Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Better Than Human
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monarch Butterfly: The Science Behind the Wandering Milkweed Common Tiger of the Americas | 14 Oct 2022 | 00:51:57 | |
The monarch is a common butterfly, found in the Americas that is considered a poster species of pollinating insects. The monarch butterfly is easily recognizable because of its bright black, orange, and white patterns. Monarch butterflies are a parasite to their caterpillars’ only food source, milkweed. This plant itself is toxic to thwart insects from consuming its plant body, this includes an attempt to be toxic to monarchs. This has resulted in an evolutionary arms race between the two species. | |||
| The History and Science of the Potato; Boil 'em, Mash 'em, Stick 'em in a Stew | 16 Sep 2022 | 01:02:33 | |
In this episode, Jennifer and Amber explore the history of the potatoes. Or as a hobbit would say, "Po-tay-toes! Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew." However you like them, potatoes have changed the world. Jennifer insists potatoes are not roots or stems, but they’re tubers. Amber insists they are technically a specialized stem called a stolon. These tubers evolved to store food for potato plants when resources were scarce. The Native Americans living in what is now Peru quickly realized this benefit and began cultivating them. In the Western World, Potatoes were slow to catch on, due to the myth that they cause leprosy or that they were poisonous, and because they were thought of as “poor people” food. However, regardless of its rather interesting history, the potato has become the third most important food crop in the world. | |||
| It's All About that Dopamine Release | 31 Aug 2022 | 01:01:44 | |
Most widely known as the 'feel good chemical,' dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the pleasure area of the brain's reward system that plays a role in many important body functions, including movement, memory, and pleasurable reward and motivation. But do you really know what Dopamine really is, and what it actually does in your brain? Or how it works in other parts of your body, or even how other life forms use it? Dopamine is made up of a benzene ring, which is one of the most important chemical structures that carbon based life forms need to exist. Dopamine is one of the oldest neurotransmitters (around 500 million years). Dopamine is found in a wide variety of both plants and animals, and it has a profound effect on the behaviors of all. Having the right amount of dopamine is important both for your body and your brain. High or low dopamine levels are associated with diseases including Parkinson's disease, restless legs syndrome and ADHD. Treating dopamine-related diseases can also cause issues. For example, treatments for Parkinson’s can cause schizophrenia-like symptoms, all because one tiny chemical in your brain is out of balance. The way your body makes and uses dopamine can actually be predicted based on your DNA, which makes some of us the losers when it comes to the dopamine gene lottery. However, more research is needed to determine how and why each individual use of dopamine is different. Listen now to learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about dopamine, your motivation to do anything. | |||
| Dragonflies and the Science Behind Their Unique Adaptations | 17 Aug 2022 | 00:53:41 | |
Dragonflies are some of the fastest flying insects in the world. With 360-degree vision, they can eat hundreds of insects per day, including those pesky mosquitoes and other biting insects. Their adaptations for flying are unique among insects and so precise that humans can only dream of being able to someday make machines that fly as well as dragonflies. | |||
| Goblin Shark: Living Fossils to Haunt Your Nightmares | 03 Aug 2022 | 00:46:04 | |
Goblin Sharks are a species of rare sharks found in the deepest oceans throughout the world. The goblin shark gets its name from its terrifying unhinged mouth that is full of razor sharp teeth. These sharks use a stealth attack to float through the ocean until close enough to swallow their prey. (Its low-density and large liver make it buoyant, allowing it to drift towards its prey with minimal motions to avoid detection). Which mean, what the goblin shark wants to eat, will not see it coming. The goblin shark has a distinctively long and flat snout and in the original drawing of the species, its mouth maximally extended, which inspired the name “goblin.” Goblin sharks are most likely preyed upon by blue sharks. These blue sharks also inhabit the deep waters in the world's temperate and tropical oceans. Little is known about goblin shark reproduction because we’ve never seen a pregnant female in the wild. The same is true for Goblin Sharks’ close relative the Frilled Shark which is a long, eel-like shark known as one of the most primitive fishes in the ocean. The Frilled Shark has a truly torment inducing mouth that we’d never like to see again. Humans sucks, so join us as we talk Goblin Sharks, living fossils to haunt your nightmares. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| Penguins: The Flightless Birds of the Southern Hemisphere | 27 Jul 2022 | 00:50:22 | |
Penguins are flightless aquatic birds that are almost exclusively found in the Southern Hemisphere. Penguins are evolved to catch fast-swimming prey and to live in cold temperatures. Their bodies have densely packed feathers, heavy muscles and huge fat supplies. Because of these adaptations penguins have lost their ability to fly, and while they might not look graceful on land, they are incredibly agile in the water. There was a penguin-like bird living in the Northern Hemisphere, the Great Auk, which went extinct due to human activities in the 1850s. Penguins for the most part breed in large colonies, but it’s not all happy feet. Penguin chicks often form crèche (groups of chicks), to protect themselves from predators and unrelated adult penguins. These crèche also provide warmth and provide a nursery for the babies. Penguins are often studied by scientists, and the Adelie penguins managed to disturb scientists so much so that a research paper on them was denied publishing in the early 1900’s. Listen now to learn about this flightless bird, the cute but sometimes terrifying penguin. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| Coral Reefs Are Going Extinct, and Humans are to Blame | 20 Jul 2022 | 00:57:57 | |
Regardless of what people may think or believe, the coral reefs are going extinct, and humans are to blame. Why should you care, besides the fact that coral reefs are living animals that deserve their chance to thrive? So what can be done to save the coral reefs? The simplest solution is fighting global climate change. (Doesn’t matter if you believe in global climate change or not, your failure to listen or understand science will not stop it from occurring). Besides that obvious solution, scientists have come up with some unique ways to try and save this important ecosystem, like reef insurance or artificial cooling systems. Listen now to learn about the coral reefs, some of the most unique ecosystems on the planet. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| Mosquitoes: Man's Greatest Nemesis | 01 Jul 2022 | 00:55:41 | |
It has been estimated that over humanities history more than 50 billion people have been killed by mosquitoes. That is approximately half of all humans that have lived on this tiny blue dot killed by mosquitoes. For this reason, mosquitoes have been called man’s greatest nemesis. | |||
| Peregrine Falcon: Evolution At Its Finest | 24 Jun 2022 | 00:57:23 | |
Peregrine Falcons are the clear winner to the question what is the fastest animal on the planet. Their top speed is double that of the world's fastest land animal, the cheetah. Peregrine falcons, also called duck hawks, are one of the most common falcons and birds of prey on this planet. They can be found on almost every continent, and they’ll happily live in a city or the countryside. You can thank them for helping keep the pigeon population in check in many cities. | |||
| Rats: Studies Prove Rats Have More Empathy Than Humans | 16 Jun 2022 | 01:01:47 | |
The Chinese zodiac stated that rats are creative, intelligent, honest, ambitious and generous hundreds of years before scientific studies proved all of these traits to actually be true. Except for, perhaps, honesty. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| Rats: Intelligent, Clean, Social, and Resourceful | 08 Jun 2022 | 00:51:42 | |
This week's episode is a re-run that is all about rats, the long-tailed rodents that tend to be looked down upon within our society. Rats, however, are intelligent, clean, social, and resourceful animals that can survive almost anywhere. | |||
| Algae Without it You'd Be Dead | 31 May 2022 | 00:59:06 | |
Algae. It's one of the greatest things on the planet and it's responsible for all life on Earth, including your life. But how much do you really know about this incredible species? Is it a plant? Why is it green? Can you eat it? Can we make it into fuel? What's up with algae blooms? | |||
| Villisca Axe Murder House Recorded Live On Location, Rerun | 24 May 2022 | 00:55:21 | |
This episode on the Villisca Axe Murder House, was recorded live inside the Villisca House, back in September of 2021. And guess what? Host Amber knew nothing about the history of the Villisca house before we started recording. And, not only did Amber and Jennifer record an episode in the house, we spent the night there, recording the next morning and documented if anything occurred during the night. The Villisca axe murders occurred between June 9, 1912, and June 10, 1912, in the town of Villisca, Iowa. All six members of the Moore family and the two Stillinger sisters were found murdered in the house. All eight victims, (including six children), were bludgeoned with an axe. The reason for the murders and the murder(s) were never found. We start the episode discussing if visiting places where people were murdered is in bad taste. You can make an argument for both sides. Tune in as we discuss suspects in this unsolved case, if the house itself is haunted, and if so, who is haunting the house. Want to learn about the Villisca house and our creepy night? Listen now! | |||
| Caffeine: How Coffee and Tea Changed the World | 18 May 2022 | 00:59:10 | |
Caffeine is the most consumed stimulant on the planet. In fact, 90% of humans consume caffeine on a daily basis. Most people do not even think about this tiny molecule as they drink their morning coffee, or sip on their afternoon tea, or as their children chug soda at a birthday party. We’ve gone so far as to claim that it’s the sugar affecting the children, not the psychoactive drug they just consumed. And, humans aren’t the only animal addicted to caffeine. Bees prefer nectar with caffeine over nectar without to a detriment to their own health. So how did we get to the point where most humans need caffeine to make it through their day? Well, the history of caffeine cannot be told without the history of Coffee and Tea, and this is because until 1819, we had not isolated the molecule known as 1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine. Tea was discovered before coffee, and shaped nations through its trade. The British East India Company is an example of this, and for Americans, the Boston Tea Party. Coffee probably influenced the West first, though, and helped the world switch from beer and wine as the staple drink to coffee. Remember water wasn’t very safe in the past, so beer and wine were often consumed instead of water. When we switched to coffee/tea, we started drinking something that wakes you up instead of slowing you down, which increased human production, both physically and mentally. Was the spread of Coffee and Tea, hence caffeine, a good thing for humanity? Well, like all things, it is complicated. What we do know is that caffeine is a drug that you can become addicted to and that does affect your behavior. This molecule changed the known world as humans spread it across the globe. Listen now to learn about how caffeine shaped the past, and affects your present. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| Narwhals: The Non-Mythical Unicorn of the Arctic Oceans | 11 May 2022 | 00:58:47 | |
Humanity might be the worst thing in the known universe, so why not take a break from that and learn about the non-mythical Unicorn of the Ocean, aka Narwhals. The first thing that comes up when you Google search Narwhals is “Do Narwhals still exist?” proving Amber isn’t the only one that thought they were a made up animal, and that there is a lot of confusion when it comes to this whale. | |||
| Red Pandas: The One, True Panda and a Plant-Eating Carnivore | 04 May 2022 | 01:02:35 | |
The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is a cat-sized mammal native to the Himalayas and China. Despite being protected in all countries it has ranges in, the red pandas’ populations continue to decline. Red pandas are the original pandas; they were 'discovered' by Europeans first and their discovery gave rise to the name panda, and giant pandas were later named after them. However, we now know that red pandas and giant pandas are not related. So which species is the "true" panda? Depends on who you ask. But, since the word Panda actually means bamboo eater, are they not both true pandas? There are two subspecies of Red Pandas: the Chinese red panda and the Himalayan red panda. There are fewer than 10,000 Red Pandas left in the wild, and with its populations scattered in small pockets it could easily be wiped out. Red pandas are mostly-vegetarian carnivores, which seems counterintuitive. However, the carnivore classification doesn't necessarily coincide with an animal's dietary preference. So while a majority of their red panda diet is bamboo, which they luckily digest slightly better than the Giant Panda, they are still classified as carnivores because of their evolutionary history. Listen now to find out more about the red panda and why it was once described as 'the most beautiful animal.' In The Good The Bad The News Pixar’s newest movie 'Turning Red' is considered a controversial movie by some, all for stupid reason. Yes, there was 13 year old girl cringe, but that’s not what the controversy is about. Cat One-eyed Joe (Dexter) has returned home after a 5 year journey that included a luxury stay at a prison and being spoiled on an oil rig. Also, dog breed has little effect on dog behavior. | |||
| The Great American Interchange: When Two Continents Meet, Weird Things Happen | 27 Apr 2022 | 00:53:25 | |
The Great American Interchange, also called Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI), is the epic geological event that occurred when the South American continent, which had been isolated for 50 million years, connected with the North American continent. The Great American Interchange is one of the most important events in the history of land mammals in the Americas. The landmass that is South American used to be home to many unique animals, like Australia is today. However, when the volcanic Isthmus of Panama came up from the ocean floor resulting in the formation of a connected Americas, animals could now migrate back and forth. This immigration of animals should have been uniform, but (spoiler alert) North American animals ultimately won out over their South American counterparts. Scientists are still trying to figure out why, though fossil evidence has shed light on the event. So check our newest episode where we dive into the animals of South America before the interchange and why these native animals were at a disadvantage when the continents connected. In the Good the Bad the News Litter of red wolf pups born for the first time in four years, which is good news for this critically endangered animal. Also, Pokemon Go might help young people with depression. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| Axolotl: The Adorable Deadpool of Vertebrates | 20 Apr 2022 | 00:57:23 | |
Axolotl. You’ve probably seen a picture of this cute, meme-worthy animal, but what do you really know about this captivating animal? Do you know the one place on earth where they're natively found? Do you know how few are left in the wild and what hinders conservation efforts? Why some consider them the fruit flies of amphibians? Or, perhaps the most important question, why are they so darn cute? | |||
| The Platypus: The Weirdest Animal on this Pale Blue Dot | 13 Apr 2022 | 00:56:07 | |
The platypus is one of (or is) the weirdest animals on this planet. With its beaver-like tail, otter-like fur, and duck-like bill, the platypus looks like someone took leftover animal parts and sewed them together to make a hoax. | |||
| The Fruit Fly: Drosophila One of The Most Important Organisms in Biology | 05 Apr 2022 | 00:59:37 | |
Fruit Flies, Drosophila melanogaster, are easily the best understood multicellular organism on the planet. Why do we know so much about Drosophila? Who decided to start studying this fly? And why do we keep investing time and money to fruit fly studies? Drosophila and humans share over 60% of our DNA, and about 75% of known human disease genes have a match in the DNA of fruit flies. Meaning, most human diseases can be studied using fruit flies. Drosophila is currently being used as a genetic model for Parkinson's, Alzheimer's disease, aging, oxidative stress, immunity, diabetes, and cancer, as well as drug abuse. Yes, we study all that (and a lot more) in this tiny (under 3 millimeter long) fruit fly. To look at why biologists started studying Drosophila we have to go back over 100 years ago to the Fly Room at Columbia University, and the experiments of Thomas Hunt Morgan. To see how we study Fruit Flies, you just need to look at all the Nobel Prizes awarded to scientists who made it their life's work to study with this fly. You probably studied fruit flies in biology at some point in your life, but most likely are not sure why biologists make such a big deal out of this tiny little insect. Listen now to find out why we know so much about Drosophila and why we keep studying the fruit fly.
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| Wolverines: The Ferocious Predator and Trickster of the North | 23 Mar 2022 | 00:53:33 | |
Wolverines are solitary animals that have a reputation for being ferocious and containing a strength out of proportion to their size. For example, though wolverines are the size of a medium dog, they have no problem taking on much larger animals, like a moose. Yes, Logan, from the X-Men is named after this animal, and if you know anything about this character, this is a good super hero name for him. (Well, Jennifer, that's because he was specifically designed with a wolverine animal in mind.) | |||
| InverteButts: All About Those Weird Invertebrate Butts | 16 Mar 2022 | 01:01:10 | |
In celebration of #InverteButtWeek on Twitter, this week's episode is all about those butts. And guess what? There are a lot of weirdass butts in the animal kingdom. How and why did we evolve butts? Scientists still are not exactly sure how anuses evolved. What we do know, though, is that for those animals lucky enough to have an anus, they have been rewarded with the ability to digest food more efficiently. Here are some examples of weird invertebrate butts in this episode. | |||
| Marine Iguanas: The Sea Lizard of the Galápagos Islands | 09 Mar 2022 | 00:58:46 | |
Marine Iguanas are the only lizards currently on Earth that go into the ocean. Known as sea iguana or saltwater iguana, they are a species found only on the Galápagos Islands. These unique lizards forage for algae, which make up almost all of its diet, when not sunbathing on the shore. How and why did Marine Iguanas evolve only on these tiny islands in the middle of the ocean? Well, it’s complicated and exclusive to these islands loved by Charles Darwin. | |||
| Dandelions: A Flower By Any Other Name | 02 Mar 2022 | 00:55:03 | |
Have you ever wished upon a dandelion? Those little puffballs that grow in your front yard, and if you blow away all the seeds you get a wish? By blowing away the seeds, you’ve actually granted the dandelion's wish of seed dispersal and helped one of the earth’s most abundant flowering species. Dandelions, also known as blowballs, are tap-rooted, perennial, herbaceous plants native to temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere. These plants, which many humans often call weeds, are actually an important part of the ecosystem and are incredibly useful to many creatures, including humans. Our ancestors grew dandelions for food and medicine since the beginning of farming. In The Good, The Bad, The News Just because it’s called “natural” doesn’t mean it’s good. “Black salves”, used to treat moles and cancer, are dangerous and can be life-threatening. So don't use them. Mosquitoes learn to avoid pesticides after just one exposure, which means the pesticides we currently use may not be effective forever. Mosquitoes may be one thing that is not Better Than Human. Old wind turbine blades are being used for bridge construction after they’re retired, which is good news because the blades are not biodegradable. Humpback whales have been removed from the Australian Threatened Species List following an incredible recovery in numbers. Because Dandelions are one of the first flowers in early spring, their nectar is important for a wide hosts of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Raw dandelion greens are a healthy food for humans, and contain phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are chemicals produced by plants, generally to help them resist infection. The term is used to used to describe plant compounds that are under research. While many supplement companies make outlandish claims about phytochemicals, like they can cure cancer, phytochemicals may or may not actually be useful to humans when consumed. Either way, dandelions don't cure cancer. But they may be good in your salad and are great for the environment. So let's all go blow on some blowballs. Listen now to learn more about dandelions Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| Starfish Are Meant to Shine | 23 Feb 2022 | 01:00:17 | |
Starfish, more accurately called Sea Stars, are star-shaped echinoderms (animals) that can be found in all the world's oceans. There are over 2000 species of Starfish found on every shoreline to the depths of the deepest oceans. Instead of blood, starfish use the water around them in a primitive version of a vascular system used for locomotion, adhesion, food manipulation and gas exchange. Some starfish’s stomachs can be everted from their body to engulf and digest food. | |||
| Dung Beetles: The Sacred Species That Transforms the World for Good | 16 Feb 2022 | 00:58:11 | |
Dung beetles are a large group of Scarabaeinae that almost exclusively feed on dung. Dung Beetles are widely used as an indicator of an ecosystem's health. In some countries, they have even been introduced for the benefit of animal husbandry. The dung beetle, (otherwise known as a scarab), enjoyed a sacred status among the ancient Egyptians. Trust us, you want to learn more about this amazing beetle. The Good, The Bad, The News Climate change is affecting animals in weird ways like increasing divorce rates among albatrosses and polar bear inbreeding. Australia's koala is now officially endangered, a decision both long expected and completely preventable Same-sex penguins hatch their first chick at New York zoo, and parents and baby are doing great. Gray wolves back on endangered species as federal judge restores protections for gray wolves in much of U.S., reversing Trump's (bad) policy. Dung beetles live in many habitats and are found on all continents except Antarctica. Dung beetles do not have to eat or drink anything else, because the dung provides all the necessary nutrients. By burying and consuming dung, dung beetles improve nutrient recycling and soil structure and reduce the number of pests. So you want these bugs around. The Egyptians saw the scarab (dung beetle) as a symbol of renewal and rebirth. The image, conveying ideas of transformation and resurrection, is ubiquitous in ancient Egypt. Dung beetles can navigate using the Milky Way making them the only insects known to orient themselves by the Milky Way. Listen now to discover the mysteries of the dung beetle. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| Groundhogs: How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck on Groundhog Day? | 09 Feb 2022 | 01:00:41 | |
Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are rodents belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. Who knew groundhogs and woodchucks were the same species? Not the hosts before this episode! Despite their continued use in predicting the weather every mid-winter, groundhogs and their behaviors have not been well-studied by researchers. In The Good, The Bad, The News Fake snow for the Olympics, how bad is it really? Once gone from Florida, American Flamingo is being sighted again in Florida's rich wetlands. Biologist Tim Wong Dingle-Handedly Repopulates Rare Butterfly Species In His Own Backyard. What do we actually know about groundhogs? They are excellent burrowers, using their burrows for sleeping, rearing young, and hibernating. If you see one, its burrow is almost certainly nearby. We know human development near second-growth forests caused a boom in groundhog populations by creating ideal habitats. On the other hand, though, intensive agricultural areas and dairy farms decimated their populations in other areas. But chances are if you live in the Northeast United States or Canada, you've definitely seen one, probably on the side of the road. We also know no one can agree on whether or not they're a pest. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| Lemmings: The Tribbles of the Arctic Tundra | 02 Feb 2022 | 00:50:15 | |
A lemming is a small rodent found in the Arctic tundra. Lemmings are a keystone species that maintain the arctic diversity as prey to large animals and plant grazers. And, NO, they do not periodically leap to their deaths, regardless of what common culture may tell us. However, lemmings do have periodic population booms causing them to disperse in all directions, seeking food and shelter, in patterns not normally seen in rodents. These crazy migrations have led to some weird theories about lemmings, like they rain from the sky or that they commit suicide… | |||
| Snowy Owl: The Coolest Bird of the Arctic | 26 Jan 2022 | 00:56:42 | |
You’re probably familiar with Hedwig, who according to ranker, is the world’s second most famous owl and perhaps the most famous snowy owl. But, what else do you actually know about this Arctic bird? Did you know this owl can survive at -135.4 Fahrenheit, and has several unique adaptations that are quite distinct from other owls. Such as their feet act like little snow shoes, and their thick, pigment-less feathers make them one of the heaviest owls in the world. Unfortunately, they won't deliver your mail. So please don't acquire one because it doesn't want to be a pet. The snowy owl is one of the largest owl species and the only one to migrate. Not all of them chose to migrate, though, nor do they seem to care too much about where they migrate. If you tried to follow their movements, it'd be like Zuko mapping Aang's movement's after the Avatar first became unfrozen. All this, and more, makes the Snowy Owl, one of the most unique birds you can find on the planet today. In the Good, The Bad, The News Did an owl attack Kathleen Peterson outside her home on Cedar Street in Durham and start a chain of events that lead to her death? Czech singer dies after catching Covid intentionally. This is dumb. Don’t be dumb. Get vaccinated. NASA’s Curiosity Rover discovered intriguing Carbon Signature on Mars – Possible Indication of Biological Activity New AI optical technology cuts wind turbine birds of prey deaths by 82%, which is quite the improvement Listen now to learn about the Snowy Owl, the coolest bird of the arctic. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@betterthanhumanpodcast or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes | |||
| Gila Monster: The Only Venomous Lizard Native to the USA | 19 Jan 2022 | 00:58:39 | |
Gila Monsters are the only venomous lizards native to the United States. They are found in Southwestern US and Northwestern Mexico. These lizards have a bad reputation that is mostly unfounded. There are no recent incidents of a Gila Monster bite resulting in human fatality. In order to even get bit, one would have to be trying really hard to or making less than intelligent decisions because these creatures are quite slow. Gila Monsters have a roundish body with black and pink blotches and beadlike scales. They are the largest lizard species native to the US. | |||
| Gilbert’s Potoroo: Australia's Most Endangered Marsupial | 12 Jan 2022 | 00:57:22 | |
The Gilbert’s Potoroo is Australia's most endangered marsupial, and one of the world’s most critically endangered mammals. The Gilbert’s Potoroo is a small, nocturnal marsupial that was recently rediscovered off the southern coast of Western Australia in Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. There are less than 100 Gilbert’s Potoroos left in the world. In the Good the Bad the News Reality star who said she made $200,000 by selling her farts in Mason jars, hospitalized, and now selling her 'farts' as NFTs. Yep, you heard that right. That is now a thing in this world. Mozambique recently created a new National Park by merging two existing parks, a marine reserve and a land reserve. The Park protects one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots, which are regarded as the most biodiverse places on the earth. Webb Space Telescope Deploys Primary Mirror Without any issues and Dolphin females have working clitoris. Who knew? Oh yeah, biologists. We don’t know a lot about Gilbert’s Potoroos because they are so rare and only recently rediscovered. Described as a small rat kangaroo, Gilbert's potoroo was originally last sighted in 1869. In fact we thought they were extinct until 1994 when Elizabeth Sinclair and Adrian Wayne, two students from the University of Western Australia, found one while doing research on wallabies in Two Peoples Bay. Luckily, Prince Philip lobbied for Two Peoples Bay's protection in 1962, and stopped this area from being developed saving a number of endangered species. Gilbert's potoroo have expensive taste, with a diet that consists mostly of truffle-like fungi. We believe they require a habitat that has not been burnt for over 50 years, with dense scrub coverage of shrubs that are also rare to find in Australia. All of these are likely factors in why Gilbert's potoroo is so rare and contributed to the marsupial remaining hidden for over 100 years. Listen now to learn about Australia's most endangered marsupial, Gilbert’s Potoroo. | |||
| Beluga Whales: The Great White Sea Canary of the Arctic | 05 Jan 2022 | 01:02:27 | |
Beluga Whales are white cetaceans adapted to life in the Arctic. Belugas are highly sociable and communicate in high-pitched squeaks, squeals, clicks, and whistles. This is why they’re also known as the "sea canary" of the ocean. Their forehead contains an organ (called a melon) that they use for echolocation, finding breathing holes in the ice, and to hunt in dark or turbid waters. Young male belugas may mimic human speech, but they grow out of it. In The Good, The Bad, The News Physics Professor mailed an anonymous cardboard box filled with cash. This gift would provide fully-funded scholarships for those in need. Beavers saved from euthanasia (who euthanizes beavers???) are now replenishing rivers in the Utah Desert Betty White passed away 😔😔😔 The amusement park, Marineland, was charged with using whales and dolphins in performances, violating the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act of Canada. Beluga’s closest relative is the narwhal, and these species have been known to interbreed in the wild, though this is rare. Belugas can act very curious towards humans in the wild, and will swim alongside boats. They also follow the same migration paths every year making them easy prey for over-hunting by humans. Belugas are classified as "near threatened" by the IUCN due to uncertainty about threats to their numbers. Listen now to find out why everyone loves Belugas. | |||
| Krampus: He Knows If You've Been Bad | 22 Dec 2021 | 00:55:39 | |
Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure in Alpine folklore. On Christmas, he terrifies children who have misbehaved. Krampus has recently been introduced into North American culture, but has a rich history in Eastern European cultures, including pre-Christian pagan traditions where he has long been a companion of Saint Nicholas. Jennifer’s good and bad news: Quantum entanglement is complicated, but we try to explain it in the most basic terms. Why? Because researchers from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have quantum entangled a Tardigrade. This is the first multicellular organism to be quantum entangled. Amber’s bad news: The Guinea worm was almost eradicated, but is now making a comeback. (The worm Jennifer talks about is the guinea worm…) The good: Eastern mosquitofish are being scared into not mating by robot fish. Yes, we said robot fish. Krampus is a half-goat, half-demon monster. He has a long, pointed tongue that lolls around (like a snake), and fangs. He carries chains that sometimes have festive bells! Like a super creepy version of Santa's sleigh bells. Unlike North American versions of Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas concerns himself only with the good children, while Krampus is responsible for the bad children. Saint Nicholas gives gifts, while Krampus punishes bad children. Sometimes Krampus appears with a sack or a basket strapped to his back and he carts off evil children for transport to Hell. So you better watch out. You better not pout. Or Krampus will kidnap you! So grab your masks and let's go to a Krampus run, get shitfaced, and scare children. Happy Holidays Everyone! | |||
| Maned Wolves: A One-of-a-Kind Canine | 15 Dec 2021 | 00:53:09 | |
The maned wolf is a large canine of South America. However, it is not a wolf, they aren’t even related. The maned wolf has many fox-like characteristics, but they are not related to foxes either. Maned wolves are a unique animal. They are the tallest wild canine species, but not largest, and they have an erectile mane. The Good, The Bad, The News Fox News is over reacting about a Christmas tree. Conservatives only care if something bad is happening directly to them. Global Climate change is going to kill us all, but did it cause the most recent extreme weather? Good News A Komodo Dragon has successfully bred at San Antonio Zoo bringing hope for the Endangered Species. Australian University scientist, Dr. Alexandra Carthey, has developed Cardboard Habitat Pods to help animals displaced by wildfires. The maned wolf is the only species in the genus Chrysocyon (meaning "golden dog"). The maned wolf's long legs make it adaptable to the grasslands where it lives. Maned Wolves are a solitary species, so they do not want to be your pet. The maned wolf is omnivorous. They eat small and medium-sized animals, mostly rodents and rabbits, birds, and even fish, but at least 50% of their diet is vegetable matter, including sugarcane, tubers, and fruit. They are also big fans of wolf apples. Maned Wolf pee smells like cannabis, which has led to wild goose chases at zoos. Listen now to learn about the maned wolf, the fox lookalike that is not a wolf. | |||
| American Crow: The Trickster of the Bird World | 08 Dec 2021 | 01:03:56 | |
The American crow is a large passerine bird (song bird) of the family Corvidae. American crows are highly cunning and inquisitive, which makes them tricksters spirits. Crows both use and make tools, which is one of the reasons why crows are considered to be among the world's most intelligent animals. They’re probably smarter than a five-year-old child. Caw Caw | |||
| Plant Mimicry in Nature: The Mimic, The Model and The Fool | 01 Dec 2021 | 00:59:27 | |
In biology, plant mimicry occurs when a plant has evolved to resemble another organism, increasing the mimic's Darwinian fitness. Mimicry may provide the mimic certain benefits including protection against being eaten, trick pollinators into provide them a service without offering a reward (food) in return, or may even do something we haven't figured out yet. In The Good The Bad The News Amber hates snow, Jennifer thinks it is beautiful, but you know what Jennifer hates? Nurdles. Those tiny plastic pellets that are spilled into the ocean, just like oil, and cause just as much damage. Over 230,000 tonnes of nurdles end up in oceans every year. Not good. Most Americans would be fine without turkey at Thanksgiving dinner, and Jennifer and Amber agree that this would be fine. The UK government has declared that lobsters, crabs, octopuses and related species will be included under the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill, which is Good news for animal rights. In plant mimicry there are always three things, the mimicker, the model, and then the third thing, which is the thing being duped by the mimic. Sometimes the fool is actually humans. Mimics walk a fine balance between being an evolutionary advantage and being an evolutionary dead end. There are many different examples of plant mimicry in the wild, each more interesting than the last. Vines that might borrow host DNA, hooker lips, bee flowers, and trickster rye plants just to name a few. Listen now to learn about plants that pretend to be something they aren’t. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| Cranberries: The Sauce of Thanksgiving ... Unless You're President Eisenhower | 24 Nov 2021 | 00:52:16 | |
Cranberries are a fruit native to North America, and are a staple at most American Thanksgiving Dinners. Due to their very sharp and sour taste, cranberries are rarely eaten outside of the holidays. Nowadays, most Cranberries are consumed as a juice which can contain more sugar than soda pop, and has iffy health benefits. In The Good The Bad The News The Bad: The Kyle Rittenhouse trial once again proves that white men can get away with murder. You don’t bring a gun somewhere unless you plan on shooting someone, and destruction of property is not the same as hurting living beings. The Good: A record number of Humpback whale has been recorded off the coast of Seattle with a record number of calves birthed. In fact the entire population of Humpback whales has almost rebounded to the pre-whaling numbers. This shows that conservation does work. Cranberries can be found in acidic bogs throughout the cooler regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The Algonquian nation used cranberries for food and for dye, and introduced this fruit to Europeans. Cranberries are grown and harvested in a unique fashion, and the sale and marketing of them has led to things like the Great Cranberry Scare, the introduction of different juices, and the manipulation of the market. Listen now to wade through the history, growth and marketing of Cranberries, the tart fruit you probably only eat once a year. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| Hamsters: Pets, Wild Animals, Lab Animals and Cannibals | 17 Nov 2021 | 00:58:36 | |
Hamsters are rodents commonly kept as pets. Do you know what Hamster means? Hoard. Do you know what a group of Hamsters is called? Horde. You know what that means? Bring out the horde of hoarders! If you’ve ever had a pet hamster, then you probably know, they're solitary animals that dislike changes in temperature, and may resort to cannibalism if stressed. Amber isn’t a fan of hamsters as pets, but we can agree that they are an interesting species in the wild, as a pet, and in laboratories. In The Good, The Bad, The News Apparently, men with pet hamsters are more likely to cheat, according to this one random study on this website that we’ve never heard of before ... A 15 Million-Acre ocean superhighway was just created to preserve marine life, which is great news. And, a hamster’s home is sacrosanct, even in a graveyard. Austrian developers fail to challenge protection over species. There are over 20 species of hamsters, all of which are related to mice. Five hamster species are common as pets, and wild hamsters are found throughout much of Europe and Asia. Female hamsters are very sensitive to disturbances while giving birth and after giving birth, which may lead to them eating their own babies, to the horror of many grade school children. But, if you keep them alone, in a large enough cage, with enough fresh bedding, in a non-drafty area, they can make great pets. Listen now to learn about the farmland pest who has become a common household pet. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| Ladybug, Ladybug Fly Away Home | 10 Nov 2021 | 00:53:46 | |
Ladybugs (Ladybirds or Coccinellidae) are a widespread family of small beetles. Regardless of their name, they are not bugs nor birds. We’re not sure where their name comes from but it might come from "Beetle of Our Lady" in reference to the Virgin Mary. Many cultures consider them good luck, this is probably because they sometimes eat unwanted pests which helps preserve crops. In The Good The Bad the News This week it's complicated. Jennifer talks about the cocaine hippos from Colombia and how they have become the first animals recognized as “legal persons” in the U.S. (If you want to learn more about them listen to our episode all about Hippopotamus found at the link below). Then she talks Penis worms that lived in the depths of ancient seas more than 500 million years ago. Amber didn’t look into bad news because bad news is sad, but for her good news refugees in Cameroon have turned a desert camp into a thriving forest. Ladybugs are often brightly colored with small black spots on their wing covers, with black legs, heads and antennae. However, they are not all red and some are not colorful at all. There are 6,000 ladybug species worldwide and almost 500 species in North America. Unfortunately, due to invasive species of ladybugs, such as the Harlequin ladybird (Asian lady beetle, Asian Ladybug) and the Seven-spotted ladybug, native North American ladybug species, such as the nine-spotted ladybug, are becoming displace and even extinct in some areas. Listen now to learn about the good luck bug, one of nature's natural pests, and also, one of nature's natural pest controls. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| Allosaurus: The Bone Wars Almost Ruin Our Discovery | 03 Nov 2021 | 00:59:15 | |
This week is all about the Allosaurus, a large carnosaurian theropod dinosaur that lived 155 to 145 million years ago during the Jurassic period. Think what the Velociraptors in Jurassic Park look like, but bigger, and spoiler: probably no pack hunting. In the Good The Bad the News In the Bad, Syphilis in on the rise in the U.S., a sign that our public health services are failing. (A few years ago we almost eliminated syphilis in America…) In the Good, Amber talks about the ‘penis plant' that just bloomed in the Netherlands that smells like rotting flesh. Yum. And Jen talks about loggerhead sea turtle nests in the West African nation of Cape Verde making a rebound. Allosaurus means "different lizard" referring to its unique (at the time of its discovery) hollow vertebrae. Allosaurus had sharp saw-like teeth, which it used to slash the flesh of its prey, tearing at it without splintering bones. We know a lot about Allosaurus because of the many fossils we found of the species, from eggs to fully grown. Allosaurus was one of the earliest dinosaur discoveries, and they are the most commonly found dinosaur in the United States. The Bone Wars of the late 1800’s, however, botched their discovery, and it was years before the dinosaur was even officially even called Allosaurus. Listen now to learn about Allosaurus, a commonly found dinosaur throughout the U.S.'s Midwest. | |||
| Why the Addams Family Are the Best Example of a Modern Family | 27 Oct 2021 | 00:57:50 | |
The Addams Family are almost the perfect family. How so, you ask? There are lots of reasons, like Morticia being a feminist icon, or Wednesday being every goth girl's life goals, or Morticia and Gomez being the perfect couple. #relationshipgoals But first, where did the fictional characters of the Addams Family come from? You might be surprised to find out they started as a cartoon in The New Yorker and were created by American cartoonist Charles Addams in 1938. He created the Addamses, a wealthy aristocratic clan who delight in the macabre, as a satirical version of the ideal 20th-century American family. Since the Addams Family creation, there have been multiple TV shows, cartoons and movies about the family. Starting with the classic The Addams Family television show from 1964, to the superb movies, Addams Family (1991) and Addams Family Values (1993). (Who doesn’t love these movies???) Now The Addams Family are considered one of the most iconic families in American history. The Addamses have gotten their popularity for good reason. They are the opposite of the boring, dysfunctional sitcom family, which pits family members against each other for laughs. Listen now to why Better Than Human thinks the Addams Family are the almost perfect family. For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com | |||
| Mermaids: Imprinted in Human Psyche, But Evolutionarily Impossible | 20 Oct 2021 | 00:59:24 | |
A Mermaid is a mythical aquatic creature with the upper body of a female human and the tail of a fish. Legends of these creatures have been reported since the beginning of humanity. There is no evidence that mermaids live anywhere on earth. However, there are a lot of scientific reasons why they physically cannot exist. Seriously, fish and human’s last common ancestor was over 170 million years ago. If you’re going to say mermaids are mammals, they’d have to breathe air, which means going to the surface often. (So lots of chances for humans to spot them). AND even then, a human/water mammal would not have had time to evolve. Whales returned to the ocean 50 million years ago, and humans evolved 300,000 years ago…. So there is just not enough time for evolution to take place. But, there is a lot of interesting folklore surrounding these creatures. (A lot more interesting than the bigfoot ‘folklore’) Tails of merfolks go back to ancient times: from the 2500BC Mesopotamia to the first know tale of an Assyrian queen who turned into a mermaid in 1000BC to current culture. So, to say mermaids have been in the human psyche forever, would not be in error. Listen now to learn why mermaids cannot happen in real life, but are interesting anyways. For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com | |||
| Bigfoot: If You’re Going to make up a Cryptid, at least make it Believable | 13 Oct 2021 | 01:01:05 | |
Bigfoot, also commonly referred to as Sasquatch, (another word we’ve stolen from Native Americans), is a large bipedal ape-like creature, covered in hair. Bigfoot has become an icon of cryptozoology. You know what cryptozoology is? Fake science. There is no evidence that Bigfoot exists. Even animals that have gone extinct millions of years ago leave evidence of their existence. Giants (Larger than human beings) appear in the folklore of cultures worldwide and evoke terror and remind humans of our weakness and mortality. This may be the reason why there are so may 'bigfoot' tales in Native American lore. Thousands of people have claimed to have seen a Bigfoot, but even with all of these claims there is still no concrete evidence of any ape-like creatures living in North America. However, we do have a lot of proof of Bigfoot Hoaxes, like a man saying he had discovered the body of a dead Bigfoot in a forest in northern Georgia, and getting paid 50,000 dollars to produce it… So what are people claiming to have seen Bigfoot actually seeing? There are a lot of possible logical answers that are not mythical. Listen now to learn why Jennifer and Amber do not believe in Bigfoot. Note: when Jennifer says no Native Americans had a writing system, she means Native Americans of North America. The Maya, Aztecs, Mixtecs, and Zapotecs of Mesoamerica had writing systems. For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com | |||
| Villisca Axe Murder House Recorded Live On Location | 06 Oct 2021 | 00:54:24 | |
It’s finally October, the best month of the year, and time for Better Than Human's spooky Halloween Episodes. We start the month off with a BOO and an episode on the Villisca Axe Murder House, recorded live in the Villisca House itself. Poor, poor Amber knew nothing about what happened in the house before recording. Not only did Amber and Jennifer record an episode in the house on the murders that happened there, we spent the night in the house. The Villisca axe murders occurred between June 9, 1912, and June 10, 1912, in the town of Villisca, Iowa. All six members of the Moore family and the two Stillinger sisters were found murdered in the house. All eight victims, (including six children), were bludgeoned with an axe. The reason for the murders and the murder(s) were never found. We start the episode discussing if visiting places where people were murdered is in bad taste. You can make an argument for both sides. Then Jennifer tells Amber the history of the house, and the murders that took place in the house that we are recording in. We discuss suspects in this unsolved case, if the house itself is haunted, and if so, who is haunting the house. Want to learn about the Villisca house and our creepy night? Listen now! | |||
| Neanderthals Part 2: Our Brothers From Another Species | 22 Sep 2021 | 01:01:07 | |
Neanderthals went extinct around 40,000 years ago so there are a lot of maybes when it comes to what we know about them. Did they know how to start fires? Did they use medicine? Did they have a language similar to humans? Did they know how to preserve food? Did they create art and music? Did they make clothing? Did they sail? The answers to all those questions are big fat maybes, which archaeologist are still trying to figure out. | |||
| Neanderthals: Our Relatives From the North | 15 Sep 2021 | 01:01:40 | |
Neanderthals are an extinct species of archaic humans who lived to about 40,000 years ago. Neanderthals left Africa, while modern humans stayed behind. They interbred with an unidentified human species and then were ‘replaced’ by modern humans. Neanderthals most likely went extinct due to interbreeding with homo sapiens, climatic change, disease, or a combination of all these factors. | |||
| Black Holes: The Center of Every Galaxy | 07 Sep 2021 | 00:54:55 | |
What most people know about black holes, they’ve learned from sci-fi. In this genre, black holes (spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing can escape) can often do some nifty things, like time travel. In real life, however, black holes are a whole lot more interesting. A compact mass of deformed spacetime with zero volume and infinite density? Sign us up to learn more. | |||
| Hummingbirds: Tiny Acrobats And The Marvel of the Bird World | 01 Sep 2021 | 00:50:55 | |
Hummingbirds are the world’s smallest bird species, with a heart rate of 500 beats-per-minute on average and a breathing rate of 250/minute. Hummingbirds are nearly always on the edge of starvation, so they need to eat their body weight in nectar each day. Which might explain why some female white-necked Jacobin hummingbirds have evolved to look like male hummingbirds. Because, guess what? Male hummingbirds can be jerks. | |||
| European Eels: The Fish Whose Life Cycle Scientists Still Don't Understand | 25 Aug 2021 | 00:54:33 | |
The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is a snake-like, migratory fish. Eels spend most of their adult lives as freshwater fish, but are born and die in the ocean. How they’re born and how they die scientists are still trying to figure out. And we better figure it out quickly because European eel are a critically endangered species. So no jellied eels for you. | |||
| Do Coconuts Migrate? Coconuts: The Tree of Life, One of The Worlds Most Useful Trees | 18 Aug 2021 | 00:55:12 | |
Do coconuts migrate? Yes, they do, but not by sparrows. It was actually humans who spread coconuts across the globe. Besides making great horse sounds when banged together, coconuts are extremely useful to humans. Coconuts are not just a new health fad, humans have been using coconuts since 3000 BCE, and not just for food and water. In The Good, The Bad, The News The Bad: There is an organization in PA that wants you to think rising CO2 is good for you and the planet. Nope. July 2021 was the hottest month ever in recorded history. Global climate change is caused by humans, and we need to stop it. The Good: We can reverse global climate change, but we need to do it NOW. Then Jen talks about a preserved female cave lion cub named Sparta. Before we get into coconuts, have you ever heard of the Order of the Sun, the sun worshiping coconut cult from the early 1900s? Well, a nudist German named August Engelhardt was convinced you could live off just coconut. Guess what, you can’t. Coconut trees can grow up to 100 ft ( 30 m) tall, and produce on average of 30 coconuts a year. They are naturally restricted to coastal areas in sandy, saline soils, and need direct sunlight and a lot of water to grow. The coconut plant was distributed by early Austronesian voyagers, who carried them as a source of food and water, and traded them throughout different cultures globally. Listen now to learn about the lovely coconut tree, the tree of life. For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com You've got two empty halves of coconut and you're bangin' 'em together. | |||