How to Smell like a Dog, with Ed Yong

Science Vs

Spotify Studios

Education, Science, Health & Fitness

4.4 • 11.7K Ratings

🗓️ 25 September 2025

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Ever wonder why your dog just loves to sniff your junk? Well, it turns out it’s because other animals perceive the world in wild ways that we’re just beginning to understand. So today, we’re immersing ourselves in their world, talking about the cutting-edge science of how animals perceive with Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer Ed Yong. He’s spinning yarns from his latest book: “An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us.” After this journey, you'll look at your dog in a totally different light, you'll appreciate how eyes have literally painted the world — and you might even feel sorry for the humble cockroach. Video available on Spotify. Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVs_EdYong In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Ed Yong’s amazing book on animal perception (03:58) Magnificent sniffers (11:20) Every possible degree of eye (18:15) Hearing in different ways (25:11) Touch and vibrations (33:05) Science under threat in the U.S. (41:10) Oddball questions This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman, with help from Michelle Dang, Meryl Horn, Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, and Rose Rimler. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Video editing and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Emma Munger, So Wylie, Peter Leonard, Bumi Hidaka and Bobby Lord. Thanks to Skyline Studios and Stupid Old Studios. Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	I did get hit by a mantis shrimp, which has the most powerful punch in nature.
0:08.7	This was a very, very small mantis shrimp, and it's still hurt.
0:14.5	Do-do, science chats with our favorite nerds. Yeah.
0:23.5	Hi, I'm Wendy Zuckerman and you're listening to Science Verses. Today on the show,
0:28.6	the amazing superpowers of animals. Some animals can see things that we can't see. They can
0:35.5	hear things that we can't hear, touch things that we
0:38.9	will never feel. And so today on the show, we are diving into their world to talk about the
0:45.8	groundbreaking science of how animals perceive. And to go on this journey, we'll be chatting to
0:52.2	Ed Yong. He's a Pulitzer Prize winning science writer,
0:56.1	and we'll be talking about his book, An Immense World, How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden
1:01.8	Realms Around Us. And I think you're going to love this chat. You are going to look at your dog
1:07.7	in a totally different light by the end of this chat.
1:15.8	You're going to appreciate how eyes have literally painted the world.
1:20.2	And you may even feel sorry for the humble cockroach.
1:25.2	If you are listening to this on Spotify, you can also be watching it because it's on video.
1:25.6	Hello.
1:29.1	My interview with Ed Young is coming up just after the break. You subscribe to music, TV, your gym, maybe even your weekly flowers, so why not your
1:41.1	car? A pivotal car subscription comes with serious horsepower.
1:45.3	One simple monthly payment puts you behind the wheel of a range rover or defender
1:49.3	with everything from insurance to servicing taken care of.
1:52.7	No long-term commitments, no complications.
1:55.3	Experience exceptional driving without the hassle of ownership or leasing.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Spotify Studios, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Spotify Studios and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.