logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2025
35m 2s

Why Did Venus Flytraps Develop a Taste f...

iHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope
About this episode

From plants that eat rats and frogs, to the strange reason bats curl up in pitcher plants, Will and Mango explore the eerie world of carnivorous plants. 

This episode originally aired on November 9, 2018.

Got a question you’d like us to answer? A rabbit hole you think we should explore? Email higeniuses@gmail.com or leave us a message at (302) 405-5925.

Follow us on Instagram @parttimegenius and Bluesky @parttimegenius.bsky.social!

Photo by Andi Superkern via Unsplash. Thanks, Andi!

Learn more about your ad choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
What's the Science of Invisibility?
Sure, invisibility is about magic cloaks and invisible inks. But it’s so much more than that! From the way butterflies see a secret world of light that humans can’t, to the real reason polar bears are completely undetectable to infrared cameras, there’s a whole big world you ough ... Show More
42m 30s
Aug 4
Can Spicy Foods Make You Live Longer?
Does a fondness for spicy foods mean you've got an aggressive personality? Did putting spices on food help cavemen avoid illnesses? Is it true that super-spicy diets are linked to longevity? And what's the most effective way to soothe the heat if you bite off more than you can ch ... Show More
32m 26s
Jul 31
Why Do Rich People Love Lobster, Squash, and Monograms?
Once upon a time, lobster was considered trash meat, monograms were seen as tacky, squash was played in rundown back alleys, and the only people doing Pilates were prisoners. So how did these things turn into expensive status symbols, beloved by the world's elites? Plus: How busi ... Show More
37m 39s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2018
From the Vault: Carnivorous Plants
Are humans truly safe from the hunger of meat-eating plants? Can we trust the trees that loom over us? In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss myths and fictions of killer trees, the science of carnivorous plants and the curious absence of mean-eating p ... Show More
1h 10m
Mar 2022
Carnivorous Phytobiology (MEAT-EATING PLANTS) with Hali’a Eastburn
<p>Flesh hungry plants. The world’s fastest hunters. Botany with brains?  Seymour, it’s time to feed because we’re doing meat-eating plants with conservation ecologist and carnivorous phytobiologist, Hali’a Eastburn. Can a Venus Fly Trap digest human flesh? Do frogs think of pitc ... Show More
1h 6m
May 2024
Morbid Curiosity: Plants That Bite
In this 4th instalment of the MCP's plants series, we discuss carnivorous plants: their traps, their habitats, and how to care for your own meat-eating plant. 
32m 23s
Oct 2021
Venus Flytraps: Plant or Monster?
After looking into the Venus Flytrap, we quickly moved it to the top of our favorite plant list. Part plant, part monster? What's not to love? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
40m 54s
Mar 2022
The Beast Wore an Apron, Part 2
Are there any animals other than humans that cook their food? In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the world of non-human animal meal preparation. Bon appétit! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com ... Show More
47m 5s
Oct 2022
59: Cannibalism as Medicine?? The Wild trend of Mummy Powder
Welcome to the Dark History podcast. Mummies, we know em, we’ve love em. And they are quite exclusive. Really rare. I mean everybody loses their minds whenever we find a new one. But would you believe at one time, there was a whole bunch of these bony bois lying around? Oh yeah, ... Show More
38m 9s
Mar 2019
Carnivores: Plants and animals that bite back
Most plants get the energy and nutrients they need from water, sunlight, air and soil. But carnivorous plants get key nutrients from a different source: bugs. We’ll find out how they do it and talk about the mystery of how venus fly traps snap shut. Plus: Two gardeners – one very ... Show More
26m 49s
Jun 2024
392: Kill The Part That Cringes
Should tiny characters really have high-pitched voices? Where do flies sleep? Is a seed a plant? When, why, and how were hard-shell tacos invented? Should I be concerned about nicotine in potatoes? Hank and John Green have answers! If you're in need of dubious advice, email us at ... Show More
44m 52s