The man who walked butterflies on a leash

  • By
  • Episode
      203
  • Published
      May 19, 2025
  • Publisher
0 Ratings
0
Episode
203 of 207
Duration
26min
Language
English
Format
Category
Non-fiction

Static electricity plays an invisible role in the natural world, and it may even help insects pollinate plants. To understand this hidden force, scientists have jumped through some pretty weird experimental hoops — and “walked” butterflies through literal hoops.

Guests: Sam England, postdoctoral researcher at Berlin's National History Museum; Benji Jones, Vox's environmental correspondent

To read more about this experiment, Benji recommends this great article from Quanta Magazine, where he first encountered Sam's work.

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