Today we talk about spiders, one of the most successful, ancient, and deeply misunderstood orders of predators on Planet Earth.

With over 50,000 known species thriving in virtually every ecosystem outside of Antarctica, these eight-legged arachnids have been perfecting their craft for more than 300 million years - predating the dinosaurs by tens of millions of years. In this episode, we are untangling the evolutionary genius behind these master engineers, from microscopic web weavers to massive bird-eating tarantulas.

We’re diving deep into the biological marvels that make spiders unique in the animal kingdom. We explore the bio-engineering feat that is spider silk - a liquid protein spun into fibers stronger than steel by weight - and examine the bizarre hydraulic system they use to extend their legs using pressurized fluid instead o ...