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Short Wave

When Critters Bleed ... On Purpose!

Short Wave

NPR

Daily News, Nature, Life Sciences, Astronomy, Science, News

4.7 β€’ 6K Ratings

πŸ—“οΈ 24 November 2020

⏱️ 12 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Some insects and reptiles have a strange self-preservation characteristic β€” they suddenly start bleeding from places like their eyes or knees. NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce looks at "reflex bleeding" and explores some of the creatures that bleed on purpose.

For more science reporting and stories, follow Nell on twitter @nell_sci_NPR. And, as always, email us at [email protected].

Transcript

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0:00.0

You're listening to shortwave from NPR.

0:05.0

Maddie Sifaya here with NPR Science correspondent Nell Greenfield Boys.

0:08.7

Hi, Nell.

0:09.7

Hello, Maddie.

0:10.7

So, today we are going to talk about blood and bleeding, but not the usual way we think

0:15.9

about bleeding.

0:16.9

Absolutely.

0:17.9

I mean, I think most people generally think of bleeding as a bad thing, like something

0:22.3

you want to stop as soon as possible, so that, you know, your life force, your precious

0:26.6

bodily fluid doesn't just flow out of you.

0:29.8

Can you mean like if we're bleeding from a cut or a puncture wound or something, not

0:33.4

like menstruation because that's, you know, normal, healthy bleeding?

0:37.0

Yeah.

0:38.0

So, I'm not talking about your period or getting a cut or anything like people normally

0:41.5

experience in terms of blood and bleeding.

0:44.4

What I'm talking about is a completely different kind of bleeding.

0:48.5

I am talking about blood coming out of an unexpected body part abruptly and alarmingly

0:55.0

and on purpose.

0:56.6

What do you mean on purpose?

0:58.5

Well, it might not necessarily be a decision.

1:01.1

It could be more like a reflex in response to a threat.

1:04.0

As a defensive maneuver, there are some creatures that just copiously bleed.

...

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