Episode #100
Can Caterpillars Remember After Turning Into Butterflies?
<p>Did you know that when a caterpillar turns into a butterfly, it basically puts its brain in a biological blender, yet somehow, its memories survive? Welcome back to What the Study Says! In this deep dive, we explore the mind-blowing truth behind whether memory survives metamorphosis and how trauma can actually be inherited across generations. We unpack a landmark Georgetown University study on the tobacco hornworm, revealing how a protected brain structure called the mushroom body keeps memories intact during pupation. Then, we look at the groundbreaking research of an 11-year-old Japanese scientist, Jo Nagai, who proved that swallowtail...

