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Today, Explained

Cicada time

Today, Explained

Vox

Daily News, Politics, News

4.49.5K Ratings

🗓️ 16 May 2024

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The last time these exact cicada broods emerged from the ground at the same time, Thomas Jefferson was president. The red-eyed bugs come out looking for love and change forest ecosystems forever. Vox’s Benji Jones thinks it’s magical. This show was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by David Herman, and hosted by Rebeca Ibarra. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! vox.com/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

I do have a quick question.

0:01.5

Secadas, are they insects or bugs or both?

0:05.0

They are both.

0:06.4

Okay, because I don't want to horrify any like entomologists out there

0:09.3

who are like, they're bugs, they're insects.

0:10.7

I do feel like that happens, but I not worry like everyone knows them as bugs they

0:15.9

look like bugs they're bugs.

0:18.2

Cicadas billions maybe even a trillion of them are emerging after more than a decade underground.

0:24.6

The collective noise from the insects can be as loud as a jet engine.

0:28.9

It is so loud that some residents in South Carolina call the police. see two broods co-emerge for the first time in 200 years.

0:37.0

And don't even think about squashing them.

0:39.0

These are definitely not spotted lantern flies. They are native and they are very special insects in the US so let it live.

0:46.5

I don't think that's going to fly in your face but if it does you can slaughter the way.

0:50.8

They're here to make babies and while they're at it they might

0:53.5

transform entire ecosystems for years to come. That's coming up on today explained comes from better help. Life throws a lot of stress at all of us.

1:10.6

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1:15.2

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1:22.1

therapy that offers you a safe space to get things off your chest.

1:26.0

Better Help says that you just fill out a little questionnaire and then you get matched with a license to that's important therapist who's ready to help you lighten your

1:34.5

emotional load. Get it off your chest month. That's Better Help.

1:44.3

H-E-L-P.com slash explained.

1:48.6

Support for this show comes from Pendo. Pendo improves the apps your customers and employees rely on.

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