For the Love of Nature

Do you spend your free time wondering about life on other planets? Or is your ideal vacation scouring the shores of the Scottish Highlands for a glimpse of Nessie? If so, you’re in luck! This week, Katy and Laura are taking a look at cryptozoology—the study of and search for legendary creatures that may or may not exist.

Give it a listen, hear the history and evidence, and let us know what you think! Do these creatures really exist?

As the tide rises and falls each day, it leaves behind salty pools of ocean water in rock depressions near the shore. Though these tidal pools are quite small—and can be harsh habitats—they contain amazing, varied ecosystems. Join Katy Laura as they explore the four tidal zones and the incredible species that live there in this week’s episode.

What do cephalopods and science communication have in common? None other than this week’s special guest, Dr. Sarah McAnulty! Not only is she a squid biologist, science communicator, and street artist, she’s the founder of Skype a Scientist—a nonprofit organization that connects scientists and students (and lifelong learners) around the world through live video chats..

Join Laura, Katy, and Sarah as they dissect what makes squid (and other cephalopods) so incredible and why sharing science in a compelling and easily understood way is so important.

If you’d like to learn more about Sarah:

Welcome back, Nature Nerds!
Let’s kick off season five with some real tools—or tool users, rather. Tool use is considered a sign of high intelligence, but did you know that more than just humans and apes can use them? Join Katy, Laura, and Kim as they discuss some of their favorite (and unexpected) tool users in today’s episode.

Have you ever wondered how the big bad wolf managed to wear grandma’s clothing and trick Little Red Riding Hood? Or which species of bean plant could actually grow tall enough to reach giants in the sky? (And while we’re at it, why are there giants in the sky anyway?) This week, Katy and Laura take a look at the scientific accuracy of fairy tales—what they got right, what they most definitely didn’t, and what these stories would sound like if the authors couldn’t take creative liberties.

Get ready for an auditory experience from the underground! In this week’s episode, not only are Laura and Katy hanging out in person for the first time in a long time, they’re exploring the largest cave system in Pennsylvania–the Laurel Caverns. Join them in this 52-degree sandstone palace as they get their fix of stalactites, stalagmites, and other cool cave features.

While many baby animals come into this world cute as a button, some definitely do not. Today’s featured creatures have one unique trait in common: They have faces only a mother could love. Join Laura and Katy as they rank which animals have the ugliest baby mugs and discuss how looks aren't everything. Because beauty is in the eye of the beholder...right?

People are pretty well-versed in charismatic megafauna–lions and tigers and bears (and others) oh my! But have you thought about protists recently? We didn’t think so.

These single-celled organisms, though tiny, are essential to life on Earth. Find out more about their characteristics, purpose, and why they’re so important in today’s episode!

In this week’s episode, Laura and Katy spar on the worst of the worst, the creatures they love to hate—the animals they could do without. Some of these you definitely have heard before (*cough* pandas *cough*), but others may come as a surprise. Find out which host condemned a dog breed on her top five list, along with all the other creatures they’d like to forget exist, wherever you get your podcasts.