TED-Ed: This weird trick will help you summon an army of worms | Kenny Coogan

The video explores the practice of worm grunting, a tradition where vibrations cause earthworms to surface. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain this behavior, including the idea that worms are charmed by noise or mimic rain to avoid drowning. However, experiments by Kenneth Catania suggest that worms surface to escape moles, a natural predator. This behavior persists because it is beneficial against frequent predators, despite making worms vulnerable to humans and other animals. The video highlights the historical and scientific exploration of this phenomenon.

What is worm grunting and how is it traditionally performed?

What hypotheses have been proposed to explain why worms surface during worm grunting?

What did Kenneth Catania's experiments reveal about the hypothesis that worms surface to avoid drowning?

How did Charles Darwin contribute to the understanding of earthworm behavior?

Why do scientists believe that the behavior of worms surfacing persists despite the risks?