Here’s a gruesome treat. NOVA just did a show on venom, and you can watch it online.
Ed Yong and I have written to unhealthy lengths about the evolution of venom, so if you prefer venom in text to venom in video–or if you just want some background–check these posts out.
Pythons are still a little venomous
Painkilling chemicals with no side effects found in black mamba venom
World’s 2nd deadliest poison, in an aquarium store near you
How a pit viper saved millions of lives: Snakes as drug factories
Venomous shrews and lizards evolved toxic proteins in the same way
Originally published May 7, 2013. Copyright 2013 Carl Zimmer.