Ninety seconds is all you need to make an unexpected discovery about the natural world — with The 90 Second Naturalist, you get a bite-sized nature doc every weeknight at nine. In this nationally syndicated segment produced by Cincinnati Public Radio with host Thane Maynard of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, every short show is a fascinating learning experience set to the background sounds of rainforest birds and insects.

This show isn’t only separated from other NPR podcasts by its quick length — its depth of detail and expertise sets it apart. You’ll see every topic that Thane Maynard touches on in a new light — silly animal trivia, serious conservation news, or both.

Here are some of the many strange and exciting topics from our recent archives:

· Pangolins
· Snake eating spiders!
· Tracking the common nighthawk
· Animal navels
· Polar bear extinction
· Are oysters an aphrodisiac?
· Night blooming flowers
· Scary sharks

A Florida native whose passion for nature and wildlife conservation was sparked by boyhood explorations into nearby swamps in search of alligators, Thane Maynard has been a fixture at the Cincinnati Zoo since 1977 and an icon of zoo culture since beginning to record his signature radio segment in 1987. He’s also a prolific author of books on wildlife, including one co-authored with the eminent researcher and conservationist Jane Goodall. The mission of his work teaching and writing mirrors that of the Cincinnati Zoo: to tell the story of biological diversity, natural history and wildlife conservation to the general public.

The 90 Second Naturalist is broadcast five days a week on 91.7, as well as at member stations across the country, and can also be listened to online wherever NPR podcasts are found — on the NPR One app, streaming services and a variety of smart devices.