In ancient Egypt, there was a spell that declared, "Be far from me, O vile cockroach." Thousands of years later, we're still trying to oust these insects. But from poison traps to brandished slippers, cockroaches seem to weather just about everything we throw at them. So, what makes cockroaches so hard to kill? Ameya Gondhalekar digs into the genetic wonders of this troublingly tenacious creature. [Directed by Irida Zhonga, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Phil Brookes].

Ameya Gondhalekar: Why are cockroaches so hard to kill?

Why are cockroaches so hard to kill?

Cockroaches outpace the fastest invertebrates, sprinting up to 50 body lengths per second, equivalent to human speeds over 300 km/h.

Roaches thrive on a diet of hair, dead skin, and waste, recycling nitrogen with bacteria, showcasing remarkable survival adaptability.

Resistant cockroaches neutralize pesticides through genetic mutations and enhanced detox enzymes, outsmarting chemical controls.