TED Radio Hour (NPR)

Episode: What we — and AI — can learn from nature’s intelligence

Date: January 16, 2026
Host: Manoush Zomorodi

Episode Overview

This episode explores the concept of "natural intelligence"—the remarkable ways that plants, animals, and even our own immune system solve problems and adapt, often in ways that put artificial intelligence to shame or provide profound inspiration for its development. Host Manoush Zomorodi is joined by neuroscientists, psychologists, and environmental researchers who share captivating stories and recent discoveries, revealing how Earth's living systems compute, communicate, and thrive.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Plants as Sensors, Counters, and Learners (00:49–12:54)

The Venus Flytrap’s Intelligence (00:49–06:46)

• Story of discovery:
  • Arthur Dobbs, North Carolina's governor in the 1750s, documented the extraordinary Venus flytrap, later studied by Darwin ("the most wonderful plant in the world").
• Key behavior:
  • The Venus flytrap "counts" touches on its trigger hairs. Only if touched twice within ~20 seconds does it close its trap—conserving significant energy and ensuring only true prey triggers the costly movement.
• Expert quote:
  • "The coolest thing is that the plant can count." – Greg Gage (03:46)
  • “Here, we're seeing the fly trap actually doing a computation.” – Greg Gage (05:41)
• Takeaway:
  • Plants can perform simple computational logic without brains.

Mimosa Pudica and Plant “Learning” (06:46–09:44)

• Behavior:
  • Mimosa Pudica folds its leaves at a touch—repelling herbivores and possibly deterring insects.
  • Reference to experiments where plants learn to associate clues (like airflow or light) for growth direction, demonstrating basic learning and flexible decision-making.
• Key analogy:
  • “That's starting to show a little bit of intelligence.” – Greg Gage (09:38)
• Insight:
  • Intelligence rooted in using limited resources to get what is needed.

Slime Molds: What Single Cells Can Achieve (09:44–11:33)

• Observation:
  • Slime molds, though brainless, exhibit problem-solving: avoiding light and seeking food efficiently.
  • “The cell is basically a little computer ... and it has goals.” – Greg Gage (11:10)
• Broader definition:
  • Intelligence as the ability to achieve goals with available means, seen even at the cellular level.

2. Natural Intelligence Inspiring Artificial Intelligence (15:36–25:53)

Animal Navigation and Coordination (15:54–18:00)

• Frances Chance’s research:
  • Dung beetles use moonlight for straight paths; Sahara ants calculate return routes; honeybees use complex foraging behavior.
• Dragonflies’ hunting prowess:
  • Dragonflies intercept fast-moving prey, succeeding up to 95% of the time by predicting future locations—a natural precursor to "leading the target," like athletes or missile systems.
  • “It's known that dragonflies catch up to 95% of the prey that they choose to go after.” – Frances Chance (17:06)

Deconstructing the Dragonfly Brain (18:00–22:49)

• Coordinate transformation:
  • Dragonflies convert what their eyes see into body movements for pursuit, using neural circuits just four layers deep to accomplish this in ~50 milliseconds.
  • “The way that these neurons compute may be different from anything that exists on a computer today.” – Frances Chance (21:36)
• Practical aim:
  • Creating AI chips that mimic the speed and energy efficiency of dragonfly brains—envisioning ultra-efficient drones or navigation systems.
  • “Imagine if all brain inspired computers had the same extremely low power requirements.” – Frances Chance (22:26)
• Environmental implication:
  • Could drastically reduce global computing’s energy consumption and carbon footprint.

Intelligence: Cleverness Across Life (24:58–25:53)

• Philosophy:
  • Intelligence isn’t just about adaptation but about “clever” solutions evolved for ultra-efficient problem solving.
  • “I call them clever ... examples of what intelligence could produce.” – Frances Chance (25:09)

3. The “Intelligence” of the Human Immune System (26:18–33:36)

Immune Response & Behavior (26:18–32:24)

• Case study:
  • When sick, cytokines create not just fevers or aches, but loss of joy, fatigue, and social withdrawal—evolutionarily pushing us to rest and recover, and avoid spreading illness.
• Quote:
  • “The immune system is telling the brain to feel depressed and to withdraw from socializing because it wants you to stay at home and rest.” – Keely Muscatel (30:23)
• Nuance:
  • Some inflammation increases motivation for care from loved ones (the “chicken soup shortcut”).

Chronic Inflammation & Societal Implications (36:41–40:09)

• Modern confusion:
  • Chronic stress, poor sleep, or unhealthy diets invoke the same inflammation as infection, compounding stress and social withdrawal in a vicious feedback.
• Quote:
  • “Stress can cause inflammation and then inflammation can signal the brain for people to maybe disconnect or withdraw, which can lead to more stress. ... tough cycle to break.” – Keely Muscatel (37:43)
• Broader lesson:
  • Evolution crafted the immune system’s “smart” algorithms, even if our conscious brain sometimes overrides them.

4. AI Decoding Animal Communication & Guiding Conservation (40:38–53:11)

Karen Bakker’s Exploration of Animal Communication (41:21–53:11)

• Bioacoustics and AI:
  • AI is enabling scientists to listen to and decode sounds from bats, whales, elephants, and even coral larvae (“inside-out ears” that home by sound).
• Notable moment:
  • “Bats have dialects that they pass down ... baby bats learn to speak just like you did by listening to the adults around them.” – Karen Bakker (42:16)
  • Orcas pass on their “dialects” generationally; elephants have a specific alarm for honeybees.
• Prediction:
  • “Maybe bioacoustics would enable an orca to give a TED Talk. Why not ... telling stories about trying to survive on this beautiful planet.” – Karen Bakker (52:36)
• Practical impact:
  • AI-powered “whale lanes” off America's East Coast now prevent endangered whale ship strikes, giving species a chance at recovery.
• Ethical consideration:
  • Interspecies communication empowers empathy and conservation, but must be developed ethically.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Here, we’re seeing the fly trap actually doing a computation.” – Greg Gage (05:41)
• “Every cell is intelligent. I think everything that comes from cells is intelligent.” – Greg Gage (12:38)
• “The way that these neurons compute may be different from anything that exists on a computer today.” – Frances Chance (21:36)
• “Imagine if all brain inspired computers had the same ... low power requirements.” – Frances Chance (22:26)
• “Your body is gonna send signals to your brain that cause kind of a loss of joy or a loss of interest ... and the idea is that that’s a really good thing.” – Keely Muscatel (29:52)
• “When we lose species, we lose voices. When we lose landscapes, we also lose soundscapes.” – Karen Bakker (47:56)
• “Maybe ... instead of a human here on stage, maybe bioacoustics would enable an orca to give a TED Talk.” – Karen Bakker (52:36)

Important Timestamps

• 00:49 — Introduction to Venus Flytrap and Natural Intelligence
• 03:46 — Flytrap’s Counting Mechanism
• 06:46 — Mimosa Pudica and Plant “Touch”
• 09:44 — Slime Molds as Simple Intelligent Creatures
• 15:54 — Dung Beetles, Ants, and Insect Navigation
• 17:06 — Dragonfly's Prey Interception Skill
• 18:00 — Deep Dive: Dragonfly Neural Circuits
• 22:26 — Low-Power, Brain-Inspired AI Devices
• 26:19 — Human Immune System: Sickness Behavior
• 29:52 — Evolutionary Rationale for Being Sick
• 33:36 — Chronic Inflammation and Modern Stress
• 41:21 — AI Decoding Animal Languages (Bats, Whales, Bees)
• 47:56 — The Loss of “Voices” in Nature
• 52:36 — The Vision: Interspecies TED Talks

Tone & Style

The episode blends awe, scientific curiosity, and concern for the natural world, celebrating the diversity and ingenuity of intelligence across the tree of life. The speakers’ voices express both wonder and humility as they reveal how much we have to learn from the systems that have evolved over millions of years, emphasizing that technological progress does not render nature obsolete—if anything, it deepens our respect for it.

Episode Summary

This episode artfully shows that “intelligence” is not unique to humans or even animals with brains. From flytraps that compute and flowers that “learn,” to dragonflies out-intercepting missiles, to the immune system’s subtle regulation of mood and social behavior, and, finally, to bats, whales, and bees whose languages AI is just starting to decode, natural intelligence is everywhere. The lessons: Our machines still have much to learn from nature’s evolved brilliance—and, perhaps more importantly, so do we.