ust as murder hornets started to infiltrate the Pacific Northwest, buzzing cicadas emerged from a 17-year nap to spread across the Eastern US. All the while, a swarm of bumblebees has been perfecting ways to biohack their own resources — plants.
You may think you're living in some alternative, apocalyptic universe, but fittingly enough, it's just the summer of 2020.
As bees beat the system and cicadas cracked a new code, scientists have discovered new ways the creatures of spring hacked their ecosystem in fascinating style.
Welcome to the Abstract podcast from Inverse. I’m Tanya Bustos, your host.
Our first story is about the arrival of Brood IX and why 2020's cicada visit will be different. Springing to life from the ground after 17 years, the latest batch brings multiple species to the big event, leaving scientists buzzing about an evolutionary phenomenon that's emerged with the fleeting life of Brood IX.
Our second story takes a closer look at the bumblebees who, like Brood IX, are forced to adapt their behavior to an ever-changing climate. Faced with a bleak future and scarcity of pollen, these bees are making their own luck — turning flower-making on its head and drastically influencing our natural resources.
Read more at Inverse.com:
Find links to all the stories discussed in today’s episode at inverse.com/the-abstract
BROOD IX: WHY THE 2020 CICADA VISIT WILL BE DIFFERENT:
https://www.inverse.com/science/brood-ix-cicadas-2020
BUMBLEBEES HACK PLANTS:
https://www.inverse.com/science/bumblebees-are-hacking-nature-to-surviveRead more at Inverse.com:
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