TED Radio Hour Uncovering the mysteries of the animal kingdom
Jun 20, 2025
Join paleontologist Dean Lomax, who explores ichthyosaurs and celebrates Mary Anning’s legacy. Discover Saad Bhamla's insights into insect engineering, showcasing their unique fluid mechanics. Hear from herpetologist Gowri Shankar as he shares gripping tales of king cobra rescues and the importance of educating the public about these snakes. Finally, conservation biologist Patrícia Medici discusses the vital role of tapirs in biodiversity and urgent conservation efforts in Brazil. It’s a captivating journey into the mysteries of the animal kingdom!
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Mary Anning's Pioneering Discoveries
- Mary Anning, at just 11, discovered the first complete ichthyosaur skeleton, pioneering paleontology.
- Her fossil finds challenged beliefs about the Earth's history and gained attention despite her poverty and gender biases.
Dean Lomax's Big Discovery
- Dean Lomax's 2021 discovery of a 10-meter ichthyosaur skeleton in Rutland was groundbreaking.
- The fragile fossil required careful excavation and reburying with a wait of six months before extraction.
Insects Catapult Their Urine Droplets
- Glassy-winged sharpshooters flick droplets of pee using a catapult mechanism exerting 40 G forces.
- Surface tension stores elastic energy, making droplets move faster than the flicker itself, solving an energetic puzzle.