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13 minutes
[ Innovation ]
Become an Instant Backyard Scientist with iNaturalist!
What if you could go on a safari and get up close and personal with hundreds of plants animals, no plane ticket, no fancy guide, and no money required? Now, all of us can experience our own backyards with a little more wonder thanks to this amazing app!
8 minutes
[ Nature ]
What Are These Walking Jellybeans Doing on Your Plants?
Most people would overlook these candy pooping, clone birthing, walking jellybeans, but you are not most people! These little gals will have you turning over more leaves, getting more excited about the world, and letting curiosity be your guide!
15 minutes
[ Nature ]
Meet These Queens of the Bug World!
By Sam Burns
Powerful kingdoms are rising and falling all around us, each created and lead by a mighty queen. But what’s it like to be a queen in the insect world? We’re taking a royal tour through the lives of a wasp and a fire ant queen to learn what’s happening inside these busy colonies.
5 minutes
[ Nature ]
The Fabulous World of Flies!
If you like chocolate and avocados, you have flies to thank for it! Flies are everywhere and may be some of the coolest creatures on our planet. So, let’s get to know these remarkable little creatures.
24 minutes
[ Nature ]
Leaf Miners: The Unexpected Conservation Heroes
By Sam Burns
Forget whatever you’ve heard about leaf miners, these common garden pests are little wonders that may be holding up an entire ecosystem! Head over to Hawaii with us to check out how these tiny creatures can have a big impact on conservation.
13 minutes
[ Nature ]
Journey to a Land Where Medieval Monsters Still Reign
By Sam Burns
What ancient monsters are still roaming around us today? We’re traveling to a land shrouded in thousands of years of history, where medieval creatures are waging wars and heading off on epic quests driven by evolution. Come explore this untouched wilderness with us!
8 minutes
[ Nature ]
Why Are These Bees Getting Punched by Alfalfa?
By Sam Burns
If you love your ice cream or cheese, then your new bestie should be a tiny bee that makes it all possible! These leafcutter bees have to go through a boxing match with a flower that packs quite the punch to put your favorite treats on the table.
7 minutes
[ Innovation ]
The Tastiest Way to Save the Planet
Are you looking for food that’s good for both you and the environment? What if we told you that all of your favorite treats, from protein bars to tacos, can be made with insects! We’re discovering where those feelings of disgust you may be experiencing come from and how eating insects could help the planet. Dare to join us?
18 minutes
[ Nature ]
What Ants Can Teach Us About Problem-Solving
Did you know that there is FAR more to the ant/human relationship than painful bites? Turns out, weaver ants have been used for centuries to help farmers protect their crops! And better yet, these remarkable problem-solvers have some tips that can teach us all about our own lives.
15 minutes
[ Innovation ]
Artificial Intelligence Meets Black Soldier Flies and Farming!
By Sam Burns
When it comes to saving the resources of our planet, we are all hoping for the next big idea to come along. Well, this one involves a very tiny creature that brings an amazing resume to the task. Let’s meet them!
16 minutes
[ Saturdays Around the World ]
Fly Through London with Some Urban Bees
Explore London from the fun and fascinating perspective of some of its smallest and most industrious inhabitants, the bees! They may not seem like the perfect urbanites but they have found some remarkable ways to adapt to life in the big city.
11 minutes
[ Nature ]
The Planet’s Unsung Hero, the Dung Beetle
There’s a remarkable reason why there is not dung everywhere in our world. Think about it: the multitudes of creatures on this planet produce a lot of waste! So, what happens to all of it? Well, let us introduce you to one of the planet’s greatest unsung heroes, the dung beetle! Get ready to be astonished.
5 minutes
[ Creativity ]
This Art Was Created by Bugs!
By Sam Burns
Sometimes, if we can keep innovating, we can keep doing what we love for the rest of our lives. And as for Steven Kutcher, well, his passion for bugs has taken him on some creative insect adventures! And you may have been connected to a few of them.
9 minutes
[ Nature ]
The Beauty of Orchard Bees
By Sam Burns
With 20,000 known species of bee in the world, it’s no surprise that they each go about life a little differently. We’re lucky enough to learn more about the blue orchard mason bee and the beautiful homes they make for their young in this article!
8 minutes
[ Creativity ]
Insects Have Never Looked So Good!
By Sam Burns
The amazing, intricate structures of insects are something that belongs in museums—oh wait, they’re already there! Photographer Levon Biss has teamed up with one exhibit to bring us closer than we’ve ever been to these tiny creatures with his Microsculptures. You’ll never look at a bug the same way after you see these.
15 minutes
[ Nature ]
Fireflies Put on Quite the Show in Mexico
By Sam Burns
On this edition of Saturday’s Around the World, we’re traveling to Mexico to experience the light show few have seen happening in their forests!
7 minutes
[ Animals ]
These Bees Make Their Own Perfume!
By Sam Burns
Male orchid bees don’t just look beautiful, they also smell beautiful (well, to female bees anyway). These little guys are the perfumers of the forest, collecting smells in hopes of finding a mate. Here’s how they do it!
5 minutes
[ Animals ]
Masterful Mimics of the Natural World
There are numerous species of insects and spiders (like this little friend pictured here) who have evolved to look like other animals, the natural world, and even bird poop. But how has this happened? And why?
15 minutes
[ Animals ]
Should We All Be Eating Insects?
By Sam Burns
We know it’s a reach, but the best innovations always are! Insect protein takes fewer resources to produce, has all of the amino acids we need, and can be pretty tasty. Are bugs the food of the future? Let’s risk knowing more…
5 minutes
[ Animals ]
The Orchid That’s Actually an Insect
The Orchid Mantis may look like a gorgeous flower, but behind that beauty is a deadly assassin. Check out how these remarkable creatures use their camouflage to its most deadly–and beautiful–best.
7 minutes
[ Animals ]
Meet the Planet’s Most Remarkable Engineers
Imagine a world of natural air conditioning, vertical farming, and sky scrapers that rival our tallest buildings. You don’t have to travel to the future to see any of this, all you have to do is turn to the insect world!
8 minutes
[ Animals ]
Appreciating the Power of the Humble Caterpillar
Butterflies get all the credit for being beautiful, but a closer look at the humble caterpillar reveals that these little guys are far more incredible than we give them credit for!
7 minutes
[ Animals ]
Life Lessons from Beetles with Bubbles
Can beetles remind us of some important life lessons? Let us introduce you to the riffle beetle, a fascinating little water beetle who has a lot to teach us!
