logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2019
26m 49s

Carnivores: Plants and animals that bite...

American Public Media
About this episode
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 experienced and one just starting out – offer their tips for growing venus fly ... Show More
Up next
Aug 4
Joy Overload! The science of tickles and cuteness
Get ready for some smiles! We’re looking at the science of two things that bring us joy: tickles and cuteness. We’ll explain why tickles make us giggle and why you can’t tickle yourself. Then we’ll talk about what makes cute things cute and why sometimes we want to eat or smoosh ... Show More
40m 13s
Jul 28
How do walkie talkies work?
Walkie talkies are cool tech with a cool name. In today's episode we find out how can one little box let you talk to somebody miles away. Even though we have cell phones that can connect to places around the world, walkie talkies are still quite useful. You can also test your wal ... Show More
29m 49s
Jul 21
Hoax Hunters take on the Fresno Nightcrawler
Marc and Sanden are back as the Hoax Hunters! This time they look at the case of the Fresno Nightcrawler. In 2007 a man’s security camera recorded something strange outside his house. It looked like sweatpants out for a walk by themselves, with no humans around. Creepy? Kind of. ... Show More
29m 53s
Recommended Episodes
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 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
Oct 2025
Why Did Venus Flytraps Develop a Taste for Meat?
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 ex ... Show More
35m 2s
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
Jun 2023
Bees, Bugs and Slugs
Ready for a garden adventure? We're taking you on a fun-filled journey into the fascinating world of plants and critters in this episode of 'Stories for Kids' by Lingokids! Learn why cacti have spines, how humans enjoy them (after removing the needles, of course), and the helpful ... Show More
5m 28s
Jun 2024
Ep. 479 - Insights into Nightshade Defenses
Plants cannot run away from the herbivores that eat them, therefore plants have evolved numerous strategies to defend themselves from being consumed. Plant defenses are as varied as the plant kingdom and the ways in which they operate will blow your mind. We are joined by Dr. Rup ... Show More
1h 8m
Dec 2021
Why Does Eating Meat Consume More Resources Than Eating Plants?
<p>It takes a lot more resources to grow an animal for food than it does to grow plants. Learn how much more -- and what that means for the conscientious omnivore -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/food-nutrition/fac ... Show More
5m 23s
Jan 2023
Carnivorous Plants Will Ruin Your Life
Inside the flourishing world of online plant fanclubs lies a deep, dark obsession: people who dedicate their entire lives to caring for Nepenthes, or carnivorous pitcher plants. On this week’s episode, Brian Howey, a former “Nephead” tells us about the carnivorous plant subcultur ... Show More
29m 16s