The Dark History of Sea Monkeys

S05 E01 • Monday, Aug 30, 2021 • Aug 30 • 11m

What Is Mold and Why Does It Love Bread?

S05 E02 • Monday, Sep 6, 2021 • Sep 6 • 9m

It's time to dive into our collection of spores, molds, and fungus!

Why Do Microbes Explode Under UV Light?

S05 E03 • Monday, Sep 13, 2021 • Sep 13 • 11m

The Purple Bacteria That Are Afraid of Oxygen

S05 E04 • Monday, Sep 20, 2021 • Sep 20 • 10m

“But wait!” you might be saying to yourself. “How can an organism be photosynthetic and so afraid of oxygen? Doesn’t photosynthesis create oxygen?” And yes, you would be correct—most of the time...

Slime Tubes in Search of Sunlight

S05 E05 • Monday, Oct 11, 2021 • Oct 11 • 10m

There are only a few groups of bacteria that do this kind of gliding, but they’re found across a plethora of environments, including ponds, soil, and, surprise, in our own mouths.

Journey Through the Body of a Rotifer

S05 E06 • Tuesday, Oct 19, 2021 • Oct 19 • 11m

Rotifers don’t really get a lot of love when it comes to microscopic animals. At least as far as the public imagination goes, the rotifer is overshadowed by its fellow metazoan of the microcosmos: the tardigrade. And we might be part of the problem.

The Fish Sucking Lice That Aren’t Lice

S05 E07 • Monday, Oct 25, 2021 • Oct 25 • 8m

Arugulus sure know how to get under a fish's skin, literally. Fish will actually throw themselves out of the water to get an Aruglus off of their side.

Tumbling Down Invisible Highways

S05 E08 • Tuesday, Nov 2, 2021 • Nov 2 • 10m

When we look at bacteria under a microscope, they appear to be tumbling around chaotically, but over the centuries we realized that their pathways have a purpose.

The Arachnid Whose Poop Is Making You Sneeze

S05 E09 • Monday, Nov 8, 2021 • Nov 8 • 11m

Dileptus: The Toxic Micro Elephant With an Insatiable Appetite

S05 E10 • Monday, Nov 15, 2021 • Nov 15 • 10m

Copepods: The Diatom-Devouring King of Plankton

S05 E11 • Monday, Nov 22, 2021 • Nov 22 • 10m

Scientists have observed some copepods eating over 300,000 diatoms in a single day!

Microbes in Slow Motion

S05 E12 • Tuesday, Nov 30, 2021 • Nov 30 • 10m

While our journeys are often enjoyed at a slow pace, when we go just a little bit slower and look a little bit deeper there’s always something new to find.

The Tiny Crustacean With the Oldest Penis

S05 E13 • Tuesday, Dec 7, 2021 • Dec 7 • 10m

Looking for Answers in the Skull of a Zebrafish

S05 E14 • Monday, Dec 13, 2021 • Dec 13 • 10m

Creepy Crawly Close-Ups

S05 E15 • Monday, Dec 27, 2021 • Dec 27 • 10m

Adventures in Being Eaten

S05 E16 • Monday, Jan 3, 2022 • Jan 3 • 10m

The Complicated Relationships of the Microcosmos

S05 E17 • Tuesday, Jan 11, 2022 • Jan 11 • 10m

The Double Life of a Fake Jellyfish

S05 E18 • Monday, Jan 17, 2022 • Jan 17 • 10m

The Tiny Worlds Inside of Single-Celled Organisms

S05 E19 • Tuesday, Jan 25, 2022 • Jan 25 • 10m

We often focus on the organisms, but what about the even smaller world inside of them?

Microbe Hunting in Antarctica

S05 E20 • Monday, Jan 31, 2022 • Jan 31 • 10m

Nematodes: The Worm That Sculpted The World

S05 E21 • Monday, Feb 14, 2022 • Feb 14 • 10m

When it comes to the muses of the animal kingdom, the nematode seems like an unlikely well of inspiration, but over the past century, they’ve become one nonetheless.

Aeolosoma: Polka-Dotted Vacuum Worms

S05 E22 • Monday, Feb 21, 2022 • Feb 21 • 10m

Worms, despite their seemingly simple bodies, are a diverse bunch. Which is why we thought that for today, it might be fun to visit with a less famous worm, and like one of those relatives you don’t know very much about, but every time you see them, there’s a new, strange story to unpack.

What Even Is A Species?

S05 E23 • Monday, Feb 28, 2022 • Feb 28 • 10m

If you know about the species Lacrymaria olor, then you know what you’re getting when you see it under a microscope. It has a distinct shape, a distinct way of life—the combination of its own genetics and its surrounding environment.

The Spatula-Shaped Ciliate Family

S05 E24 • Monday, Mar 7, 2022 • Mar 7 • 10m

The family Spathidiidae is made up of around 20 genera, which encompass around 250 known species. And there’s a lot of variety in the Spathidiid family to sort through.