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This common garden plant summons wasps as bodyguards

6/3/20269 min

In our latest science news roundup: how nature adapts, for better or worse.

When faced with pests, plants may not be able to run away – but that doesn’t mean they’re defenseless. Some have thorns or spines, others have poisonous leaves or berries, and still others have…elaborate chemical defense alarm systems? In a recent study, researchers discovered that the common bean plant, P. vulgaris, has a particularly innovative response to hungry caterpillars: a compound in the caterpillar's spit causes the plants to release a chemical signal that attracts wasps. Those wasps then eat the caterpillars or lay eggs in their bodies, effectively removing the threat. Today on the show, we’re diving into plant science and a round of other new scientific studies with All Things Considered host Sacha Pfeiffer.

If you're interested in the fibermaxxing episode Han mentioned, check it out here.

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Clips

When DEET Becomes Dinner Bell
Beans Call Wasp Bodyguards
Super-Size Rewards, Super-Fast Mice

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Speaker 10:00

    This message comes from Avalara. What's it like running a business with Avalara? No thinking about tax and compliance. It's handled. Calculating, filing, validating accurately and audit defensively. Avalara, agentic tax and compliance with confidence. You're listening to Short Wave from NPR.

  2. Regina Barber· Host0:21

    Hey, Short Wavers, Regina Barber here.

  3. Hannah Chin· Host0:25

    And Hannah Chin with our biweekly science news roundup.

  4. Regina Barber· Host0:28

    And we're lucky enough to have Sasha Pfeiffer back on the show, third time in a row.

  5. Speaker 40:32

    Hi, Regina. Hi, Hannah. Fun to be back with you.

  6. Hannah Chin· Host0:34

    All right. Sasha, our first topic is about beans and bean plants, surprising chemical counterattack against caterpillars, which are a common garden pest.

  7. Speaker 40:42

    Ah. You know, given that fiber has become such a wellness trend with everybody fiber maxing, I'll be very interested to hear about this one.

  8. Hannah Chin· Host0:48

    I mean, we also have an episode about fiber maxing.

  9. Regina Barber· Host0:50

    Just came out.

  10. Hannah Chin· Host0:51

    I don't know.

  11. Regina Barber· Host0:51

    [laughs] Yeah, right. Then we're gonna talk about another pest. We're going to be talking about how best to teach mice.

  12. Hannah Chin· Host0:57

    And lastly, we've got one more story about pests. This time it's how the bug repellent DEET could have a major Achilles heel.

  13. Regina Barber· Host1:05

    You know, Han, I think today's episode is actually about nature adapting.

  14. Hannah Chin· Host1:09

    It's true. Today on the show, adaptation for better and for worse. You're listening to Short Wave, the science podcast from NPR.

  15. Speaker 51:16

    [upbeat music] This message comes from Progressive Insurance. Insurance isn't one size fits all. That's why drivers have

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