A stroll across the wasteland turns into a run for your life when you see an insect in a post-apocalyptic, Fallout-style world. Roaches, mosquitoes, and some abominations called “stingwings” have climbed up a few spots on the food chain and now consider you (or your blood) a meal. It’s nothing a well-fueled flamer can’t handle, but could insects ever get that big in the first place?

In my latest Because Science, I’m running through the fascinating way that insects breathe, and why there are limiting factors on how big bugs can get. The first limit is surface area vs. volume, and the second is the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. But make no mistake, insects can get pretty big…and some were much bigger before humans came along. How about seeing an 8-foot long millipede?

This episode concludes Fallout 4 month (but not my time with it; my save file is 80+ hours and I have a jet pack)! You can watch the previous episodes about laser weapons and Nuka Cola radiation here and here. Next month I’m applying my nerdery to another big property, maybe the biggest: Star Wars. Because Science will be all Star Wars all December, starting with how Han Solo is actually a time traveler next week!

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Check out my last video on how many Nuka Colas you can drink before dying, subscribe to this playlist to stay current with the show, buy a Because Science shirt, and follow me on Twitter to give me a suggestion for the next episode!