Die Panda Die

Follow two geeks with otherwise-worthless biology degrees as they use evolution, development, and animal behavior to explore the weirdest aspects of the natural world and our own

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Episodes

Alien (1979)

You probably never believed there was anything in nature that behaved like the creatures in the film Alien. Tragically, we've come to disrupt that peace of mind. Liz and Maddie take a dive into the horror nightmare realm of parasitoids, organisms that have evolved to paralyze, mind control, and consume in truly screen-worthy ways. Liz has 80's nostalgia. Maddie builds some atmosphere.

Jun 14, 2017•33 min

The Mystery of Weird Birds

Liz and Maddie discuss sexual selection, the evolutionary force responsible for a whole host of weird traits. For instance, why peacocks have cumbersome tails. For another, why duck reproduction is a nightmare horror show, in detail. Be forewarned, but come join us anyway!

Jun 05, 2017•22 min

Jurassic Snark

The earth is old, and life has been evolving for a long time! Liz and Maddie take a broad tour through earth's geologic eras, including the ones with the dinosaurs. Liz gets real into movies. Maddie proposes a celebrity mythos.

May 30, 2017•29 min

To Bee or Not to Bee

Did you ever want to learn the secret dance of bees and how it was decoded? Listen as we explore the discoveries of Nobel Prize-winning ethologist Karl von Frisch, and the fascinating communication behavior of bees. Maddie questions memes. Liz learns about bee painting.

May 20, 2017•24 min

Tenrec! Tenrec! Tenrec!

Why do similar appearances and behaviors occur in animals all over the world? Join us as we use some of the world's weirdest mammals to explain the process of convergent evolution. (Note: sorry for the weird audio clicks. We've fixed it for next week)

May 06, 2017•29 min

Drunk Monkeys

Animals behave in strange and unpredictable ways. But how much is instinct, and how much can they learn from the world around them?

Apr 27, 2017•29 min

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