In this episode of Yackety Science, screwworm maggots wriggle and bore their way back into the U.S. Embryo editing takes a giant leap forward. Matt comes out as a Titanium fanboy. And Brian visits with Mo O’Leary of the Tulsa Zoo about chimp politics, bullfrog bartering, and of course, the size of Bonzo’s balls.

Got a question, comment, or correction? Yack right back at us at YacketyScience@gmail.com. And please follow us on Spotify, Instagram (@yacketysciene), Facebook (Yackety Science), and YouTube (@YacketyScience).

Episode Art: Image by B. Cross.

Theme music: “Funky Machine” (ID874) by Lobo Loco (Accessed through FreeMusicArchive.org.; CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

Production help provided by Scott Gregory.

Yackety Science is recorded at the studios of Public Radio Tulsa, Kendall Hall, University of Tulsa, and at the Center for Creativity at Tulsa Community College.

Links:

Screwworm Redux:

• Find out more about screwworm biology and the current status of the U.S. outbreak, go to Screwworm.gov.

Gene Editing:

• Efficient base editing and development in human embryos without chromosomal alterations. Jerabek et al. 2026 (bioRXiv Preprint)

Guest: Maureen “Mo” O’Leary of the Tulsa Zoo

Mo O’leary is one of the most experienced primate keepers anywhere in the world. She has worked with Chimpanzees at the Tulsa Zoo for over 30 years.

For more information about the Captive Primate Safety Act, click here.

Ourobookos, A Yackety Science Book Club

Next Book Selection: The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking) by Katie Mack

“. . . a mind-bending tour through five of the cosmos’s possible finales: the Big Crunch, Heat Death, the Big Rip, Vacuum Decay (the one that could happen at any moment!), and the Bounce. Guiding us through cutting-edge science and major concepts in quantum mechanics, cosmology, string theory, and much more, The End of Everything is a wildly fun, surprisingly upbeat ride to the farthest reaches of all that we know.”

Screwworm Redux:

Gene Editing: