TRILLIONS of cicadas are emerging. Math can tell us why…

Another YouTube #shorts from your favorite science dad, Dr. Joe

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[sourlikefunkee]

Born too late to discover the world,
Born too early to explore space,
Born just in time too witness a shitload of cicadas

[nib]

Scream -> Sex -> Death
Ah yes, the life cycle of the average rockstar.

[coachtaewherbalife]

This is one of those incredible events that I'd rather not witness first hand.

[cloudyskies]

“Scream, have sex then die” Just me without the sex

[jeancajeron]

I saw a video that talked about an experiment to determine how they could know the time precisely. Apparently they simulated half day cycles of light and dark to make the plants around the cicadas release the nutrients to the soil twice as fast. They did that for a year, 2 years before the estimated time for the breeding cycle. The cicadas emerged 1 year earlier, pointing to either a direct connection between the cicadas and the flora, or an ability to sense the changes in light while underground.

[CohenSchmidt-ln]

I’d like to think they call it their “Cicadian Rythm”

[ellajohnson]

"Scream, have sex, and die" 😂

[HeyItsTheWykydtron]

"Scream, Have Sex and Die" is gonna be the name of my thrash metal album

[tootsmcdunno]

It was amazing. Registered 95 decibels (as loud as a lawnmower). At one point, I had to vacuum the yard because the smell of the decaying cicada shells was overwhelming. Three garbage bags full!

[Jude-ykuc]

The prime number part is genuinely insane. How beautiful

[Drekromancer]

That map feels like the result of an evil wizard ritually summoning a blight on Chicago.

[jakkakasunset]

"Morph into an adult, scream, have sex, and die"
I think I'm a Cicada just without the sex

[igitaq]

I used to live in the heart of Illinois but moved to the west coast. I am a little sad to be missing this and also a little relieved at the same time.

[andrewpaino]

Fun fact: there was a study done in 2002 that tested how cicadas know when to leave the earth. They took one group, put them under a tree they usually live in. Recreated the 4 seasons (one year) twice in one year (so basically 2 years in one) and they started to crawl up a year early. The control group came out when it was 17 years. So a year later then the study.

[daveknight]

Do you think they'll be loud enough to drown out all of the gunshots?
Cicadas: "You're welcome Chicago, sleep well for a bit."

[poeticsilence]

So basically, it is going to sound like an anime scene during the summer. Got it.

[christinet]

Love thee bus and the noises they make. So relaxing.

[scottgray]

"Scream, have sex, and die" sounds like my life plans, too.

[dragonfirerich]

Stuck here on the southeast fringe of the 13-year brood, I can verify that it's already loud. I can hear these darned cicadas from INSIDE my house. It's like having tinnitus!

[Soldier.]

Cicada life: goo-goo, digging a hole digging a hole, RAAHHHH, Hey baby, Tell my daughter i love her