Lexi Krupp, a science and health reporter from Vermont Public, explores the intersection of invasive plants and tick-borne illnesses. She discusses how managing Japanese barberry can potentially reduce blacklegged tick populations, thus mitigating Lyme disease risks. The conversation then shifts to an incredible 80-million-year-old fossil of Navaornis hestiae, which sheds light on the evolution of bird brains. Researchers highlight unexpected similarities between ancient and modern bird skulls, revealing new insights into avian evolution.