Our Fear and Fascination around Snakes

我们对蛇的恐惧与着迷

Science Quickly

科学

2025-04-23

16 分钟
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When writer Stephen S. Hall was a child, he would capture snakes—much to his mother’s chagrin. Now the science journalist is returning to his early fascination In his latest book, Slither: How Nature’s Most Maligned Creatures Illuminate Our World. The book explores our long, complicated relationship with snakes. Plus, Hall chats about humans’ and other animals’ evolved reactivity to the presence of snakes and the adaptations that keep snakes alive in even the most extreme environments. Recommended reading: Slither is out now: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/stephen-s-hall/slither/9781538741337/  An Evolutionary ‘Big Bang’ Explains Why Snakes Come in So Many Strange Varieties https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/an-evolutionary-big-bang-explains-why-snakes-come-in-so-many-strange-varieties/  Venomous Snakes May Spread into Vulnerable Communities because of Climate Change https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/venomous-snakes-are-spreading-because-of-climate-change/  E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  • People are funny about snakes.

  • I remember being taught the rhyme, red touches black, you're okay, Jack.

  • Red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow in elementary school.

  • Never mind the fact that we absolutely did not have coral snakes in New Jersey.

  • My guest today has spent a lot of time exploring our cultural aversion to and fascination with snakes.

  • Stephen S. Hall is a science writer and the author of seven books.