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Dragon fire is a terrible thing, but how might an organism generate it -- and how would this affect its environment? In this episode of Monster Science, Dr. Anton Jessup discusses theories of dragon fire, the bombardier beetle and fire ecology.

From "The Thing" to "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," sci-fi aliens often try to infiltrate human society through biological mimicry -- but to what end? In this episode of Monster Science, Dr. Anton Jessup looks to the natural world for parallels and assures us that shapeshifting extraterrestrial interlopers are less of a threat than we might think.

From the lowly CHUD to the mighty Godzilla, fictional monsters raise some startling ideas about the effects of radiation on terrestrial organisms. In this episode of Monster Science, Dr. Anton Jessup discusses the reality of radiotrophic fungi and the limits of radioactive mutation.

The "Alien" Xenomorph is the ultimate sci-fi chimera, incorporating multiple real-world biological horrors in its phantasmagoric form. In this special "Sex Ed" episode of Monster Science, Dr. Anton Jessup considers the creature's facehugger stage, the questions it raises about reproduction and a possible real-world counterpart in the aquatic ragworm.

If science fiction has taught us anything, it's that all-male alien species often develop an insatiable lust for Earth women. As Dr. Anton Jessup explains in this special "Sex Ed" episode of Monster Science, it's a similar tactic to the one employed by all-male asexual corbicula clams.

What do seductive female vampires have in common with real-life organisms? Join Dr. Anton Jessup as he explains the parallels between fanged vixens and a particular species of "feme fatal" lightning bug in this special "Sex Ed" edition of Monster Science.