Jet propulsion.

Eject fluid backwards, hard enough, and you'll move forward.

It is a simple concept that is insanely difficult to implement in any practical way.

We humans have understood it conceptually for literally thousands of years,

but we haven't been able to do a dang thing with it until this past century.

Sure, we might have made some fireworks, some rockets, some toys, some stunts before that, but,

let's face it, nothing compared to what we can do with it now.

Now, jets are our most impressive form of locomotion.

This is the phenomenon that once we harnessed it, allowed us to make high-speed international

jumbo jets that carry hundreds of people around the world. This is the phenomenon that got us to the moon,

and this is the phenomenon that could ultimately make us a multi-planet species. Every action,

an equal and opposite reaction. And if you produce enough action in one direction, well, that reaction might just throw you out of

Earth's atmosphere. But it turns out we were late to the party. It turns out that jet propulsion has been in

use for millions of years. It turns out that Mother Nature invented jet power

back when we weren't even human yet,

back when we were still figuring out how sticks work.

Today we're going to talk about a biological rocket.

The Japanese flying squid.

Totorode is Pacificus.

I'm Mackin. This is species.

Welcome to the show.

I know many of you are totally new here,

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