Hermaphrodite Horror Stories

Hey guys, gals, non-binary humans—you think dating is hard? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science saying… Pity the simultaneous hermaphrodite.  An animal with BOTH sets of sex organs.  While polyclad flatworms “mate,” they blast each other with jets of corrosive seminal fluid. It eats through

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Birdie Breakups

Do seabirds sign prenups? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. All aboard for Love Island! For the albatross seabird, that’s The Falklands. Albatrosses are monogamous, generally mating with one partner for life. Or at least, for a while —  like us, they can divorce and

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Serenading Ribbits

They say love is a mixtape… of frog songs?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down On Science.  We’ve all done crazy things for love, but joining a boy band?! Frogs do something similar during mating season. But if everyone’s doing it… who gets the most groupies? Enter

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Grub Gamblin’ Seals

At sea, sometimes SEAL-ing the deal is risky business!  This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Imagine BULKING up to start a family. Male elephant seals need to get big to fight off other males during mating season. In fact, males can gain ONE THOUSAND pounds

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Birdie Breakups

Do seabirds sign prenups? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. All aboard for Love Island! For the albatross seabird, that’s The Falklands. Albatrosses are monogamous, generally mating with one partner for life. Or at least, for a while —  like us, they can divorce and

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Killer Fungus

Hey – isn’t it YOUR turn to take out the trash?  This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying… more trash, more flies! And they can host a fungus called Entomophthora Muscae. Which has a sweet trick for turning its hosts into stealth killers! HOW? Andreas

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Spider Dance

Sometimes you gotta risk it for the biscuit! This is Sandra Tsing-Loh, with the Loh Down on Science. Decisions, decisions! Paper or plastic? Bagel or breakfast burrito? Every day, we make these life-or-death decisions. Is this a human-only trait? George Uetz from the University of Cincinnati says, No – spiders

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Sexy Scary Wings

Can colors be scary and sexy at the same time? This is Sandra Tsing Loh, with the Loh Down on Science, saying: Yes! At least for butterflies. Consider the heliconius erato butterfly of Central America. It sports a red band on its black forewing and a yellow stripe on its

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Hummingbird Hustle

Want to drive the chicks wild? Shake a tail feather! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Nature is filled with mating dances. Peacocks shake their tails, spiders shimmy, and flamingos Flamenco. They all boogie to their own beat, but is the timing of their two-step

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