The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week Airborne Butt Cam, Snake Panic, Oops! All Cloacas
9 snips
Sep 10, 2025 
Sarah Gailey, author of 'Spread Me', joins the hosts to explore the whimsical world of animal behavior. They discuss a scientist’s adorable monocle study on chameleons, revealing their unique visual adaptations. Listeners enjoy a hilarious recounting of the Missouri snake panic, where misunderstandings led to chaos. The accidental butt cam incident showcases the unexpected utility of unusual scientific methods. Tune in for a delightful blend of humor and fascinating insights!
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Seabird Poop Mostly Happens In Flight
- Streaked shearwaters almost always excrete while flying, not while floating, at regular intervals of ~4–10 minutes.
- This behavior means previous guano estimates (land-based) vastly undercount seabird nutrient contributions to marine ecosystems.
Frequent Takeoffs May Be Linked To Pooping
- Shearwaters take off frequently and excrete ~5% body weight per hour, so waste management is energetically relevant.
- Pooping in flight may be linked to weight reduction, hygiene, predator avoidance, or cloacal irritation from saltwater.
Don't Handle Suspected Venomous Snakes
- If you find an unfamiliar venomous-looking snake, avoid handling and call experts rather than trying to kill it.
- Springfield's 1953 panic shows untrained responses risk escalation and public fear even when initial sightings seem routine.
