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What The Duck?!: Daily Summaries Delivered
by ABC
The show with a mission to explore the mysteries of nature - especially the ones that make you go What the Duck?!
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The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Today25 min
Sex is Weird 5: Why does it feel good, anyway?
What is the role of pleasure in successful reproduction?Evolution says it's mightily important: every female vertebrate has a clitoris.Snakes have two!Female pleasure has been selected for.Making sex fun and pleasurable is a biologically sensible thing to do, more sex means more potential babies.Some studies of pigs and dairy cows have found an increase of up to 6% in successful conception when the females are stimulated during artificial insemination.Sex is Weird is a series of What the Duck?! with Dr Ann Jones following the sexual evolution of the animal kingdom.Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended.Featuring:Dr Bruno Buzatto, Flinders University, South AustraliaLynette Greenwood, Dairy farmer, VictoriaAssociate Professor Andrew Durso, Florida Gulf Coast University, FloridaLucy Cooke, Author and Film makerAssociate Professor Patty Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, USEmeritus Professor Susan Suarez, Cornell University, New YorkProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerPetria Ladgrove, ProducerAdditional mastering: Isabella TropianoThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
- 1 weeks ago25 min
Sex is Weird 4: How to be hot according to nature
Do animals fall in love at first sight?Every species has different traits that are 'attractive' — they're showing off their DIY skills making a bower, vibrating sexy fruit fly songs, puffing up a wattle, or just having really massive moose… antlers.Is this innate attraction like falling in love or is it more like meeting a (really hot) investment advisor?Because these attractive traits are also messages about genes — who will make a good investment to partner with for the next generation.Of course, one species beauty is another's turn off, and some species have a very low bar (looking at you guppies), so Hot or Not could end up being a very individual thing.Sex is Weird is a new series of What the Duck?! with Dr Ann Jones following the sexual evolution of the animal kingdom.Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended.Featuring:Dr Bruno Buzatto, Flinders University, South AustraliaNathan Finger, Bird of the Week podcast hostJason Graham, Pacific black duck conservation group, TasmaniaDr Victoria Austin, Western Sydney UniversityProfessor Rob Brooks, University of New South WalesDr Judy Wang, Queensland Brain InstituteProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerPetria Ladgrove, ProducerAdditional mastering: Isabella TropianoThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
- 2 weeks ago25 min
Sex is Weird 3: Sexy females fight back
The energy required to grow, birth and raise young is intense, so it's only fair that the female body has some tricks to make sure reproducing is worth it.From cryptic choice to immune system sperm blockers, the female reproductive system can be a literal maze for those seeking to gain access to her eggs.In the battle of the sexes, this is females fight back.Sex is Weird is a new series of What the Duck?! with Dr Ann Jones following the sexual evolution of the animal kingdom.Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended.Featuring:Professor Sarah Robertson, University of Adelaide Dr Diane Kelly, Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts, AmherstAssociate Professor Patricia Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, USEmeritus Professor Susan Suarez, Cornell University, New YorkProfessor Mariana Wolfner, Cornell University, New YorkProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerPetria Ladgrove, ProducerAdditional mastering: Isabella TropianoThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
- 3 weeks ago25 min
Sex is Weird 2: Why do penises exist?
When it comes to sexual organs, the penis is really 'out there.' Name another organ that can change its form AND function in a matter of seconds!There's a lot of variety in the animal kingdom; from spikes and nails to coils and collagen — so, this appendage is worth investigating… close up.Sex is Weird is a new series of What the Duck?! With Dr Ann Jones following the sexual evolution of the animal kingdom.Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended.Featuring:Dr Emily Willingham, biologist, journalist and authorDr Diane Kelly, Senior Research Fellow, University of Massachusetts, AmherstAssociate Professor Andrew Durso, Florida Gulf Coast University, FloridaAssociate Professor Patty Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, USDr Bruno Buzatto, Flinders University, South AustraliaPhilippa Holm, HFR Performance Horses, VictoriaProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerPetria Ladgrove, ProducerAdditional mastering: Isabella TropianoThis episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
- 4 weeks ago25 min
Sex is Weird 1: The world's first d*ck pic
When you really think about it, sex to make babies is WEIRD! You take an outie that has to get stuck inside an innie that links into a production line of eggs to assemble a perfect tiny being. It's so damn complicated!So why does it work like that?Join us at What the Duck for the first episode of a new series where we figure out how living things went from splitting ourselves in half to double the population, to periodically feeling compelled to copulate in such a vigorous, sometimes highly embarrassing, manner.Earth — this is your sexual history!Please note that this program contains adult themes and explicit language. Parental guidance is recommended.Featuring:Emeritus Professor David Siveter, University of Leicester, UKAssistant Professor Emily Mitchell, University of Cambridge, UK and curator of non-insect invertebrates, University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge, UKDr Marissa Betts, geologist and palaeontologist at the University of New England, Armidale, AustraliaDr Emily Willingham, biologist, journalist and authorAssociate Professor Patty Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, USProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerPetria Ladgrove, ProducerAdditional mastering: Isabella Tropiano and Russell StapletonThanks also to Will Ockenden, Belinda Smith, Corey Hague and Joel Werner.This episode of What the Duck?! was originally broadcast in 2024 and was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and the Kaurna people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
- Apr 30, 202625 min
Nature's Most Wanted: Can my dog inherit my house
In 2002 Gigoo became the world's wealthiest chicken when her owner left her £10 million in his will.How does a chook even open a bank account?Within legal limitations there are ways to provide your pets the lifestyle they're used to after you die.But what about divorce?Can you have visitation rights to see your goldfish?And when a dog's day in court climbs though the tiers of the Australian legal system, it might surprise you how little the pet is mentioned.Featuring:Professor Katy Barnett, Melbourne Law School at the University of Melbourne, and co-author of Guilty PigsProfessor Prue Vines, Faculty of Law and Justice, the University of New South WalesIan Charman, family law specialist, consultant solicitor, Adelta LegalProduction:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerIsabella Tropiano, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
- Apr 23, 202625 min
Nature's Most Wanted: Wild, but not free
A lost monkey in an Ikea carpark is an illegally traded pet, so does he have a legal owner?When it comes to animal ownership, courts turn to Roman-era laws to try and figure out if an animal is tame or wild.It may work sometimes, but leaves out the modern idea of the animal's best interests.And it doesn't explain how an elephant can have a criminal rap sheet.Content warning: This program contains stories where animals are punished as if they are criminals. Some listeners may find this confronting.Featuring:Professor Katy Barnett, Melbourne Law School at the University of Melbourne, and co-author of Guilty PigsDr Michelle Granden, psychologistMary Roach, author of Animal, Vegetable, CriminalProfessor Sindhu Radhakrishna, National Institute of Advanced studies in Bengaluru, IndiaWith thanks to Dr Michelle Granden whose research inspired the title of this episodeAnd extra sounds from bird enthusiasts:Mike Dooher, XC402422. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/402422 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
- Apr 16, 202625 min
Nature's Most Wanted: Trunk and disorderly
How much booze does it take to intoxicate an elephant?The answer isn't as much as you might expect, because not all guts are created equal when it comes to metabolising alcohol.This explains why an elephant might be considered a lightweight and your donkey got into a fight last weekend.But alcohol isn't the only cause of misbehaviour — so what motivated the legless serial doorbell pranksters?Featuring:Dr Mareike Janiak, postdoctoral associate at the University of CalgaryDr Christine Sutton, particle physicist and past editor of CERN CourierKate Connolly, Berlin correspondent for the Guardian NewspaperDr Imogen Cavadino, freelance malacologistWith news audio thanks to NPRAnd extra sounds from bird enthusiasts:Mike Dooher, XC355140. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/355140 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Lonnie Bregman, XC373738. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/373738 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Mike Dooher, XC402422. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/402422 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0)Frank Lambert, XC1031363. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1031363 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0)Production:Ann Jones, Presenter / ProducerRebecca McLaren, ProducerHamish Camilleri, Sound EngineerThis episode of What the Duck?! was produced on the land of the Wadawarrung and Taungurung people.Find more episodes of the ABC podcast, What the Duck?! with the always curious Dr Ann Jones exploring the mysteries of nature on ABC Listen (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll learn more about the weird and unusual aspects of our natural world in a quirky, fun way with easy to understand science.
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The show with a mission to explore the mysteries of nature - especially the ones that make you go What the Duck?!
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