308.2K
Downloads
286
Episodes
Life is strange, naturally you want to hear about it. Strange by Nature is your guide to the strange, weird and unbelievable side of nature. Professional naturalists present weekly curated stories about just how strange nature can get.
Episodes
Jun 12, 2024
Jun 12, 2024
37 min
We're all over the place this week. Victoria is back and she brings a mind blower talking about how the length of the day and the number of days in a year have changed dramatically over time. Kirk then brings things back to birds (of course) with a talk about the amazing Ostrich. Rachel rounds out this week's show talking about the tiny but mighty Mottled Cup Caterpillar, a little critter that packs a potent sting.
Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free!
Jun 5, 2024
Jun 5, 2024
44 min
This week Kirk starts us off with a fascinating story of PMO or Prosopometamorphopsia, a condition where people strangely see distortions to other people's faces that can make them look like demons, elves or dragons.
Rachel wants to tell us all about ticks this week and it turns into a bit of a PSA on tick safety before going into some interesting facts about these much maligned blood sucking creatures.
Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free!
May 29, 2024
May 29, 2024
37 min
This week Rachel and Kirk share some incredible stories. Rachel starts us of with some amazing facts about the Albatross. They are truly giant and amazing birds that spend much of their life at sea.
I know, you thought Rachel had turned a page and wasn't going to do a story about the ocean but alas, even when she talks about birds she finds a way to make it about the sea.
Kirk shares this week about the Epomis Beetle, a truly bizarre little creature that turns the table on the predator-prey relationship by sneak attacking frogs and other animals that try to eat it. What happens next is pretty horrifying. Hint: it involves liquefaction.
Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free!
May 22, 2024
May 22, 2024
35 min
On this week's show, Kirk tells us about a fascinating discovery that may mean feathers are older than dinosaurs.
Rachel is up next with the story about a rare Tiger Quoll that suddenly showed up in an unexpected spot.
Victoria rounds out this week's show with an amazing tale of a man who narrowly escaped death after eating the poisonous Spotted Water Hemlock.
Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free!
May 15, 2024
May 15, 2024
40 min
Victoria kicks things off this week with a bizarre question, is there anything we have three of in our body? This interesting question lead her on a deep dive looking at the strange diversity of body plans on Earth.
Kirk pours on the nightmare fuel with the story of a patient who's headaches ended up being...wait for it...tapeworms in his brain.
Rachel rounds out the show with an uplifting story about efforts to restore coral reefs in Florida with the help of hungry crabs. We don't think they'll use our tagline, "Florida Has Crabs."
Join us weekly for more strange nature. Our supporters on Patreon get every episode ad free!
May 8, 2024
May 8, 2024
32 min
This week Rachel brings nightmares to life with a land shark. That's right, a shark that walks on land. Listen to this week's show to learn more about epaulette sharks!
Not to be outdone, Kirk tells us about the new discovery of a beetle that can be eaten by a frog and survive a trip through the digestive tract and crawl out the other end.
Truly a bizarre week of stories. Thanks for being along for the ride.
May 1, 2024
May 1, 2024
36 min
This week we ended up with the accidental theme of things being bigger than we expected.
Kirk tells us the tale of coming face to face with enormous coastal manta rays while swimming in the ocean at night and Rachel blows Kirk's mind with the world's tallest sunflower.
Everything's huge.
Apr 24, 2024
Apr 24, 2024
57 min
This week Victoria tells us all about the strange bird, the Pelican. Did you know they can fit 5 gallons of water in their mouth?
Kirk is up next and blows our minds when it comes to a new find that teaches us about the very last minute dinosaurs spent on Earth.
Rachel is up last and tells us about one of her favorite flowers, the very useful Jewelweed.
Apr 17, 2024
Apr 17, 2024
44 min
This week Rachel brings the amazing story of the relationship between humans and birds called Honeyguides. Victoria looks into the strange story of bird respiration and Kirk discusses the process of how volcanic islands become lush and green.
Apr 10, 2024
Apr 10, 2024
37 min
This week, Kirk talks about how scientists found a way to double or even triple your lifespan. The catch? You have to be an ant and you have to be infected with tapeworms.
Keeping with the gross topics. Rachel serves up a disgusting bouquet of Ambergris. One of the most valuable substances on earth that smells both wonderful and awful.