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 …

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…

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 work…

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 drago…

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, all…

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 mi…

Regardless of what people may think or believe, the coral reefs are going extinct, and humans are to blame. Why should you care, besides the fact that coral reefs are living animals that deserve their chance to thrive? Because coral reefs are among the most diverse, complex and densely populated ecosystems and are often thought of as the rainforest…

It has been estimated that over humanities history more than 50 billion people have been killed by mosquitoes. That is approximately half of all humans that have lived on this tiny blue dot killed by mosquitoes. For this reason, mosquitoes have been called man’s greatest nemesis. Mosquitoes are so dangerous to humans that some scientists have propo…

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 happ…

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. Rats are among the most used research subjects and were the third animal, after humans and mice, to have their entire genome sequenced…

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. Listen as we delve into the history of rats. What makes a rat, a rat? How are rats used in scientific research? …

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 …

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. Listen as Jennifer tells Amber the history of the house, from inside the house's living room. And, not only did Amber and …

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…

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 …

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 late…

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 mamma…

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 mo…

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. When the first platypus arrived in England European scientists thought they were looking at a hoax, and we don’t blame t…

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…

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 thi…

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 be…

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 island…

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, p…

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, adh…

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 …

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 researc…

A lemming is a small rodent found in the Arctic tundra. Lemmings are a keystone species that maintain the arctic diversity as prey to large animals and plant grazers. And, NO, they do not periodically leap to their deaths, regardless of what common culture may tell us. However, lemmings do have periodic population booms causing them to disperse in …

You’re probably familiar with Hedwig, who according to ranker, is the world’s second most famous owl and perhaps the most famous snowy owl. But, what else do you actually know about this Arctic bird? Did you know this owl can survive at -135.4 Fahrenheit, and has several unique adaptations that are quite distinct from other owls. Such as their feet…

Gila Monsters are the only venomous lizards native to the United States. They are found in Southwestern US and Northwestern Mexico. These lizards have a bad reputation that is mostly unfounded. There are no recent incidents of a Gila Monster bite resulting in human fatality. In order to even get bit, one would have to be trying really hard to or ma…

The Gilbert’s Potoroo is Australia's most endangered marsupial, and one of the world’s most critically endangered mammals. The Gilbert’s Potoroo is a small, nocturnal marsupial that was recently rediscovered off the southern coast of Western Australia in Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. There are less than 100 Gilbert’s Potoroos left in the world. I…

Beluga Whales are white cetaceans adapted to life in the Arctic. Belugas are highly sociable and communicate in high-pitched squeaks, squeals, clicks, and whistles. This is why they’re also known as the "sea canary" of the ocean. Their forehead contains an organ (called a melon) that they use for echolocation, finding breathing holes in the ice, an…

Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure in Alpine folklore. On Christmas, he terrifies children who have misbehaved. Krampus has recently been introduced into North American culture, but has a rich history in Eastern European cultures, including pre-Christian pagan traditions where he has long been a companion of Saint Nicholas. Jennifer’s good…

The maned wolf is a large canine of South America. However, it is not a wolf, they aren’t even related. The maned wolf has many fox-like characteristics, but they are not related to foxes either. Maned wolves are a unique animal. They are the tallest wild canine species, but not largest, and they have an erectile mane. The Good, The Bad, The News F…

The American crow is a large passerine bird (song bird) of the family Corvidae. American crows are highly cunning and inquisitive, which makes them tricksters spirits. Crows both use and make tools, which is one of the reasons why crows are considered to be among the world's most intelligent animals. They’re probably smarter than a five-year-old ch…

In biology, plant mimicry occurs when a plant has evolved to resemble another organism, increasing the mimic's Darwinian fitness. Mimicry may provide the mimic certain benefits including protection against being eaten, trick pollinators into provide them a service without offering a reward (food) in return, or may even do something we haven't figur…

Cranberries are a fruit native to North America, and are a staple at most American Thanksgiving Dinners. Due to their very sharp and sour taste, cranberries are rarely eaten outside of the holidays. Nowadays, most Cranberries are consumed as a juice which can contain more sugar than soda pop, and has iffy health benefits. In The Good The Bad The Ne…

Hamsters are rodents commonly kept as pets. Do you know what Hamster means? Hoard. Do you know what a group of Hamsters is called? Horde. You know what that means? Bring out the horde of hoarders! If you’ve ever had a pet hamster, then you probably know, they're solitary animals that dislike changes in temperature, and may resort to cannibalism if …

Ladybugs (Ladybirds or Coccinellidae) are a widespread family of small beetles. Regardless of their name, they are not bugs nor birds. We’re not sure where their name comes from but it might come from "Beetle of Our Lady" in reference to the Virgin Mary. Many cultures consider them good luck, this is probably because they sometimes eat unwanted pes…

This week is all about the Allosaurus, a large carnosaurian theropod dinosaur that lived 155 to 145 million years ago during the Jurassic period. Think what the Velociraptors in Jurassic Park look like, but bigger, and spoiler: probably no pack hunting. In the Good The Bad the News In the Bad, Syphilis in on the rise in the U.S., a sign that our pu…

The Addams Family are almost the perfect family. How so, you ask? There are lots of reasons, like Morticia being a feminist icon, or Wednesday being every goth girl's life goals, or Morticia and Gomez being the perfect couple. #relationshipgoals But first, where did the fictional characters of the Addams Family come from? You might be surprised to …

A Mermaid is a mythical aquatic creature with the upper body of a female human and the tail of a fish. Legends of these creatures have been reported since the beginning of humanity. There is no evidence that mermaids live anywhere on earth. However, there are a lot of scientific reasons why they physically cannot exist. Seriously, fish and human’s …

Bigfoot, also commonly referred to as Sasquatch, (another word we’ve stolen from Native Americans), is a large bipedal ape-like creature, covered in hair. Bigfoot has become an icon of cryptozoology. You know what cryptozoology is? Fake science. There is no evidence that Bigfoot exists. Even animals that have gone extinct millions of years ago leav…

It’s finally October, the best month of the year, and time for Better Than Human's spooky Halloween Episodes. We start the month off with a BOO and an episode on the Villisca Axe Murder House, recorded live in the Villisca House itself. Poor, poor Amber knew nothing about what happened in the house before recording. Not only did Amber and Jennifer …

Neanderthals went extinct around 40,000 years ago so there are a lot of maybes when it comes to what we know about them. Did they know how to start fires? Did they use medicine? Did they have a language similar to humans? Did they know how to preserve food? Did they create art and music? Did they make clothing? Did they sail? The answers to all tho…

Neanderthals are an extinct species of archaic humans who lived to about 40,000 years ago. Neanderthals left Africa, while modern humans stayed behind. They interbred with an unidentified human species and then were ‘replaced’ by modern humans. Neanderthals most likely went extinct due to interbreeding with homo sapiens, climatic change, disease, o…

What most people know about black holes, they’ve learned from sci-fi. In this genre, black holes (spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing can escape) can often do some nifty things, like time travel. In real life, however, black holes are a whole lot more interesting. A compact mass of deformed spacetime with zero volume and infinite dens…

Hummingbirds are the world’s smallest bird species, with a heart rate of 500 beats-per-minute on average and a breathing rate of 250/minute. Hummingbirds are nearly always on the edge of starvation, so they need to eat their body weight in nectar each day. Which might explain why some female white-necked Jacobin hummingbirds have evolved to look li…

The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is a snake-like, migratory fish. Eels spend most of their adult lives as freshwater fish, but are born and die in the ocean. How they’re born and how they die scientists are still trying to figure out. And we better figure it out quickly because European eel are a critically endangered species. So no jellied eel…

Do coconuts migrate? Yes, they do, but not by sparrows. It was actually humans who spread coconuts across the globe. Besides making great horse sounds when banged together, coconuts are extremely useful to humans. Coconuts are not just a new health fad, humans have been using coconuts since 3000 BCE, and not just for food and water. In The Good, Th…