Terrestrials

Dr. Walter Piper, an avian scientist who has spent decades studying loons, joins to decode loon calls and diving biology. Short takes cover eerie tremolos, why their eyes redden in breeding season, and how loons move between lakes and wintering grounds. The conversation highlights loons as resilient, vocal, and surprisingly tied to community symbols of standing strong.

A middle schooler’s backyard encounter sparks a deep dive into squirrel superpowers. Scientists reveal Arctic ground squirrels that let their bodies drop below freezing and somehow reboot each spring. Field reporting from Alaska captures frozen, slow-breathing squirrels and their astonishing brain shrink-and-regrow cycle. The story touches on medical and spaceflight possibilities tied to hibernation.

How rested would you feel if you took 10,000 naps a day? Chinstrap Penguins in Antarctica spend their days taking MICRONAPS, each around 4 seconds long. To learn why, Lulu meets one (played by Songbud Alan), who explains how micronaps help them conserve energy and protect their babies from “sky pirates”!  Then, in a badgermania, penguin scientists Dr. Eric Wagner and Dr. Dee Boersma answer your questions! Why are penguins black-and-white? Why is their poop pink? What might they dream about? And we learn that what may look like laziness… turns out to be an evolutionary superpower.  Don’t sleep on these articles, maybe read them before your next nap: Read about chinstrap penguin naps here, and here, and here.  Learn why penguin poop is pink and how it may be helping cool the climate! Read about how neurons help flush waste out of the brain during sleep. Terrestrials was created by Lulu Miller with WNYC Studios. This episode was produced by Ana González, with sound design by Mira Burt-Wintonick. Sarah Sandbach is our Executive Producer. Our team also includes Alan Goffinski, Tanya Chawla and Joe Plourde. Factchecking by Sophie Samiee. Support for Terrestrials is provided by the Simons Foundation, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, and the John Templeton Foundation. HEY GROWN-UPS!Love the show? Leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and review on your podcast app—it helps curious listeners find us!Terrestrials is made possible in part by listeners like you. Support the show by joining The Explorers Club —and we’ll send you a special puzzle as a thank-you gift from our team!We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts about Terrestrials with us.Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for bite-sized essays, activities, and ways to connect with the show.Follow us on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok for behind-the-scenes extras and more.Listen to original music from Terrestrials on Spotify, Apple Music, or our music page.Got a badgering question for the team? Email us at terrestrials@wnyc.org or submit a voice memo with your name, age, and your question using this form!

On February 17, in places like China, Malaysia, Korea and Chinatowns across the globe, dragons will rise in the form of massive puppets. Today we bring you a special Terrestrials episode on dragons to understand what they have to do with the New Year, what the dragon myth means, and explore the tiny chance that dragons could have ever been real. First, we meet Mr. Lu Dajie, one of China's most renowned dragon dancers, who tells us about the significance of dragons in China. Then producer bud Ana and song bud Alan ask whether there’s any chance that dragons were ever real. And if not, could we make  a dragon out of the things already evolved on Earth? Were there any reptiles as large as and shaped like dragons? Any large reptiles that flew? Any that spat fire? The answers may surprise you.Terrestrials was created by Lulu Miller with WNYC studios. This episode was produced by Ana González, Alan Goffinski, Mira Burt-Wintonick, Tanya Chawla, Sarah Sandbach, Joe Plourde, and Lulu Miller. Fact-checking by Diane Kelly. Learn more about storytellers, listen to music, and dig deeper into the stories you hear on Terrestrials with activities you can do at home or in the classroom on our website, Terrestrialspodcast.org.Badger us on social media: @radiolab and #TerrestrialsPodcast or by emailing us at terrestrials@wnyc.org. HEY GROWN-UPS!Love the show? Leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and review on your podcast app—it helps curious listeners find us!Terrestrials is made possible in part by listeners like you. Support the show by joining The Explorers Club —and we’ll send you a special puzzle as a thank-you gift from our team!We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts about Terrestrials with us.Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for bite-sized essays, activities, and ways to connect with the show.Follow us on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok for behind-the-scenes extras and more.Listen to original music from Terrestrials on Spotify, Apple Music, or our music page.Got a badgering question for the team? Email us at terrestrials@wnyc.org or submit a voice memo with your name, age, and your question using this form!

They dig into real fossil quarries and unearth Cretaceous treasures. They explore underwater microbial mats that hint at ancient, faster days. They wander vast cave systems and meet eyeless subterranean creatures. They tell the wild story of a Corvette sinkhole and tour clever animal burrows from termite towers to a groundhog’s cozy grotto.

Explore ancient beliefs about how animals were created, from quirky recipes to bizarre myths. Discover how the humble maggot challenged the notion of spontaneous generation and led to Francesco Redi's groundbreaking experiment. Learn about the connections between Redi's findings and modern medicine, including hygiene and vaccines. Uncover the fascinating roles of animals, like leeches and therapy pigs, in healthcare. Plus, hear intriguing listener questions about spider silk and bee venom!

Celebrate the New Year through the lens of our furry friends! The podcast invites listeners to a serene meditation featuring pets snoring, napping, and dreaming in their cozy spots. From Koa the pit bull and her Seattle crate to Sassy the cat napping in Tucson, each pet brings a unique charm. You'll hear soothing sounds of Duna's deep breaths, Moo's adorable couch naps, and even the gentle snores of Tucker the pug. Embrace the wisdom of pets as they teach us the art of relaxation and presence—it's a delightful auditory escape!

Zoologist Lucy Cooke, an expert on sloths, shares fascinating insights about their slowness as an adaptive strategy rather than laziness. She narrates the remarkable journey of a sloth named Nacho and explores how sloths employ camouflage for survival against predators like harpy eagles. Joining her is Dr. Sammy Ramsey, who reveals the unique ecosystem of moths, mites, and fungi that thrive in sloth fur, showcasing a symbiotic relationship that enhances their invisibility in the wild. Together, they highlight the importance of conservation for these captivating creatures.

Discover the enchanting world of rainbows as bridges between cultures, myths, and the afterlife. Explore Isaac Newton's groundbreaking prism experiment that revealed sunlight's hidden spectrum. Delve into the ongoing debate about the number of colors, with insights from Thomas Young on the wave nature of light. Musically, experience the Youth Pride Chorus celebrating colors and diversity. Plus, learn how rainbows can even appear on other planets, defined by their unique atmospheres!

Artist Ashley Eliza Williams, who grew up shy and found solace in nature, shares their journey of discovering and painting lichens. They reveal the stunning collaboration between fungi and algae that makes these organisms unique. Chef Prashanta Khanal adds insights on lichen's nutritional benefits. The duo highlights lichen's role in ecosystem resilience and cultural significance in food. Ashley’s transformation reflects the power of connection and friendship, celebrating how nature nurtures personal growth.