Imagine you stumble upon a giant, meat-eating plant—what would you do? First, don’t panic! Most carnivorous plants are way too small to eat a person, but let’s say this one is huge. You'd need to stay calm and use your strength or sharp objects to break free if it tries to trap you. Avoid touching the sticky or sharp parts, and keep your limbs away from its mouth-like trap. In reality, though, you'd probably survive just fine—unless we're talking about some sci-fi mutant plant! #brightside
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For more videos and articles visit: http://www.brightside.me
Animation is created by Bright Side.
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Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/
Listen to Bright Side on:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV
Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/idhttps-podcasts-apple-com-podcast-bright-side/id1554898078
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https://www.eastnews.ru
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FunTranscript
00:00Well, if you don't have enough to worry about, here's another fear unlocked.
00:06You might turn into the next meal of a meat-eating plant.
00:10This type of plant has appeared in video games like Super Mario, that's why it looks familiar.
00:15So we wonder, here at Bright Side, what would happen if a hypothetical giant Venus flytrap
00:21captured you?
00:23After all, these plants aren't picky eaters.
00:26They have sensitive trigger hairs, which cause the plant's iconic hinged jaws to snap shut.
00:32Its leaves are equipped with tiny bristle-like structures that interlock when the trap closes,
00:38making it difficult for prey to escape.
00:40Once it happens, the plant begins secreting digestive enzymes to break down the prey's
00:45soft tissue.
00:47The digestion process in carnivorous plants takes several days.
00:52During that time, the plant extracts nutrients from the dissolved prey.
00:57In our hypothetical situation, it would take a long time for the plant to consume you.
01:02And since the process would be extremely slow, most likely you'd be able to free yourself
01:08before significant harm occurs.
01:10In any scenario, it would be extremely hard for the plant to digest a human completely.
01:16The anatomy and digestive processes of Venus flytraps are adapted to deal with insects,
01:21not large animals like you.
01:24Even if they were larger, they would still not be able to eat you.
01:28Comforting?
01:29Somewhat.
01:30The Venus flytrap primarily consumes insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates.
01:37Researchers have found out that this plant can digest small pieces of human flesh.
01:42But the largest representatives measure just a few inches.
01:46So it's highly unlikely for a Venus flytrap, or similar carnivorous plant, to pose any
01:52serious threat to humans.
01:56Barry Rice is an astrobiologist from California.
02:00And he thought about this question too.
02:03In a rather cringeworthy experiment, Rice applied his Venus flytraps with skin fragments
02:08peeled from his toes affected by the athlete's foot infection.
02:13Those skin pieces, divided into four equal portions, were carefully inserted into the
02:18jaws of four Venus flytrap plants.
02:21After a week, Rice cautiously pried open the plant's mouth to assess the progress.
02:27To his surprise, the skin chunks were nearly completely digested, contrary to his initial
02:33expectation of them remaining intact.
02:36It means that Venus flytraps can indeed consume human flesh.
02:41Yet the prospect of these plants engulfing an entire human is unequivocally dismissed.
02:47Rice restricted his experiments to a specific tissue type, and there's no indication that
02:52the plant could break down sturdier components like bone or cartilage.
02:57The size limitations and the slow digestion process also act in favor of the person's
03:04survival.
03:06When it comes to size, Venus flytraps can grow to about 5 inches in diameter.
03:12Each plant has about 6 stems with leaves that are hinged and lined with tooth-like edges.
03:18These flytraps are originally from North and South Carolina.
03:23But at one point, they decided to take a trip.
03:25And now you can see them in places like Florida and New Jersey.
03:30They like the moist, acidic soil vibe found in forest understories.
03:35They need loads of humidity and sunlight to thrive.
03:38They lure insects with their reddish-lined leaves and sweet-smelling nectar.
03:44When a bug lands on their jaws, they don't snap shut right away.
03:48This process turns into a 20-second dance show.
03:52The petals stay open if the bug doesn't make at least two moves.
03:56It prevents random debris from getting trapped.
04:00On the second move, the plant goes from a happy convex shape to a hungry concave one,
04:06closing its jaws in less than a second.
04:09The bristles on the leaves act like jail bars, keeping the insect from pulling a Houdini.
04:15On the third move, digestion mode activates.
04:18Juices break down the bug.
04:20The plant reopens after 5-12 days, and whatever couldn't be digested just falls out.
04:27Actually, you can give a Venus flytrap a little touch without hurting yourself.
04:31In fact, they're pretty soft to the touch.
04:34Yes, these types of plants can't eat us, but it doesn't mean they're not spooky.
04:41For instance, this gigantic carnivorous plant can even devour rodents.
04:46It was discovered in the Philippines.
04:49The pitcher plant, rated as the world's second-largest, can reach over 16 feet in height.
04:55It attracts prey with special nectar around its mouth.
04:59Once an animal is lured in, the plant's fluid, which contains enzymes and acids, starts breaking
05:05down the drowned victim's carcass.
05:08While such plants can eat rats and frogs, cultivating them as mousetraps is impractical
05:14due to the sheer number of mice in urban areas.
05:18Here's how plants become meat-eaters.
05:20Around 70 million years ago, during the era of dinosaurs, certain plants underwent a genetic
05:26mutation that turned them into carnivores.
05:29In a study, researchers explored the evolution of carnivorous plants, focusing on three related
05:35species, the Venus flytrap, the waterwheel plant, and the sundew.
05:40First, the plant's entire genetic code doubled, which allowed its genes to become more varied.
05:48Some genes changed to make traps out of leaves and use roots for catching prey.
05:53As the plant got nutrients from the prey, it didn't need as many genes for regular
05:57leaves and roots.
05:59Over time, evolution fine-tuned the roots and leaves for trapping.
06:04This shows how plants that hadn't been carnivores before changed to become really good at catching
06:10and eating animals.
06:11It helped them survive in soils that didn't have many nutrients by getting nutrients from
06:16the animals they caught.
06:20Carnivorous plants are rare, but they are a big family.
06:23There are more than 700 species found all around the world on every continent except
06:29Antarctica.
06:30They're not just hanging out in damned swamps and jungles.
06:33North America takes the crown for the highest number of different carnivorous plant species.
06:38We're so proud of that!
06:40Venus flytraps are the ones with the iconic snap trap.
06:44Pitcher plants, on the other hand, work with a pitfall trap.
06:48It's straightforward – their leaves are hollow and filled with water and digestive
06:52acids.
06:53Any bug that falls in ends up drowning and being slowly digested over time.
06:58Some pitcher plants have waxy leaves to make bugs slide inside more easily, while others
07:03use chemicals to reduce water tension, making any insect that lands in their trap instantly
07:08sink and drown.
07:11Let's move on to sticky traps.
07:15Some plants, like sundews, use active sticky traps.
07:18They have tentacles all over their leaves that stick to insects.
07:22The tentacles close when an insect lands on them, suffocating the bug.
07:28Then there are passive sticky traps.
07:30Think of them like sticky mousetraps in a garage.
07:34Insects that land on these tiny sticky tentacles just get stuck, and the plant sends out digestive
07:39acids to turn them into a liquid snack.
07:43Now let's get to the showstopper – suction traps.
07:47Bladderworts are the stars here, pulling in bugs and other prey faster than you can blink
07:51twice.
07:52They love snacking on mosquito larvae.
07:55But big ones can even grab small tadpoles by the tail and devour them from bottom to
08:01top.
08:02Have you had your lunch yet?
08:05Then there's the lobster pot trap.
08:07This one is a unique trap, where the plant's roots are hollow and have openings.
08:12Sharp hairs force tiny bugs and larvae into the roots.
08:16The bugs can't turn around, and they end up heading straight for the plant's stomach.
08:22Fun fact – not all carnivorous plants need digestive enzymes.
08:26Some team up with helpful bacteria and focus on physical traps instead.
08:33Carnivorous plants don't grow only on land – there are underwater ones too.
08:38The waterwheel plant and bladderworts live beneath the surface.
08:43Even deserts have their own carnivorous plant players.
08:47If you see carnivorous plants in the wild, resist the urge to take them home.
08:52Unfortunately, many of these plants are endangered because people poach them from their natural
08:57habitats.
08:58Even the famous Venus flytrap is at risk of extinction.
09:02There are no carnivorous plants dangerous for us humans.
09:06But this one might give you a fright because of its terrifying appearance.
09:11On the other hand, it may help you resist the temptation to take these plants home as
09:15souvenirs.
09:16Sweet dreams!
09:18That's it for today!
09:20So hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your
09:25friends.
09:26Or if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side!