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Eons

Beans & Bees (Not Bats) Gave Us Butterflies

Season 6 Episode 9 | 7m 09s

For a few years we thought bats were to thank for the existence of butterflies. The idea was that the evolution of bats drove one group of moths to abandon the night entirely, becoming active during the day to escape, giving rise to butterflies. But it turns out the groups we should actually be thanking for the beautiful bugs are bees and beans.

Aired: 12/04/23
Extras
Watch • 12:40
Eons
The Golden Age of Sharks
Why did sharks get so incredibly diverse and odd during the Golden Age?
Episode: S8 E2 | 12:40
Watch • 10:45
Eons
That Time Earth was Sticky
What exactly made this time period so very, very sticky?
Episode: E1 | 10:45
Watch • 9:15
Eons
When Dinosaurs Threw Up A Mystery
How dino stomachs are revealing a mystery.
Special: 9:15
Watch • 10:47
Eons
Did Dinosaurs' Extinction Give Us Fruit?
One of the most surprising effects of the cascade of changes was...fruit?
Special: 10:47
Watch • 8:37
Eons
Why Paleontologists Can’t Stop Fighting About Spinosaurus
What does it mean to be a “semi-aquatic” dinosaur?
Special: 8:37
Watch • 12:22
Eons
The Dinosaurs Too Big To Be Dinosaurs
How did sauropods, uniquely large land animals, actually live, with their anatomy and physiology pus
Special: 12:22
Watch • 12:12
Eons
Darwin's Unexpected Final Obsession
What was Charles Darwin really obsessed with?
Episode: S7 E21 | 12:12
Watch • 12:29
Eons
Are All Oceans Basically Reincarnated?
Did you know ocean basins are reincarnated?
Episode: S7 E20 | 12:29
Watch • 8:36
Eons
Could This Sperm Whale Eat The Meg?
How did such a large predator survive?
Episode: S7 E19 | 8:36
Watch • 9:41
Eons
When Red Pandas Roamed North America
How did a relative of the red panda end up in North America?
Episode: S7 E18 | 9:41
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Watch • 12:40
Eons
The Golden Age of Sharks
Why did sharks get so incredibly diverse and odd during the Golden Age?
Episode: S8 E2 | 12:40
Watch • 10:45
Eons
That Time Earth was Sticky
What exactly made this time period so very, very sticky?
Episode: E1 | 10:45
Watch • 12:12
Eons
Darwin's Unexpected Final Obsession
What was Charles Darwin really obsessed with?
Episode: S7 E21 | 12:12
Watch • 12:29
Eons
Are All Oceans Basically Reincarnated?
Did you know ocean basins are reincarnated?
Episode: S7 E20 | 12:29
Watch • 8:36
Eons
Could This Sperm Whale Eat The Meg?
How did such a large predator survive?
Episode: S7 E19 | 8:36
Watch • 9:41
Eons
When Red Pandas Roamed North America
How did a relative of the red panda end up in North America?
Episode: S7 E18 | 9:41
Watch • 8:10
Eons
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How did the competition of spiders vs insects drive them both into the air?
Episode: S7 E17 | 8:10
Watch • 12:38
Eons
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Why plate tectonics don't make sense.
Episode: S7 E16 | 12:38
Watch • 9:59
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Episode: S7 E15 | 9:59
Watch • 10:09
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Episode: S7 E14 | 10:09