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Wildly CuriousAuthor: Katy Reiss & Laura Fawks Lapole
Wildly Curious is a comedy podcast where science, nature, and curiosity collide. Hosted by Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole, two wildlife experts with a combined 25 years of conservation education experience, the show dives into wild animal behaviors, unexpected scientific discoveries, and bizarre natural phenomena. With a knack for breaking down complex topics into fun and digestible insights, Katy and Laura make science accessible for allwhile still offering fresh perspectives for seasoned science enthusiasts. Each episode blends humor with real-world science, taking listeners on an engaging journey filled with quirky facts and surprising revelations. Whether you're a curious beginner or a lifelong science lover, this podcast offers a perfect mix of laughs, learning, and the unexpected wonders of the natural world. Language: en-us Genres: Natural Sciences, Nature, Science Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Snail Racing Science: Why Studying Slime Is a Big Deal
Episode 8
Tuesday, 13 January, 2026
Send us a textSubscribe and prepare to root for the slowest athletes on Earth.In this Niche Scientists minisode of Wildly Curious, Katy Reiss and Laura Fawks Lapole dive into the bizarre but brilliant world of snail racing—and the scientists who study it to unlock secrets of movement, slime, and survival.Every summer in England, snails compete in the World Snail Racing Championships. It sounds ridiculous… until you realize researchers are using these races to study animal locomotion, non-Newtonian fluids, and biomimicry.🐌 Why snail slime is both sticky and slippery 🧪 How snail mucus behaves like a non-Newtonian fluid 🏃♂️ How snails move using muscular waves instead of steps 🩹 Why snail-inspired adhesives could revolutionize wound closure and surgery 🤖 How snail movement is inspiring soft robotics for medicine and rescue techScientists from engineering, biomechanics, and ecology use snail racing data to understand friction control, climate adaptation, and even how future robots might crawl through collapsed buildings or blood vessels.It’s slow science. It’s weird science. And it turns out… it’s incredibly important.🎧 This episode is part of our Niche Scientists minisode series—short episodes spotlighting the wonderfully specific research quietly shaping the future. Support the show🎉 Support us on Patreon to keep the episodes coming! 🪼🦤🧠 For more laughs, catch us on YouTube!
