<![CDATA[THE ODD BRANCH]]>https://the-odd-branch-zo83np.jellypod.comPowered by Jellypod (https://www.jellypod.com)Fri, 11 Sep 2026 01:30:09 GMTSun, 30 Aug 2026 17:36:00 GMTyes4aa73788-3e02-448d-a721-9d1b32beb180Eric HainesThe Odd Branch is a science podcast about the strange twigs on the tree of life — the creatures that break the rules the rest of biology plays by. Each episode takes one rule you learned in school (aging is inevitable, sex is mandatory, you're in charge oThe Odd Branch is a science podcast about the strange twigs on the tree of life — the creatures that break the rules the rest of biology plays by. Each episode takes one rule you learned in school (aging is inevitable, sex is mandatory, you're in charge of your own behavior) and introduces you to something that ignores it completely: zombie-ant fungi, immortal jellyfish, contagious cancers, and parasites with opinions about your life choices. Rigorous science, dry humor, zero homework. Stay curious. Stay odd.episodicEric Hainesfeed+63987f63@podcasts.jellypod.comfalse<![CDATA[The Animal That Breaks the Filing System]]>https://the-odd-branch-zo83np.jellypod.com/episodes/354e233f-5ed2-4fe6-a9b8-563917f0e20d354e233f-5ed2-4fe6-a9b8-563917f0e20dWed, 02 Sep 2026 17:29:56 GMT55Dr. Ketchup and Nadia dig into a strange boundary-case creature that sounds like a hoax but keeps resisting easy explanation. The episode leans into skepticism, filing-system chaos, and the running joke that Nadia’s debunking instincts are always one step behind.

]]>Eric HainesDr. Ketchup and Nadia dig into a strange boundary-case creature that sounds like a hoax but keeps resisting easy explanation. The episode leans into skepticism, filing-system chaos, and the running joke that Nadia’s debunking instincts are always one stepDr. Ketchup and Nadia dig into a strange boundary-case creature that sounds like a hoax but keeps resisting easy explanation. The episode leans into skepticism, filing-system chaos, and the running joke that Nadia’s debunking instincts are always one step behind.falsefull<![CDATA[The Real Science Behind the Wood Wide Web]]>https://the-odd-branch-zo83np.jellypod.com/episodes/082bc99d-7f77-4d0c-be52-fe30856eeb7f082bc99d-7f77-4d0c-be52-fe30856eeb7fWed, 02 Sep 2026 14:32:35 GMT44An evidence-based look at the underground relationships between trees and fungi, separating the real science of mycorrhizal exchange from the popular idea of a forest-wide social network. The episode examines how carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus move through roots and fungi, and why proving a truly connected common mycorrhizal network is far more complicated than the headline version suggests.

Show Notes

]]>Eric HainesAn evidence-based look at the underground relationships between trees and fungi, separating the real science of mycorrhizal exchange from the popular idea of a forest-wide social network. The episode examines how carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus move throAn evidence-based look at the underground relationships between trees and fungi, separating the real science of mycorrhizal exchange from the popular idea of a forest-wide social network. The episode examines how carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus move through roots and fungi, and why proving a truly connected common mycorrhizal network is far more complicated than the headline version suggests. Show Notes 135-Reconsidering the 'Wood Wide Web' with Justine Karst ...: https://yourforestpodcast.com/episode-1/2023/3/13/135-reconsidering-the-wood-wide-web-with-justine-karstfalsefull<![CDATA[The 11,000-Year-Old Dog Cancer]]>https://the-odd-branch-zo83np.jellypod.com/episodes/1b1284a2-a897-4747-97c0-be082d589d4c1b1284a2-a897-4747-97c0-be082d589d4cWed, 02 Sep 2026 13:17:27 GMT33A contagious dog cancer older than agriculture, plus Tasmanian devil tumors and clam leukemias that learned to spread.

]]>Eric HainesA contagious dog cancer older than agriculture, plus Tasmanian devil tumors and clam leukemias that learned to spread.A contagious dog cancer older than agriculture, plus Tasmanian devil tumors and clam leukemias that learned to spread.falsefull<![CDATA[The Tongue That Wasn't: A Fish's Living Tenant]]>https://the-odd-branch-zo83np.jellypod.com/episodes/a0ebbb94-77c0-49a9-beef-fac36a7468e1a0ebbb94-77c0-49a9-beef-fac36a7468e1Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:06:40 GMT22A tongue-eating isopod replaces a snapper's tongue and keeps the fish alive, becoming an organ instead of just a parasite.

]]>Eric HainesA tongue-eating isopod replaces a snapper's tongue and keeps the fish alive, becoming an organ instead of just a parasite.A tongue-eating isopod replaces a snapper's tongue and keeps the fish alive, becoming an organ instead of just a parasite.falsefull<![CDATA[The Puppet Masters: Parasites That Hijack Behavior]]>https://the-odd-branch-zo83np.jellypod.com/episodes/48934c7f-485d-414f-a4d6-a5b30d3b4cde48934c7f-485d-414f-a4d6-a5b30d3b4cdeWed, 02 Sep 2026 13:01:00 GMT11Eric HainesAn exploration of zombie-ant fungus, hairworms, and Toxoplasma—parasites that steer behavior, blur free will, and make biology deeply unsettling.An exploration of zombie-ant fungus, hairworms, and Toxoplasma—parasites that steer behavior, blur free will, and make biology deeply unsettling.falsefull