Dive into the amazing world of electric eels: what they really are (spoiler—they’re not true eels!), how their special electric organs work, and how they use electricity to hunt and protect themselves in the rivers of South America.

Here’s our trail map:

• What Is the Electric Eel?
• How Do Electric Eels Make Electricity?
• How Does the Electric Eel Use Electricity?
• What Does the Bible Say About Electricity?

Episode Links:

• Explore the Answers Bible Curriculum by Answers in Genesis: AnswersBookstore.com/bible
• Try CTCMath for free for one week: https://ctcmath.com/
• Order Eryn’s book: The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891
• Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://erynlynum.com/club-videos
• Get full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club
• Free Electric Eel Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/electric-eel-facts/
• Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/ask
• Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.” Psalm 119:14 (NIV)

“The LORD is my rock, my protection, my Savior. My God is my rock. I can run to him for safety. He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender.” Psalm 18:2 (NCV)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 (ESV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

• Gymnotiforms: Meaning “naked back.” A category (order) of fish that do not have fins on their back.
• Organ: A special part inside a body with an important job to do.
• Main, Hunter’s and Sachs Organs: Special organs in an electric eel’s body that produce electricity.
• Cells: Tiny building blocks that make up all living things, like plants, creatures, and humans. They are so small you can only see them with a microscope.
• Electrocytes: Special cells with positive and negative charges.
• Weakly Electric Fish: Electric fish in the gymnotiform order that use an invisible electric field around their body to sense what is around them.
• Strongly Electric Fish: Electric fish in the gymnotiform order that create and emit strong electric currents to zap and stun their prey.
• Electric Organ Discharge (EOD): When an electric fish sends out an electric pulse or wave.

This podcast episode contains paid advertisements.

Mentioned in this episode:

Explore...

The eel has puzzled scientists since before Jesus lived on earth. Discover this mysterious creature and the questions scientists have been asking about it for over 2,000 years.

Here’s our trail map:

• Are All Eels Electric?
• What Is the Great Eel Question?
• How Do Eels Have Babies?
• How Do Eels Grow Up?
• Where Do Eel Babies Hatch?
• How Did God Make Living Creatures?

*Episode correction: Oops! We mention World War II in this episode, but it should be World War I. Thanks for your understanding!

Episode Links:

• Explore the Answers Bible Curriculum by Answers in Genesis: AnswersBookstore.com/bible
• Order Eryn’s book: The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891
• Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://erynlynum.com/club-videos
• Get full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club
• Free Eel Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/where-do-eels-come-from/
• Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/ask
• Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Hebrews 11:3 (NIV)

“Then God said, ‘Let the earth be filled with animals, each producing more of its own kind. Let there be tame animals and small crawling animals and wild animals, and let each produce more of its kind.’ And it happened.” Genesis 1:24 (NCV)

“God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’” Genesis 1:28 (NIV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

• Spontaneous Generation: An old idea from early science that tiny animals or plants can come from things like mud, water, or food all by themselves—without any parents!
• Metamorphosis: When a creature goes through a big transformation or change from its baby form to its adult form.
• Reproductive Organs: The special parts of animals and people that help them have babies.
• Leptocephalus: See-through baby eels that look like tiny, flat ribbons and drift in the ocean before they grow up.
• Glass Eels: Young eels that are still see-through, like glass.
• Yellow Eels: Eels that have turned yellow-brown as they grow bigger.
• Silver Eels: Grown-up eels with shiny, silver-colored skin that are ready to have babies.
• Ex Nihilo: A word in theology that means God created everything from nothing.
• De Novo: A scientific term meaning something didn’t come from something else—it was made completely new.

This podcast episode contains paid advertisements.

Mentioned in...

What is it like asking strangers on the street about faith and science? How does someone's worldview affect how they see science? What does it mean that the science isn't settled? Allan C. Pereira and Jeffrey Singer from The Science Dilemma join us and share a behind-the-scenes look at working as content creators sharing God’s designs in nature and science.

Episode Links:

• The Science Dilemma: Intelligent Design for Students: https://www.thesciencedilemma.com/
• Watch the Science Dilemma Season 1 Trailer: https://thesciencedilemma.com/
• Order Eryn’s book: The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891
• Join the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club
• Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615