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In this explosive episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole reveal the surprising truth: sometimes, nature chooses to self-destruct—and it's all part of the plan.

From exploding ants to salmon that spawn and die, and fungi that launch spores like botanical cannons, this episode dives into how death in nature isn't always failure—it's strategy.

💥 Why some creatures explode on purpose
🐟 How salmon die to feed the next generation
🌱 Which fungi use pressure to shoot spores into the wind
🐜 The gluey, horrifying world of exploding ants
🧬 And why your own body kills its own cells—on purpose

Whether it’s defending the colony, escaping danger, or creating new life, these self-destruct systems show just how weird, strategic, and shockingly brilliant evolution can be.

🎧 Listen in to learn how destruction can be nature’s ultimate power move.

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Subscribe and prepare yourself—because this time, the swarm doesn’t just chase... it devours.

In this Swarms Minisode, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the world of army ants, some of the most strategic, aggressive, and terrifyingly coordinated hunters on Earth. From building living bridges to raiding the forest floor with military precision, these ants don't forage… they sweep, and anything that can’t move fast enough is gone.

🐜 Why army ants don’t build nests—but become one
🚨 How their raids dismember prey in minutes
🧭 Why they create living bridges and run two-lane traffic systems
🌪 And how other species follow their swarms for leftovers (like antbirds!)

This is more than an ant episode—it’s a masterclass in swarm strategy, evolutionary teamwork, and why being organized is deadly.

🎧 This is episode 5 of our Swarms series—quick, chaotic, and scientifically intense.

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🎉 Support us on Patreon to keep the episodes coming! 🪼🦤🧠 For more laughs, catch us on YouTube!

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Subscribe and unleash your inner science goblin. We see you. We respect it.

In this seed-sational episode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dig into the unexpectedly wild world of seed dispersal. From coconuts floating across oceans to violets launching their seeds like botanical cannons, this episode explores the many weird and wonderful ways plants get around without walking.

🌊 How coconuts evolved to sail thousands of miles
🌬️ The physics behind parachuting and helicoptering seeds
🧲 The sticky science of clingers like burdock and chia
💥 Which plants explode their seeds like t-shirt cannons
🌍 And how human activity spreads (and sometimes ruins) plant travel

Whether you're a plant nerd or just into nature's weirdest survival tactics, this one's for you.

🎧 Listen to learn how seeds conquer new territory, how evolution shaped their rides, and why your burr-covered dog is basically a nature Uber.

Support the show

🎉 Support us on Patreon to keep the episodes coming! 🪼🦤🧠 For more laughs, catch us on YouTube!