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Bean plants call for aerial reinforcements when caterpillars attack

NPR's Short Wave talks about a weakness in a well-known insect repellant, how plants call wasps to their defense and how bigger rewards speed up learning, in mice.

Copyright 2026 NPR

Hannah Chinn
Hannah Chinn (they/them) is a producer on NPR's science podcast Short Wave. Prior to joining Short Wave, they produced Good Luck Media's inaugural "climate thriller" podcast. Before that, they worked on Spotify & Gimlet Media shows such as Conviction, How to Save a Planet and Reply All. Previous pit stops also include WHYY, as well as Willamette Week and The Philadelphia Inquirer. In between, they've worked a number of non-journalism gigs at various vintage stores, coffee shops and haunted houses.
Regina G. Barber
Regina G. Barber is a co-host of Short Wave, NPR's science podcast.

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