
Moths hear plants, and what fingerprints do for touch
From The eLife Podcast by Dr Chris Smith
February 28, 2026 · 38 min · Episode 101
About this episode
This episode discusses how kangaroos conserve energy, moths responding to plant sounds, disease transmission, the role of fingerprints in touch, and recognition of female scientists.
In this episode, how kangaroos alter their postures to store more energy in their Achilles tendons and boost movement efficiency, the moths that make a beeline when they hear plants "talking" to them, tracking how people pick up diseases from their surroundings, the contribution fingerprints make to touch sensation, and some forgotten female scientists are recognised at the Eiffel Tower, in France. Get the references and the transcripts for this programme from the Naked Scientists website
People in this episode
Host: Dr Chris Smith
Topics covered
- moths
- plants
- kangaroos
- disease transmission
- fingerprints
- female scientists
Keywords
- moths
- plants
- kangaroos
- fingerprints
- disease
- female scientists
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Naked Scientists
Places: Eiffel Tower, France
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