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"content": "\n\u003cp>The rare fossil found in a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-mateo\">San Mateo County\u003c/a> creek in early September now rests in a cabinet at Stanford’s Geoscience Specimen Collection.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The foot-wide mastodon tooth is stored with over half a million other fossils, minerals, rocks and other specimens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“These fossils tell a really important story about the environment that they lived in,” said Christine Garcia, curator and manager of the collection.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/09/pacific-mastodon-tooth-ice-age-ecosystems-research\">Researchers\u003c/a> plan to analyze the tooth to learn more about the animal’s diet, environment and age. Stanford has also created a 3D scan of the tooth and plans to print replicas for educational outreach. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1545\" data-id=\"2002167\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-2000x1545.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002167\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-2000x1545.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-160x124.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-768x593.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-1536x1187.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-2048x1583.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rendering of a Mastodon Tooth. (Courtesy of Haley Grunloh via Midpen)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2002082\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002082\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A fossilized tooth from a Pacific mastodon at Stanford University’s specimen storage facility in Palo Alto on Sept. 25, 2026. The tooth was discovered in a creek bed in San Mateo County. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We wouldn’t want folks to handle the real fossil too much,” Garcia said. “That could cause wear and tear on it. But a 3D copy is a great way to allow anybody to get hands-on with the fossil.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The fossil provides insight into Pleistocene species and the Bay Area near the end of the Ice Age, when lower sea levels allowed large mammals — including mastodons, Columbian mammoths, giant ground sloths, and ancient camels — to roam terrain now submerged underwater. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The fossil was found by Brigid Lynch, a geomorphologist with Balance Hydrologics, while she was surveying a creek in the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Preserve habitat restoration for threatened California red-legged frogs. “As a geologist, I’ve gone out and seen stuff in the field, but definitely nothing as exciting as this,” said Lynch \u003ca href=\"https://www.openspace.org/about/press/10000-year-old-fossilized-mastodon-tooth-discovered-midpen-preserve\">at the time\u003c/a>.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>The molar was from a Pacific mastodon that roamed the Bay Area thousands of years ago and was almost entirely intact. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lynch’s team contacted Pacific Paleontology after a reverse image search suggested it might be a mastodon tooth. Wayne Thompson, a paleontologist and the group’s CEO, confirmed on site that it was an upper left third molar.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The tooth itself is in immaculate condition,” Thompson said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s the most complete mastodon molar from our area, and the most spectacular mastodon molar that I’ve ever seen.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Measuring nearly a foot long and a foot tall, the fossil retains its crown attached to the roots. Mastodons were large, stocky relatives of modern elephants, slightly smaller than woolly mammoths. Unlike grazing mammoths, mastodons were browsers that used their trunks to strip leaves and shoots from trees and shrubs. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Based on the molar’s wear, Thompson estimates the animal was between 45 and 50 years old when it died. Estimated to be at least 10,000 years old, the fossil will undergo further testing to establish a precise timeframe.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Midpen donated the tooth to Stanford University’s Doerr School of Sustainability. Garcia said that having both the root and crown intact is exceptionally rare, as researchers usually find only fragments. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Because the fossil was found in water, Midpen kept it submerged until Stanford took over its care, gradually drying it in a climate-controlled environment to prevent deterioration.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2002087\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002087\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christine Garcia, curator and manager of Stanford University’s Geoscience Specimen Collection, opens a storage area containing fossils at Stanford’s specimen storage facility in Palo Alto on Sept. 25, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2002084\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002084\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christine Garcia, curator and manager of Stanford University’s Geoscience Specimen Collection, holds a container of ground fossil material at Stanford’s specimen storage facility in Palo Alto on Sept. 25, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The discovery also offers a reminder about conservation. Because the fossil was uncovered during a project to protect the 4-inch California red-legged frog, Ryan McCauley, a public affairs specialist with Midpen, said: “If a 9-foot mastodon can go extinct, there’s certainly no reason that a 4-inch-long red-legged frog couldn’t go extinct.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Garcia emphasizes that such fossils help scientists track how ancient ecosystems evolved and why species vanished.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We can learn about which animals in which ecosystems thrived right where we are today,” Garcia said. “And we can try to better understand what happened to them and why.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To protect the site, officials are keeping the exact discovery location private. They would prefer to let any remaining fossils be exposed naturally through erosion rather than excavation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While Thompson suspects more remains lie nearby, this single tooth offers a window into an ancient Bay Area landscape. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The fossil provides insight into Pleistocene species and the Bay Area near the end of the Ice Age, when lower sea levels allowed large mammals — including mastodons, Columbian mammoths, giant ground sloths, and ancient camels — to roam terrain now submerged underwater. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The fossil was found by Brigid Lynch, a geomorphologist with Balance Hydrologics, while she was surveying a creek in the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Preserve habitat restoration for threatened California red-legged frogs. “As a geologist, I’ve gone out and seen stuff in the field, but definitely nothing as exciting as this,” said Lynch \u003ca href=\"https://www.openspace.org/about/press/10000-year-old-fossilized-mastodon-tooth-discovered-midpen-preserve\">at the time\u003c/a>.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>The molar was from a Pacific mastodon that roamed the Bay Area thousands of years ago and was almost entirely intact. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The fossil was found by Brigid Lynch, a geomorphologist with Balance Hydrologics, while she was surveying a creek in the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Preserve habitat restoration for threatened California red-legged frogs. “As a geologist, I’ve gone out and seen stuff in the field, but definitely nothing as exciting as this,” said Lynch \u003ca href=\"https://www.openspace.org/about/press/10000-year-old-fossilized-mastodon-tooth-discovered-midpen-preserve\">at the time\u003c/a>.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>The molar was from a Pacific mastodon that roamed the Bay Area thousands of years ago and was almost entirely intact. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lynch’s team contacted Pacific Paleontology after a reverse image search suggested it might be a mastodon tooth. Wayne Thompson, a paleontologist and the group’s CEO, confirmed on site that it was an upper left third molar.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The tooth itself is in immaculate condition,” Thompson said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s the most complete mastodon molar from our area, and the most spectacular mastodon molar that I’ve ever seen.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Measuring nearly a foot long and a foot tall, the fossil retains its crown attached to the roots. Mastodons were large, stocky relatives of modern elephants, slightly smaller than woolly mammoths. Unlike grazing mammoths, mastodons were browsers that used their trunks to strip leaves and shoots from trees and shrubs. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Based on the molar’s wear, Thompson estimates the animal was between 45 and 50 years old when it died. Estimated to be at least 10,000 years old, the fossil will undergo further testing to establish a precise timeframe.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Midpen donated the tooth to Stanford University’s Doerr School of Sustainability. Garcia said that having both the root and crown intact is exceptionally rare, as researchers usually find only fragments. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The discovery also offers a reminder about conservation. Because the fossil was uncovered during a project to protect the 4-inch California red-legged frog, Ryan McCauley, a public affairs specialist with Midpen, said: “If a 9-foot mastodon can go extinct, there’s certainly no reason that a 4-inch-long red-legged frog couldn’t go extinct.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Garcia emphasizes that such fossils help scientists track how ancient ecosystems evolved and why species vanished.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We can learn about which animals in which ecosystems thrived right where we are today,” Garcia said. “And we can try to better understand what happened to them and why.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>To protect the site, officials are keeping the exact discovery location private. They would prefer to let any remaining fossils be exposed naturally through erosion rather than excavation.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While Thompson suspects more remains lie nearby, this single tooth offers a window into an ancient Bay Area landscape. \u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>The rare fossil found in a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-mateo\">San Mateo County\u003c/a> creek in early September now rests in a cabinet at Stanford’s Geoscience Specimen Collection.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The foot-wide mastodon tooth is stored with over half a million other fossils, minerals, rocks and other specimens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“These fossils tell a really important story about the environment that they lived in,” said Christine Garcia, curator and manager of the collection.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/09/pacific-mastodon-tooth-ice-age-ecosystems-research\">Researchers\u003c/a> plan to analyze the tooth to learn more about the animal’s diet, environment and age. Stanford has also created a 3D scan of the tooth and plans to print replicas for educational outreach. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1545\" data-id=\"2002167\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-2000x1545.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002167\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-2000x1545.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-160x124.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-768x593.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-1536x1187.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-2048x1583.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rendering of a Mastodon Tooth. (Courtesy of Haley Grunloh via Midpen)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2002082\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002082\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A fossilized tooth from a Pacific mastodon at Stanford University’s specimen storage facility in Palo Alto on Sept. 25, 2026. The tooth was discovered in a creek bed in San Mateo County. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We wouldn’t want folks to handle the real fossil too much,” Garcia said. “That could cause wear and tear on it. But a 3D copy is a great way to allow anybody to get hands-on with the fossil.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The fossil provides insight into Pleistocene species and the Bay Area near the end of the Ice Age, when lower sea levels allowed large mammals — including mastodons, Columbian mammoths, giant ground sloths, and ancient camels — to roam terrain now submerged underwater. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The fossil was found by Brigid Lynch, a geomorphologist with Balance Hydrologics, while she was surveying a creek in the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Preserve habitat restoration for threatened California red-legged frogs. “As a geologist, I’ve gone out and seen stuff in the field, but definitely nothing as exciting as this,” said Lynch \u003ca href=\"https://www.openspace.org/about/press/10000-year-old-fossilized-mastodon-tooth-discovered-midpen-preserve\">at the time\u003c/a>.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>The molar was from a Pacific mastodon that roamed the Bay Area thousands of years ago and was almost entirely intact. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lynch’s team contacted Pacific Paleontology after a reverse image search suggested it might be a mastodon tooth. Wayne Thompson, a paleontologist and the group’s CEO, confirmed on site that it was an upper left third molar.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The tooth itself is in immaculate condition,” Thompson said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s the most complete mastodon molar from our area, and the most spectacular mastodon molar that I’ve ever seen.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Measuring nearly a foot long and a foot tall, the fossil retains its crown attached to the roots. Mastodons were large, stocky relatives of modern elephants, slightly smaller than woolly mammoths. Unlike grazing mammoths, mastodons were browsers that used their trunks to strip leaves and shoots from trees and shrubs. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Based on the molar’s wear, Thompson estimates the animal was between 45 and 50 years old when it died. Estimated to be at least 10,000 years old, the fossil will undergo further testing to establish a precise timeframe.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Midpen donated the tooth to Stanford University’s Doerr School of Sustainability. Garcia said that having both the root and crown intact is exceptionally rare, as researchers usually find only fragments. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Because the fossil was found in water, Midpen kept it submerged until Stanford took over its care, gradually drying it in a climate-controlled environment to prevent deterioration.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2002087\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002087\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christine Garcia, curator and manager of Stanford University’s Geoscience Specimen Collection, opens a storage area containing fossils at Stanford’s specimen storage facility in Palo Alto on Sept. 25, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2002084\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002084\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christine Garcia, curator and manager of Stanford University’s Geoscience Specimen Collection, holds a container of ground fossil material at Stanford’s specimen storage facility in Palo Alto on Sept. 25, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The discovery also offers a reminder about conservation. Because the fossil was uncovered during a project to protect the 4-inch California red-legged frog, Ryan McCauley, a public affairs specialist with Midpen, said: “If a 9-foot mastodon can go extinct, there’s certainly no reason that a 4-inch-long red-legged frog couldn’t go extinct.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Garcia emphasizes that such fossils help scientists track how ancient ecosystems evolved and why species vanished.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We can learn about which animals in which ecosystems thrived right where we are today,” Garcia said. “And we can try to better understand what happened to them and why.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To protect the site, officials are keeping the exact discovery location private. They would prefer to let any remaining fossils be exposed naturally through erosion rather than excavation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While Thompson suspects more remains lie nearby, this single tooth offers a window into an ancient Bay Area landscape. \u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "these-animals-may-sting-you-spray-you-with-stinky-fluid-or-explode-in-your-face",
"title": "These Animals May Sting You, Spray You With Stinky Fluid or Explode In Your Face",
"publishDate": 1787713200,
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"headTitle": "These Animals May Sting You, Spray You With Stinky Fluid or Explode In Your Face | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://youtu.be/KT3vyVBacSA\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Meet four animals that have mastered the art of chemical defense and offense. Sneak up on a bombardier beetle and it will shoot boiling acid from its behind. Cone snails will inject a fish with venom and swallow it whole, while the reclusive vinegaroon has a stinky surprise for anyone who messes with it. The Arizona bark scorpion has a sting powerful enough to send humans to the hospital, but it doesn’t seem to bother the tiny southern grasshopper mouse.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>TRANSCRIPT\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lookout! Duck! Run for cover! These four wild creatures use chemical weapons for offense and defense.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The mysterious vinegaroon sprays a vinegary blast into the face of hungry predators.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Arizona bark scorpion is powerful – but this cute mouse is basically immune to it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attackers beware of the Bombardier beetle’s explosive backside.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First, cone snails use a hidden harpoon to inject a fish with venom and swallow it whole.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cone snails are striking, in more ways than one.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They lurk in the sand around coral reefs.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And wait til you see what’s under the hood.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That pretty veneer is hiding an impressive array of tools and weapons.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A cone snail’s breathing tube, called a siphon, is actually more like a sheet of muscle rolled into a snorkel.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Besides drawing water to gills deep in its shell, the siphon also can pick up the scent of unsuspecting prey.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s when the cone snail goes spearfishing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Its extendible proboscis is packing a concealed weapon.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A tiny, hollow harpoon made of chitin, the same tough stuff in a lobster shell.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And the end of the proboscis is tricked out with receptors – taste buds that help it close in on its target.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When it strikes, the snail’s pace jumps to light speed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The embedded harpoon doubles as a hypodermic needle to inject the victim with paralyzing venom.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As it reels in the catch, the cone snail uses another covert tool called a rostrum.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It opens up to swallow the fish whole.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some cone snails hunt more familiar prey. Other snails.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The smaller snail digs down to hide its shell opening.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The predator looks for a way in.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When it finds it, the hunter hits its prey with more than one shot of venom.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A lot is going on in the fifth of a second before the snail fires that harpoon.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So let’s rewind and break it down.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First the proboscis flexes as the muscles inside prepare for the strike. Then the venom floods into the proboscis, but stops just short of the harpoon. A round muscle holds the lethal fluid in check, like a kink in a hose, building even more pressure.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Then, everything blows, and propels the venom into the harpoon, the harpoon into the prey.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What has scientists interested in cone snails is that their venom varies not only from species to species but also from individual to individual, and even from shot to shot.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In fact they seem to mix their venom cocktail on the fly from thousands of unique ingredients, each with its own purpose.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>All this variety means a world of new drugs could lie under that shell.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Novel ways to treat things like chronic pain, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most cone snail strikes hurt as much as a bee sting. A few can kill you though, like this geography cone, it has the most venomous sting in the world.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Here’s a tip: Don’t go gathering these shells when you’re snorkeling in Australia.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you love learning about wildlife, subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It’s free! Link in the description.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>How about a little defense? The reclusive and well-armoured vinegaroon has a stinky surprise for anyone who messes with it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Late at night, after a rain in Arizona’s high desert, a dark shape creeps out from its underground lair. It’s as big as your palm, and it’s hungry.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if it feels bothered…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>OK what just happened? And seriously, what is this thing?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A mutant land lobster?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I mean, it’s got claws like a scorpion…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The mouth of a spider?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Antennae-like things coming out of its armpits.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A long, skinny tail like a rat?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This surprising combo of monster body parts is a vinegaroon, also known as a whip scorpion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s in a group of animals called arachnids, that includes scorpions and spiders.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But it doesn’t sting like a scorpion, or hunt with a web like many spiders.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A vinegaroon has its very own style.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This tail may look dangerous, but it’s actually a finely-tuned sensor. It picks up vibrations and chemicals in the air, in this case, to stalk its prey\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Up front, those antennae-looking things are actually specialized legs. They help the vinegaroon feel its way around.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s basically blind. So it relies on touch and smell to close in on its meal.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It will break through this cricket’s tough exoskeleton with its claws and bristly mouth.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The vinegaroon also uses these wicked claws to excavate its burrow.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Adults and their young use the burrows for protection from predators, and to stay out of the scorching desert sun. Vinegaroons and their ancestors have survived this way for hundreds of millions of years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So, what does it need that spray for? Researchers observe it by gently holding the animal with forceps.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Despite those frightening looks, this surprising spritz is actually its strongest defense against anything that wants to eat them – like skunks, raccoons or coyotes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Even with poor eyesight, the vinegaroon sprays with incredible accuracy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Inside, two pygidial glands, also known as “stink glands,” hold the foul fluid.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The base of the tail is extremely flexible, and can aim the blast in any direction.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Touché, skunk!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The instant it sprays, the gland openings appear as two retractable nozzles.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>An adult vinegaroon can shoot up to five times before it needs to let its stink glands fill up again. The spray reeks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s because the solution is mostly acetic acid, the same stuff in the vinegar in your salad dressing, except this cocktail is 16 times stronger. A blast of that to the face of a larger predator is like pepper spray.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While the vinegaroon’s signature defense is unlikely to do any lasting damage, it will certainly leave a lasting impression.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Arizona bark scorpion has a sting potent enough to send humans to the hospital, so why isn’t this fuzzy mouse afraid of that venom?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s an arms race underway in the Sonoran desert: mouse versus scorpion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Locked in a battle of one-upmanship, each animal evolving better, stronger chemical defenses against the other.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Consider the Arizona bark scorpion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Its tail contains the most powerful venom of any scorpion in the United States, delivering white hot electrical pain.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This sting sends hundreds of people to the hospital each year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That venom isn’t just potent – it’s sophisticated.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Researchers at The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco are studying how this venom has become increasingly complex over time to deal with the threats scorpions face.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They milk the scorpion. They use a piece of wax paper to coax it into stinging.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That droplet contains a complex brew of chemicals, including neurotoxins that quickly paralyze prey, like this cricket….\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But venom also serves as a powerful] defense… against being eaten…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s… where the mouse comes in.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Do not be fooled by its cuteness.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The southern grasshopper mouse is a ferocious hunter, which is rare among mice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And it’s got a taste for scorpion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Which would seem like a death wish. But it isn’t.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Scientists at Michigan State University are studying how the battle unfolds – not just physically, but at a chemical level.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This mouse is on the attack.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the scorpion is not having it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>See how it keeps stinging the mouse?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For any other animal – including you or me – this would hurt. Badly.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And for a second, with the grasshopper mouse, it does.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>See how it’s rubbing its face?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But after a brief moment of pain, its nerves go numb.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most animals its size would be dead by now.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the grasshopper mouse has evolved a specific defense against scorpion venom.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A protein built into the mouse’s nerve cells – binds to the toxin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It blocks it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Instead of causing pain and paralysis, the toxin does the opposite.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It acts like a painkiller – an analgesic.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After the first couple stings, the mouse barely feels anything.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bad news for the scorpion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Researchers think this trick could point the way to more precise pain medications for people, with fewer side effects.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Once upon a time, the scorpion’s venom was enough to protect it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But today – in this desert arms race – the mouse has the upper paw.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At least for now.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Next up: get too close and the back end of this beetle will literally explode in your face.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The bombardier beetle is one of nature’s most improbable creatures.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For some, it throws a monkey wrench into the whole idea of evolution.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This beetle is a walking powder keg.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That cloud you see is the result of a lightning fast chemical reaction inside his body.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When attacked, the beetle sets off the explosion, releasing a boiling hot, stinging poison that sends his enemies running.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He can even aim it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This potent mixture inside the beetle is made up of three main ingredients.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mix the first two of them together and nothing happens – but throw in the third, and boom.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So the beetle has a trick – he keeps these ingredients separate inside his body.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>From an evolutionary standpoint that’s what’s interesting.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In fact, people have been scratching their heads over this for decades.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>How did this complex system evolve over time?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wouldn’t earlier generations of beetles have blown themselves up, like a bunch of amateur bomb-makers?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To some, this beetle’s very survival is proof that the whole theory of evolution is wrong.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But it turns out there is a way this system could have evolved gradually.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Remember that third ingredient?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s an enzyme. It’s like a spark. It sets the explosion in motion. and enzymes…evolve.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At first, maybe this one wasn’t so dangerous. But gradually, it became more potent, more specialized, more explosive.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As the beetle’s body changed to contain it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Scientists at UC Berkeley are trying to figure out how this system came together.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They think one of those explosive chemicals evolved from the same raw materials as the beetle’s shell.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca>\u003c/a>That happens a lot in evolution. It’s called “exaptation.” one body part repurposed for something else.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The improbable bombardier beetle.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Living proof that what doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Meet four animals that have mastered the art of chemical defense and offense. Sneak up on a bombardier beetle and it will shoot boiling acid from its behind. Cone snails will inject a fish with venom and swallow it whole, while the reclusive vinegaroon has a stinky surprise for anyone who messes with it. The Arizona bark scorpion has a sting powerful enough to send humans to the hospital, but it doesn’t seem to bother the tiny southern grasshopper mouse.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lookout! Duck! Run for cover! These four wild creatures use chemical weapons for offense and defense.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The mysterious vinegaroon sprays a vinegary blast into the face of hungry predators.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Arizona bark scorpion is powerful – but this cute mouse is basically immune to it.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Attackers beware of the Bombardier beetle’s explosive backside.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>First, cone snails use a hidden harpoon to inject a fish with venom and swallow it whole.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Cone snails are striking, in more ways than one.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Cone snails are striking, in more ways than one.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>They lurk in the sand around coral reefs.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>They lurk in the sand around coral reefs.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And wait til you see what’s under the hood.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That pretty veneer is hiding an impressive array of tools and weapons.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A cone snail’s breathing tube, called a siphon, is actually more like a sheet of muscle rolled into a snorkel.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Besides drawing water to gills deep in its shell, the siphon also can pick up the scent of unsuspecting prey.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That’s when the cone snail goes spearfishing.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>That’s when the cone snail goes spearfishing.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Its extendible proboscis is packing a concealed weapon.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Its extendible proboscis is packing a concealed weapon.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A tiny, hollow harpoon made of chitin, the same tough stuff in a lobster shell.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A tiny, hollow harpoon made of chitin, the same tough stuff in a lobster shell.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And the end of the proboscis is tricked out with receptors – taste buds that help it close in on its target.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And the end of the proboscis is tricked out with receptors – taste buds that help it close in on its target.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When it strikes, the snail’s pace jumps to light speed.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>When it strikes, the snail’s pace jumps to light speed.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The embedded harpoon doubles as a hypodermic needle to inject the victim with paralyzing venom.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The embedded harpoon doubles as a hypodermic needle to inject the victim with paralyzing venom.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As it reels in the catch, the cone snail uses another covert tool called a rostrum.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>As it reels in the catch, the cone snail uses another covert tool called a rostrum.\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It opens up to swallow the fish whole.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>It opens up to swallow the fish whole.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some cone snails hunt more familiar prey. Other snails.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Some cone snails hunt more familiar prey. Other snails.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The smaller snail digs down to hide its shell opening.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The smaller snail digs down to hide its shell opening.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The predator looks for a way in.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The predator looks for a way in.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When it finds it, the hunter hits its prey with more than one shot of venom.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>When it finds it, the hunter hits its prey with more than one shot of venom.\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A lot is going on in the fifth of a second before the snail fires that harpoon.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A lot is going on in the fifth of a second before the snail fires that harpoon.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So let’s rewind and break it down.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>So let’s rewind and break it down.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>First the proboscis flexes as the muscles inside prepare for the strike. Then the venom floods into the proboscis, but stops just short of the harpoon. A round muscle holds the lethal fluid in check, like a kink in a hose, building even more pressure.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>First the proboscis flexes as the muscles inside prepare for the strike. Then the venom floods into the proboscis, but stops just short of the harpoon. A round muscle holds the lethal fluid in check, like a kink in a hose, building even more pressure.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerBlocks": []
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Then, everything blows, and propels the venom into the harpoon, the harpoon into the prey.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Then, everything blows, and propels the venom into the harpoon, the harpoon into the prey.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>What has scientists interested in cone snails is that their venom varies not only from species to species but also from individual to individual, and even from shot to shot.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>What has scientists interested in cone snails is that their venom varies not only from species to species but also from individual to individual, and even from shot to shot.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In fact they seem to mix their venom cocktail on the fly from thousands of unique ingredients, each with its own purpose.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In fact they seem to mix their venom cocktail on the fly from thousands of unique ingredients, each with its own purpose.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>All this variety means a world of new drugs could lie under that shell.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>All this variety means a world of new drugs could lie under that shell.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Novel ways to treat things like chronic pain, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Novel ways to treat things like chronic pain, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Most cone snail strikes hurt as much as a bee sting. A few can kill you though, like this geography cone, it has the most venomous sting in the world.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Most cone snail strikes hurt as much as a bee sting. A few can kill you though, like this geography cone, it has the most venomous sting in the world.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Here’s a tip: Don’t go gathering these shells when you’re snorkeling in Australia.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Here’s a tip: Don’t go gathering these shells when you’re snorkeling in Australia.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you love learning about wildlife, subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It’s free! Link in the description.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you love learning about wildlife, subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It’s free! Link in the description.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>How about a little defense? The reclusive and well-armoured vinegaroon has a stinky surprise for anyone who messes with it.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>How about a little defense? The reclusive and well-armoured vinegaroon has a stinky surprise for anyone who messes with it.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Late at night, after a rain in Arizona’s high desert, a dark shape creeps out from its underground lair. It’s as big as your palm, and it’s hungry.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Late at night, after a rain in Arizona’s high desert, a dark shape creeps out from its underground lair. It’s as big as your palm, and it’s hungry.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And if it feels bothered…\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And if it feels bothered…\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>OK what just happened? And seriously, what is this thing?\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>OK what just happened? And seriously, what is this thing?\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A mutant land lobster?\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A mutant land lobster?\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>I mean, it’s got claws like a scorpion…\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>I mean, it’s got claws like a scorpion…\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The mouth of a spider?\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The mouth of a spider?\u003c/p>\n"
],
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Antennae-like things coming out of its armpits.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Antennae-like things coming out of its armpits.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A long, skinny tail like a rat?\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A long, skinny tail like a rat?\u003c/p>\n"
],
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{
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"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This surprising combo of monster body parts is a vinegaroon, also known as a whip scorpion.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This surprising combo of monster body parts is a vinegaroon, also known as a whip scorpion.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It’s in a group of animals called arachnids, that includes scorpions and spiders.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>It’s in a group of animals called arachnids, that includes scorpions and spiders.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But it doesn’t sting like a scorpion, or hunt with a web like many spiders.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But it doesn’t sting like a scorpion, or hunt with a web like many spiders.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A vinegaroon has its very own style.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A vinegaroon has its very own style.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This tail may look dangerous, but it’s actually a finely-tuned sensor. It picks up vibrations and chemicals in the air, in this case, to stalk its prey\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This tail may look dangerous, but it’s actually a finely-tuned sensor. It picks up vibrations and chemicals in the air, in this case, to stalk its prey\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Up front, those antennae-looking things are actually specialized legs. They help the vinegaroon feel its way around.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Up front, those antennae-looking things are actually specialized legs. They help the vinegaroon feel its way around.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It’s basically blind. So it relies on touch and smell to close in on its meal.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>It’s basically blind. So it relies on touch and smell to close in on its meal.\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It will break through this cricket’s tough exoskeleton with its claws and bristly mouth.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>It will break through this cricket’s tough exoskeleton with its claws and bristly mouth.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The vinegaroon also uses these wicked claws to excavate its burrow.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The vinegaroon also uses these wicked claws to excavate its burrow.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Adults and their young use the burrows for protection from predators, and to stay out of the scorching desert sun. Vinegaroons and their ancestors have survived this way for hundreds of millions of years.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Adults and their young use the burrows for protection from predators, and to stay out of the scorching desert sun. Vinegaroons and their ancestors have survived this way for hundreds of millions of years.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So, what does it need that spray for? Researchers observe it by gently holding the animal with forceps.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>So, what does it need that spray for? Researchers observe it by gently holding the animal with forceps.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Despite those frightening looks, this surprising spritz is actually its strongest defense against anything that wants to eat them – like skunks, raccoons or coyotes.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Despite those frightening looks, this surprising spritz is actually its strongest defense against anything that wants to eat them – like skunks, raccoons or coyotes.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Even with poor eyesight, the vinegaroon sprays with incredible accuracy.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Even with poor eyesight, the vinegaroon sprays with incredible accuracy.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Inside, two pygidial glands, also known as “stink glands,” hold the foul fluid.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Inside, two pygidial glands, also known as “stink glands,” hold the foul fluid.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The base of the tail is extremely flexible, and can aim the blast in any direction.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The base of the tail is extremely flexible, and can aim the blast in any direction.\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Touché, skunk!\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Touché, skunk!\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The instant it sprays, the gland openings appear as two retractable nozzles.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The instant it sprays, the gland openings appear as two retractable nozzles.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>An adult vinegaroon can shoot up to five times before it needs to let its stink glands fill up again. The spray reeks.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>An adult vinegaroon can shoot up to five times before it needs to let its stink glands fill up again. The spray reeks.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That’s because the solution is mostly acetic acid, the same stuff in the vinegar in your salad dressing, except this cocktail is 16 times stronger. A blast of that to the face of a larger predator is like pepper spray.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>That’s because the solution is mostly acetic acid, the same stuff in the vinegar in your salad dressing, except this cocktail is 16 times stronger. A blast of that to the face of a larger predator is like pepper spray.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While the vinegaroon’s signature defense is unlikely to do any lasting damage, it will certainly leave a lasting impression.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>While the vinegaroon’s signature defense is unlikely to do any lasting damage, it will certainly leave a lasting impression.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Arizona bark scorpion has a sting potent enough to send humans to the hospital, so why isn’t this fuzzy mouse afraid of that venom?\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The Arizona bark scorpion has a sting potent enough to send humans to the hospital, so why isn’t this fuzzy mouse afraid of that venom?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There’s an arms race underway in the Sonoran desert: mouse versus scorpion.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>There’s an arms race underway in the Sonoran desert: mouse versus scorpion.\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Locked in a battle of one-upmanship, each animal evolving better, stronger chemical defenses against the other.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Locked in a battle of one-upmanship, each animal evolving better, stronger chemical defenses against the other.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Consider the Arizona bark scorpion.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Consider the Arizona bark scorpion.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Its tail contains the most powerful venom of any scorpion in the United States, delivering white hot electrical pain.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Its tail contains the most powerful venom of any scorpion in the United States, delivering white hot electrical pain.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This sting sends hundreds of people to the hospital each year.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This sting sends hundreds of people to the hospital each year.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That venom isn’t just potent – it’s sophisticated.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>That venom isn’t just potent – it’s sophisticated.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Researchers at The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco are studying how this venom has become increasingly complex over time to deal with the threats scorpions face.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Researchers at The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco are studying how this venom has become increasingly complex over time to deal with the threats scorpions face.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>They milk the scorpion. They use a piece of wax paper to coax it into stinging.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>They milk the scorpion. They use a piece of wax paper to coax it into stinging.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That droplet contains a complex brew of chemicals, including neurotoxins that quickly paralyze prey, like this cricket….\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>That droplet contains a complex brew of chemicals, including neurotoxins that quickly paralyze prey, like this cricket….\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But venom also serves as a powerful] defense… against being eaten…\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But venom also serves as a powerful] defense… against being eaten…\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That’s… where the mouse comes in.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>That’s… where the mouse comes in.\u003c/p>\n"
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attackers beware of the Bombardier beetle’s explosive backside.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First, cone snails use a hidden harpoon to inject a fish with venom and swallow it whole.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cone snails are striking, in more ways than one.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They lurk in the sand around coral reefs.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And wait til you see what’s under the hood.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That pretty veneer is hiding an impressive array of tools and weapons.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A cone snail’s breathing tube, called a siphon, is actually more like a sheet of muscle rolled into a snorkel.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Besides drawing water to gills deep in its shell, the siphon also can pick up the scent of unsuspecting prey.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s when the cone snail goes spearfishing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Its extendible proboscis is packing a concealed weapon.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A tiny, hollow harpoon made of chitin, the same tough stuff in a lobster shell.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And the end of the proboscis is tricked out with receptors – taste buds that help it close in on its target.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When it strikes, the snail’s pace jumps to light speed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The embedded harpoon doubles as a hypodermic needle to inject the victim with paralyzing venom.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As it reels in the catch, the cone snail uses another covert tool called a rostrum.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It opens up to swallow the fish whole.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some cone snails hunt more familiar prey. Other snails.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The smaller snail digs down to hide its shell opening.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The predator looks for a way in.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When it finds it, the hunter hits its prey with more than one shot of venom.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A lot is going on in the fifth of a second before the snail fires that harpoon.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So let’s rewind and break it down.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First the proboscis flexes as the muscles inside prepare for the strike. Then the venom floods into the proboscis, but stops just short of the harpoon. A round muscle holds the lethal fluid in check, like a kink in a hose, building even more pressure.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Then, everything blows, and propels the venom into the harpoon, the harpoon into the prey.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What has scientists interested in cone snails is that their venom varies not only from species to species but also from individual to individual, and even from shot to shot.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In fact they seem to mix their venom cocktail on the fly from thousands of unique ingredients, each with its own purpose.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>All this variety means a world of new drugs could lie under that shell.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Novel ways to treat things like chronic pain, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most cone snail strikes hurt as much as a bee sting. A few can kill you though, like this geography cone, it has the most venomous sting in the world.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Here’s a tip: Don’t go gathering these shells when you’re snorkeling in Australia.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you love learning about wildlife, subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It’s free! Link in the description.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>How about a little defense? The reclusive and well-armoured vinegaroon has a stinky surprise for anyone who messes with it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Late at night, after a rain in Arizona’s high desert, a dark shape creeps out from its underground lair. It’s as big as your palm, and it’s hungry.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if it feels bothered…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>OK what just happened? And seriously, what is this thing?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A mutant land lobster?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I mean, it’s got claws like a scorpion…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The mouth of a spider?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Antennae-like things coming out of its armpits.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A long, skinny tail like a rat?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This surprising combo of monster body parts is a vinegaroon, also known as a whip scorpion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s in a group of animals called arachnids, that includes scorpions and spiders.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But it doesn’t sting like a scorpion, or hunt with a web like many spiders.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A vinegaroon has its very own style.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This tail may look dangerous, but it’s actually a finely-tuned sensor. It picks up vibrations and chemicals in the air, in this case, to stalk its prey\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Up front, those antennae-looking things are actually specialized legs. They help the vinegaroon feel its way around.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s basically blind. So it relies on touch and smell to close in on its meal.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It will break through this cricket’s tough exoskeleton with its claws and bristly mouth.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The vinegaroon also uses these wicked claws to excavate its burrow.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Adults and their young use the burrows for protection from predators, and to stay out of the scorching desert sun. Vinegaroons and their ancestors have survived this way for hundreds of millions of years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So, what does it need that spray for? Researchers observe it by gently holding the animal with forceps.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Despite those frightening looks, this surprising spritz is actually its strongest defense against anything that wants to eat them – like skunks, raccoons or coyotes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Even with poor eyesight, the vinegaroon sprays with incredible accuracy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Inside, two pygidial glands, also known as “stink glands,” hold the foul fluid.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The base of the tail is extremely flexible, and can aim the blast in any direction.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Touché, skunk!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The instant it sprays, the gland openings appear as two retractable nozzles.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>An adult vinegaroon can shoot up to five times before it needs to let its stink glands fill up again. The spray reeks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s because the solution is mostly acetic acid, the same stuff in the vinegar in your salad dressing, except this cocktail is 16 times stronger. A blast of that to the face of a larger predator is like pepper spray.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While the vinegaroon’s signature defense is unlikely to do any lasting damage, it will certainly leave a lasting impression.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Arizona bark scorpion has a sting potent enough to send humans to the hospital, so why isn’t this fuzzy mouse afraid of that venom?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s an arms race underway in the Sonoran desert: mouse versus scorpion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Locked in a battle of one-upmanship, each animal evolving better, stronger chemical defenses against the other.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Consider the Arizona bark scorpion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Its tail contains the most powerful venom of any scorpion in the United States, delivering white hot electrical pain.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This sting sends hundreds of people to the hospital each year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That venom isn’t just potent – it’s sophisticated.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Researchers at The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco are studying how this venom has become increasingly complex over time to deal with the threats scorpions face.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They milk the scorpion. They use a piece of wax paper to coax it into stinging.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That droplet contains a complex brew of chemicals, including neurotoxins that quickly paralyze prey, like this cricket….\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But venom also serves as a powerful] defense… against being eaten…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s… where the mouse comes in.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Do not be fooled by its cuteness.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The southern grasshopper mouse is a ferocious hunter, which is rare among mice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And it’s got a taste for scorpion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Which would seem like a death wish. But it isn’t.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Scientists at Michigan State University are studying how the battle unfolds – not just physically, but at a chemical level.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This mouse is on the attack.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the scorpion is not having it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>See how it keeps stinging the mouse?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For any other animal – including you or me – this would hurt. Badly.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And for a second, with the grasshopper mouse, it does.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>See how it’s rubbing its face?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But after a brief moment of pain, its nerves go numb.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most animals its size would be dead by now.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the grasshopper mouse has evolved a specific defense against scorpion venom.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A protein built into the mouse’s nerve cells – binds to the toxin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It blocks it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Instead of causing pain and paralysis, the toxin does the opposite.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It acts like a painkiller – an analgesic.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After the first couple stings, the mouse barely feels anything.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bad news for the scorpion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Researchers think this trick could point the way to more precise pain medications for people, with fewer side effects.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Once upon a time, the scorpion’s venom was enough to protect it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But today – in this desert arms race – the mouse has the upper paw.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At least for now.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Next up: get too close and the back end of this beetle will literally explode in your face.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The bombardier beetle is one of nature’s most improbable creatures.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For some, it throws a monkey wrench into the whole idea of evolution.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This beetle is a walking powder keg.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That cloud you see is the result of a lightning fast chemical reaction inside his body.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When attacked, the beetle sets off the explosion, releasing a boiling hot, stinging poison that sends his enemies running.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He can even aim it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This potent mixture inside the beetle is made up of three main ingredients.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mix the first two of them together and nothing happens – but throw in the third, and boom.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So the beetle has a trick – he keeps these ingredients separate inside his body.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>From an evolutionary standpoint that’s what’s interesting.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In fact, people have been scratching their heads over this for decades.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>How did this complex system evolve over time?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wouldn’t earlier generations of beetles have blown themselves up, like a bunch of amateur bomb-makers?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To some, this beetle’s very survival is proof that the whole theory of evolution is wrong.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But it turns out there is a way this system could have evolved gradually.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Remember that third ingredient?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s an enzyme. It’s like a spark. It sets the explosion in motion. and enzymes…evolve.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At first, maybe this one wasn’t so dangerous. But gradually, it became more potent, more specialized, more explosive.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As the beetle’s body changed to contain it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Scientists at UC Berkeley are trying to figure out how this system came together.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They think one of those explosive chemicals evolved from the same raw materials as the beetle’s shell.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca>\u003c/a>That happens a lot in evolution. It’s called “exaptation.” one body part repurposed for something else.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The improbable bombardier beetle.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "copycats-this-ant-is-surrounded-by-imposters",
"title": "Copycats! This Ant Is Surrounded By Imposters",
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"headTitle": "Copycats! This Ant Is Surrounded By Imposters | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\">\u003cp class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Green tree ants are a dominant species in tropical forests stretching from India to northern Australia. Aggressive, industrious and highly territorial, most of their neighbors don’t want to mess with them. With a reputation like that, over millions of years multiple animals evolved to mimic them– some to stay safe, and others to kill. \u003c/p>\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>TRANSCRIPT\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In this tropical rainforest green tree ants are everywhere. And they bite.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A single colony can hold up to half a million ants, spreading across a dozen trees and 150 nests — all built by weaving leaves together with silk produced by larvae — their own offspring.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They form living chains, to pull leaf edges together while they weave.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The canopy bustles with ants that are industrious, aggressive, and highly territorial.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But what’s this slacker doing? Working hard or hardly working?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This isn’t a green tree ant at all. It’s a wannabe, a young bean bug. Pretty convincing disguise.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This proboscis gives it away. It’s how they eat.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ants have mandibles. They carry knives, not straws.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bean bugs spend their lives drinking the sap of this bean plant.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When bean bugs grow up, they shed their disguise.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So why the getup in the first place?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s an example of Batesian mimicry, when a vulnerable species like the bean bug evolves to look like a more dangerous one.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A predator is likely to skip a green tree ant meal. It’s not worth the fight risk.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By looking like the green tree ant, this docile little bean bug seems like a real threat.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As an adult, it’s much larger and now has wings.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s another ant imposter lurking near the colony.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The abdomen of this comb-footed spider resembles the head of a green tree ant – just enough to make predators think twice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This spider isn’t just some harmless bean bug. It’s here to hunt.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The comb-footed spider lays a silk trap just outside the ant nest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This is an example of aggressive mimicry.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Where one animal mimics another in order to eat it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But this isn’t the only spider in ant’s clothing around here.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This crab spider mimics the look and behavior of green tree ants.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It even waves its front legs around, kinda like the ants’ antennae.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The crab spider is an ambush hunter who will wait outside the ant nest, until – gotcha!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Enter mimic number 4: these jumping spiders don’t look so much like green tree ants, but they use another type of aggressive mimicry.They smell just like them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Also known as chemical mimicry – it’s a convincing enough disguise for the spider to sneak into the ant nest to steal its favorite food: green tree ant larvae.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Researchers think that these jumping spiders live their whole lives next to the same colony.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As they feed on the larvae, they absorb pheromones, which lend the spiders a convincing green tree ant aroma.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Despite all the backstabbers, the wannabes, and infiltrators, green tree ants remain a dominant species from India to Papua New Guinea.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Why have so many different species evolved to look, behave, and smell like this one type of ant?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For millions of years, green tree ants have played such an important role in tropical ecosystems that their neighbors are more likely to survive by mimicking them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There are masses of them, so finding a way to eat them means access to an abundant food source. They’re also formidable predators, so looking like them means staying safe.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After all, mimicry is the highest form of flattery.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Or trickery.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you liked this video, please consider supporting KQED, the PBS station that produces Deep Look. Donations from viewers like you allow us to continue making our award-winning series. Click the link on-screen or in the description below.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, see more green tree ant action as they battle peppermint stick insects.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>They form living chains, to pull leaf edges together while they weave.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The canopy bustles with ants that are industrious, aggressive, and highly territorial.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But what’s this slacker doing? Working hard or hardly working?\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This isn’t a green tree ant at all. It’s a wannabe, a young bean bug. Pretty convincing disguise.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This proboscis gives it away. It’s how they eat.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ants have mandibles. They carry knives, not straws.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Bean bugs spend their lives drinking the sap of this bean plant.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When bean bugs grow up, they shed their disguise.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So why the getup in the first place?\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It’s an example of Batesian mimicry, when a vulnerable species like the bean bug evolves to look like a more dangerous one.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>By looking like the green tree ant, this docile little bean bug seems like a real threat.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As an adult, it’s much larger and now has wings.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There’s another ant imposter lurking near the colony.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The abdomen of this comb-footed spider resembles the head of a green tree ant – just enough to make predators think twice.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This spider isn’t just some harmless bean bug. It’s here to hunt.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The comb-footed spider lays a silk trap just outside the ant nest.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This is an example of aggressive mimicry.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Where one animal mimics another in order to eat it.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But this isn’t the only spider in ant’s clothing around here.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This crab spider mimics the look and behavior of green tree ants.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It even waves its front legs around, kinda like the ants’ antennae.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The crab spider is an ambush hunter who will wait outside the ant nest, until – gotcha!\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Enter mimic number 4: these jumping spiders don’t look so much like green tree ants, but they use another type of aggressive mimicry.They smell just like them.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Also known as chemical mimicry – it’s a convincing enough disguise for the spider to sneak into the ant nest to steal its favorite food: green tree ant larvae.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Researchers think that these jumping spiders live their whole lives next to the same colony.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As they feed on the larvae, they absorb pheromones, which lend the spiders a convincing green tree ant aroma.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Despite all the backstabbers, the wannabes, and infiltrators, green tree ants remain a dominant species from India to Papua New Guinea.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Why have so many different species evolved to look, behave, and smell like this one type of ant?\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For millions of years, green tree ants have played such an important role in tropical ecosystems that their neighbors are more likely to survive by mimicking them.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There are masses of them, so finding a way to eat them means access to an abundant food source. They’re also formidable predators, so looking like them means staying safe.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After all, mimicry is the highest form of flattery.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Or trickery.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you liked this video, please consider supporting KQED, the PBS station that produces Deep Look. Donations from viewers like you allow us to continue making our award-winning series. Click the link on-screen or in the description below.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Now, see more green tree ant action as they battle peppermint stick insects.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Green tree ants are a dominant species in tropical forests stretching from India to northern Australia. Aggressive, industrious and highly territorial, most of their neighbors don’t want to mess with them. With a reputation like that, over millions of years multiple animals evolved to mimic them– some to stay safe, and others to kill.",
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"subhead": "Green tree ants are a dominant species in tropical forests stretching from India to northern Australia. Aggressive, industrious and highly territorial, most of their neighbors don’t want to mess with them. But that fearsome reputation has a fascinating side effect: over millions of years, multiple animals have evolved to impersonate them – some to stay safe, and others to kill.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\">\u003cp class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Green tree ants are a dominant species in tropical forests stretching from India to northern Australia. Aggressive, industrious and highly territorial, most of their neighbors don’t want to mess with them. With a reputation like that, over millions of years multiple animals evolved to mimic them– some to stay safe, and others to kill. \u003c/p>\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>TRANSCRIPT\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In this tropical rainforest green tree ants are everywhere. And they bite.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A single colony can hold up to half a million ants, spreading across a dozen trees and 150 nests — all built by weaving leaves together with silk produced by larvae — their own offspring.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They form living chains, to pull leaf edges together while they weave.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The canopy bustles with ants that are industrious, aggressive, and highly territorial.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But what’s this slacker doing? Working hard or hardly working?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This isn’t a green tree ant at all. It’s a wannabe, a young bean bug. Pretty convincing disguise.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This proboscis gives it away. It’s how they eat.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ants have mandibles. They carry knives, not straws.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bean bugs spend their lives drinking the sap of this bean plant.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When bean bugs grow up, they shed their disguise.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So why the getup in the first place?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s an example of Batesian mimicry, when a vulnerable species like the bean bug evolves to look like a more dangerous one.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A predator is likely to skip a green tree ant meal. It’s not worth the fight risk.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By looking like the green tree ant, this docile little bean bug seems like a real threat.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As an adult, it’s much larger and now has wings.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s another ant imposter lurking near the colony.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The abdomen of this comb-footed spider resembles the head of a green tree ant – just enough to make predators think twice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This spider isn’t just some harmless bean bug. It’s here to hunt.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The comb-footed spider lays a silk trap just outside the ant nest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This is an example of aggressive mimicry.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Where one animal mimics another in order to eat it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But this isn’t the only spider in ant’s clothing around here.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This crab spider mimics the look and behavior of green tree ants.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It even waves its front legs around, kinda like the ants’ antennae.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The crab spider is an ambush hunter who will wait outside the ant nest, until – gotcha!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Enter mimic number 4: these jumping spiders don’t look so much like green tree ants, but they use another type of aggressive mimicry.They smell just like them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Also known as chemical mimicry – it’s a convincing enough disguise for the spider to sneak into the ant nest to steal its favorite food: green tree ant larvae.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Researchers think that these jumping spiders live their whole lives next to the same colony.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As they feed on the larvae, they absorb pheromones, which lend the spiders a convincing green tree ant aroma.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Despite all the backstabbers, the wannabes, and infiltrators, green tree ants remain a dominant species from India to Papua New Guinea.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Why have so many different species evolved to look, behave, and smell like this one type of ant?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For millions of years, green tree ants have played such an important role in tropical ecosystems that their neighbors are more likely to survive by mimicking them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There are masses of them, so finding a way to eat them means access to an abundant food source. They’re also formidable predators, so looking like them means staying safe.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After all, mimicry is the highest form of flattery.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Or trickery.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you liked this video, please consider supporting KQED, the PBS station that produces Deep Look. Donations from viewers like you allow us to continue making our award-winning series. Click the link on-screen or in the description below.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, see more green tree ant action as they battle peppermint stick insects.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "the-antidote-to-deadly-shellfish-poisoning-may-be-inside-a-frog",
"title": "The Antidote to Deadly Shellfish Poisoning May Be Inside a Frog",
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"content": "\u003cp>Every summer, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> warns people not to collect mussels along the coast because they can become toxic during harmful algal blooms, sometimes called \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/tag/algae-bloom\">red tides\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One of the most potent poisons is saxitoxin, the cause of paralytic shellfish poisoning, a life-threatening illness. Now, researchers at UCSF and Stanford University say they may have found a potential treatment in an unlikely source: the bullfrog.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a study published Thursday in \u003cem>Nature Communications\u003c/em>, the team found that a protein naturally produced by frogs protected mice from otherwise lethal doses of saxitoxin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Saxitoxin is so potent it’s actually classified as a chemical weapon,” said Daniel Minor, a UC San Francisco biophysicist and the study’s senior author. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1206\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-1417752294.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001474\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-1417752294.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-1417752294-160x97.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-1417752294-768x468.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-1417752294-1536x936.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In an aerial view, brownish water from an algal bloom is visible in the San Francisco Bay on Aug. 24, 2022, in Berkeley, California. Sections of the San Francisco Bay are being turned brown by a potentially harmful algal bloom. The California Department of Public Health has identified the algae and says it is currently not harmful to humans but could be fatal to fish and some marine life if exposed to high concentrations of the algae. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cooking, unfortunately, doesn’t destroy the toxin, and contaminated shellfish look, smell and taste perfectly normal. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If ingested, the poison shuts down the signals that allow your nerves to communicate. A toxic reaction can begin with tingling or numbness around the mouth and hands before progressing to muscle weakness, paralysis and, in severe cases, the inability to breathe.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The discovery of the antidote dates back nearly a century. UCSF physician-scientist Hermann Sommer investigated shellfish poisoning outbreaks along the California coast in the 1920s and ‘30s, and noticed that frogs appeared unusually resistant to the poison. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Today, scientists know frogs produce a protein called saxiphilin that binds tightly to the toxin. Minor’s team wondered whether that natural defense could become a medicine.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s basically like a molecular sponge,” Minor said. “Or like the footballers in the World Cup. Somebody can steal the ball from someone else. And so basically, the saxiphilin is able to steal the toxin and filter it either to the liver or the kidneys to be excreted or removed.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To test the idea, researchers produced the bullfrog protein in the laboratory and gave it to female mice exposed to high doses of saxitoxin. The protein protected mice before exposure and remained effective even after they had received the toxin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rebecca Tarvin, an evolutionary biologist at UC Berkeley who was not involved in the research, said she was impressed that the scientists tested the protein in multiple ways — preventing, neutralizing and rescuing animals from the toxin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I thought that was sort of a comprehensive approach to assessing its potential for therapeutics,” Tarvin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1284\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-464050594.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001475\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-464050594.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-464050594-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-464050594-768x498.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-464050594-1536x996.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A rock covered in mussels at Gaviota State Beach is exposed at low tide on Feb. 16, 2015, near Santa Barbara, California. Because of its close proximity to Southern California and Los Angeles population centers, the coastal region of Santa Barbara has become a popular weekend getaway destination for millions of tourists. (George Rose/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The findings are still preliminary. The treatment has not been tested in people, and researchers don’t yet know how well it will work against the dozens of related saxitoxins found in nature.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s a huge jump in taking something that works in mice and trying to develop it for humans,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the implications could extend well beyond shellfish poisoning. Tarvin believes studying how animals naturally resist toxins could lead to new medications. Some squirrels, for example, have evolved proteins in their blood that bind to rattlesnake venom, helping them survive bites. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Minor said the long-term goal is a treatment hospitals could keep on hand, much like antivenom for snakebites.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One of the most potent poisons is saxitoxin, the cause of paralytic shellfish poisoning, a life-threatening illness. Now, researchers at UCSF and Stanford University say they may have found a potential treatment in an unlikely source: the bullfrog.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a study published Thursday in \u003cem>Nature Communications\u003c/em>, the team found that a protein naturally produced by frogs protected mice from otherwise lethal doses of saxitoxin.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Saxitoxin is so potent it’s actually classified as a chemical weapon,” said Daniel Minor, a UC San Francisco biophysicist and the study’s senior author. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Cooking, unfortunately, doesn’t destroy the toxin, and contaminated shellfish look, smell and taste perfectly normal. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If ingested, the poison shuts down the signals that allow your nerves to communicate. A toxic reaction can begin with tingling or numbness around the mouth and hands before progressing to muscle weakness, paralysis and, in severe cases, the inability to breathe.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The discovery of the antidote dates back nearly a century. UCSF physician-scientist Hermann Sommer investigated shellfish poisoning outbreaks along the California coast in the 1920s and ‘30s, and noticed that frogs appeared unusually resistant to the poison. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Today, scientists know frogs produce a protein called saxiphilin that binds tightly to the toxin. Minor’s team wondered whether that natural defense could become a medicine.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s basically like a molecular sponge,” Minor said. “Or like the footballers in the World Cup. Somebody can steal the ball from someone else. And so basically, the saxiphilin is able to steal the toxin and filter it either to the liver or the kidneys to be excreted or removed.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>To test the idea, researchers produced the bullfrog protein in the laboratory and gave it to female mice exposed to high doses of saxitoxin. The protein protected mice before exposure and remained effective even after they had received the toxin.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rebecca Tarvin, an evolutionary biologist at UC Berkeley who was not involved in the research, said she was impressed that the scientists tested the protein in multiple ways — preventing, neutralizing and rescuing animals from the toxin.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Rebecca Tarvin, an evolutionary biologist at UC Berkeley who was not involved in the research, said she was impressed that the scientists tested the protein in multiple ways — preventing, neutralizing and rescuing animals from the toxin.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I thought that was sort of a comprehensive approach to assessing its potential for therapeutics,” Tarvin said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The findings are still preliminary. The treatment has not been tested in people, and researchers don’t yet know how well it will work against the dozens of related saxitoxins found in nature.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There’s a huge jump in taking something that works in mice and trying to develop it for humans,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But the implications could extend well beyond shellfish poisoning. Tarvin believes studying how animals naturally resist toxins could lead to new medications. Some squirrels, for example, have evolved proteins in their blood that bind to rattlesnake venom, helping them survive bites. \u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "UCSF scientists discovered that a protein found in bullfrogs protected mice from one of the world's deadliest natural poisons, which can accumulate in fish during harmful algae blooms.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Every summer, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> warns people not to collect mussels along the coast because they can become toxic during harmful algal blooms, sometimes called \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/tag/algae-bloom\">red tides\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One of the most potent poisons is saxitoxin, the cause of paralytic shellfish poisoning, a life-threatening illness. Now, researchers at UCSF and Stanford University say they may have found a potential treatment in an unlikely source: the bullfrog.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a study published Thursday in \u003cem>Nature Communications\u003c/em>, the team found that a protein naturally produced by frogs protected mice from otherwise lethal doses of saxitoxin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Saxitoxin is so potent it’s actually classified as a chemical weapon,” said Daniel Minor, a UC San Francisco biophysicist and the study’s senior author. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1206\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-1417752294.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001474\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-1417752294.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-1417752294-160x97.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-1417752294-768x468.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-1417752294-1536x936.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In an aerial view, brownish water from an algal bloom is visible in the San Francisco Bay on Aug. 24, 2022, in Berkeley, California. Sections of the San Francisco Bay are being turned brown by a potentially harmful algal bloom. The California Department of Public Health has identified the algae and says it is currently not harmful to humans but could be fatal to fish and some marine life if exposed to high concentrations of the algae. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cooking, unfortunately, doesn’t destroy the toxin, and contaminated shellfish look, smell and taste perfectly normal. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If ingested, the poison shuts down the signals that allow your nerves to communicate. A toxic reaction can begin with tingling or numbness around the mouth and hands before progressing to muscle weakness, paralysis and, in severe cases, the inability to breathe.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The discovery of the antidote dates back nearly a century. UCSF physician-scientist Hermann Sommer investigated shellfish poisoning outbreaks along the California coast in the 1920s and ‘30s, and noticed that frogs appeared unusually resistant to the poison. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Today, scientists know frogs produce a protein called saxiphilin that binds tightly to the toxin. Minor’s team wondered whether that natural defense could become a medicine.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s basically like a molecular sponge,” Minor said. “Or like the footballers in the World Cup. Somebody can steal the ball from someone else. And so basically, the saxiphilin is able to steal the toxin and filter it either to the liver or the kidneys to be excreted or removed.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To test the idea, researchers produced the bullfrog protein in the laboratory and gave it to female mice exposed to high doses of saxitoxin. The protein protected mice before exposure and remained effective even after they had received the toxin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rebecca Tarvin, an evolutionary biologist at UC Berkeley who was not involved in the research, said she was impressed that the scientists tested the protein in multiple ways — preventing, neutralizing and rescuing animals from the toxin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I thought that was sort of a comprehensive approach to assessing its potential for therapeutics,” Tarvin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1284\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-464050594.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001475\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-464050594.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-464050594-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-464050594-768x498.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/GettyImages-464050594-1536x996.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A rock covered in mussels at Gaviota State Beach is exposed at low tide on Feb. 16, 2015, near Santa Barbara, California. Because of its close proximity to Southern California and Los Angeles population centers, the coastal region of Santa Barbara has become a popular weekend getaway destination for millions of tourists. (George Rose/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The findings are still preliminary. The treatment has not been tested in people, and researchers don’t yet know how well it will work against the dozens of related saxitoxins found in nature.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s a huge jump in taking something that works in mice and trying to develop it for humans,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the implications could extend well beyond shellfish poisoning. Tarvin believes studying how animals naturally resist toxins could lead to new medications. Some squirrels, for example, have evolved proteins in their blood that bind to rattlesnake venom, helping them survive bites. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Minor said the long-term goal is a treatment hospitals could keep on hand, much like antivenom for snakebites.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>[dl_subscribe]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mudskippers are actually fish, but they sure don’t act like it. They breathe using special gill chambers and absorb oxygen through their skin like amphibians. Scanning the lumpy mudscape with their periscope-like eyes, they fiercely guard their burrows and leap to impress potential mates. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Find out how these land-loving fish carved out a life between sea and shore — and why their strange lifestyle might \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">not\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> be so strange after all.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cdiv id=\"meta-origin\" data-coolorigin=\"https%3A%2F%2Fcloud.kqed.org%2Fapps%2Frichdocumentscode%2Fproxy.php%3Freq%3D%2Fcool%2Fclipboard%3FWOPISrc%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fcloud.kqed.org%252Findex.php%252Fapps%252Frichdocuments%252Fwopi%252Ffiles%252F5707402_ocdd7q04clzt%26ServerId%3D89caa68f%26ViewId%3D4%26Tag%3D429b630bfc6e3845\">\n\u003cp align=\"left\">From the depths of time, a creature emerges, something fishy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">It’s the majestic mudskipper.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">They might look like an evolutionary glitch – as if a fish pressed pause in the middle of evolving into something else.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">But this is no mistake – the mudskipper is very well-suited for this lumpy mudscape.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">And it absolutely lives up to its name.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">A type of amphibious fish, there are dozens of species of mudskippers hopping around the humid, intertidal mudflats in mangrove forests from West Africa to New Guinea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">And in North Queensland, Australia, we found a few of these beauties living side-by-side.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Those puffy cheeks aren’t just for cuteness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Mudskippers don’t have lungs, they fill their gill chambers with water and a bubble of air – then seal them tightly. That air bubble keeps the water oxygenated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Like frogs and other amphibians, they also absorb oxygen through their skin – via cutaneous respiration – and through the lining in their mouths.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">That’s how these fishy friends can spend about three-quarters of their lives out of water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">But they do need to stay wet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">With each blink, the mudskipper submerges its periscope-like eyeballs in fluid-filled chambers to hydrate and wash off debris.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Researchers think this may be a clue as to why and how blinking evolved in land animals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">With their sharp little chompers, they snatch and slurp down just about anything that fits in their mouths: other fish, insects, worms, and even small crabs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">This mudskipper works hard to defend his mudpatch. It’s in a prime location with the very best mud.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">He needs to stay vigilant to fend off jealous neighbors who’d love to take over the lease.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Or eat them for lunch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">When a predator shows up, they use their trademark skips to bounce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">You thought you knew what fins are for.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">You. Have. No. Idea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">There are lots of novel ways to use those fishy appendages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Those pelvic fins in the front act kind of like a kick-stand. Or a “fish stand.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Male mudskippers do the work of building and maintaining cozy, safe burrows for the females to lay their eggs in.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">But first they need to get their attention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Ooh la-la!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">This species – a bearded mudskipper – prefers to show off its acrobatic tail-stands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Plus these guys have an extra fancy back fin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">It says “back off” or “come hither,” depending on the context. Fighting or mating?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">But these species – the barred mudskipper and the Takita’s mudskipper – get airborne.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">The higher, the better. These are fitness displays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">This guy will face off against competitor mudskippers by showing females just how strong and capable he is.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Get it, skipper boy!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">If the male’s doing it right, she’ll pick his burrow, and deposit her eggs on the ceiling or walls inside the chamber.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">The male then fertilizes the eggs. Over the next week, as they develop and hatch, he fiercely defends the burrow from poachers and other mudskippers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">He’s securing his legacy. The next generation of artful exhibitionists will inherit this muddy paradise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">The Magnificent Mudskipper is literally a fish out of water, but this fish is totally comfortable in his own slimy skin.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mudskippers are actually fish, but they sure don’t act like it. They breathe using special gill chambers and absorb oxygen through their skin like amphibians. Scanning the lumpy mudscape with their periscope-like eyes, they fiercely guard their burrows and leap to impress potential mates. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Find out how these land-loving fish carved out a life between sea and shore — and why their strange lifestyle might \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">not\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> be so strange after all.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cdiv id=\"meta-origin\" data-coolorigin=\"https%3A%2F%2Fcloud.kqed.org%2Fapps%2Frichdocumentscode%2Fproxy.php%3Freq%3D%2Fcool%2Fclipboard%3FWOPISrc%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fcloud.kqed.org%252Findex.php%252Fapps%252Frichdocuments%252Fwopi%252Ffiles%252F5707402_ocdd7q04clzt%26ServerId%3D89caa68f%26ViewId%3D4%26Tag%3D429b630bfc6e3845\">\n\u003cp align=\"left\">From the depths of time, a creature emerges, something fishy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">It’s the majestic mudskipper.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">They might look like an evolutionary glitch – as if a fish pressed pause in the middle of evolving into something else.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">But this is no mistake – the mudskipper is very well-suited for this lumpy mudscape.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">And it absolutely lives up to its name.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">A type of amphibious fish, there are dozens of species of mudskippers hopping around the humid, intertidal mudflats in mangrove forests from West Africa to New Guinea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">And in North Queensland, Australia, we found a few of these beauties living side-by-side.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Those puffy cheeks aren’t just for cuteness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Mudskippers don’t have lungs, they fill their gill chambers with water and a bubble of air – then seal them tightly. That air bubble keeps the water oxygenated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Like frogs and other amphibians, they also absorb oxygen through their skin – via cutaneous respiration – and through the lining in their mouths.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">That’s how these fishy friends can spend about three-quarters of their lives out of water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">But they do need to stay wet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">With each blink, the mudskipper submerges its periscope-like eyeballs in fluid-filled chambers to hydrate and wash off debris.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Researchers think this may be a clue as to why and how blinking evolved in land animals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">With their sharp little chompers, they snatch and slurp down just about anything that fits in their mouths: other fish, insects, worms, and even small crabs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">This mudskipper works hard to defend his mudpatch. It’s in a prime location with the very best mud.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">He needs to stay vigilant to fend off jealous neighbors who’d love to take over the lease.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Or eat them for lunch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">When a predator shows up, they use their trademark skips to bounce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">You thought you knew what fins are for.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">You. Have. No. Idea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">There are lots of novel ways to use those fishy appendages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Those pelvic fins in the front act kind of like a kick-stand. Or a “fish stand.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Male mudskippers do the work of building and maintaining cozy, safe burrows for the females to lay their eggs in.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">But first they need to get their attention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Ooh la-la!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">This species – a bearded mudskipper – prefers to show off its acrobatic tail-stands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Plus these guys have an extra fancy back fin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">It says “back off” or “come hither,” depending on the context. Fighting or mating?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">But these species – the barred mudskipper and the Takita’s mudskipper – get airborne.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">The higher, the better. These are fitness displays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">This guy will face off against competitor mudskippers by showing females just how strong and capable he is.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Get it, skipper boy!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">If the male’s doing it right, she’ll pick his burrow, and deposit her eggs on the ceiling or walls inside the chamber.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">The male then fertilizes the eggs. Over the next week, as they develop and hatch, he fiercely defends the burrow from poachers and other mudskippers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">He’s securing his legacy. The next generation of artful exhibitionists will inherit this muddy paradise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">The Magnificent Mudskipper is literally a fish out of water, but this fish is totally comfortable in his own slimy skin.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>[dl_subscribe]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to sex, banana slugs take things slow. But slow doesn’t mean boring. Banana slug mating involves swapping slime, swinging heads and some light (or heavy) biting. Learn about how banana slugs procreate in this video – we promise it won’t disappoint.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>TRANSCRIPT\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">When it comes to sex, banana slugs take things slow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">But slow doesn’t mean boring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">For them, it’s a head-banging,\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">slime-swapping,\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">body-chomping bonanza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Banana slugs glide across the forest floor on a bed of their own slime,\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">keeping an eye out for yummy things…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">like this mushroom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Or this dung.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">They’re also detritivores.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">They eat dead organic matter and recycle it into fertilizer for the forest floor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Thanks slug!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Here’s some of that fertilizer now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">It comes out of a hole right next to the pneumastome, the slug’s respiratory organ.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">The banana slug is what’s called a ‘simultaneous hermaphrodite,’\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">meaning each slug has male and female sexual organs at the same time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">They can actually impregnate themselves,\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">but fun’s more fun when you have it together – right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Oh, hello gorgeous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">The slugs swing their heads at one another, and start taking little nibbles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Don’t worry! They’re not hurting each other.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Think of it as a sort of taste test, to see if they’re compatible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Excuse me, a little privacy here?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">It’s a test that goes on…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">and on…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">for up to two hours!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Researchers think that they need all that time to prepare for the main event.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">The slugs flex the muscles in their heads, increasing blood flow to the gonopore,\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">where each slug’s male and female sexual organs are located.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">They need it to be swollen in order for things to progress.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">You might notice some heavy breathing – here, in the pneumostome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">This is hard work!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">They lock heads in a sort of side-hug-french-kiss combination.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">And they’ll stay like this for another couple hours,\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">taking turns delivering sperm to one another.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">When they’re not mating, the penis is tucked away inside the slug –\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">but it can be as long as the slug itself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Oh! Here’s a view of it …\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">But wait! This encounter has gone a bit sideways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Banana slugs are known to occasionally…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">chew off their mate’s penis, an act called apophallation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Our duo uncouples peacefully.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Each taking the other’s sperm with them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">They leave a bit of a mess.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">During their slimy romp, slugs produce enough slime to make a kind of nutrient-filled mucus blanket.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">And this one stays to eat it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">They’re hungry now, and ever resourceful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">So resourceful that they can store their mate’s sperm for months,\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">waiting to fertilize their eggs until the time is right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">When the weather is damp and cool, they find a protected place to lay a clutch of eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">And over the next few months the next generation will arrive…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">making the forest a more beautiful, fertile place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>TRANSCRIPT\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">When it comes to sex, banana slugs take things slow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">But slow doesn’t mean boring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">For them, it’s a head-banging,\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">slime-swapping,\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">body-chomping bonanza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Banana slugs glide across the forest floor on a bed of their own slime,\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">keeping an eye out for yummy things…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">like this mushroom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Or this dung.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">They’re also detritivores.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">They eat dead organic matter and recycle it into fertilizer for the forest floor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Thanks slug!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Here’s some of that fertilizer now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">It comes out of a hole right next to the pneumastome, the slug’s respiratory organ.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">The banana slug is what’s called a ‘simultaneous hermaphrodite,’\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">meaning each slug has male and female sexual organs at the same time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">They can actually impregnate themselves,\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">but fun’s more fun when you have it together – right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Oh, hello gorgeous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">The slugs swing their heads at one another, and start taking little nibbles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Don’t worry! They’re not hurting each other.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Think of it as a sort of taste test, to see if they’re compatible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Excuse me, a little privacy here?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">It’s a test that goes on…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">and on…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">for up to two hours!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Researchers think that they need all that time to prepare for the main event.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">The slugs flex the muscles in their heads, increasing blood flow to the gonopore,\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">where each slug’s male and female sexual organs are located.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">They need it to be swollen in order for things to progress.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">You might notice some heavy breathing – here, in the pneumostome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">This is hard work!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">They lock heads in a sort of side-hug-french-kiss combination.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">And they’ll stay like this for another couple hours,\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">taking turns delivering sperm to one another.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">When they’re not mating, the penis is tucked away inside the slug –\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">but it can be as long as the slug itself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Oh! Here’s a view of it …\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">But wait! This encounter has gone a bit sideways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Banana slugs are known to occasionally…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">chew off their mate’s penis, an act called apophallation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Our duo uncouples peacefully.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">Each taking the other’s sperm with them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">They leave a bit of a mess.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">During their slimy romp, slugs produce enough slime to make a kind of nutrient-filled mucus blanket.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">And this one stays to eat it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">They’re hungry now, and ever resourceful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">So resourceful that they can store their mate’s sperm for months,\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">waiting to fertilize their eggs until the time is right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">When the weather is damp and cool, they find a protected place to lay a clutch of eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">And over the next few months the next generation will arrive…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"p2\">making the forest a more beautiful, fertile place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>[dl_subscribe]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Roly polies aren’t insects — they’re crustaceans, and they have more in common with kangaroos than you might think.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These land-dwelling isopods carry their eggs in a fluid-filled pouch on their underside, giving their young a tiny ocean to develop in until they’re ready to face the world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this episode of Deep Look, we take a close look at how roly poly moms protect their eggs, nurture their babies, and pull off one of nature’s most surprising examples of convergent evolution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>TRANSCRIPT\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>What does this roly-poly have in common with a kangaroo?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s a hint …\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s all about her parenting style.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike mammals, most insects take a hands-off approach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They find a good spot, lay their eggs and move on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Good luck, little one!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But roly-polies, also called pill bugs, or doodle bugs, aren’t like most insects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Actually, they aren’t insects at all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re crustaceans, like shrimp and lobsters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Roly-polies belong to a group of crustaceans called isopods, which originated in the sea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>About half of isopod species still live there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But roly-polies’ ancestors ventured out onto dry land.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And they brought with them a maternal adaptation from their aquatic past.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After mating, a female roly-poly transfers her eggs into a fluid-filled pouch on her underside called a marsupium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At first the marsupium just looks yellow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it doesn’t take long – just a few days – ‘til you can spot the eggs – about 40–60 of them!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keeping them close is a good strategy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If she were to lay her eggs on land, they’d dry out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They don’t have the protective outer barrier of an insect egg to keep moisture in.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But inside their mom’s marsupium, the eggs have their own tiny ocean.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Roly-polies are clad in overlapping armored plates called pereonites.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If she gets spooked she can curl up in a perfect little ball to shield herself and her babies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The marsupium is protected by more plates called oostegites.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But they’re thinner … almost clear, like a window into her nursery.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After 3 to 4 weeks, the babies, now called mancae, emerge from the eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They look like miniature yellow versions of their mom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But they aren’t ready to face the world yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They keep developing inside their mama’s pouch for another week or so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As they mature, they start getting restless.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sixty squirming babies in one crowded pouch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A feeling only a mother could love.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The mancae eventually wriggle out from between the plates covering their mom’s pouch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then, after about a month of being little pouch potatoes, they’re finally out on their own.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’ll go on to do the good work of detritivores, eating rotting wood and leaves … recycling the nutrients back into the soil.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And one day, the females will get to host their own pouch parties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Marsupials and isopods tell a story of convergent evolution: two wildly different animals who come up with a similar solution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But unlike a kangaroo, a roly-poly mom doesn’t invite her babies back in for a ride.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She gave them a nice, cozy upbringing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now it’s time for them to venture out and let the good times roll.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you liked this video, please consider supporting KQED, the PBS station that produces Deep Look.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Donations from viewers like you allow us to continue making our award-winning series.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click the link on screen or in the description below!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, check out the six-rayed sea star, another very overprotective mom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>TRANSCRIPT\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>What does this roly-poly have in common with a kangaroo?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s a hint …\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s all about her parenting style.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike mammals, most insects take a hands-off approach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They find a good spot, lay their eggs and move on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Good luck, little one!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But roly-polies, also called pill bugs, or doodle bugs, aren’t like most insects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Actually, they aren’t insects at all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re crustaceans, like shrimp and lobsters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Roly-polies belong to a group of crustaceans called isopods, which originated in the sea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>About half of isopod species still live there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But roly-polies’ ancestors ventured out onto dry land.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And they brought with them a maternal adaptation from their aquatic past.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After mating, a female roly-poly transfers her eggs into a fluid-filled pouch on her underside called a marsupium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At first the marsupium just looks yellow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it doesn’t take long – just a few days – ‘til you can spot the eggs – about 40–60 of them!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keeping them close is a good strategy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If she were to lay her eggs on land, they’d dry out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They don’t have the protective outer barrier of an insect egg to keep moisture in.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But inside their mom’s marsupium, the eggs have their own tiny ocean.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Roly-polies are clad in overlapping armored plates called pereonites.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If she gets spooked she can curl up in a perfect little ball to shield herself and her babies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The marsupium is protected by more plates called oostegites.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But they’re thinner … almost clear, like a window into her nursery.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After 3 to 4 weeks, the babies, now called mancae, emerge from the eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They look like miniature yellow versions of their mom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But they aren’t ready to face the world yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They keep developing inside their mama’s pouch for another week or so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As they mature, they start getting restless.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sixty squirming babies in one crowded pouch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A feeling only a mother could love.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The mancae eventually wriggle out from between the plates covering their mom’s pouch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then, after about a month of being little pouch potatoes, they’re finally out on their own.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’ll go on to do the good work of detritivores, eating rotting wood and leaves … recycling the nutrients back into the soil.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And one day, the females will get to host their own pouch parties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Marsupials and isopods tell a story of convergent evolution: two wildly different animals who come up with a similar solution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But unlike a kangaroo, a roly-poly mom doesn’t invite her babies back in for a ride.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She gave them a nice, cozy upbringing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now it’s time for them to venture out and let the good times roll.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you liked this video, please consider supporting KQED, the PBS station that produces Deep Look.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Donations from viewers like you allow us to continue making our award-winning series.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click the link on screen or in the description below!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, check out the six-rayed sea star, another very overprotective mom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>[dl_subscribe]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">They’re bright, bold — and can be bad news.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Spotted lanternflies are invasive insects that spread by hitchhiking on almost anything we move. Once they arrive, they swarm trees and crops, draining sap and leaving behind sticky residue that can damage entire ecosystems.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Find out how they got here, why they’re so hard to stop, and whether scientists can find a way to shut the party down.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>TRANSCRIPT\u003c/h2>\n\u003cdiv id=\"meta-origin\" data-coolorigin=\"https%3A%2F%2Fcloud.kqed.org%2Fapps%2Frichdocumentscode%2Fproxy.php%3Freq%3D%2Fcool%2Fclipboard%3FWOPISrc%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fcloud.kqed.org%252Findex.php%252Fapps%252Frichdocuments%252Fwopi%252Ffiles%252F5243890_ocdd7q04clzt%26ServerId%3D3f6890da%26ViewId%3D4%26Tag%3Dc617c0734697f24d\">\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Spotted lanternflies are the ultimate party crashers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">And they show up in style.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">They made their first appearance in the US in 2014, and since then, they’ve been having a blast trashing the place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">It’s an ecological disaster that’s spreading.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">And we’ve been making them feel at home, giving them free rides and putting out the hors d’oeuvres.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Spotted lanternflies weren’t even planning to come to this party.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">So how did they get here?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">They lay their eggs in clusters and cover them with goop that dries and cracks, disguising them as a smudge of dirt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Researchers think their eggs hitched a ride on some decorative landscaping stones that took a transpacific cruise from China.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">And nobody noticed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Those stones with the eggs ended up in Pennsylvania and once spring hit, nymphs busted out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">They found themselves in a very hospitable new home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">A buffet of trees like walnut, maple, apple, peach and cherry, but spotted lanternflies are especially into grape vines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">They pierce plants with their sharp stylet and suck out the sap.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">And they flick droplets of their sugary waste called honeydew.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Sooty mold grows on that honeydew, blocking the sunlight from the leaves, cutting off photosynthesis, and devastating the harvest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Spotted lanternflies aren’t flies at all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">They’re a type of insect called plant hoppers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">As nymphs, they don’t even have wings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Just adorable polka dots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">And the later stages add red to the mix.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Only adults have wings but they’re not strong fliers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Luckily for them, we take them to fun new dinner parties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">They lay their hidden eggs on lumber and crops and then we cart them around on trucks and trains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Plus we’ve got their favorite food from home to snack on along the way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">It’s called tree of heaven.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">We brought it here from Asia a couple hundred years ago and it spread, especially along our roads and railway lines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">When lanternflies feed on the sap of the tree of heaven, they accumulate toxic chemicals that make them taste bad.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">With time, predators and parasites back in Asia adapted to eat lanternflies anyway, but most of the ones here just can’t stomach them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">So there’s no one around here to keep the population in check.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">With no enemies and so much good stuff to eat, the party’s growing. Fast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">They haven’t made it out to the West Coast yet, and growers in California want to keep it that way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">USDA researchers in a lab at UC Davis are testing fumigation on lanternfly eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">It’s hard for chemicals to kill pest eggs because they’ve got a protective outer shield.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">But using a scanning electron microscope, researchers may have found a weak spot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Each egg has a little trap door that the nymph inside uses to break free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">And the seal around the edge of the door is thinner than the rest of the shell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Researchers hope that they can get poison through that seal to destroy the eggs before they hatch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Maybe the door is a way in too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">It’ll take a long time for local predators or parasites to acquire a taste and keep the lanternfly population in check.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Fumigation could buy us time, but to truly stop them, we might need to carefully introduce one of their old enemies from Asia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Until then, be on the lookout … for these destructive but inconspicuous hitchhikers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">If you like this video, please consider supporting KQED, the PBS station that produces Deep Look\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Donations from viewers like you allow us to continue making our award-winning series.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Click the link on screen or in the description below.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Now, see who else is coming for your grapes … mealybugs.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">They’re bright, bold — and can be bad news.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Spotted lanternflies are invasive insects that spread by hitchhiking on almost anything we move. Once they arrive, they swarm trees and crops, draining sap and leaving behind sticky residue that can damage entire ecosystems.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Find out how they got here, why they’re so hard to stop, and whether scientists can find a way to shut the party down.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>TRANSCRIPT\u003c/h2>\n\u003cdiv id=\"meta-origin\" data-coolorigin=\"https%3A%2F%2Fcloud.kqed.org%2Fapps%2Frichdocumentscode%2Fproxy.php%3Freq%3D%2Fcool%2Fclipboard%3FWOPISrc%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fcloud.kqed.org%252Findex.php%252Fapps%252Frichdocuments%252Fwopi%252Ffiles%252F5243890_ocdd7q04clzt%26ServerId%3D3f6890da%26ViewId%3D4%26Tag%3Dc617c0734697f24d\">\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Spotted lanternflies are the ultimate party crashers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">And they show up in style.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">They made their first appearance in the US in 2014, and since then, they’ve been having a blast trashing the place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">It’s an ecological disaster that’s spreading.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">And we’ve been making them feel at home, giving them free rides and putting out the hors d’oeuvres.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Spotted lanternflies weren’t even planning to come to this party.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">So how did they get here?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">They lay their eggs in clusters and cover them with goop that dries and cracks, disguising them as a smudge of dirt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Researchers think their eggs hitched a ride on some decorative landscaping stones that took a transpacific cruise from China.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">And nobody noticed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Those stones with the eggs ended up in Pennsylvania and once spring hit, nymphs busted out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">They found themselves in a very hospitable new home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">A buffet of trees like walnut, maple, apple, peach and cherry, but spotted lanternflies are especially into grape vines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">They pierce plants with their sharp stylet and suck out the sap.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">And they flick droplets of their sugary waste called honeydew.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Sooty mold grows on that honeydew, blocking the sunlight from the leaves, cutting off photosynthesis, and devastating the harvest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Spotted lanternflies aren’t flies at all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">They’re a type of insect called plant hoppers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">As nymphs, they don’t even have wings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Just adorable polka dots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">And the later stages add red to the mix.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Only adults have wings but they’re not strong fliers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Luckily for them, we take them to fun new dinner parties.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">They lay their hidden eggs on lumber and crops and then we cart them around on trucks and trains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Plus we’ve got their favorite food from home to snack on along the way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">It’s called tree of heaven.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">We brought it here from Asia a couple hundred years ago and it spread, especially along our roads and railway lines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">When lanternflies feed on the sap of the tree of heaven, they accumulate toxic chemicals that make them taste bad.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">With time, predators and parasites back in Asia adapted to eat lanternflies anyway, but most of the ones here just can’t stomach them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">So there’s no one around here to keep the population in check.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">With no enemies and so much good stuff to eat, the party’s growing. Fast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">They haven’t made it out to the West Coast yet, and growers in California want to keep it that way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">USDA researchers in a lab at UC Davis are testing fumigation on lanternfly eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">It’s hard for chemicals to kill pest eggs because they’ve got a protective outer shield.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">But using a scanning electron microscope, researchers may have found a weak spot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Each egg has a little trap door that the nymph inside uses to break free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">And the seal around the edge of the door is thinner than the rest of the shell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Researchers hope that they can get poison through that seal to destroy the eggs before they hatch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Maybe the door is a way in too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">It’ll take a long time for local predators or parasites to acquire a taste and keep the lanternfly population in check.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Fumigation could buy us time, but to truly stop them, we might need to carefully introduce one of their old enemies from Asia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Until then, be on the lookout … for these destructive but inconspicuous hitchhikers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">If you like this video, please consider supporting KQED, the PBS station that produces Deep Look\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Donations from viewers like you allow us to continue making our award-winning series.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Click the link on screen or in the description below.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp align=\"left\">Now, see who else is coming for your grapes … mealybugs.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>[dl_subscribe]\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv id=\"meta-origin\" data-coolorigin=\"https%3A%2F%2Fcloud.kqed.org%2Fapps%2Frichdocumentscode%2Fproxy.php%3Freq%3D%2Fcool%2Fclipboard%3FWOPISrc%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fcloud.kqed.org%252Findex.php%252Fapps%252Frichdocuments%252Fwopi%252Ffiles%252F5044178_ocdd7q04clzt%26ServerId%3Dbd3021cf%26ViewId%3D4%26Tag%3D4c073c3abf7aaf3f\">\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">From the depths of the ocean to the forest floor at night, some animals can do something that seems almost magical: they make their own light.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">This phenomenon is known as bioluminescence. But glowing isn’t just for show. For many species, producing light is a powerful survival strategy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">In this episode of Big Ideas, we dive into the chemistry that makes living light possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003ch2>TRANSCRIPT\u003c/h2>\n\u003cdiv id=\"meta-origin\" data-coolorigin=\"https%3A%2F%2Fcloud.kqed.org%2Fapps%2Frichdocumentscode%2Fproxy.php%3Freq%3D%2Fcool%2Fclipboard%3FWOPISrc%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fcloud.kqed.org%252Findex.php%252Fapps%252Frichdocuments%252Fwopi%252Ffiles%252F5165658_ocdd7q04clzt%26ServerId%3Dbd3021cf%26ViewId%3D4%26Tag%3D67f70a5022165904\">\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">It’s a hot summer night and you’re standing at the beach, and you notice that with each crashing wave, the ocean begins to glow with ethereal blue light.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Fish are leaving trails of light behind them, like underwater shooting stars.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">It might look magical, but in actuality, it’s just your friendly neighborhood dinoflagellates—single-celled organisms that glow when disturbed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">That light you’re seeing is called bioluminescence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Some cultures once believed that these lights were doorways to a mythical realm or the spirits of those who passed away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Today we know it’s actually organisms creating their own light.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">But how does this actually happen, and why would these creatures even do it in the first place?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Hi, I’m Niba.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Today we’re shining a light on bioluminescence, diving deep into how it works—and even making a light show of our own.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Welcome to Big Ideas, a new show from the team behind Deep Look.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">While Deep Look zooms in on one small animal, Big Ideas zooms out, answering the big questions about how animals survive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Bioluminescence can be found all over our planet, from marine plankton to fungi and even deep-sea creatures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">According to researchers, three-quarters of deep-sea animals make their own light.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Like this female anglerfish. In the pitch-black depths of the ocean, she dangles a glowing lure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Inside are bioluminescent bacteria that entice unsuspecting prey before she swallows them whole.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Now, bioluminescence isn’t as widespread on land as it is underwater, but it does exist.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">You’ll find it in some species of mushrooms and in the mycelia, or root structure, of certain fungi.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">And of course, one of the most famous glowing creatures is the beloved firefly, also known as lightning bugs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">But they’re actually neither flies nor bugs—they’re beetles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Out of about 400,000 beetle species, only half of 1% can actually glow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">So yes, you are special, little firefly—and so are all 2,000 beetle species in the Lampyridae family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Anyways, while most glowing beetles thrive in tropical humidity, fireflies are very adaptable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">These remarkable insects have spread to every continent except Antarctica. I guess even fireflies draw the line somewhere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">So what exactly makes these beetles—not flies or bugs—flash when the sun goes down? What’s actually going on when they emit light?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Basically, bioluminescence is light produced inside an organism through a chemical reaction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">These insects produce light in a special organ in their abdomen called a photophore. We sometimes refer to it as a lantern, for obvious reasons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Scientists discovered that for these beetles to create their special glow, four chemicals need to work together: oxygen, an enzyme called luciferase, the light-producing compound luciferin, and the energy molecule ATP—adenosine triphosphate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">So when the beetles want to light up, they redirect oxygen into their lantern through structures called peroxisomes. That’s where you find the enzyme luciferase.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Luciferase has these pockets, or cubby holes, that hold the light-producing compound luciferin right next to the energy currency of ATP. And now the stage is set for the beetle’s light show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">When oxygen is introduced, it excites the luciferin and the ATP, causing the duo to release a burst of energy—which is how these tiny insects create that big yellow-green glow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">We don’t have any fireflies in our studio, but we can create a similar chemical reaction using different substances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">We have luminol, sodium hydroxide, bleach, and the MVP ingredient: oxygen. This will create a chemiluminescent reaction similar to what’s happening in the firefly. Safety first, though.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Okay, let’s see what happens when I introduce the luminol solution to the bleach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">What? Yo, that was so cool!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">The chemical reactions taking place in bioluminescence and in fire are quite similar. Both involve oxygen to create light—but there’s a key difference.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Fire produces both light and heat—this is called “hot light.” But bioluminescence produces only light, which is why it’s called “cold light.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">The chemical reaction behind bioluminescence is amazing because it converts nearly all its energy into light rather than releasing it as heat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Imagine if this beloved glowing beetle emitted hot light inside its lantern—I don’t think it would survive that experience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">This is a really cool evolutionary marvel: producing light without heat. It must serve some kind of purpose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Some species of glowing beetles start using light as a warning before they’re even born—while still in their eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">As larvae, they light up to tell predators like frogs or toads, “Hey, don’t eat me. I taste awful and might even be toxic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">But as adults, these glowing beetles use their flashing lanterns for the ultimate goal: attracting a mate. Like nature’s version of a dating app.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">The males are the flashy ones, flying around and showing off their light patterns like, “Hey ladies, check me out.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Meanwhile, the females hang out in the grass or on plants. When a female sees a male whose flashing pattern catches her eye, she flashes back—that’s her way of saying she’s interested.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">But it’s not all romantic fairytales.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">In the beetle world, some sneaky female fireflies—called “femme fatales” in the Photuris genus—are masters of deception.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">They copy the flash patterns of females from other species to trick males into thinking they’ve found a mate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">But when the poor guy flies down to meet her… surprise. He becomes dinner instead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">These glowing beetles have been around since the age of dinosaurs. The oldest known fossilized firefly is about 99 million years old.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">And while it took generations of scientists to figure out how fireflies create their glow, today researchers are putting that knowledge to work in some pretty mind-blowing ways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">It’s even being used in cancer research.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Scientists can genetically modify cancer cells to glow, then inject them into mice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Using specialized cameras, they can track tumor growth and spread in real time, helping them better understand how cancer progresses—and how it responds to treatment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">So bioluminescence is way more than just a fun light show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">It’s a survival tactic, a mating signal, and maybe one day a key part of new scientific discoveries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">It’s pretty amazing that these tiny glowing beetles are helping us better understand the world we live in.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv id=\"meta-origin\" data-coolorigin=\"https%3A%2F%2Fcloud.kqed.org%2Fapps%2Frichdocumentscode%2Fproxy.php%3Freq%3D%2Fcool%2Fclipboard%3FWOPISrc%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fcloud.kqed.org%252Findex.php%252Fapps%252Frichdocuments%252Fwopi%252Ffiles%252F5044178_ocdd7q04clzt%26ServerId%3Dbd3021cf%26ViewId%3D4%26Tag%3D4c073c3abf7aaf3f\">\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">From the depths of the ocean to the forest floor at night, some animals can do something that seems almost magical: they make their own light.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">This phenomenon is known as bioluminescence. But glowing isn’t just for show. For many species, producing light is a powerful survival strategy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">In this episode of Big Ideas, we dive into the chemistry that makes living light possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003ch2>TRANSCRIPT\u003c/h2>\n\u003cdiv id=\"meta-origin\" data-coolorigin=\"https%3A%2F%2Fcloud.kqed.org%2Fapps%2Frichdocumentscode%2Fproxy.php%3Freq%3D%2Fcool%2Fclipboard%3FWOPISrc%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fcloud.kqed.org%252Findex.php%252Fapps%252Frichdocuments%252Fwopi%252Ffiles%252F5165658_ocdd7q04clzt%26ServerId%3Dbd3021cf%26ViewId%3D4%26Tag%3D67f70a5022165904\">\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">It’s a hot summer night and you’re standing at the beach, and you notice that with each crashing wave, the ocean begins to glow with ethereal blue light.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Fish are leaving trails of light behind them, like underwater shooting stars.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">It might look magical, but in actuality, it’s just your friendly neighborhood dinoflagellates—single-celled organisms that glow when disturbed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">That light you’re seeing is called bioluminescence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Some cultures once believed that these lights were doorways to a mythical realm or the spirits of those who passed away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Today we know it’s actually organisms creating their own light.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">But how does this actually happen, and why would these creatures even do it in the first place?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Hi, I’m Niba.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Today we’re shining a light on bioluminescence, diving deep into how it works—and even making a light show of our own.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Welcome to Big Ideas, a new show from the team behind Deep Look.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">While Deep Look zooms in on one small animal, Big Ideas zooms out, answering the big questions about how animals survive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Bioluminescence can be found all over our planet, from marine plankton to fungi and even deep-sea creatures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">According to researchers, three-quarters of deep-sea animals make their own light.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Like this female anglerfish. In the pitch-black depths of the ocean, she dangles a glowing lure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Inside are bioluminescent bacteria that entice unsuspecting prey before she swallows them whole.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Now, bioluminescence isn’t as widespread on land as it is underwater, but it does exist.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">You’ll find it in some species of mushrooms and in the mycelia, or root structure, of certain fungi.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">And of course, one of the most famous glowing creatures is the beloved firefly, also known as lightning bugs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">But they’re actually neither flies nor bugs—they’re beetles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Out of about 400,000 beetle species, only half of 1% can actually glow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">So yes, you are special, little firefly—and so are all 2,000 beetle species in the Lampyridae family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Anyways, while most glowing beetles thrive in tropical humidity, fireflies are very adaptable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">These remarkable insects have spread to every continent except Antarctica. I guess even fireflies draw the line somewhere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">So what exactly makes these beetles—not flies or bugs—flash when the sun goes down? What’s actually going on when they emit light?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Basically, bioluminescence is light produced inside an organism through a chemical reaction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">These insects produce light in a special organ in their abdomen called a photophore. We sometimes refer to it as a lantern, for obvious reasons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Scientists discovered that for these beetles to create their special glow, four chemicals need to work together: oxygen, an enzyme called luciferase, the light-producing compound luciferin, and the energy molecule ATP—adenosine triphosphate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">So when the beetles want to light up, they redirect oxygen into their lantern through structures called peroxisomes. That’s where you find the enzyme luciferase.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Luciferase has these pockets, or cubby holes, that hold the light-producing compound luciferin right next to the energy currency of ATP. And now the stage is set for the beetle’s light show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">When oxygen is introduced, it excites the luciferin and the ATP, causing the duo to release a burst of energy—which is how these tiny insects create that big yellow-green glow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">We don’t have any fireflies in our studio, but we can create a similar chemical reaction using different substances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">We have luminol, sodium hydroxide, bleach, and the MVP ingredient: oxygen. This will create a chemiluminescent reaction similar to what’s happening in the firefly. Safety first, though.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Okay, let’s see what happens when I introduce the luminol solution to the bleach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">What? Yo, that was so cool!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">The chemical reactions taking place in bioluminescence and in fire are quite similar. Both involve oxygen to create light—but there’s a key difference.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Fire produces both light and heat—this is called “hot light.” But bioluminescence produces only light, which is why it’s called “cold light.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">The chemical reaction behind bioluminescence is amazing because it converts nearly all its energy into light rather than releasing it as heat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Imagine if this beloved glowing beetle emitted hot light inside its lantern—I don’t think it would survive that experience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">This is a really cool evolutionary marvel: producing light without heat. It must serve some kind of purpose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Some species of glowing beetles start using light as a warning before they’re even born—while still in their eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">As larvae, they light up to tell predators like frogs or toads, “Hey, don’t eat me. I taste awful and might even be toxic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">But as adults, these glowing beetles use their flashing lanterns for the ultimate goal: attracting a mate. Like nature’s version of a dating app.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">The males are the flashy ones, flying around and showing off their light patterns like, “Hey ladies, check me out.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Meanwhile, the females hang out in the grass or on plants. When a female sees a male whose flashing pattern catches her eye, she flashes back—that’s her way of saying she’s interested.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">But it’s not all romantic fairytales.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">In the beetle world, some sneaky female fireflies—called “femme fatales” in the Photuris genus—are masters of deception.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">They copy the flash patterns of females from other species to trick males into thinking they’ve found a mate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">But when the poor guy flies down to meet her… surprise. He becomes dinner instead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">These glowing beetles have been around since the age of dinosaurs. The oldest known fossilized firefly is about 99 million years old.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">And while it took generations of scientists to figure out how fireflies create their glow, today researchers are putting that knowledge to work in some pretty mind-blowing ways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">It’s even being used in cancer research.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Scientists can genetically modify cancer cells to glow, then inject them into mice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">Using specialized cameras, they can track tumor growth and spread in real time, helping them better understand how cancer progresses—and how it responds to treatment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">So bioluminescence is way more than just a fun light show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">It’s a survival tactic, a mating signal, and maybe one day a key part of new scientific discoveries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"western\" align=\"left\">It’s pretty amazing that these tiny glowing beetles are helping us better understand the world we live in.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "California Condors Are Still Dying — Despite a Lead Ammo Ban",
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"content": "\u003cp>California \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1944241/lead-ammunition-is-now-banned-for-hunting-wildlife-in-california\">condors\u003c/a> are the largest land bird in North America — with wingspans of almost 10 feet. The vultures look and sound otherworldly, with good reason. They are a Pleistocene-era animal, survivors of the last ice age. These incredible \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/quest/55378/with-condors-on-the-brink-california-considers-a-lead-bullet-ban-for-hunters\">scavengers\u003c/a> — weighing up to 25 pounds — used to range from California to Florida and from Canada to Mexico.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in the last century, their populations crashed. The federal government listed them as endangered in 1967, and in 1982, only 23 condors survived worldwide. A substantial conservation campaign in California followed, spanning several decades. Now there are more than 600 alive, but they aren’t doing as well as scientists expected, even after the state banned hunters from using lead bullets, fragments of which the birds swallow when they eat animal carcasses left behind.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>New \u003ca href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-69617-4\">research published Wednesday\u003c/a> explains the mystery of why, despite many protections, the birds are still struggling. The answer, the scientists believe, is due to condors changing their behavior to act like more wild birds. The birds are foraging further afield from sites where conservationists leave food and finding animals to eat that are sometimes shot with lead. More lead-laced animal carcasses may be available, they believe, due to the expansion of feral pigs causing a nuisance in Central California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Condors are very long-lived, so very small changes in their survival rate can make big differences on whether or not they will go extinct or not go extinct,” said Myra Finkelstein, an environmental toxicologist at UC Santa Cruz and senior author on the paper.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The goal is that for us to stop releasing captive-bred birds, and currently right now, we still have to. The population is declining unless we release captive-bred birds.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Finkelstein published research in 2012 that showed the lead poisoning from ammunition was preventing the condor’s recovery. The findings built support for California to pass a lead bullet ban for hunting wildlife in 2013, which fully phased into effect in 2019.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the law passed, Finkelstein was very excited. “Not only does lead poison California condors, it will poison any scavenging species, and there’s no level of lead exposure that’s known to be without long-term effects for young kids. So [no lead] is just a win-win all around.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000337\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000337\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_chases_747_8076.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"2400\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_chases_747_8076.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_chases_747_8076-160x200.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_chases_747_8076-768x960.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_chases_747_8076-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_chases_747_8076-1638x2048.jpg 1638w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California condor 966 Pixchi chases 747 Boeing through the late afternoon skies above Pinnacles National Park. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Tim Huntington)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But in the years that followed the ban, she and her colleagues continued their research, but they did not see the lead mortality decrease as expected. In fact, it worsened. The amount of lead in the blood of Central California condors actually jumped after full implementation of the ban. This, on the face, made no sense.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We didn’t think that people were out there using more lead than they were before the ban,” she said. In fact, every indication from the hunting community was that people were largely, albeit not entirely, complying with the ban.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Finkelstein said her research team felt under some pressure to be able to provide an explanation. If they can’t explain the cause, other states and countries could look at California’s example and conclude that “lead bullet bans don’t work to protect endangered species, we shouldn’t bother with them,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fortunately, condor researchers in California are lucky in that they have extremely robust datasets. While most biologists study what they hope is a representative subset, Finkelstein and colleagues have access to three decades of near-daily data on every single condor in the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We use every single bird,” Finkelstein said. “We have all the blood lead levels that have been collected. And we have all of the outreach that has been done. We have so much data. And with all these data, we were able to start looking at what could be influencing condor lead risk. Why is it worse now than it was five years ago?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They noticed two things: one, that an individual condor’s behavior was highly linked with how soon it died of lead poisoning. The birds still depend on the lead-free carcasses left by conservationists at certain sites. But more and more birds are venturing further afield, presumably picking up lead contamination in the carcasses they find. But where would that increased lead be coming from?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Combining data from deer hunts, pig hunts and elsewhere, Finkelstein said they found, “lo and behold, what explained the problem in central California was an increase in pigs.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Feral pigs have become a nuisance, with most living on private land. They damage crops and vineyards and are a health hazard; they carry viruses, bacteria and parasites that can affect humans, pets, and livestock. Pig hunting tripled after 2008, and doubled again after 2019. Sometimes they’re killed without a tag, which is like a permission slip from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to kill an animal. It’s impossible to know how often.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000338\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000338\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_portrait_8278-NR.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"2400\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_portrait_8278-NR.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_portrait_8278-NR-160x200.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_portrait_8278-NR-768x960.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_portrait_8278-NR-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_portrait_8278-NR-1638x2048.jpg 1638w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California condor 966 Pixchi at Pinnacles National Park. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Tim Huntington)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But it doesn’t take much of an increase in lead on the landscape to affect condors. The paper, published in \u003cem>Nature Communications\u003c/em>, explains that fewer than 10 lead-contaminated feedings per year are enough to explain this increase in lead exposure seen in California’s condors. And a condor can be taken down by fewer feedings than that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think people don’t understand that just one feeding, one tiny little sliver of lead can kill a condor — and condors are supposed to live 60 plus years,” Finkelstein said. “They never lived that long. We have a bunch of teenagers flying around out there, you know? Very few adults … It’s just tragic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, the research team found that the lead ammunition bans are effective. Without them, condor mortality would be much worse. And, while California condors are not self-sustaining at the moment, they are almost there. A small additional decrease in lead, and they could get there. Interestingly, deer hunting appears to have a protective effect on condors. Deer hunters are overwhelmingly abiding by the lead ammunition ban, and so entrails left over from a deer being dressed in the field provide a safe meal for a condor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We only need to lower lead mortality by 1%, and the condor population is expected to become self-sustaining. Now that to me sounds like we’re on the verge of success here,” said Kelly Sorenson of the Ventana Wildlife Society, who has led major recovery efforts for condors across central California. Sorenson did not participate in the study. “And hunters and ranchers are being a part of that by switching to non-lead.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Ventana Wildlife Society, in addition to doing outreach and education, gives away non-lead ammunition to hunters. This year, it plans to give away $60,000 in supplies. It is still legal to buy lead in California and to fire it at some shooting ranges. Sorenson laments that not all calibers are readily available at stores in non-lead options, which can also be more expensive. In California, people are not allowed to order ammunition online; they must buy it in person from a store.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The prohibition of online sales is really a big deal, severely limiting availability,” Sorenson said. “The people who are really having a hard time [switching over to non-lead options] are the ranchers who are shooting sometimes hundreds of rounds of rimfire every weekend.” Rimfire is a type of low-cost ammunition popular for small-game hunting. Non-lead ammunition for one of the most common rifles used in the U.S., the 22 Long Rifle, often used for controlling ground squirrels, is not available in most stores, Sorenson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While other states do ammunition sales differently, they have their own problems. Currently, California is the only one with a lead ammo ban for shooting wildlife. But other states are considering similar actions and looking to California’s example.[aside postID=news_12059633 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/GettyImages-1658708092-2000x1347.jpg']“California condors are the tip of a very large and worrisome iceberg,” said Mike Pokras, who ran the wildlife program at Tufts University near Boston for 35 years. He’s advocating for a bill in Maryland aimed at getting hunters to use non-lead bullets when harvesting animals that enter the human food chain, like deer. The goal is to keep both humans and scavenger animals healthier.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And, he said, “It is absolutely a global issue.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pokras knows people working to get lead out of wildlife from Norway to South Africa to Spain to Japan. Lead is killing bald eagles, loons, swans, cheetahs, sea eagles. The importance of addressing lead in ammunition, he said, goes beyond concern for animals. It’s a serious public health issue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said the lessons of the condor outlined in Finkelstein’s latest research paper will be very helpful for many lead-affected species. It shows that animal behavior can change, that food sources can change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, though, he sees one solution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We need to get all this lead stuff off the market. The human risks aren’t just from eating animals that have been shot with lead, but simply handling the metallic lead,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable. The kids in Flint, Michigan, who were exposed to increased lead in water, experienced a host of physical and mental problems. Other kids have become sick from being exposed to old lead paint in substandard housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t matter where the lead comes from,” Pokras said. “It’s really bad for people. Even if [gun owners are] target shooting, we don’t want them using lead.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeeeKhyuk-_odJH80iw5eAlpLBF-YWJnOi_Yqs4BEN9fY1YJA/viewform?usp=publish-editor\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>California \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1944241/lead-ammunition-is-now-banned-for-hunting-wildlife-in-california\">condors\u003c/a> are the largest land bird in North America — with wingspans of almost 10 feet. The vultures look and sound otherworldly, with good reason. They are a Pleistocene-era animal, survivors of the last ice age. These incredible \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/quest/55378/with-condors-on-the-brink-california-considers-a-lead-bullet-ban-for-hunters\">scavengers\u003c/a> — weighing up to 25 pounds — used to range from California to Florida and from Canada to Mexico.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in the last century, their populations crashed. The federal government listed them as endangered in 1967, and in 1982, only 23 condors survived worldwide. A substantial conservation campaign in California followed, spanning several decades. Now there are more than 600 alive, but they aren’t doing as well as scientists expected, even after the state banned hunters from using lead bullets, fragments of which the birds swallow when they eat animal carcasses left behind.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>New \u003ca href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-69617-4\">research published Wednesday\u003c/a> explains the mystery of why, despite many protections, the birds are still struggling. The answer, the scientists believe, is due to condors changing their behavior to act like more wild birds. The birds are foraging further afield from sites where conservationists leave food and finding animals to eat that are sometimes shot with lead. More lead-laced animal carcasses may be available, they believe, due to the expansion of feral pigs causing a nuisance in Central California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Condors are very long-lived, so very small changes in their survival rate can make big differences on whether or not they will go extinct or not go extinct,” said Myra Finkelstein, an environmental toxicologist at UC Santa Cruz and senior author on the paper.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The goal is that for us to stop releasing captive-bred birds, and currently right now, we still have to. The population is declining unless we release captive-bred birds.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Finkelstein published research in 2012 that showed the lead poisoning from ammunition was preventing the condor’s recovery. The findings built support for California to pass a lead bullet ban for hunting wildlife in 2013, which fully phased into effect in 2019.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the law passed, Finkelstein was very excited. “Not only does lead poison California condors, it will poison any scavenging species, and there’s no level of lead exposure that’s known to be without long-term effects for young kids. So [no lead] is just a win-win all around.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000337\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000337\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_chases_747_8076.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"2400\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_chases_747_8076.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_chases_747_8076-160x200.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_chases_747_8076-768x960.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_chases_747_8076-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_chases_747_8076-1638x2048.jpg 1638w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California condor 966 Pixchi chases 747 Boeing through the late afternoon skies above Pinnacles National Park. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Tim Huntington)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But in the years that followed the ban, she and her colleagues continued their research, but they did not see the lead mortality decrease as expected. In fact, it worsened. The amount of lead in the blood of Central California condors actually jumped after full implementation of the ban. This, on the face, made no sense.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We didn’t think that people were out there using more lead than they were before the ban,” she said. In fact, every indication from the hunting community was that people were largely, albeit not entirely, complying with the ban.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Finkelstein said her research team felt under some pressure to be able to provide an explanation. If they can’t explain the cause, other states and countries could look at California’s example and conclude that “lead bullet bans don’t work to protect endangered species, we shouldn’t bother with them,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fortunately, condor researchers in California are lucky in that they have extremely robust datasets. While most biologists study what they hope is a representative subset, Finkelstein and colleagues have access to three decades of near-daily data on every single condor in the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We use every single bird,” Finkelstein said. “We have all the blood lead levels that have been collected. And we have all of the outreach that has been done. We have so much data. And with all these data, we were able to start looking at what could be influencing condor lead risk. Why is it worse now than it was five years ago?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They noticed two things: one, that an individual condor’s behavior was highly linked with how soon it died of lead poisoning. The birds still depend on the lead-free carcasses left by conservationists at certain sites. But more and more birds are venturing further afield, presumably picking up lead contamination in the carcasses they find. But where would that increased lead be coming from?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Combining data from deer hunts, pig hunts and elsewhere, Finkelstein said they found, “lo and behold, what explained the problem in central California was an increase in pigs.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Feral pigs have become a nuisance, with most living on private land. They damage crops and vineyards and are a health hazard; they carry viruses, bacteria and parasites that can affect humans, pets, and livestock. Pig hunting tripled after 2008, and doubled again after 2019. Sometimes they’re killed without a tag, which is like a permission slip from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to kill an animal. It’s impossible to know how often.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000338\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000338\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_portrait_8278-NR.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"2400\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_portrait_8278-NR.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_portrait_8278-NR-160x200.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_portrait_8278-NR-768x960.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_portrait_8278-NR-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/03/kqed_for_myra_story_966_portrait_8278-NR-1638x2048.jpg 1638w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California condor 966 Pixchi at Pinnacles National Park. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Tim Huntington)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But it doesn’t take much of an increase in lead on the landscape to affect condors. The paper, published in \u003cem>Nature Communications\u003c/em>, explains that fewer than 10 lead-contaminated feedings per year are enough to explain this increase in lead exposure seen in California’s condors. And a condor can be taken down by fewer feedings than that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think people don’t understand that just one feeding, one tiny little sliver of lead can kill a condor — and condors are supposed to live 60 plus years,” Finkelstein said. “They never lived that long. We have a bunch of teenagers flying around out there, you know? Very few adults … It’s just tragic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, the research team found that the lead ammunition bans are effective. Without them, condor mortality would be much worse. And, while California condors are not self-sustaining at the moment, they are almost there. A small additional decrease in lead, and they could get there. Interestingly, deer hunting appears to have a protective effect on condors. Deer hunters are overwhelmingly abiding by the lead ammunition ban, and so entrails left over from a deer being dressed in the field provide a safe meal for a condor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We only need to lower lead mortality by 1%, and the condor population is expected to become self-sustaining. Now that to me sounds like we’re on the verge of success here,” said Kelly Sorenson of the Ventana Wildlife Society, who has led major recovery efforts for condors across central California. Sorenson did not participate in the study. “And hunters and ranchers are being a part of that by switching to non-lead.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Ventana Wildlife Society, in addition to doing outreach and education, gives away non-lead ammunition to hunters. This year, it plans to give away $60,000 in supplies. It is still legal to buy lead in California and to fire it at some shooting ranges. Sorenson laments that not all calibers are readily available at stores in non-lead options, which can also be more expensive. In California, people are not allowed to order ammunition online; they must buy it in person from a store.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The prohibition of online sales is really a big deal, severely limiting availability,” Sorenson said. “The people who are really having a hard time [switching over to non-lead options] are the ranchers who are shooting sometimes hundreds of rounds of rimfire every weekend.” Rimfire is a type of low-cost ammunition popular for small-game hunting. Non-lead ammunition for one of the most common rifles used in the U.S., the 22 Long Rifle, often used for controlling ground squirrels, is not available in most stores, Sorenson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While other states do ammunition sales differently, they have their own problems. Currently, California is the only one with a lead ammo ban for shooting wildlife. But other states are considering similar actions and looking to California’s example.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“California condors are the tip of a very large and worrisome iceberg,” said Mike Pokras, who ran the wildlife program at Tufts University near Boston for 35 years. He’s advocating for a bill in Maryland aimed at getting hunters to use non-lead bullets when harvesting animals that enter the human food chain, like deer. The goal is to keep both humans and scavenger animals healthier.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And, he said, “It is absolutely a global issue.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pokras knows people working to get lead out of wildlife from Norway to South Africa to Spain to Japan. Lead is killing bald eagles, loons, swans, cheetahs, sea eagles. The importance of addressing lead in ammunition, he said, goes beyond concern for animals. It’s a serious public health issue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said the lessons of the condor outlined in Finkelstein’s latest research paper will be very helpful for many lead-affected species. It shows that animal behavior can change, that food sources can change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, though, he sees one solution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We need to get all this lead stuff off the market. The human risks aren’t just from eating animals that have been shot with lead, but simply handling the metallic lead,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable. The kids in Flint, Michigan, who were exposed to increased lead in water, experienced a host of physical and mental problems. Other kids have become sick from being exposed to old lead paint in substandard housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t matter where the lead comes from,” Pokras said. “It’s really bad for people. Even if [gun owners are] target shooting, we don’t want them using lead.”\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cdiv class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__shortcodes__shortcodeWrapper'>\n \u003ciframe\n src='https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeeeKhyuk-_odJH80iw5eAlpLBF-YWJnOi_Yqs4BEN9fY1YJA/viewform?usp=publish-editor?embedded=true'\n title='https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeeeKhyuk-_odJH80iw5eAlpLBF-YWJnOi_Yqs4BEN9fY1YJA/viewform?usp=publish-editor'\n width='760' height='500'\n frameborder='0'\n marginheight='0' marginwidth='0'>\u003c/iframe>\u003c/div>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>[dl_subscribe]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Why did our ancestors ditch the shell and start growing babies inside their bodies instead?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this episode of Big Ideas, from the team behind Deep Look, Niba zooms out to explore one of evolution’s biggest plot twists: how eggs evolved, how they conquered land, and why most mammals — including us — moved on to live birth.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>TRANSCRIPT\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>So why don’t we lay eggs?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like, seriously.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The vast majority of animal species on this planet lay eggs, most insects, most fish, most amphibians, most reptiles, all birds, and even a few mammals lay eggs to reproduce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you go back far enough, you can see that our ancestors laid eggs for millions of years too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So what happened to us?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Why do humans keep their young inside instead of laying eggs?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And what would it be like if we did lay eggs?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Can you imagine?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hi, I’m Niba.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We’re cracking open the case on why eggs are so cool by putting them through feats of strength and taking a close look under the shell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Welcome to Big Ideas, a new show from the team behind Deep Look.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While Deep Look zooms in on one small animal, Big Ideas zooms out, answering the big questions about how animals survive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When most people think of an egg, they picture this: A chicken egg.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This modern day bird marvel of evolution is surprisingly complex with an impressive set of features.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And yet it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to eggs, because eggs are also this and this and this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like the animals that make them eggs are constantly evolving over time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eggs were around for millions of years before chickens even existed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So in the age old question of chicken versus egg, the egg wins.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By hundreds of millions of years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The strategy of animals reproducing using an egg was first hatched not in a nest on land, but actually in the sea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Researchers think the first animals to make eggs were ancient marine organisms, like sea sponges or possibly comb jellies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They were broadcast spawners, meaning they release their sperm and eggs right into the water where they meet, and the eggs get fertilized.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lots of creatures still reproduce this way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check out these sea urchins.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They release millions of eggs at a time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These eggs don’t have a hard shell for protection, but being soft allows water to flow into the eggs, bringing oxygen with it, helping the embryo breathe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The embryos grow into larvae and they’re on their own from day one, but they’re self-sufficient feeding on microscopic algae as they go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To us it might seem cold for these parents to just send their offspring off to fend for themselves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tiny fish and other predators do gobble up a lot of the unprotected babies, but they make so many of them that chances are at least some will survive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if parents want to give their offspring a bigger headstart in life?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Take a mama salmon, for example.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It lays thousands of eggs at a time which the males fertilize thoroughly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The salmon packs each egg with more yolk compared to an urchin, that means more proteins, fats, carbs, minerals, and vitamins to feed that growing embryo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That yolk gives the young salmon a jumpstart on growing when they’re at their most tiny and vulnerable stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thanks, mom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not all animals that lay eggs in water are broadcast spawners, or lay eggs for that matter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But overall, laying eggs in water?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Massive success.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We don’t live in water, so we would need a different strategy if we were to lay eggs, or would we?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These California newts spend most of their adult lives here along the forest floor, but during their mating season, they make a pilgrimage back to the exact pond where they were born.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amphibian eggs can breathe through their jelly-like covering, but only in moist environments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The vast majority of amphibians are tied to the water like this ’cause their eggs would shrivel up and die if they were left in the air.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But reptiles evolved a way to make eggs that survive out of water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their eggs have a shell, which includes a layer of calcium carbonate to keep the egg from getting dried out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And they have an added feature, an albumin, you might know it as the egg white, a gel-like substance that provides extra protein and also hydration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like a drink for the baby lizard or turtle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Plus, it provides padding in case the egg gets jostled around and helps regulate temperature by holding onto heat during warm periods and then releasing it during colder times.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most snakes, most lizards, and most turtles have flexible leathery shells.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These eggs can survive out of water, but they still need to be kept in damp environments like buried in wet sand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The shells of bird eggs are even more rigid and resistant to drying out due to high concentrations of calcium carbonate drawn from the mother’s bones and arranged in tightly packed, layered crystals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if we did lay eggs, this is probably the kind that you’d want.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While you ponder that, take a look at this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These shells are still thin, but they’re surprisingly strong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How strong?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Well, birds have a huge diversity of egg shapes and sizes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check out these chicken eggs for example.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’ll balance these four eggs pointing up on these bottle caps on the top and on the bottom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How many of these books do you think I can put on here?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Well, let’s find out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each egg can support 50 to a hundred pounds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s between 22 to 45 kilograms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As long as the pressure is applied evenly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Why don’t we try something a little heavier?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Let’s try 20 pounds of cement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oh wow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This burly shell means it’s no sweat to have their parents sit on the eggs all day to keep ’em warm and protect them from predators, all without the egg cracking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The extra warmth means the eggs can develop and hatch quicker.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if the eggs parents have to take off for a bit, the shell keeps them from drying out in the sun.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And that albumin helps keep them from getting too hot or too cold.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How about two?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s a huge advantage, especially for female birds that would otherwise have to carry that extra weight as they fly around getting food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maybe that’s why every known species of bird lays eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Okay, so the shell is really cool, but what’s underneath?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you soak an egg in vinegar for about a week, the acidic vinegar dissolves the calcium carbonate shell right off the egg.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And this here is the membrane.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most animal eggs have this membrane to separate their insides from the outside world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Crack open an egg.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And you can see the yolk, that mega food source, along with two chalazae, the two thin ropes that hold the yolk in the center of the egg, like little anchors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s surrounded by the clear albumin water supply.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And the yolk has a white spot called the blastodisc, which contains the ovum, the female reproductive cell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if the hen who laid this egg had mated with a rooster, that sperm would fertilize this ovum and grow into a tiny embryo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If it’s kept warm, that embryo feeds on the yolk and albumin and grows.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It also dissolves calcium from the inside of the shell to build the bones of the growing chick, making the shell easier to break out of until the chick is ready to make its grand entrance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All in all, it’s a beautifully efficient method for procreation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And that said, if eggs are such a successful system, why did our ancestors give it up?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Paleontologists think that about 320 million years ago, a group of reptiles split off and some of them became our earliest mammal ancestors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They laid eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And today a few mammals still keep it old school.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’m looking at you platypuses and echidnas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re members of a group of mammals called monotremes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’ve got soft leathery eggs, kinda like reptiles, but they also feed their young milk like mammals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Later, some mammals evolved to be able to feed their developing offspring as they were nestled safely inside them: Marsupials, relatives of the kangaroos and koalas we see today were the first mammals to give live birth called viviparity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They give birth to their young, early and the not really ready to go offspring need to make the perilous journey into their mom’s pouch so that she can nurse them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead of getting all their nutrients from the egg, these mammals get around the clock warmth and nutrition provided directly by their mom instead of relying on a finite amount of yolk inside an egg.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And pregnant moms might move a bit slower and be less agile, but they aren’t tied to eggs that don’t move.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Later, placental mammals evolve to carry their offspring longer and complete their development inside their mom, meaning they could nourish the growing embryo continuously while protecting it from danger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nowadays, the vast majority of mammals are placental mammals, from cats to whales to people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are some drawbacks, though.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Viviparous animals tend to have fewer offspring than egg layers, but their offspring typically have a better chance of survival because of the extra care and protection they receive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Of the more than 5,000 known species of mammals, only five lay eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And to add to that, there are different reptiles, fish and invertebrates and other non-mammals that also do live birth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One size doesn’t fit all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An evolution is still happening today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Who knows what new strategies might come about in the future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And maybe my life would be better with big old people eggs instead of periods.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But I guess then I might have to eat like a bajillion calories to grow the eggs every month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And fetus development would probably be way slower since a fetus couldn’t get that constant supply of nutrition and warmth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unless I stayed at home, keeping the eggs warm for like months or years before it hatched.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Or maybe it would be fun then ’cause then I could just paint it, give it cute little outfits and egg-ccessories.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Would you want that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eggs or no eggs, to reproduce most animals first need to mate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sometimes it’s cuddly, like earthworms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sometimes it’s not, the poor praying mantis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barnacles reach out to visit with their neighbors, whereas newts have to travel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Watch these four tiny romances blossom in this Deep look episode.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check it out.\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Why did our ancestors ditch the shell and start growing babies inside their bodies instead?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this episode of Big Ideas, from the team behind Deep Look, Niba zooms out to explore one of evolution’s biggest plot twists: how eggs evolved, how they conquered land, and why most mammals — including us — moved on to live birth.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>TRANSCRIPT\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>So why don’t we lay eggs?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like, seriously.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The vast majority of animal species on this planet lay eggs, most insects, most fish, most amphibians, most reptiles, all birds, and even a few mammals lay eggs to reproduce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you go back far enough, you can see that our ancestors laid eggs for millions of years too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So what happened to us?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Why do humans keep their young inside instead of laying eggs?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And what would it be like if we did lay eggs?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Can you imagine?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hi, I’m Niba.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We’re cracking open the case on why eggs are so cool by putting them through feats of strength and taking a close look under the shell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Welcome to Big Ideas, a new show from the team behind Deep Look.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While Deep Look zooms in on one small animal, Big Ideas zooms out, answering the big questions about how animals survive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When most people think of an egg, they picture this: A chicken egg.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This modern day bird marvel of evolution is surprisingly complex with an impressive set of features.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And yet it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to eggs, because eggs are also this and this and this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like the animals that make them eggs are constantly evolving over time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eggs were around for millions of years before chickens even existed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So in the age old question of chicken versus egg, the egg wins.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By hundreds of millions of years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The strategy of animals reproducing using an egg was first hatched not in a nest on land, but actually in the sea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Researchers think the first animals to make eggs were ancient marine organisms, like sea sponges or possibly comb jellies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They were broadcast spawners, meaning they release their sperm and eggs right into the water where they meet, and the eggs get fertilized.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lots of creatures still reproduce this way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check out these sea urchins.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They release millions of eggs at a time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These eggs don’t have a hard shell for protection, but being soft allows water to flow into the eggs, bringing oxygen with it, helping the embryo breathe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The embryos grow into larvae and they’re on their own from day one, but they’re self-sufficient feeding on microscopic algae as they go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To us it might seem cold for these parents to just send their offspring off to fend for themselves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tiny fish and other predators do gobble up a lot of the unprotected babies, but they make so many of them that chances are at least some will survive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if parents want to give their offspring a bigger headstart in life?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Take a mama salmon, for example.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It lays thousands of eggs at a time which the males fertilize thoroughly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The salmon packs each egg with more yolk compared to an urchin, that means more proteins, fats, carbs, minerals, and vitamins to feed that growing embryo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That yolk gives the young salmon a jumpstart on growing when they’re at their most tiny and vulnerable stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thanks, mom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not all animals that lay eggs in water are broadcast spawners, or lay eggs for that matter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But overall, laying eggs in water?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Massive success.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We don’t live in water, so we would need a different strategy if we were to lay eggs, or would we?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These California newts spend most of their adult lives here along the forest floor, but during their mating season, they make a pilgrimage back to the exact pond where they were born.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amphibian eggs can breathe through their jelly-like covering, but only in moist environments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The vast majority of amphibians are tied to the water like this ’cause their eggs would shrivel up and die if they were left in the air.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But reptiles evolved a way to make eggs that survive out of water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their eggs have a shell, which includes a layer of calcium carbonate to keep the egg from getting dried out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And they have an added feature, an albumin, you might know it as the egg white, a gel-like substance that provides extra protein and also hydration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like a drink for the baby lizard or turtle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Plus, it provides padding in case the egg gets jostled around and helps regulate temperature by holding onto heat during warm periods and then releasing it during colder times.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most snakes, most lizards, and most turtles have flexible leathery shells.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These eggs can survive out of water, but they still need to be kept in damp environments like buried in wet sand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The shells of bird eggs are even more rigid and resistant to drying out due to high concentrations of calcium carbonate drawn from the mother’s bones and arranged in tightly packed, layered crystals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if we did lay eggs, this is probably the kind that you’d want.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While you ponder that, take a look at this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These shells are still thin, but they’re surprisingly strong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How strong?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Well, birds have a huge diversity of egg shapes and sizes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check out these chicken eggs for example.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’ll balance these four eggs pointing up on these bottle caps on the top and on the bottom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How many of these books do you think I can put on here?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Well, let’s find out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each egg can support 50 to a hundred pounds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s between 22 to 45 kilograms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As long as the pressure is applied evenly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Why don’t we try something a little heavier?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Let’s try 20 pounds of cement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oh wow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This burly shell means it’s no sweat to have their parents sit on the eggs all day to keep ’em warm and protect them from predators, all without the egg cracking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The extra warmth means the eggs can develop and hatch quicker.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if the eggs parents have to take off for a bit, the shell keeps them from drying out in the sun.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And that albumin helps keep them from getting too hot or too cold.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How about two?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s a huge advantage, especially for female birds that would otherwise have to carry that extra weight as they fly around getting food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maybe that’s why every known species of bird lays eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Okay, so the shell is really cool, but what’s underneath?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you soak an egg in vinegar for about a week, the acidic vinegar dissolves the calcium carbonate shell right off the egg.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And this here is the membrane.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most animal eggs have this membrane to separate their insides from the outside world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Crack open an egg.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And you can see the yolk, that mega food source, along with two chalazae, the two thin ropes that hold the yolk in the center of the egg, like little anchors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s surrounded by the clear albumin water supply.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And the yolk has a white spot called the blastodisc, which contains the ovum, the female reproductive cell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if the hen who laid this egg had mated with a rooster, that sperm would fertilize this ovum and grow into a tiny embryo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If it’s kept warm, that embryo feeds on the yolk and albumin and grows.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It also dissolves calcium from the inside of the shell to build the bones of the growing chick, making the shell easier to break out of until the chick is ready to make its grand entrance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All in all, it’s a beautifully efficient method for procreation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And that said, if eggs are such a successful system, why did our ancestors give it up?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Paleontologists think that about 320 million years ago, a group of reptiles split off and some of them became our earliest mammal ancestors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They laid eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And today a few mammals still keep it old school.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’m looking at you platypuses and echidnas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re members of a group of mammals called monotremes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’ve got soft leathery eggs, kinda like reptiles, but they also feed their young milk like mammals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Later, some mammals evolved to be able to feed their developing offspring as they were nestled safely inside them: Marsupials, relatives of the kangaroos and koalas we see today were the first mammals to give live birth called viviparity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They give birth to their young, early and the not really ready to go offspring need to make the perilous journey into their mom’s pouch so that she can nurse them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead of getting all their nutrients from the egg, these mammals get around the clock warmth and nutrition provided directly by their mom instead of relying on a finite amount of yolk inside an egg.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And pregnant moms might move a bit slower and be less agile, but they aren’t tied to eggs that don’t move.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Later, placental mammals evolve to carry their offspring longer and complete their development inside their mom, meaning they could nourish the growing embryo continuously while protecting it from danger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nowadays, the vast majority of mammals are placental mammals, from cats to whales to people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are some drawbacks, though.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Viviparous animals tend to have fewer offspring than egg layers, but their offspring typically have a better chance of survival because of the extra care and protection they receive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Of the more than 5,000 known species of mammals, only five lay eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And to add to that, there are different reptiles, fish and invertebrates and other non-mammals that also do live birth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One size doesn’t fit all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An evolution is still happening today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Who knows what new strategies might come about in the future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And maybe my life would be better with big old people eggs instead of periods.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But I guess then I might have to eat like a bajillion calories to grow the eggs every month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And fetus development would probably be way slower since a fetus couldn’t get that constant supply of nutrition and warmth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unless I stayed at home, keeping the eggs warm for like months or years before it hatched.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Or maybe it would be fun then ’cause then I could just paint it, give it cute little outfits and egg-ccessories.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Would you want that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eggs or no eggs, to reproduce most animals first need to mate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sometimes it’s cuddly, like earthworms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sometimes it’s not, the poor praying mantis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barnacles reach out to visit with their neighbors, whereas newts have to travel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Watch these four tiny romances blossom in this Deep look episode.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check it out.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "officials-confirm-small-bird-flu-outbreak-in-elephant-seals-at-ano-nuevo-state-park",
"title": "Officials Confirm Small Bird Flu ‘Outbreak’ in Elephant Seals at Año Nuevo State Park",
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"headTitle": "Officials Confirm Small Bird Flu ‘Outbreak’ in Elephant Seals at Año Nuevo State Park | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Scientists have confirmed that seven weaned northern elephant seal pups at the park tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, known as H5N1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The confirmation, provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory, marks \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>’s first confirmed detection of the virus in a marine mammal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Researchers estimate that about 30 seals, mostly recently weaned pups, plus one adult male, have died so far. Additional samples are still being processed, and officials say the outbreak appears to have been caught early.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We think we were able to witness the very start,” said Christine Johnson, a professor of epidemiology at UC Davis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Field teams already monitoring the colony noticed a slight uptick in dead seals late last week and observed animals showing neurological symptoms, including tremors, weakness and seizure-like activity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During a post-mortem exam on one known female weaned pup, veterinarians found signs that the disease moved quickly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000215\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000215\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A group of healthy weaned elephant seal pups on the beach at Año Nuevo State Park. The variation in fur color is a normal process of molting each year. \u003ccite>(Frans Lanting for the Beltran Lab/UC Santa Cruz)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The animal was in excellent nutritional condition,” said Megan Moriarty, a wildlife veterinarian at UC Santa Cruz. “That means she likely died quickly from a disease process that happened rapidly, as opposed to something more chronic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Moriarty said the seal showed significant damage to the brain and lungs — findings consistent with the neurological symptoms researchers had observed in the seals out in the field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Highly pathogenic avian influenza was first identified in 1996 and has since spread globally, largely through poultry. The current North American outbreak began in late 2021 and has affected wild birds, poultry, dairy cows and multiple mammal species. Two prior U.S. marine mammal outbreaks — in Maine in 2022 and Washington state in 2023 — were linked to bird-to-seal transmission and were relatively short-lived.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For people, the risk is low,” Johnson said. But she emphasized that the bird flu is a zoonotic virus, meaning it can spread from animals to humans through close contact, in rare instances. Officials are urging visitors to stay at least 150 yards away from marine mammals, keep pets leashed and avoid touching sick or dead wildlife.[aside postID=science_2000171 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/RESIZE_Ano-Nuevo-SP_Jan-2024_Mandatory-courtesy-CA-State-Parks.jpg']At the park, public elephant seal tours have been canceled for the remainder of the season. California State Parks said the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution” to protect both wildlife and to avoid inadvertently spreading the virus through foot traffic in affected areas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Año Nuevo State Park hosts one of the most intensively studied elephant seal colonies in the world, led by researchers at UC Santa Cruz. About 3,000 seals use the mainland site during the winter breeding season, and scientists have tracked more than 55,000 individuals over six decades through flipper tags and long-term monitoring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That long-term individual-based data set gives us a really unparalleled opportunity to understand how this virus affects uniquely identifiable animals,” said Roxanne Beltran, who leads the program at UC Santa Cruz.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So far, the outbreak appears concentrated among weaned pups — young seals that have recently been left behind after their mothers return to sea. Two weeks ago, researchers counted roughly 930 pups and weanlings on the beach. Beltran said about 95% of adult females had already departed on their foraging migrations when the outbreak began, a detail scientists hope may limit broader impact.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Avian influenza has affected only a small proportion of the weaned pups at this time,” Beltran said. “There are still thousands, apparently healthy animals in this population.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, researchers are bracing for uncertainty. In South America in 2023, H5N1 devastated southern elephant seals in Argentina, with major pup losses that altered the population’s trajectory.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000217\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000217\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Researchers disinfect field boots to prevent the spread of disease. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Frans Lanting for the Beltran Lab/UC Santa Cruz)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“A change in the number of pups that survive in a given year has a really, really long-lasting consequence,” Beltran said. Northern elephant seals can live more than 20 years, and population shifts ripple across decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scientists do not yet know how the virus is spreading at Año Nuevo — whether through direct contact with infected birds, environmental exposure such as feces, or seal-to-seal transmission. Genetic sequencing of the virus is underway and could take weeks to clarify whether it matches the dominant bird strain circulating now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, monitoring has intensified. Teams are conducting systematic beach surveys, collecting samples from sick animals, flying drones to assess colony-wide health and coordinating across agencies, including NOAA Fisheries and The Marine Mammal Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At The Marine Mammal Center in Marin County, responders have temporarily paused hands-on responses for elephant and harbor seals while assessing risks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My biggest concern is that this perpetuates and continues to spread and paralyzes the operations,” said Dominic Travis, the center’s chief executive. “We’re going to be assessing that day by day.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Seven elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park tested positive for bird flu. About 30 seals have died in what officials call a small, early-stage outbreak. Public tours are canceled.",
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"title": "Officials Confirm Small Bird Flu ‘Outbreak’ in Elephant Seals at Año Nuevo State Park | KQED",
"description": "Seven elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park tested positive for bird flu. About 30 seals have died in what officials call a small, early-stage outbreak. Public tours are canceled.",
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"headline": "Officials Confirm Small Bird Flu ‘Outbreak’ in Elephant Seals at Año Nuevo State Park",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Scientists have confirmed that seven weaned northern elephant seal pups at the park tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, known as H5N1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The confirmation, provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory, marks \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>’s first confirmed detection of the virus in a marine mammal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Researchers estimate that about 30 seals, mostly recently weaned pups, plus one adult male, have died so far. Additional samples are still being processed, and officials say the outbreak appears to have been caught early.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We think we were able to witness the very start,” said Christine Johnson, a professor of epidemiology at UC Davis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Field teams already monitoring the colony noticed a slight uptick in dead seals late last week and observed animals showing neurological symptoms, including tremors, weakness and seizure-like activity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During a post-mortem exam on one known female weaned pup, veterinarians found signs that the disease moved quickly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000215\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000215\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/WeanedPupGroup_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A group of healthy weaned elephant seal pups on the beach at Año Nuevo State Park. The variation in fur color is a normal process of molting each year. \u003ccite>(Frans Lanting for the Beltran Lab/UC Santa Cruz)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The animal was in excellent nutritional condition,” said Megan Moriarty, a wildlife veterinarian at UC Santa Cruz. “That means she likely died quickly from a disease process that happened rapidly, as opposed to something more chronic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Moriarty said the seal showed significant damage to the brain and lungs — findings consistent with the neurological symptoms researchers had observed in the seals out in the field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Highly pathogenic avian influenza was first identified in 1996 and has since spread globally, largely through poultry. The current North American outbreak began in late 2021 and has affected wild birds, poultry, dairy cows and multiple mammal species. Two prior U.S. marine mammal outbreaks — in Maine in 2022 and Washington state in 2023 — were linked to bird-to-seal transmission and were relatively short-lived.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For people, the risk is low,” Johnson said. But she emphasized that the bird flu is a zoonotic virus, meaning it can spread from animals to humans through close contact, in rare instances. Officials are urging visitors to stay at least 150 yards away from marine mammals, keep pets leashed and avoid touching sick or dead wildlife.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>At the park, public elephant seal tours have been canceled for the remainder of the season. California State Parks said the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution” to protect both wildlife and to avoid inadvertently spreading the virus through foot traffic in affected areas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Año Nuevo State Park hosts one of the most intensively studied elephant seal colonies in the world, led by researchers at UC Santa Cruz. About 3,000 seals use the mainland site during the winter breeding season, and scientists have tracked more than 55,000 individuals over six decades through flipper tags and long-term monitoring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That long-term individual-based data set gives us a really unparalleled opportunity to understand how this virus affects uniquely identifiable animals,” said Roxanne Beltran, who leads the program at UC Santa Cruz.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So far, the outbreak appears concentrated among weaned pups — young seals that have recently been left behind after their mothers return to sea. Two weeks ago, researchers counted roughly 930 pups and weanlings on the beach. Beltran said about 95% of adult females had already departed on their foraging migrations when the outbreak began, a detail scientists hope may limit broader impact.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Avian influenza has affected only a small proportion of the weaned pups at this time,” Beltran said. “There are still thousands, apparently healthy animals in this population.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, researchers are bracing for uncertainty. In South America in 2023, H5N1 devastated southern elephant seals in Argentina, with major pup losses that altered the population’s trajectory.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_2000217\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2000217\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/02/Boots_AnoNuevo_Feb242026_Frans-Lanting-for-Beltran-Lab-UC-Santa-Cruz-NMFS-permit-28742-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Researchers disinfect field boots to prevent the spread of disease. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Frans Lanting for the Beltran Lab/UC Santa Cruz)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“A change in the number of pups that survive in a given year has a really, really long-lasting consequence,” Beltran said. Northern elephant seals can live more than 20 years, and population shifts ripple across decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scientists do not yet know how the virus is spreading at Año Nuevo — whether through direct contact with infected birds, environmental exposure such as feces, or seal-to-seal transmission. Genetic sequencing of the virus is underway and could take weeks to clarify whether it matches the dominant bird strain circulating now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, monitoring has intensified. Teams are conducting systematic beach surveys, collecting samples from sick animals, flying drones to assess colony-wide health and coordinating across agencies, including NOAA Fisheries and The Marine Mammal Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At The Marine Mammal Center in Marin County, responders have temporarily paused hands-on responses for elephant and harbor seals while assessing risks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My biggest concern is that this perpetuates and continues to spread and paralyzes the operations,” said Dominic Travis, the center’s chief executive. “We’re going to be assessing that day by day.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
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"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
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"masters-of-scale": {
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},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
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"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
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"order": 12
},
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
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"morning-edition": {
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"info": "\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.",
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"onourwatch": {
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"tagline": "Deeply-reported investigative journalism",
"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
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"on-the-media": {
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"title": "On The Media",
"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
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"link": "/radio/program/on-the-media",
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},
"pbs-newshour": {
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},
"perspectives": {
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"order": 14
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"planet-money": {
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"info": "The economy explained. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy. Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.",
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"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/planetmoney.jpg",
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"link": "/radio/program/planet-money",
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"politicalbreakdown": {
"id": "politicalbreakdown",
"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
"airtime": "THU 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Political-Breakdown-2024-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"order": 5
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"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0c2d153-ad36-4c8d-901d-f1da6a724824/political-breakdown",
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"possible": {
"id": "possible",
"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Possible-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.possible.fm/",
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"source": "Possible"
},
"link": "/radio/program/possible",
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"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/730YpdUSNlMyPQwNnyjp4k"
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},
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