51. Weird Nature Stories with Laura

This week we're excited to welcome Laura from the For the Love of Nature Podcast to the show. Be sure to check out the fun they have on their show as well. In this episode, Kirk talks Quantum Entanglement in bird eyes, Laura does a redux on Quicksand, Rachel talks frozen frogs and beetles that can walk on the UNDERSIDE of water. Weird indeed. 

This episode was made possible by members of the Society of Strange. Join us at patreon.com/strangebynature

50. Flesh-eating Vulture Bees!

Victoria kicks us off this week with a story about flesh eating vulture bees. Kirk talks about Mt. Tambora, the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history and Rachel finishes her two-parter on the bizarre world of anaerobic respiration. 

49. Turtles Breathe with their Butts

Rachel begins a Two Part expose on how turtles breathe with their butts in the winter. Victoria uncovers the truth about a mysterious plant we just discovered is actually carnivorous and Kirk takes on the bizarre Mpemba Effect. Does hot water really freeze faster than cold water?

48.The Great Krakatoa Volcanic Explosion

Kirk kicks us off with the story of Krakatoa, possibly the most famous volcanic explosion of all time. We then all bond over our collective dislike of Pineapple (which is Rachel's topic), and Victoria tells us the mysterious tale of the Army Ants with two butts. 

47. The Emu War

This week, Victoria brings us a mysterious case of a chimeric mother, Kirk brings the mystery of the 26 second pulse and Rachel brings us...The Emu War. 

46. Journey to the Center of the Earth

Rachel bring us monkey eating Harpy eagles, Victoria explains how we know what we know about the core of the Earth and Kirk explains the connection between Jurassic Park and California Condors (Hint: parthenogenesis)

45. The Naval Kamikaze Pigeon Bombers of WWII

Kirk kicks us off with the bizarre tale of how B.F. Skinner trained pigeons to pilot guided bombs in WWII, Rachel predictably goes to Australia to talk about some beautiful and oddly named peacock spiders and Victoria does a deep dive on the amazing geared legs of nymph leaf hoppers. I don't see how we could be more eclectic. 

44. The Tunguska Event was a Blast

Victoria blows us away with facts about the Tunguska Event, Kirk shares new research on how fungus kills and farms insects to feed their nitrogen to plants and Rachel tells us why you don't want to go to a night club that uses spittle bug spittle for the foam on the dance floor. 

43. The Zombie Necrophilia Fungus

Rachel takes on Anting where birds purposefully let ants spray them with formic acid, Victoria takes on that lovely North American marsupial the Opossum and Kirk introduces us to Summit Disease which leads to zombie necrophilia. One of these seems more horrific than the others. Have a listen and see if you can figure out which one. 

42. Special Guest Vikram Baliga from Plantropology!

In this very special episode we hang out with Vikram Baliga from the Planthropology Podcast. We ponder whether or not plants can see, learn about insects that look like plants and delve into the bizarre world of carnivorous plants.