Better Than Human (Jennifer and Amber)
Explore every episode of Better Than Human
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09 Feb 2022 | Groundhogs: How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck on Groundhog Day? | 01:00:41 | |
Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are rodents belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. Who knew groundhogs and woodchucks were the same species? Not the hosts before this episode! Despite their continued use in predicting the weather every mid-winter, groundhogs and their behaviors have not been well-studied by researchers. In The Good, The Bad, The News Fake snow for the Olympics, how bad is it really? Once gone from Florida, American Flamingo is being sighted again in Florida's rich wetlands. Biologist Tim Wong Dingle-Handedly Repopulates Rare Butterfly Species In His Own Backyard. What do we actually know about groundhogs? They are excellent burrowers, using their burrows for sleeping, rearing young, and hibernating. If you see one, its burrow is almost certainly nearby. We know human development near second-growth forests caused a boom in groundhog populations by creating ideal habitats. On the other hand, though, intensive agricultural areas and dairy farms decimated their populations in other areas. But chances are if you live in the Northeast United States or Canada, you've definitely seen one, probably on the side of the road. We also know no one can agree on whether or not they're a pest. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| 16 Feb 2022 | Dung Beetles: The Sacred Species That Transforms the World for Good | 00:58:11 | |
Dung beetles are a large group of Scarabaeinae that almost exclusively feed on dung. Dung Beetles are widely used as an indicator of an ecosystem's health. In some countries, they have even been introduced for the benefit of animal husbandry. The dung beetle, (otherwise known as a scarab), enjoyed a sacred status among the ancient Egyptians. Trust us, you want to learn more about this amazing beetle. The Good, The Bad, The News Climate change is affecting animals in weird ways like increasing divorce rates among albatrosses and polar bear inbreeding. Australia's koala is now officially endangered, a decision both long expected and completely preventable Same-sex penguins hatch their first chick at New York zoo, and parents and baby are doing great. Gray wolves back on endangered species as federal judge restores protections for gray wolves in much of U.S., reversing Trump's (bad) policy. Dung beetles live in many habitats and are found on all continents except Antarctica. Dung beetles do not have to eat or drink anything else, because the dung provides all the necessary nutrients. By burying and consuming dung, dung beetles improve nutrient recycling and soil structure and reduce the number of pests. So you want these bugs around. The Egyptians saw the scarab (dung beetle) as a symbol of renewal and rebirth. The image, conveying ideas of transformation and resurrection, is ubiquitous in ancient Egypt. Dung beetles can navigate using the Milky Way making them the only insects known to orient themselves by the Milky Way. Listen now to discover the mysteries of the dung beetle. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| 23 Feb 2022 | Starfish Are Meant to Shine | 01:00:17 | |
Starfish, more accurately called Sea Stars, are star-shaped echinoderms (animals) that can be found in all the world's oceans. There are over 2000 species of Starfish found on every shoreline to the depths of the deepest oceans. Instead of blood, starfish use the water around them in a primitive version of a vascular system used for locomotion, adhesion, food manipulation and gas exchange. Some starfish’s stomachs can be everted from their body to engulf and digest food. | |||
| 02 Mar 2022 | Dandelions: A Flower By Any Other Name | 00:55:03 | |
Have you ever wished upon a dandelion? Those little puffballs that grow in your front yard, and if you blow away all the seeds you get a wish? By blowing away the seeds, you’ve actually granted the dandelion's wish of seed dispersal and helped one of the earth’s most abundant flowering species. Dandelions, also known as blowballs, are tap-rooted, perennial, herbaceous plants native to temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere. These plants, which many humans often call weeds, are actually an important part of the ecosystem and are incredibly useful to many creatures, including humans. Our ancestors grew dandelions for food and medicine since the beginning of farming. In The Good, The Bad, The News Just because it’s called “natural” doesn’t mean it’s good. “Black salves”, used to treat moles and cancer, are dangerous and can be life-threatening. So don't use them. Mosquitoes learn to avoid pesticides after just one exposure, which means the pesticides we currently use may not be effective forever. Mosquitoes may be one thing that is not Better Than Human. Old wind turbine blades are being used for bridge construction after they’re retired, which is good news because the blades are not biodegradable. Humpback whales have been removed from the Australian Threatened Species List following an incredible recovery in numbers. Because Dandelions are one of the first flowers in early spring, their nectar is important for a wide hosts of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Raw dandelion greens are a healthy food for humans, and contain phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are chemicals produced by plants, generally to help them resist infection. The term is used to used to describe plant compounds that are under research. While many supplement companies make outlandish claims about phytochemicals, like they can cure cancer, phytochemicals may or may not actually be useful to humans when consumed. Either way, dandelions don't cure cancer. But they may be good in your salad and are great for the environment. So let's all go blow on some blowballs. Listen now to learn more about dandelions Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| 09 Mar 2022 | Marine Iguanas: The Sea Lizard of the Galápagos Islands | 00:58:46 | |
Marine Iguanas are the only lizards currently on Earth that go into the ocean. Known as sea iguana or saltwater iguana, they are a species found only on the Galápagos Islands. These unique lizards forage for algae, which make up almost all of its diet, when not sunbathing on the shore. How and why did Marine Iguanas evolve only on these tiny islands in the middle of the ocean? Well, it’s complicated and exclusive to these islands loved by Charles Darwin. | |||
| 16 Mar 2022 | InverteButts: All About Those Weird Invertebrate Butts | 01:01:10 | |
In celebration of #InverteButtWeek on Twitter, this week's episode is all about those butts. And guess what? There are a lot of weirdass butts in the animal kingdom. How and why did we evolve butts? Scientists still are not exactly sure how anuses evolved. What we do know, though, is that for those animals lucky enough to have an anus, they have been rewarded with the ability to digest food more efficiently. Here are some examples of weird invertebrate butts in this episode. | |||
| 23 Mar 2022 | Wolverines: The Ferocious Predator and Trickster of the North | 00:53:33 | |
Wolverines are solitary animals that have a reputation for being ferocious and containing a strength out of proportion to their size. For example, though wolverines are the size of a medium dog, they have no problem taking on much larger animals, like a moose. Yes, Logan, from the X-Men is named after this animal, and if you know anything about this character, this is a good super hero name for him. (Well, Jennifer, that's because he was specifically designed with a wolverine animal in mind.) | |||
| 05 Apr 2022 | The Fruit Fly: Drosophila One of The Most Important Organisms in Biology | 00:59:37 | |
Fruit Flies, Drosophila melanogaster, are easily the best understood multicellular organism on the planet. Why do we know so much about Drosophila? Who decided to start studying this fly? And why do we keep investing time and money to fruit fly studies? Drosophila and humans share over 60% of our DNA, and about 75% of known human disease genes have a match in the DNA of fruit flies. Meaning, most human diseases can be studied using fruit flies. Drosophila is currently being used as a genetic model for Parkinson's, Alzheimer's disease, aging, oxidative stress, immunity, diabetes, and cancer, as well as drug abuse. Yes, we study all that (and a lot more) in this tiny (under 3 millimeter long) fruit fly. To look at why biologists started studying Drosophila we have to go back over 100 years ago to the Fly Room at Columbia University, and the experiments of Thomas Hunt Morgan. To see how we study Fruit Flies, you just need to look at all the Nobel Prizes awarded to scientists who made it their life's work to study with this fly. You probably studied fruit flies in biology at some point in your life, but most likely are not sure why biologists make such a big deal out of this tiny little insect. Listen now to find out why we know so much about Drosophila and why we keep studying the fruit fly.
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| 13 Apr 2022 | The Platypus: The Weirdest Animal on this Pale Blue Dot | 00:56:07 | |
The platypus is one of (or is) the weirdest animals on this planet. With its beaver-like tail, otter-like fur, and duck-like bill, the platypus looks like someone took leftover animal parts and sewed them together to make a hoax. | |||
| 20 Apr 2022 | Axolotl: The Adorable Deadpool of Vertebrates | 00:57:23 | |
Axolotl. You’ve probably seen a picture of this cute, meme-worthy animal, but what do you really know about this captivating animal? Do you know the one place on earth where they're natively found? Do you know how few are left in the wild and what hinders conservation efforts? Why some consider them the fruit flies of amphibians? Or, perhaps the most important question, why are they so darn cute? | |||
| 27 Apr 2022 | The Great American Interchange: When Two Continents Meet, Weird Things Happen | 00:53:25 | |
The Great American Interchange, also called Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI), is the epic geological event that occurred when the South American continent, which had been isolated for 50 million years, connected with the North American continent. The Great American Interchange is one of the most important events in the history of land mammals in the Americas. The landmass that is South American used to be home to many unique animals, like Australia is today. However, when the volcanic Isthmus of Panama came up from the ocean floor resulting in the formation of a connected Americas, animals could now migrate back and forth. This immigration of animals should have been uniform, but (spoiler alert) North American animals ultimately won out over their South American counterparts. Scientists are still trying to figure out why, though fossil evidence has shed light on the event. So check our newest episode where we dive into the animals of South America before the interchange and why these native animals were at a disadvantage when the continents connected. In the Good the Bad the News Litter of red wolf pups born for the first time in four years, which is good news for this critically endangered animal. Also, Pokemon Go might help young people with depression. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| 04 May 2022 | Red Pandas: The One, True Panda and a Plant-Eating Carnivore | 01:02:35 | |
The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is a cat-sized mammal native to the Himalayas and China. Despite being protected in all countries it has ranges in, the red pandas’ populations continue to decline. Red pandas are the original pandas; they were 'discovered' by Europeans first and their discovery gave rise to the name panda, and giant pandas were later named after them. However, we now know that red pandas and giant pandas are not related. So which species is the "true" panda? Depends on who you ask. But, since the word Panda actually means bamboo eater, are they not both true pandas? There are two subspecies of Red Pandas: the Chinese red panda and the Himalayan red panda. There are fewer than 10,000 Red Pandas left in the wild, and with its populations scattered in small pockets it could easily be wiped out. Red pandas are mostly-vegetarian carnivores, which seems counterintuitive. However, the carnivore classification doesn't necessarily coincide with an animal's dietary preference. So while a majority of their red panda diet is bamboo, which they luckily digest slightly better than the Giant Panda, they are still classified as carnivores because of their evolutionary history. Listen now to find out more about the red panda and why it was once described as 'the most beautiful animal.' In The Good The Bad The News Pixar’s newest movie 'Turning Red' is considered a controversial movie by some, all for stupid reason. Yes, there was 13 year old girl cringe, but that’s not what the controversy is about. Cat One-eyed Joe (Dexter) has returned home after a 5 year journey that included a luxury stay at a prison and being spoiled on an oil rig. Also, dog breed has little effect on dog behavior. | |||
| 11 May 2022 | Narwhals: The Non-Mythical Unicorn of the Arctic Oceans | 00:58:47 | |
Humanity might be the worst thing in the known universe, so why not take a break from that and learn about the non-mythical Unicorn of the Ocean, aka Narwhals. The first thing that comes up when you Google search Narwhals is “Do Narwhals still exist?” proving Amber isn’t the only one that thought they were a made up animal, and that there is a lot of confusion when it comes to this whale. | |||
| 18 May 2022 | Caffeine: How Coffee and Tea Changed the World | 00:59:10 | |
Caffeine is the most consumed stimulant on the planet. In fact, 90% of humans consume caffeine on a daily basis. Most people do not even think about this tiny molecule as they drink their morning coffee, or sip on their afternoon tea, or as their children chug soda at a birthday party. We’ve gone so far as to claim that it’s the sugar affecting the children, not the psychoactive drug they just consumed. And, humans aren’t the only animal addicted to caffeine. Bees prefer nectar with caffeine over nectar without to a detriment to their own health. So how did we get to the point where most humans need caffeine to make it through their day? Well, the history of caffeine cannot be told without the history of Coffee and Tea, and this is because until 1819, we had not isolated the molecule known as 1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine. Tea was discovered before coffee, and shaped nations through its trade. The British East India Company is an example of this, and for Americans, the Boston Tea Party. Coffee probably influenced the West first, though, and helped the world switch from beer and wine as the staple drink to coffee. Remember water wasn’t very safe in the past, so beer and wine were often consumed instead of water. When we switched to coffee/tea, we started drinking something that wakes you up instead of slowing you down, which increased human production, both physically and mentally. Was the spread of Coffee and Tea, hence caffeine, a good thing for humanity? Well, like all things, it is complicated. What we do know is that caffeine is a drug that you can become addicted to and that does affect your behavior. This molecule changed the known world as humans spread it across the globe. Listen now to learn about how caffeine shaped the past, and affects your present. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| 24 May 2022 | Villisca Axe Murder House Recorded Live On Location, Rerun | 00:55:21 | |
This episode on the Villisca Axe Murder House, was recorded live inside the Villisca House, back in September of 2021. And guess what? Host Amber knew nothing about the history of the Villisca house before we started recording. And, not only did Amber and Jennifer record an episode in the house, we spent the night there, recording the next morning and documented if anything occurred during the night. The Villisca axe murders occurred between June 9, 1912, and June 10, 1912, in the town of Villisca, Iowa. All six members of the Moore family and the two Stillinger sisters were found murdered in the house. All eight victims, (including six children), were bludgeoned with an axe. The reason for the murders and the murder(s) were never found. We start the episode discussing if visiting places where people were murdered is in bad taste. You can make an argument for both sides. Tune in as we discuss suspects in this unsolved case, if the house itself is haunted, and if so, who is haunting the house. Want to learn about the Villisca house and our creepy night? Listen now! | |||
| 31 May 2022 | Algae Without it You'd Be Dead | 00:59:06 | |
Algae. It's one of the greatest things on the planet and it's responsible for all life on Earth, including your life. But how much do you really know about this incredible species? Is it a plant? Why is it green? Can you eat it? Can we make it into fuel? What's up with algae blooms? | |||
| 08 Jun 2022 | Rats: Intelligent, Clean, Social, and Resourceful | 00:51:42 | |
This week's episode is a re-run that is all about rats, the long-tailed rodents that tend to be looked down upon within our society. Rats, however, are intelligent, clean, social, and resourceful animals that can survive almost anywhere. | |||
| 16 Jun 2022 | Rats: Studies Prove Rats Have More Empathy Than Humans | 01:01:47 | |
The Chinese zodiac stated that rats are creative, intelligent, honest, ambitious and generous hundreds of years before scientific studies proved all of these traits to actually be true. Except for, perhaps, honesty. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| 24 Jun 2022 | Peregrine Falcon: Evolution At Its Finest | 00:57:23 | |
Peregrine Falcons are the clear winner to the question what is the fastest animal on the planet. Their top speed is double that of the world's fastest land animal, the cheetah. Peregrine falcons, also called duck hawks, are one of the most common falcons and birds of prey on this planet. They can be found on almost every continent, and they’ll happily live in a city or the countryside. You can thank them for helping keep the pigeon population in check in many cities. | |||
| 01 Jul 2022 | Mosquitoes: Man's Greatest Nemesis | 00:55:41 | |
It has been estimated that over humanities history more than 50 billion people have been killed by mosquitoes. That is approximately half of all humans that have lived on this tiny blue dot killed by mosquitoes. For this reason, mosquitoes have been called man’s greatest nemesis. | |||
| 20 Jul 2022 | Coral Reefs Are Going Extinct, and Humans are to Blame | 00:57:57 | |
Regardless of what people may think or believe, the coral reefs are going extinct, and humans are to blame. Why should you care, besides the fact that coral reefs are living animals that deserve their chance to thrive? So what can be done to save the coral reefs? The simplest solution is fighting global climate change. (Doesn’t matter if you believe in global climate change or not, your failure to listen or understand science will not stop it from occurring). Besides that obvious solution, scientists have come up with some unique ways to try and save this important ecosystem, like reef insurance or artificial cooling systems. Listen now to learn about the coral reefs, some of the most unique ecosystems on the planet. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| 27 Jul 2022 | Penguins: The Flightless Birds of the Southern Hemisphere | 00:50:22 | |
Penguins are flightless aquatic birds that are almost exclusively found in the Southern Hemisphere. Penguins are evolved to catch fast-swimming prey and to live in cold temperatures. Their bodies have densely packed feathers, heavy muscles and huge fat supplies. Because of these adaptations penguins have lost their ability to fly, and while they might not look graceful on land, they are incredibly agile in the water. There was a penguin-like bird living in the Northern Hemisphere, the Great Auk, which went extinct due to human activities in the 1850s. Penguins for the most part breed in large colonies, but it’s not all happy feet. Penguin chicks often form crèche (groups of chicks), to protect themselves from predators and unrelated adult penguins. These crèche also provide warmth and provide a nursery for the babies. Penguins are often studied by scientists, and the Adelie penguins managed to disturb scientists so much so that a research paper on them was denied publishing in the early 1900’s. Listen now to learn about this flightless bird, the cute but sometimes terrifying penguin. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| 03 Aug 2022 | Goblin Shark: Living Fossils to Haunt Your Nightmares | 00:46:04 | |
Goblin Sharks are a species of rare sharks found in the deepest oceans throughout the world. The goblin shark gets its name from its terrifying unhinged mouth that is full of razor sharp teeth. These sharks use a stealth attack to float through the ocean until close enough to swallow their prey. (Its low-density and large liver make it buoyant, allowing it to drift towards its prey with minimal motions to avoid detection). Which mean, what the goblin shark wants to eat, will not see it coming. The goblin shark has a distinctively long and flat snout and in the original drawing of the species, its mouth maximally extended, which inspired the name “goblin.” Goblin sharks are most likely preyed upon by blue sharks. These blue sharks also inhabit the deep waters in the world's temperate and tropical oceans. Little is known about goblin shark reproduction because we’ve never seen a pregnant female in the wild. The same is true for Goblin Sharks’ close relative the Frilled Shark which is a long, eel-like shark known as one of the most primitive fishes in the ocean. The Frilled Shark has a truly torment inducing mouth that we’d never like to see again. Humans sucks, so join us as we talk Goblin Sharks, living fossils to haunt your nightmares. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 | |||
| 17 Aug 2022 | Dragonflies and the Science Behind Their Unique Adaptations | 00:53:41 | |
Dragonflies are some of the fastest flying insects in the world. With 360-degree vision, they can eat hundreds of insects per day, including those pesky mosquitoes and other biting insects. Their adaptations for flying are unique among insects and so precise that humans can only dream of being able to someday make machines that fly as well as dragonflies. | |||
| 31 Aug 2022 | It's All About that Dopamine Release | 01:01:44 | |
Most widely known as the 'feel good chemical,' dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the pleasure area of the brain's reward system that plays a role in many important body functions, including movement, memory, and pleasurable reward and motivation. But do you really know what Dopamine really is, and what it actually does in your brain? Or how it works in other parts of your body, or even how other life forms use it? Dopamine is made up of a benzene ring, which is one of the most important chemical structures that carbon based life forms need to exist. Dopamine is one of the oldest neurotransmitters (around 500 million years). Dopamine is found in a wide variety of both plants and animals, and it has a profound effect on the behaviors of all. Having the right amount of dopamine is important both for your body and your brain. High or low dopamine levels are associated with diseases including Parkinson's disease, restless legs syndrome and ADHD. Treating dopamine-related diseases can also cause issues. For example, treatments for Parkinson’s can cause schizophrenia-like symptoms, all because one tiny chemical in your brain is out of balance. The way your body makes and uses dopamine can actually be predicted based on your DNA, which makes some of us the losers when it comes to the dopamine gene lottery. However, more research is needed to determine how and why each individual use of dopamine is different. Listen now to learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about dopamine, your motivation to do anything. | |||
| 16 Sep 2022 | The History and Science of the Potato; Boil 'em, Mash 'em, Stick 'em in a Stew | 01:02:33 | |
In this episode, Jennifer and Amber explore the history of the potatoes. Or as a hobbit would say, "Po-tay-toes! Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew." However you like them, potatoes have changed the world. Jennifer insists potatoes are not roots or stems, but they’re tubers. Amber insists they are technically a specialized stem called a stolon. These tubers evolved to store food for potato plants when resources were scarce. The Native Americans living in what is now Peru quickly realized this benefit and began cultivating them. In the Western World, Potatoes were slow to catch on, due to the myth that they cause leprosy or that they were poisonous, and because they were thought of as “poor people” food. However, regardless of its rather interesting history, the potato has become the third most important food crop in the world. | |||
| 14 Oct 2022 | Monarch Butterfly: The Science Behind the Wandering Milkweed Common Tiger of the Americas | 00:51:57 | |
The monarch is a common butterfly, found in the Americas that is considered a poster species of pollinating insects. The monarch butterfly is easily recognizable because of its bright black, orange, and white patterns. Monarch butterflies are a parasite to their caterpillars’ only food source, milkweed. This plant itself is toxic to thwart insects from consuming its plant body, this includes an attempt to be toxic to monarchs. This has resulted in an evolutionary arms race between the two species. | |||
| 01 Jan 2020 | Episode One: The Mighty Opossum | 00:49:42 | |
Welcome to Better than Human the Podcast. In our show, sisters Amber and Jennifer humorously breakdown all the stupid, senseless, or downright silly things humans do and prove, once and for all, humans are not the epitome of the evolutionary chain. In our premiere episode, we'll be talking about North America's cutest, and only, marsupial, the opossum. Join us as we comically and informatively attempt to prove that these normally disregarded animals that many consider to be vermin are actually better than most humans. | |||
| 08 Jan 2020 | Episode Two: Dragons | 00:51:32 | |
The myth of the dragon exists across every continent and every culture dating all the way back to some of the very first civilizations of Mesopotamia. Dragons may or may not exist, but if they do, dragons breath fire and yet still cause considerably less damage to the environment than humans. Here's how they're better than humans. | |||
| 15 Jan 2020 | Episode 3: Gender is a Social Construct | 01:03:15 | |
Yes, there are more than two genders. Those who argue otherwise are probably white, middle-aged, conservative males. Gender is nothing more than arbitrary roles decided by society. However, not everyone fits these molds, and not everyone should have to. We can all be better than human by letting everyone be who they want to be. | |||
| 22 Jan 2020 | Episode 4: How Emus Won the War and Other Emu-tastic Adventures | 01:10:30 | |
The Emu, they're the worlds second largest bird. Emus are a cultural icon of the land down under, and are central to Australian mythology. These giant birds can't fly but they can run faster then you, probably can swim faster than you, and are most likely taller than you. Humans once fought a war with emus, which turned out to be a foolish endeavor, because the emus won. Humanity outsmarted ... by a bird, however glorious it may be. | |||
| 29 Jan 2020 | Episode 5: Human Stupidity: How Fools Foiled Dr. Semmelweis From Saving Lives and the US Government Nearly Obliterated North Carolina | 01:00:40 | |
Do you know what Operation Chrome Dome is? Do you know that it nearly caused North Carolina to be obliterated off the map? Bet you didn't learn about that in your history class. Did you also know that in 1847, Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis (the first doctor to say, "Hey, maybe we should wash our hands before treating patients") died in an insane asylum because nobody, including famous doctor Rudolf Virchow, believed him? Learn more in the newest episode of Better Than Human where Jennifer and Amber, the sassy sisters, dig in to some of the stupidest things humans have ever done. | |||
| 05 Feb 2020 | Episode 6: Algae. Without It, You'd Be Dead | 00:58:14 | |
Algae. It's one of the greatest things on the planet and it's responsible for all life on Earth, including your life. But how much do you really know about this incredible species? Is it a plant? Why is it green? Can you eat it? Can we make it into fuel? What's up with algae blooms? Learn more in our newest episode where we talk about the benefits of algae and how it is better than human. | |||
| 12 Feb 2020 | The Evolution of Meteorites | 01:04:53 | |
Meteorites, who cares? They're just rocks, right? Actually, these shooting stars from space tell us so much about the universe, and rocky bodies around us. Listen as we talk about if all life on Earth started with a meteorite, or if a meteorite from Mars proved there is life outside of our planet, or if you can survive being hit by one. Learn what happens when a meteorite hits our planet. Find out what to do if you find one, note, it's not sell it on the internet. | |||
| 23 Feb 2020 | The Backends of Wombats and Current Event Nonsense | 01:11:53 | |
Ever thought of crushing the heads of your enemy with your butt? Probably not. You know who has? That's right, wombats. That's not the only thing cool about one of Australia's iconic animals. | |||
| 10 Mar 2020 | New Mexico Whiptails aka Lesbian Lizards | 00:51:03 | |
Put on your weird hat, everybody, for this week's episode on the little-known New Mexico Whiptail. Also known scientifically as the Aspidoscelis neomexicanus, the New Mexico Whiptail is a species of lizard that despite consisting of ONLY FEMALES, still like to get down and dirty with one another. Next, learn why New Mexico Whiptails are called Lesbian Lizards and how this species maintains its population without males. Meanwhile, Jennifer and Amber, loudly debate (we TOTALLY weren't arguing and/or yelling at each other) hybridization and chromosomes in this riveting and entertaining, drama-filled episode of Better Than Human ... the podcast.
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| 16 Mar 2020 | World's Dumbest Weapons: Literal Bat Bombs and the Davy Crockett, aka a Nuclear Launcher | 00:57:12 | |
Have you ever seen a movie trailer, or an item for sale on tv, or just pass by something in the store, and thought to yourself, "Wow, someone along the line during creation of this thing really should have said no to the idea and put a stop to it?" I know I have! (The movie "Monster Trucks, am I right?) The same applies to weapons. You won't believe the kind of weapons that have actually been made by humans. This week, we discuss just two of them, bat bombs and the Davy Crockett, in this first part of an intermittent series of dumb decisions by humans. If you've ever played Fallout and have heard of the nuka-nuka, then you may or may not know it's a digital recreation of the Davy Crockett. Great for video games, not so much for real world application. | |||
| 25 Mar 2020 | Covid-19 Update: Why You Should and Shouldn't Be Worried | 00:43:40 | |
We wanted to do an update on the Covid-19 pandemic, because when we first did an episode about the virus about a month ago, I don't think anyone could have predicted the huge impact it would have on all our lives. We'll update you on new myths around the virus, why you should self quarantine, and how we know China did not make the virus. | |||
| 01 Apr 2020 | Episode Thirteen The Superstition Around The Number 13 | 01:03:59 | |
The number thirteen is the natural number following twelve and preceding fourteen (in case you didn't know ;p) and is just a number like any other number, so why do we consider the number thirteen unlucky? Where did the myth surrounding Friday the 13th come from? | |||
| 05 Apr 2020 | Episode 14: Lord Howe Island Stick Bug: The Not-So-Extinct Tree Lobster | 00:50:32 | |
On this week's episode of Better Than Human, Jennifer and Amber are probably even MORE amusing when they're PMSing and arguing with each other over an Invader Zim lunchbox. During our current-ish news section, we discuss how Tucker Carlson and Fox News think being 'woke' is a bad thing. The opposite would be asleep, I guess? Because going through life 'asleep' sounds awesome! (#sarcasm) And are Civil War Monuments participation trophies? Sorry racists (not sorry), yes they are. For reference, the article Jennifer and Amber reference in the episode is called: "Six-Legged Giant Finds Secret Hideaway, Hides For 80 Years by Robert Krulwich," which can be read at NPR by following the link below: | |||
| 15 Apr 2020 | Year of the Rat-a-tat-tat | 00:54:36 | |
Hey, weird fam! It is the Year of the Rat, and this week's episode is all about these long-tailed rodents that tend to be looked down upon within our society. Rats, however, are intelligent, clean, social, and resourceful animals that can survive almost anywhere. | |||
| 22 Apr 2020 | Tigers are Awesome, But Not Pets, and Joe Exotic is NOT the King of Tigers | 00:58:50 | |
In 'current' events, we talk about Americans protesting the quarantine, and turns out, just like you can't fix stupid, you can't quarantine it either. Does America's Individualism, causes us to be selfish jerks? | |||
| 29 Apr 2020 | Don't Blame the Horseshoe Bat | 00:57:38 | |
If a bat eats a different species of bat for dinner, is that considered bat-cannibalism? Amber and Jennifer are divided on the answer in this week's episode on the horeshoe bat, so it's up to you to be to the tie-breaker! | |||
| 06 May 2020 | Tyrannosaurus Rex, the Tyrant King of all Kings | 00:51:21 | |
In this week's episode, Amber is super grumpy because Jennifer hired plumbers who left without finishing their job, leaving us without water and plumbing for almost two days. Jennifer is NOT trying to kill Amber. Also, murder hornets are invading North America. | |||
| 12 May 2020 | The Sensationalized Murder Hornet Is Not Trying to Murder *You* | 00:55:46 | |
Welcome back to Better Than Human, the Podcast, this week Amber's weird hat is a full gas mask (think of the Dr. Who "Are You My Mummy" episode), because she is sick. | |||
| 19 May 2020 | Caspian, The Ancient Mother of All Horses | 00:49:12 | |
Welcome back to Better Than Human, the Podcast. In this week's episodes, Jennifer recalls the harrowing tale of the time she fell off a horse. Humorous anecdote, or is it related to this week's topic? | |||
| 27 May 2020 | Hemp: The Most Useful Plant in all of History | 00:51:03 | |
Hemp, what is it good for? Apparently, absolutely everything. Except getting high, it cannot get you high, so don't smoke it. | |||
| 03 Jun 2020 | End Racism. Stay Angry For Change. And the Immortal Jellyfish And Its Implications for Humans | 00:50:25 | |
First, a moment of silence for George Floyd and all the other Black lives lost to police brutality, racial injustice, and white supremacy. We need to stay angry, make change, and vote for people who will hold these murderers accountable. It is important that we do not forget. | |||
| 10 Jun 2020 | Glorification of Stupidity Part One: What is Stupid? | 00:35:13 | |
In this week's episode of Better Than Human, Amber shares some positive experiences of her day, and can't we all use some positivity these days. | |||
| 17 Jun 2020 | Glorification of Stupidity Part Two: The Vilification of Knowledge | 00:50:21 | |
In this week's current events, we talk the landmark Supreme Court case which ruled LGBTQ workers are protected from job discrimination. About time.
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| 23 Jun 2020 | Episode 25: Unicorns, The Myths, The Legends | 00:48:31 | |
It is believed that the first Unicorn image was recorded by the Indus Valley Civilization on the Unicorn Seal found at the archaeological site Mohenjo-daro, but it was the Greeks that popularized the creature. Greeks did not think that Unicorns were myths, they recorded them in their history books. Then they became popular during the middle ages, due to a poor translation of the bible, and from the rediscovery of Greek writings. But how did they go from a symbol of religion in the Middle Ages to our modern pop culture icon? And how did they become so ingrained in our culture? Learn more in this week's episode of Better Than Human. | |||
| 01 Jul 2020 | Parrots parroting people? | 01:00:41 | |
On August 24th, 2019, 23-year-old Elijah McClain was walking home after buying some tea at a local convenience store when he was murdered by Aurora Police. Please sign the Change.org petition for Justice for Elijah McClain, and so that his killers finally face consequences. | |||
| 08 Jul 2020 | The Ultimate Mimicker | 00:44:48 | |
In recent events, we lost a star. Not our star, obviously, but a star. Scientists aren't quite sure exactly what happened to it. Perhaps, the Dalek stole it. In other news, Alabama students hold Covid-19 parties. The hosts of this podcast cannot believe anyone needs to be told how dumb that truly is. | |||
| 15 Jul 2020 | Everything You Eat is a GMO | 00:56:11 | |
In our new segment, Coffee and Complain, we talk about how Trump wore a mask like a big boy, and then bragged about how pretty he looked. | |||
| 22 Jul 2020 | GMOs Continued: Genetically Modified Humans? | 00:32:57 | |
In Coffee and Complain, Amber discusses an article about research that found people who refuse to social distance are not as intelligent as those who do. So if you want dump people to social distance then we need to dumb down how we explain the need for masks to them. Then onto this weeks topic, a continuation of last week's episode on genetically modified organisms. First we talk genetically modified bugs. Should we eradicate mosquitoes from the face of the Earth? We can make a good argument for GMO mosquitoes, but what about humans? Genetically modifying humans is a huge moral grey area. If we can eliminate genetic disorders from humans before they're born should we, or could this lead to a slippery slope of designer baby? Who knows, we don't know, but these are important questions we must ask, sooner rather than later. | |||
| 29 Jul 2020 | Lucy in the Sky with Magic (Psilocybin) Mushrooms, From Prehistory into Modern Times. | 01:01:14 | |
This week in Coffee and Complain, a supernova exploded and threw a small dwarf star, but forget about that! That's science, and the Trump administration said we shouldn't listen science. | |||
| 05 Aug 2020 | Z. Tholussum (The Beautiful Translucent Snail) and The Creatures of the Lukina Jama Cave | 00:46:34 | |
In Coffee and Complain, Amber discusses the 'joys' of the American Health Care System, and why we're recording this episode on zoom. Murder hornets are now definitely a thing in the USA. Good times. Good times. Jennifer talks zombie fungus in cicada and why Donald wants to ban TikTok in the US. (Follow Amber on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander) Note: Jennifer meant Emma Stone NOT Emma Watson and Amber was talking about the Netflix show Maniac. | |||
| 13 Aug 2020 | I Want A Hippo ... Wait, Never Mind, Hippopotamus Are Terrifyingly Deadly | 00:58:44 | |
In Coffee and complain: Was Beirut Explosion Caused By a Missile? Did The Simpsons predicted the Beirut explosion? The answer is clearly no. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/hippo-haven-107453678/ | |||
| 20 Aug 2020 | Queen Alexandra's Birdwing, The Largest Butterfly (Not Bird) in the World | 00:54:57 | |
On coffee and complain, we talk Trump lacking basic human emotions, and how his attempt to destroy the Post Office could lead to an unstable government. Then onto this week’s topic, the big ass butterfly called Queen Alexandra's Birdwing, which is the largest butterfly in the World and is definitely not a bird. The interesting discovery of this Butterfly involved an English naturalist, a 2nd Baron, and was named after royalty. The Queen Alexandra's birdwing is an endangered animal which is restricted to approximately 40 square miles of coastal rainforest in Papua New Guinea. Jennifer manages to talk about platypus twice this episode, and Amber gets real dark towards the end. Don’t murder butterflies, they pollinate plants, they’re pretty and we like them. And enjoy this episode on this astounding Insecta. | |||
| 26 Aug 2020 | Intelligent Design? I Don't Think So. Just ask Marine Mammals, the Spotted Hyenas, and Pandas. | 00:54:30 | |
In this week's Coffee and Complain, we talk YouTube’s political ads, which you can’t turn off and are forced to watch, and are equivalent to watching fiction. The Golden State Killer was sentenced, thank you Michelle McNamara. An no one is surprised that all those racist people who donated to have a wall built got their money stolen. | |||
| 02 Sep 2020 | The 'Rediscovery' of the Somali Elephant Shrew | 00:46:30 | |
In Coffee and Complain: Amber is back in Ohio and heard about snakes slithering down unsuspecting human throats on the way down. We talk about how kink shaming is lame, and sometimes your parent's friends are ... not that bright. Also, white privilege DOES exist, even if you don't think so. | |||
| 09 Sep 2020 | The African Black-Footed Cat, the Worlds Most Endearing and Ferocious Hunter | 00:47:23 | |
In Water and Whine (we didn’t have coffee this week), Amber has perfect boobs. Isn’t she lucky? Disney canceled Christmas, because of Covid. The trump boat parade was sad, and like the rest of the Republican party, pathetic. The rich people’s boats caused the smaller boats to sink. And isn't that just the perfect metaphor for USA? Last week, Amber and Jennifer talked about a small cute mammal from Africa, this week we’re doing an adorable predator that hunts them, the Black-Footed Cat (Felis nigripes), also called the small-spotted cat, the smallest wild cat in Africa, and locally called Sebala cat, Bont-kat, or Afrikaans, which mean anthill tiger. Despite the Black-Footed Cat’s name, only the soles of its feet are actually black. This cat may be tiny, but they are vicious and the most successful solitary hunter in the world. Listen as Amber and Jennifer entertaining talk about one of the worlds most endearing, and ferocious, hunter. For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 16 Sep 2020 | Heroes of the Animal Kingdom: Dogs, Giant Tortoises, Pigeons, and More | 00:50:02 | |
As a disclaimer, Better Than Humans does not condone animals sacrificing their lives for humans. We love animals. This whole podcast is about how animals are better than human. But this week we wanted to highlight and celebrate some heroic deeds by heroic animals that saved humans or their own species from extinction. Listen as Jennifer and Amber tell the amazing tales of animal heroes from of Trackr, a German shepherd dog who sniffed out survivors after 9/11, and the amazing messenger pigeon who saved two hundred soldiers during WWI to tales of beavers saving a young boy in Canada, a part wolfdog who saved his human pact from drowning, and Diego the Tortoise who helped save his species one female Tortoise at a time. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 23 Sep 2020 | The Ultimate (And Cutest) Survivor: The Water Bear, Moss Piglet, Tardigrade | 00:55:05 | |
In Coffee and Complain, we actually don’t complain this week, instead we talk Halloween and October, the best holiday and month, respectively, of the year. Do you believe in ghosts? Find out if Jennifer and Amber do. This week’s topic is the world’s ultimate survivor, Tardigrades, also called water bears or moss piglets (isn’t moss piglet the cutest name ever). Tardigrades are a phylum of over 1,000 water-dwelling, micro-animals that have been found everywhere on Earth, including Antarctica and the deepest parts of the world’s oceans. They can survive extreme heat and cold, extreme pressure or lack of pressure (think outer space), almost complete dehydration, and radiation levels that would kill most animals. Tardigrades have survived all of Earth’s five mass extinctions. Each time they survived an extinction, the Tardigrades have become stronger and more likely to survive another mass extinction, and will definitely outlast humanity. So put on your headphone, or not, and learn about the Moss Piglets that almost never die from anything other than age. For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander (if it still exists in the US) or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 30 Sep 2020 | The Ancient Horseshoe Crab and Its Importance to Fighting Covid-19 | 00:49:03 | |
This week's topic is the Horseshoe Crab, which is one animal we wouldn't describe as cute, but they sure are a winner when it comes to evolution. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander (if it still exists in the US) or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 07 Oct 2020 | Halloween Part 1: Zombies in Nature Are Scarier Than Those in Film and Television | 01:03:56 | |
It’s the first week of October, so put on your weird hat and get ready for Better Than Human’s first Halloween themed episode on Zombies, in pop culture and in nature. (Yes, there are zombies in nature, according to Jennifer). First for Coffee and Complain: Designers, please make women’s clothing with pockets. And now for the main attraction: Zombies. The ideology of zombies were introduced to Western Culture from Haitian folklore, where the dead can be controlled by a malicious voodoo practitioner. Since then, Zombies have evolved drastically in pop culture, starting with the 1932 movie White Zombie, where a zombie was just a person under mind control, to Zombieland, where they are fast-moving, reanimated corpses. Amber puts an argument forward that zombies do not and cannot exist in humans. Jennifer presents all the evidence from nature to prove that humans could exist in humans. (And trust us, zombies is nature are more terrifying than zombies in film.) Which sister do YOU think won the argument? Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander (if it still exists in the US) or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 14 Oct 2020 | Halloween Part 2: Inaccuracies of Ghost Hunting and Can Quantum Mechanics Prove Ghosts Exist | 01:09:54 | |
Did you know that almost half of Americans believe in Ghosts? Are you one of those believers? Are you on the fence? Or do you need some scientific evidence to show that ghosts do, in fact, exist? First off, in coffee and complain, Amber proves she's been weird since childhood and Jennifer proves American idioms are strange. Then let us all agree that Wolverine Watchmen is a stupid name, and that the terrorists who plotted to kidnap Governor Whitmer were dangerous, but thankfully also idiots. On to this week’s topic: Ghosts. What is a ghost? Are they a Swedish rock band or the spirit of a dead person or animal that can appear to the living? Note this episode is on the latter. The belief in ghosts is widespread, dating back to animism or ancestor worship in pre-literate cultures. However, Jennifer says there is no scientific evidence as of yet to prove that they exist. How is that so, you might ask, with all the ghost hunters out there? Well, we go over what mistakes amateur ghost hunters usually make. Amateur ghost hunters may be entertaining, but rarely do they take a scientific approach. Amber then attempts to prove that ghosts may exist using quantum mechanics. (Like a more logical version of how Endgame used quantum mechanics to time travel). Does Amber prove ghosts exist in the space-time continuum? Listen to this episode to find out. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander (if it still exists in the US) or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 20 Oct 2020 | Bonus Halloween Part 2: The Amityville House and the Famous Tantallon Castle Photograph | 00:32:41 | |
Time for a bonus episode, weird fam! Since Amber talked so much about Quantum Mechanics in last week's episode, Jennifer and Amber recorded a bonus episode on famous hauntings and/or famous ghost photos. We promise, no more Quantum Mechanics or theories drudged up from the depths of Amber's weird brain. Only true stories that prove (or if you are Jennifer, don't prove) that ghosts exists, including the tale Amityville and the famous Tantallon Castle ghost photograph. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander (if it still exists in the US) or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 21 Oct 2020 | Halloween Part 3: The Origins of Vampires and How Modern Media Changed the Folklore | 01:00:52 | |
In this week's episode of Better Than Human, Jennifer and Amber discuss the origins of vampires. In modern pop culture, vampires are generally pale, suave, sophisticated beings that feast on the blood of their victims in the dead of night. However, up until the 1800s, vampires were a far cry from how we see them today. Though they were not called vampires in ancient cultures, almost every European and Asian culture has their own vampiric folklore. Listen as Jennifer and Amber discuss the differences and learn how the modern interpretation evolved from these folklores. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander (if it still exists in the US) or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 28 Oct 2020 | Halloween Part 4: Wendigos of Algonquin Folklore | 00:56:15 | |
In this week's episode of Better Than Human, Amber and Jennifer dive right into our topic of the terrifying , blood-curdling Wendigo. The wendigo is a mythological creature born from the folklore of the First Nations Algonquin tribes located in the Great Lakes Region of Canada and Wisconsin. It is a monstrous malicious spirit that can possess a human being and turned them into a flesh-eating monster. Gaunt to the point of emaciation, with desiccated skin pulled tightly over its bones, skin colored ash-gray, and sunken coal like eyes, a wendigo invokes murder, insatiable greed, and uncontrolled hunger for human flesh. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander (if it still exists in the US) or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 04 Nov 2020 | Hooded Seals and Their Super Macho, Inflatable Bladder Septum | 00:50:50 | |
How is everyone doing today? Amber assumes she'll spend all day crying, and if you're a decent American, you'll know why. Why not learn about the Hooded Seal as a distraction from this political nightmare? The hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) is a large true seal found only in the central and western North Atlantic. It is known for its uniquely elastic nasal cavity located at the top of its head, also known as a nose hood. Does anyone really know why male Hooded Seals evolved two inflatable balloons on their faces? How does that even happen? And no, we really aren’t sure how it evolved or why. Like we've said before, evolution doesn't always make sense. Maybe it's because they’re so giant, and fighting for mates require too much energy? Perhaps. Listen to learn more about this interesting animal. | |||
| 11 Nov 2020 | A Phew Skunk Facts and Why You Shouldn't Consider Skunks Pests | 00:59:29 | |
What’s most exciting about this 2020 American Election is that we, Americans, elected someone who believes in science. Sad, but true. There are going to be actual scientist in charge of the EPA and CDC. There are going to be actual professionals in different cabinet positions instead of people looking out only for their own interests. Hey, we might even decide to start taking global climate change seriously. The immediate future is even more unpredictable than usual, but what we do know is that Better Than Human is here with a phew skunk facts, and to tell you that you shouldn't judge skunks based on their smell. Skunks are actually adorable, even if they have scent glands that allow them to spray noxious chemicals with a high degree of accuracy, as far as 10 feet. Skunks are omnivorous that can easily adapt to human environments, which is why you might find them hanging out in your backyard. But why are Skunk’s better than human? Listen now to find out. | |||
| 18 Nov 2020 | Hellbender: The Sentinel Snot Otter, the largest salamanders of North America | 00:48:02 | |
This week’s topic, Hellbenders Salamanders. Also called snot otter, lasagna lizard, devil dog, mud-devil, Allegheny alligator, and mud dog, Hellbenders are the largest salamanders of North America. The origin of the name "hellbender" is unclear, and probably derived from colonists who did not think these salamanders are as cute as Jennifer thinks they are. Despite misconceptions, Hellbenders are not poisonous; they just produce a lot of slime to protect themselves. Considered a "habitat specialist," Hellbenders have adapted to fill a specific niche within a very specific environment, and their presence shows a healthy ecosystem. So, yes, the males may like to cannibalize eggs, but that isn’t want is causing them to be endangered. That is, of course, is humans fault and the stupid Trump administration. Why should we save this interesting animal? Listen now to find out. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander (if it still exists in the US) or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes | |||
| 25 Nov 2020 | Aye-Aye, The Little-Known (Not Evil) Lemur of Madagascar | 00:53:03 | |
This week on Better Than Human, Jennifer and Amber explore the little-known lemur of Madagascar known as the Aye-Aye. But first, the co-hosts bitch about something all women are probably familiar with, and what most women probably find incredibly irritating: mansplaining. Women, you know what we’re talking about. Men, listen and learn. We also ask if growing your own cells in a petri dish, and then eating said cells, is cannibalism, or is it vegetarian? Back in the day, before Google (anyone else remember those days?), Amber did a project on Aye-Ayes, and recently was reminded of them from a Top Ten Ugliest Animals list. Are they one of the worlds ‘ugliest’ animals? Jennifer and Amber don’t think so, but will agree that they might have the weirdest looking hands of any animal. The aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) is a long-fingered lemur in the primate family, with rodent-like teeth that continuously grow and fingers specialized for very-specific tasks related to eating. Sadly, aye-ayes are commonly thought to be bad omens by some of the Malagasy people. The aye-aye is often viewed as a harbinger of evil and killed on sight. Others believe that if one points its narrowest finger at someone, they are marked for death. The aye-aye was thought to be extinct in 1933, but was rediscovered in 1957. Recent research shows the aye-aye is more widespread than was previously thought, but its conservation status was changed to Endangered in 2014. Listen to learn more about why we should save this remarkable species, as well as all the other Madagascar Lemurs. Do you like aye-ayes? I can't hear you! Aye-aye, Lemur! Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander (if it still exists in the US) or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes | |||
| 02 Dec 2020 | Let It Snow: Pseudomonas Syringae, The Bacteria that Helps You Build a Snowman | 00:47:50 | |
Pseudomonas syringae is a rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacterium with polar flagella. It is a plant pathogen that can infect a wide range of plants, which you probably don’t find interesting, but the fact that they may control the weather might peak your interest. Think walking in a winter wonderland. First though, Cat's won our Twitter poll, (Dogs vs. Cat's coming soon), but as Amber points out, Dog people might be more likely to go outdoors and less like to be shut-ins like Jennifer, which makes Cat people more likely to be on Twitter voting in our poll. Also, prunes are plums, one of us didn’t realize this. And anyone else remember the Goosebump episode about prunes? One of us did not. American Society for Microbiology published an article that peaked Jennifer's interest on this week's topic. The article was called "The Discovery of Pseudomonas syringae in the Air" (see the link posted below). David Sands, a plant pathology professor at Montana State University, discovered P. syringae in the air by getting in a plane, flying said plane above some croplands, opening the window, and holding a petri dish outside the plane. Why was he interested in bacteria in the sky? Find out why in this week's episode of Better Than Human. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander (if it still exists in the US) or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes | |||
| 09 Dec 2020 | It's the Most Horrible Time of the Year Says the Grinch | 00:54:55 | |
The Grinch is a fictional character created by Dr. Seuss. He is best known as the main character of the children's book How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1957). Hairy, pear-shaped, and snub-nosed, the Grinch has spent the past 53 years living in seclusion on a cliff, overlooking the town of Whoville. The Grinch is mean-tempered, with the consensus among the Whos being that he was born with a heart "two sizes too small". He especially hates the Christmas season. While we can all agree with the Grinch's anti-consumerism message, are there other reasons to dislike the holiday season? Listen as Amber, on of Better Than Human's two stellar hosts, lists all the reasons why the holidays maybe aren't the most wonderful time of the year. Is Amber the definition of a Grinch? Is she a wet blanket on the Christmas joy of others? Or is she right? For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander (if it still exists in the US) or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes | |||
| 16 Dec 2020 | The Most Epic Cats vs Dogs Debate: Part One | 00:48:05 | |
In Better Than Human’s special 50th episode, throughout time it has been debated, with no clear winner, if cats are better than dogs. Who will win this epic debate of Cats vs Dogs? It's Amber vs Jennifer, sister vs sister, the battle that was always meant to be. Listen as the sisters use facts and evidence to prove, once and for all, which are better. Will it be cats, or will dogs reign supreme? Whose side are you on Team Amber in camp dog, or Team Jennifer in camp cat? Listen as we debate the world's most important question of all time. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander (if it still exists in the US) or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes | |||
| 23 Dec 2020 | The Most Epic Cats vs Dogs Debate Ever: Part Two | 00:54:04 | |
In Part 2 of Better Than Human’s special 50th episode, who will win this epic debate of Cats vs Dogs? Will it be cats, or will dogs reign supreme? Dogs are great at sniffing things out, and are very useful at helping humans find things. Cats have far fewer scent receptors than dogs, however, cats may be better at discerning different smells, so should we try training them to sniff things out for us? Or more importantly could we train a cat? Cats are more independent and less needy than dogs, is that a point for cats or a point for dogs? Does your preference and personality decide which pet you’ll like more? Do you want an independent animal friend, or one that needs more attention? Have you decided whose team you’re on: Team Amber in camp dog, or Team Jennifer in camp cat? Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander (if it still exists in the US) or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdnes | |||
| 06 Jan 2021 | Potoo? What's a Potoo, Precious? | 00:42:05 | |
Welcome back, everyone, to Better Than Human the Podcast Season 2! This week’s topic is the strange looking Potoo birds. These nocturnal insectivores’ spend their days perched on tree stumps, camouflaged like a stump. What’s noticeable about them, if you’re lucky enough to observe this mysterious bird, is their strange appearance. And trust us, Potoos are very strange, indeed. First we start with what Jennifer and Amber shouldn’t have to tell people: don’t believe everything you see or hear. Think about it first. Does it make sense? Is it logical? Maybe do a quick Google search. Use your brain cells to know if your looking at a lie. Potoos, part of the Nyctibiidae family, are a group of Caprimulgiformes birds related to the nightjars and frogmouths (also an odd-looking animals). There are seven species of Potoos and they’re all native to tropical Central and South America. People have been known to call Potoos “poor-me-ones”, because of their bizarre calls. When you hear it, you’ll know what we’re talking about. Listen now to learn about this little known gem of an animal. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander (if it still exists in the US) or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 13 Jan 2021 | Radiodonta: The Largest and Earliest Known Predator of the Cambrian Era | 00:47:02 | |
Radiodonta is an order of stem-group arthropods, which included the earliest known predators. Radiodonta were successful worldwide during the Cambrian period, and are ancient relatives to spiders, insects, and crustaceans. (Though, no living relatives exist). First, however, let's talk about what happened last Wednesday. Turns out Trump’s rioters were mostly sad men still living with their mothers, and Trump was upset that they were ‘low-class’. A lot of the rioters believed in “QAnon”, and if you say what they believe in out loud, you’ll realize how stupid this conspiracy theory actually is. But, good news everyone, Trump is banned from Twitter! That means one less crazy person ranting on Twitter. Before you start to learn about Radiodonta, Google them. They are some weird Pokémon-looking animals. Their name, Radiodonta, comes from the radial arrangement of tooth plates (oral cone) surrounding the mouth, so they are literally named after their mouths. Radiodonta have an interesting history of discovery, and it wasn’t until recently that they were recognized as their own group. They also have some weird frontal appendages that makes each species unique. Radiodonta were recently in the news due to new research that suggests they were likely to have had excellent vision that was way more advance then scientists originally thought possible at the time. Listen now to learn more about this fascinating group of ancient creatures. (this is the paper about their cool eyes https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/49/eabc6721) Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander (if it still exists in the US) or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 20 Jan 2021 | Stupid Human Behaviors and The Science on Why We Do Them | 01:01:43 | |
As humans we all do stupid things, like worship celebrities, troll people we don't know, waste money buying expensive organic food, or following the most recent internet trend. But the question is WHY do we do stupid things? What makes us want to know everything our favorite movie star is doing? Or obsessively follow our favorite musician online? We do not know these people; they are not our friends. They don’t even know we exist. So, what does science say on why we worship them? On the flip side of that, what makes an Internet Troll? We all know to not read the comments, but what makes someone make it their job to hate on someone. (We’re talking taking hours out of their day to put one person down). Is it for attention, or do they just get joy from upsetting others? One thing we do know is that Trolls are sad, pathetic losers. Why do we waste our money buying organic food with no proof that is actually better for us or the environment, or when there isn't even a standard definition of what organic food is? Why do humans follow the most recent trend, like planking or the cinnamon challenge? What is the allure in following the crowd? Listen now to learn some of the science behind the reasons why we do stupid things. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander (if it still exists in the US) or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 27 Jan 2021 | What Does the Island Fox Say? | 00:44:54 | |
Put on your weird hat and get ready to learn about the Island Fox; the smallest fox in the world that played an important role in the spiritual lives of native Channel Islanders. The island fox (Urocyon littoralis) is native to six of the eight Channel Islands of California and, as a result of insular dwarfism, are the smallest species of foxes. There are six subspecies of Island Foxes, each unique to the island it lives on. Island foxes are generally docile, show little fear of humans, and are easily tamed. From humans nearly wiping out bald eagles to introducing invasive species and diseases to the islands, island foxes nearly went extinct on all six islands in the 1990s. However, conservation efforts have been successful and populations have rebounded. Considering Island Foxes are a keystone species, it is important we protect this adorable species. Listen now to learn how through dedicated conservation, we managed to save the Island Foxes. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 02 Feb 2021 | The Mysteries of the Elusive Beaked Whale | 00:50:34 | |
Beaked Whales are an elusive species that we know very little about. In fact, they are so mysterious that scientists might have just discovered a new species of Beak Whales in 2019. First, let's talk about how humans are the worst. SNL said it best with their cold open starring Kate Mckinnon seeing if anything still 'works' in America. Long story short, America is broken, we can’t have nice thing anymore, and maybe vote instead of committing treason. Beaked whales are cetaceans that are are largely unknown marine mammal. This is due to their deep-sea habitats, small populations, and general shyness. Beaked whales are moderate in size, especially when compared to Blue Whales, and are most known for their deep-sea diving. They regularly dive deeper than 500 m (1,600 ft) and use echolocation to search for food. They have been recorded diving 2992 m (9816 ft) in depth, a record for mammals. The deepest humans have ever dived is 332 m (1082 feet). Due to their elusively behavior, we're not even sure how many different species there are out there and there is still much to be discovered about this glorious species. Listen to learn more about this mysterious mammal that is important for not only marine ecosystems, but for the climate of the entire planet. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 09 Feb 2021 | The Tiniest Turtle In Town: The Bog Turtle of North America | 00:44:17 | |
The bog turtle is a critically endangered species of semiaquatic turtle, and it is the smallest turtle of North America. The species is endemic to isolated areas in the eastern United States. But first, Amber didn't think a bog turtle was an animal because she didn't understand the definition of what an animal is. So again, Jennifer must explain that animals are all living organisms with nervous systems. Chemists, am I right? For todays episode, we’re channeling TMNT. Amber is Raphael and Jennifer is Michelangelo, so let's cowabunga. The Bog Turtle is similar in appearance to the painted or spotted turtles, however its closest living relative is the wood turtle. Bog turtles live in colonies that often consist of fewer than 20 individuals, and their habitat must be wetlands that consist of both wet and dry regions. Since these types of areas are hard to find in the US these days, Bog Turtles are limited to a small number or areas leading to their critically endangered status. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 16 Feb 2021 | Glass Frogs: Why You Can See Their Insides on the Outside | 00:47:06 | |
Glass Frogs are lime green amphibians with see-through skin. Not kidding, you can literally see their internal organs, including the heart, liver, and gastrointestinal tract, without cutting them open. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 24 Feb 2021 | Pangolin: The Most Trafficked Animal in the World | 00:51:19 | |
Pangolins, sometimes called scaly anteaters, (though they’re not closely related to anteaters), are the only mammals with their own body armor. There is a good chance you’ve never heard of this animal even though it is, sadly, the most trafficked animal in the world. First, Jennifer and Amber talk about cloning endangered animals. Is it a good idea? Cloning can be used to introduce new genes into a population, which is great, but will it lead to lax conservation or the introduction of animals that went extinct years ago, like the woolly mammoth? This week’s topic, pangolins, comes from the Malay word pengguling, meaning "one who rolls up", because they literally roll up into a heavily armored ball when threatened. Their armor is so strong they’ve been known to survive being hit by cars. Pangolins are threatened by poaching (for their meat and scales), which are used in Chinese traditional medicine, and because of heavy deforestation of their natural habitats. As of January 2020, all eight species of pangolin have a conservation status listed as threatened, and some critically endangered. New research has shown that maybe we got COVID-19 from pangolins, who got it from something that got it from bats. But if that is the case, (which we don’t know for sure), it would still be human’s fault for trafficking these adorable Pokémon like creatures. Listen now to learn about pangolins and why they’re Better Than Human Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 03 Mar 2021 | Sundews: The Carnivorous Plant You Should Not Trust | 00:47:22 | |
Sundews (Drosera) are a family of carnivorous plants of which Charles Darwin once said, “I care more about (Drosera) than the origin of all the species in the world." Amber does not think we should trust this small plant for good reason. Drosera lures in its prey using a sweet sticky substance to capture and digest insects, and though just a plant, their movements are precise and deadly. Sundews have been known to live up to 50 years and grow on all continents except Antarctica. Sundews generally grow in moist habitats with acidic soils and high sunlight levels. Many species grow in association with peat moss, which absorbs most of the nutrients in the soil. Listen now to learn more about this fascinating plate that Darwin loved and that would eat you if it could only grow large enough. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 07 Mar 2021 | Leafy Seadragons: Looks like Seaweed, But Named After Mythical Dragons | 00:46:49 | |
This week Amber and Jennifer travel to Southern Australia to learn about the Leafy Seadragon (Phycodurus eques), also known as Glauert's seadragon or just Leafies. We didn’t literally travel there, you know cause there’s a pandemic going on, and Australia is really far away from us… The Leafy Seadragon is a marine fish much like the more well known Seahorse, and it derives it’s name from the mythical dragon. First, Potato head is a potato, and a plastic potato does not need to have a gender. So people, stop freaking out. Also, cancel culture has been used by both conservatives and liberals, so stop pretending that only one side is doing it. The leafy seadragon has appendages that give it the appearance of seaweed, providing the creature with the perfect camouflage. When swimming or just floating through the ocean, they appearing to move through the water like a piece of floating seaweed. Leafy seadragons are bad swimmers and need their camouflage to avoid predation. Like seahorses, the male leafy seadragon cares for the eggs. Leafy seadragons have lots of threats, both natural and man-made, and will not reproduce in captivity. Listen now to learn why Leafy Seadragons are better than human, and why they need to be conserved and protected. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 14 Mar 2021 | The Most Likely Extinct Ivory-Billed Woodpecker: The Bigfoot of the Birding World | 00:46:46 | |
The ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) is a most likely extinct woodpecker native to the forests of the Southeastern United States and Cuba. We say most likely because sporadic reports of sightings of the ivory-billed woodpecker have continued into the 21st century. Some call this bird the Holy Grail of all bird. Why? Probably because finding either nowadays is a myth. First some good news, Happy Belated International Women’s day! Jennifer and Amber tell everyone their favorite female scientist. Hint: Amber’s went into space and Jennifer’s got no credit for helping for discovering the meaning of life. Habitat destruction and hunting have ravaged populations of the ivory-billed woodpecker so that the species is listed as critically endangered by some groups, and as "definitely or probably extinct" by others. The last universally accepted sighting of an American ivory-billed woodpecker occurred in Louisiana in 1944, and the last universally accepted sighting of a Cuban ivory-billed woodpecker occurred in 1987. No attempts to study the ivory-billed woodpecker were done until the population had been severely reduced by deforestation and hunting. Humans probably could have saved this species in the 1930s, but the Singer Sewing Company and Chicago Mill and Lumber Company destroyed its last known habitats in America. Listen now to learn about the bird that humans could have saved if we weren’t the worst. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 22 Mar 2021 | The World's Most Venomous Creatures are Still Better Than Human | 00:59:50 | |
Venom is a toxic (sometimes deadly) substance produced by some animals, and this week Amber and Jen parley on some of the world’s most venomous creatures. Now, if you look at the stats, venomous creatures kill less humans a year than non-venomous creatures, but who wants to learn about a mosquito when you can learn about an animal with enough venom to kill 100 grown men? To start Anti-vaxxers (anti-vaccine people) must be some of the dumbest people on the planet. Their failure to use basic logic is akin to punching yourself in the face and then wondering why your face hurts. Jen and Amber can’t even, so let’s talk about venomous creatures! Amber starts the episode with the Black Mamba, a not-actually-black snake, that have heads’ the shape of coffins, because if you’re bitten by one, you’re likely to end up in a coffin. Jennifer discusses the Inland Taipan, the venom of which is by far the most toxic of any snake Both sisters talk Box Jellyfish. Amber talks Irukandji jellyfish, a tiny, but deadly, jellyfish. Jen talks the Sea Wasp, a jellyfish with tentacles up to 3 m (10 ft) long covered in darts with extremely powerful venom. The ocean is terrifying. Then keeping with the Australia theme, we do the Sydney funnel-web spider, whose poison can kill you, and guess what, they like to bite over and over. Sometime, they even hide in your shoes! Listen know to learn about some of the world’s most venomous creatures. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 28 Mar 2021 | Goose is Geese, so why is Moose not Meese? | 00:52:57 | |
This week’s episode is all about the Moose. But why is the plural not Meese? Really, someone, please explain it to us. The moose (what we call it in North America) or elk (what they call it everywhere else) are the largest member of the deer family, and a bull’s antlers can be up to seven feet long. But first: Better Than Human stands with the Asian Community, condemning any violence against Asians and Asian Americans. Racism and bigotry have no place in this world. #StopAsianHate Then guess who’s sadly back in town? It’s Murder Hornets…. Yes, they never went away, but it’s spring, the Queens waking up, getting ready to leave the mother hive and start their own nest and we must stop their spread in North America. If you live on the west coast and see one, please report it at https://agr.wa.gov/hornets Moose are cold-adapted mammals with thickened skin, and heat-retaining coats. Moose can be found mostly in Canada, the Northern States in the US, and Russia. Since the 1990s, moose populations have been declining in much of temperate North America, but they remain stable in Arctic and subarctic regions, this is most likely due to the results of climate change. Moose are generally slow and mild tempered, but can become aggressive, and move quickly if angered or startled. Like any wild animal, just leave them be. Listen now to learn about the Moose, not Meese, the giant mammals of Northern World. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 01 Apr 2021 | April Fool's Switcheroo: Staying Awake by Planthropology | 00:35:16 | |
Happy April Fools Everyone!
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| 07 Apr 2021 | Flying Squirrels: It Doesn't Fly, It Glides ... | 00:51:03 | |
Regardless of their name, Flying Squirrels cannot fly. If they could, they would probably be called bats. If you listened to our last episode, the theme of the last two weeks might be obvious. Think old school cartoons involving Moose and Squirrel. First we've got some advice and how to be a better human. Number one, don’t liter. There is nothing worse then watching the snow melt in Spring to reveal all the trash people have thrown out their car windows. Number two, don't drink alkaline water. “Real” water or alkaline water is a useless fad. Even if it could change the pH of your body, you really don't want it to. Flying squirrels are a group of 50 species in the family Sciuridae. Flying squirrels can be larger than a house cat, or smaller than a brown rat. Only two species are native to North America, the northern flying squirrels and southern flying squirrels, both of which are small. If you travel to Japan, you’ll find the Japanese giant flying squirrel, which is one of the largest, and the Japanese dwarf flying squirrel, which is one of the smallest. Fly squirrels can’t fly like birds or bats but are able to glide from one tree to another. They’re similar to squirrels, but cooler. Flying squirrels steer and control their glide path with their limbs and tail. They are very adapt at “flying” aka gliding, but are actually clumsy when moving on their feet. Listen now to learn how Flying Squirrels are better than human. | |||
| 14 Apr 2021 | Scaly-Foot Snail, AKA Sea Pangolin, AKA Iron Snail! | 00:43:33 | |
Scaly-foot gastropods are also known as scaly-foot snails, sea pangolins, and Iron Snails! Or if you want to be scientific, Chrysomallon squamiferum is a species of deep-sea hydrothermal-vent snails. These vent-endemic gastropods were discovered in Apr 2001 and only live in deep water (over a mile deep) by hydrothermal vents in three tiny locations in the Indian Ocean. But first, some life advice. Don’t tell women to smile. We don’t like it, and it does not make us feel better. Actually, just stop telling people in general what to do. Nobody likes it. Scaly-foot snails have an unique shell with the outer layer consisting of iron sulfides. Its “foot” is also unusual because it is armored at the sides with iron-mineralized sclerites. They are the only known animal that incorporates iron into their skeleton. Why do they have iron in their skeletons? We’re not sure, but it probably has something to do with the bacteria that live inside, and on, it and provide all its nutrients. Interesting, right? Listen now to learn more. Follow us on Twitter @betterthanhuma1 on Facebook @betterthanhumanpodcast on Instagram @betterthanhumanpodcast on TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@l_a_mander or Email us at betterthanhumanpodcast@gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness! #betterthanhuman #cultofweirdness | |||
| 18 Apr 2021 | Meerkats: The Cutest, but Most Murderous, Species on the Planet | 00:53:08 | |
This week we talk about Meerkats, which Amber picked. Why? Because she read an article about how Meerkats may be the most murderous mammal towards their own species known to science. Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) is a small mongoose found in southern Africa, that will straight up go to war with each other. But regardless of the headlines, Better Than Human still thinks humans are more murderous. Good news everyone! Amber isn’t having Satan’s baby or an Alien baby. (But is that really good news?) Also, don’t shame periods. Meerkats live in packs, with dominant 'breeders' producing most of the offspring, and the subordinate helpers caring for the pups. This division of labor, however, is not as uncompromising like you’d see in ants or bees. The meerkats have an interesting social structure, forming packs with up to 30 individuals. Members do different jobs, including keeping a lookout for predators. They really should be keeping a lookout on themselves cause about one in five meerkats are killed by members of their own species. | |||
| 25 Apr 2021 | Honeybee or Honey Bee? What's the Difference? | 01:02:42 | |
This week’s topic is the Honeybee, or if you want to be fancy, “Honey Bee”. Honeybees have been domesticated by humans to help crop pollination and for yummy honey. Everyone knows about the Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera), and most people probably know of Eastern Honey Bee (Apis cerana), but did you know there are at least six other species of Honeybees and around 20,000 species of bees on this planet? First, Happy Belated Earth Day! If you’re interested in donating or volunteering here are some of the sisters' favorite charities. 350.org which is dedicated to combating climate change by reducing the atmosphere's carbon dioxide concentration to the safe level of 350 parts per million. (We currently sit at 400 parts per million.) 4ocean.com Every purchase helps fund our global ocean cleanup operation and supports a growing movement to end the world’s reliance on single-use plastic. www.ucsusa.org Union of Concerned Scientists is a non-profit science advocacy organization dedicated to the lofty goal of making the planet a healthier and safer world. Honeybees live in eusocial colonies, which you've probably heard about in biology class, but were just never told the scientific name for it. Eusocial is a fancy way to say there's a strict caste system of the Queen, female workers bees, and of course the mostly useless male drones, and everyone sticks to their duties. But did you know that female worker bees have different jobs throughout their lives? Or that a few selfish worker bees can cause anarchy within a colony? Or that a Queen can mate up to 60 times? You’ve also probably heard that the bee population is declining, but do you know why? And, if the honey bee population collapsed, would the human population also collapse? Listen now to learn about the fascinating Honeybee | |||
| 05 May 2021 | Pterosaur: It's a Bird? It's a Dinosaur? It's Neither! | 00:53:27 | |
Pterosaurs, literally meaning “wing lizard," were flying reptiles that went extinct with the dinosaurs and were basically the birds of their time. Well, if birds could get up to the weight of a polar bear, have the wingspan of a small airplane, and the neck the size of a giraffe. Doesn't sound terrifying at all, right, Amber? Pterosaurs were the first flying animals with vertebrates and filled every niche birds currently fill. Including creatures similar to the wide mouth potoos, the wandering albatrosses, or even the carcass loving condor. The first fossils of Pterosaurs were discovered in the late 1700’s and confused their finders into thinking they could have only used their unusual limbs for paddling in the water. Later scientist thought they might have flippers. Some thought they might be marsupials (think flying Opossum), and others thought they were cold-blooded reptiles that had to jump from high places to fly. When we did realize that they flew, we could not figure out how. In fact, we still do not know how they flew, but we know that they could. Listen now to learn all about Pterosaurs, the flying cousins of dinosaurs, aka the Birds of Mesozoic. | |||
| 11 May 2021 | Peccaries: The Pig That's Not a Pig From the South | 00:52:33 | |
Peccary, also known as Javelina, are pig-like creatures that are not actually pigs. Peccaries are found throughout Central and South America and in the southwestern area of North America. The collared peccary is well-adapted to live around humans, and could be considered the raccoons of Arizona. Like raccoons or any wild animal, they should not be fed by humans, and though generally harmless, can attack when threatened. So make sure that you, and your pets, leave them alone. Peccaries are ecosystem engineers and keystone species, meaning the loss of peccaries will have significant ramifications for ecosystems. Peccaries are important because they disperse seeds, control tree growth, and create important watering holes. Unlike when humans engineer their ecosystems, peccary engineers are necessary for the ecosystem to thrive. | |||
| 19 May 2021 | Cicadas: Year of Brood X, The Magicicada Of North America | 00:54:08 | |
The cicadas are true insects, with over 3,000 species around the world. However, many species remain undescribed. Cicadas are found on all continents, except Antarctica, but are probably best known in North America because of the millions that emerge simultaneously from the ground every 13 or 17 years. Why do these eight species, Magicicada or periodical cicadas, live 99.5 percent of their lives underground, only to exit en masse to the surface? How do they know to emerge at the 13th or 17th year? We know they don’t have calendars, and we’re pretty sure they don’t have a number system to count the years. Listen now to learn more about Cicadas, a bug that can literally be so loud it can cause permeate hearing damage in humans. | |||
| 26 May 2021 | The Spectacled Bear, Not Speckled, And Its Spectacular Ancestors | 00:46:00 | |
The spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus), also known as the Andean bear, is the only surviving species of bear native to South America AND the only surviving short-faced bear. One of its closest relatives is the extinct Giant Short-Faced Bears (which if still alive would be terrifyingly enormous). Spectacled bears are seriously threatened by habitat loss with as few as 2,500 mature individuals remaining. Spectacled Bears are omnivores who avoid humans, and prefer to hang out in trees. They get the name spectacled from the distinctive colored markings on their face and chest that are unique to each bear. Did you know that Paddington Bear is a Spectacled Bear? Or that Stephen Fry did a documentary on a Spectacled Bear? Or have you hear of the Spectacled Bear named Miss Houdini at the San Diego Zoo? Listen now to learn about the Spectacled Bear, which everyone probably thought was called the speckled bear or something similar, but should actually be called the spectacular bear. Spectacled Bear Conservation Society https://sbc-peru.org/ Buy a Felti and Protect Spectacled Bear Habitat! | |||