly epidemic. Meanwhile NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover has uncovered tantalizing clues about potential ancient microbia ... Show More
9m 37s
Aug 2025
How do glowsticks glow?
<p><strong>#067 Rebroadcast (Originally Aired October 2020)</strong></p> <p>Guess what time of year it is. It's spooky time! One thing we see a lot of during this time of year, is things that glow. And you better believe that's chemistry. So how do glowsticks glow? How does bendi ... Show More
33m 57s
Oct 2022
Flirting Cats, Walking Sharks, Preventing Cerebral Palsy
We discuss a new app that can translate a cat’s meow into human languages, how the Epaulette shark is teaching us about climate change, and a potential treatment that might prevent cerebral palsy.Flirting Cats “Did My Cat Just Hit On Me? An Adventure in Pet Translation” by Emily ... Show More
14m 27s