Better Than Human

Jennifer and Amber
  • 5.0 (9)
  • NATURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Better Than Human

Better Than Human the Podcast: Your favorite science biology podcast, where each week we pick an animal or topic to illuminate how fascinating our subject is and prove, once and for all, humans are not the epitome of the evolutionary chain.

  1. 10/14/2022

    Monarch Butterfly: The Science Behind the Wandering Milkweed Common Tiger of the Americas

    The monarch is a common butterfly, found in the Americas that is considered a poster species of pollinating insects. The monarch butterfly is easily recognizable because of its bright black, orange, and white patterns. Monarch butterflies are a parasite to their caterpillars’ only food source, milkweed. This plant itself is toxic to thwart insects from consuming its plant body, this includes an attempt to be toxic to monarchs. This has resulted in an evolutionary arms race between the two spe...

    52 min

  2. 09/16/2022

    The History and Science of the Potato; Boil 'em, Mash 'em, Stick 'em in a Stew

    In this episode, Jennifer and Amber explore the history of the potatoes. Or as a hobbit would say, "Po-tay-toes! Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew." However you like them, potatoes have changed the world. Jennifer insists potatoes are not roots or stems, but they’re tubers. Amber insists they are technically a specialized stem called a stolon. These tubers evolved to store food for potato plants when resources were scarce. The Native Americans living in what is now Peru quickly realized...

    1h 3m

  3. 08/31/2022

    It's All About that Dopamine Release

    Most widely known as the 'feel good chemical,' dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the pleasure area of the brain's reward system that plays a role in many important body functions, including movement, memory, and pleasurable reward and motivation. But do you really know what Dopamine really is, and what it actually does in your brain? Or how it works in other parts of your body, or even how other life forms use it?Dopamine is made up of a benzene ring, which is one of the most important c...

    1h 2m

  4. 08/17/2022

    Dragonflies and the Science Behind Their Unique Adaptations

    Dragonflies are some of the fastest flying insects in the world. With 360-degree vision, they can eat hundreds of insects per day, including those pesky mosquitoes and other biting insects. Their adaptations for flying are unique among insects and so precise that humans can only dream of being able to someday make machines that fly as well as dragonflies.Dragonflies are similar in structure to an ancient group of insects informally called Griffinflies, which contains some of the largest flyin...

    54 min

  5. 08/03/2022

    Goblin Shark: Living Fossils to Haunt Your Nightmares

    Goblin Sharks are a species of rare sharks found in the deepest oceans throughout the world. The goblin shark gets its name from its terrifying unhinged mouth that is full of razor sharp teeth. These sharks use a stealth attack to float through the ocean until close enough to swallow their prey. (Its low-density and large liver make it buoyant, allowing it to drift towards its prey with minimal motions to avoid detection). Which mean, what the goblin shark wants to eat, will not see it coming...

    46 min

  6. 07/27/2022

    Penguins: The Flightless Birds of the Southern Hemisphere

    Penguins are flightless aquatic birds that are almost exclusively found in the Southern Hemisphere. Penguins are evolved to catch fast-swimming prey and to live in cold temperatures. Their bodies have densely packed feathers, heavy muscles and huge fat supplies. Because of these adaptations penguins have lost their ability to fly, and while they might not look graceful on land, they are incredibly agile in the water. There was a penguin-like bird living in the Northern Hemisphere, the Gr...

    50 min

  7. 07/20/2022

    Coral Reefs Are Going Extinct, and Humans are to Blame

    Regardless of what people may think or believe, the coral reefs are going extinct, and humans are to blame. Why should you care, besides the fact that coral reefs are living animals that deserve their chance to thrive? Because coral reefs are among the most diverse, complex and densely populated ecosystems and are often thought of as the rainforest of the ocean. Though they only take up 1% of the oceans, at least 25% of all ocean wildlife rely on the reefs at some point in their lives. C...

    58 min

  8. 07/01/2022

    Mosquitoes: Man's Greatest Nemesis

    It has been estimated that over humanities history more than 50 billion people have been killed by mosquitoes. That is approximately half of all humans that have lived on this tiny blue dot killed by mosquitoes. For this reason, mosquitoes have been called man’s greatest nemesis.Mosquitoes are so dangerous to humans that some scientists have proposed eradicating them from this planet. Is that a good idea? Well, that’s up for debate. But what we do know is when we control the mosquito populati...

    56 min
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5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Better Than Human the Podcast: Your favorite science biology podcast, where each week we pick an animal or topic to illuminate how fascinating our subject is and prove, once and for all, humans are not the epitome of the evolutionary chain.

Information

  • Creator
    Jennifer and Amber
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2022
  • Episodes
    134
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Better Than Human
  • Show Website
    Better Than Human

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