Hey there! I’m Julián from MinuteEarth, and today we’re diving into the world of Pokémon. If you haven’t heard of them, Pokémon are imaginary creatures that people love to collect, train, and battle. Some of the most popular Pokémon are called “starters,” and they are inspired by real animals but have some cool special powers. We started wondering if these powers could actually exist in the real world. Let’s find out if there’s any science behind these amazing creatures!
First up is Bulbasaur, which looks a lot like a frog with a plant bulb on its back. While this might sound strange, some real animals, like the decorator crab, attach plants to themselves. Also, algae and moss can grow on animals. Bulbasaur can use vines from its bulb to attack, but we haven’t found any animals that can do this. Some plants can spring into action, but animals using plants for defense is still a mystery.
Next is Charmander, known for its fiery tail. While it’s hard to imagine an animal with a burning tail, some creatures have fiery tricks. The bombardier beetle can shoot a hot, explosive spray to defend itself. Some lizards even look like these beetles. There are also lizards with venom that could evolve to create a flame-like effect. However, no animal has been found that can actually produce fire.
Then there’s Squirtle, which can squirt water from its mouth. This is more believable! Sea turtles can get rid of extra saltwater, and diamondback terrapins can shoot water from their throats when startled. So, a turtle that sprays water to scare off predators isn’t too far-fetched.
Finally, we have Pikachu, famous for its electric shocks. Some real animals can produce electricity, and this ability has evolved in different ways. Some use it for communication, while others can stun or even kill with electric shocks. However, all these animals are fish, and Pikachu is a land creature. Since air doesn’t conduct electricity well, a land-based Pikachu is unlikely.
Based on real-life biology, Squirtle has the best chance of existing. It’s fitting that a water Pokémon wins since many strange creatures live in the ocean. For example, the nautilus, featured in the “Deep Ocean” series narrated by David Attenborough, looks a lot like the Pokémon Omanyte.
CuriosityStream sponsored this exploration of Pokémon and science. They offer a year of amazing shows about science, history, and more for just $15. Plus, you get access to Nebula, where you can find exclusive content from educational YouTubers like us! To enjoy this offer and support MinuteEarth, visit curiositystream.com/minuteearth and use the code “minuteearth” at checkout. Thanks for joining us on this fun journey!
Imagine you are a Pokémon designer! Think about an animal you like and give it a special power inspired by nature. Draw your Pokémon and write a short description of its abilities. Share your creation with the class and explain the science behind its powers.
Choose one of the Pokémon mentioned in the article: Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, or Pikachu. Research a real animal that shares some characteristics with your chosen Pokémon. Prepare a short presentation to explain how the real animal’s traits compare to the Pokémon’s powers.
Conduct a simple experiment to understand how Squirtle might spray water. Use a spray bottle filled with water and observe how the water travels through the air. Discuss with your classmates how this could be a defense mechanism for a real animal.
Learn about animals that can produce electricity, like electric eels. Create a poster that explains how these animals generate electricity and how they use it. Include diagrams and fun facts to make your poster engaging.
Participate in a class debate about which Pokémon from the article is the most realistic based on scientific evidence. Use facts from the article and your own research to support your argument. Listen to your classmates’ points and respond thoughtfully.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, this is Julián from MinuteEarth, where we have a passion for Pokémon. In case you’re not familiar, Pokémon are fictional, mostly adorable creatures that people collect, train, and battle. The four most beloved Pokémon, known as “starters” in the Pokémon world, are each based on real-world animals but also possess unique abilities. We started wondering whether these abilities could actually exist; after all, there are some fascinating adaptations in the animal kingdom. So, is there a biological basis for any of these four Pokémon to exist in real life? Could you really catch them all?
First up are Bulbasaurs, which closely resemble frogs, except for the plant bulb on their backs. While that may sound unusual, the decorator crab attaches plants to its back, and algae and moss can grow on various animals! However, Bulbasaur’s signature ability involves manipulating the vines in its bulb to attack enemies. While spring-loaded plants do exist in the real world, we don’t know of any animals that can use that behavior for self-defense.
Next, we have Charmanders, the “lizard Pokémon,” known for their fiery tails. While we can’t completely rule out the possibility of an animal evolving a perpetually flaming tail, Charmander’s fire-breathing attack is a different story. The bombardier beetle stores a combination of chemicals and enzymes in its glands, which can explosively shoot acid as a defense mechanism. Interestingly, some lizards have evolved to mimic the appearance of these beetles. There are also lizards with venom-producing glands that could potentially adapt to create a flame-like effect. However, we have yet to discover a single flame-producing animal.
Squirtles, on the other hand, squirt water from their mouths, which is much more plausible. In fact, sea turtles can expel excess saltwater, and if a diamondback terrapin is disturbed while drinking, it will shoot water from its throat to lighten its load and escape more quickly. So, it wouldn’t be surprising if there were a turtle that evolved to spray water at predators in a pinch.
Finally, we have Pikachus, the mouse Pokémon, whose most notable ability is generating electric shocks. There are real-world animals that can produce electric shocks, and this ability has independently evolved multiple times! Some use small electric pulses for communication or navigation, while others can generate enough voltage to stun or kill. However, all known animals with this ability are fish, so while an aquatic Pikachu could be realistic, Pikachus are terrestrial, and air is a much poorer conductor of electricity than water, making this adaptation quite unlikely.
Based on real-life biology, one of these Pokémon has the best chance of existing. That’s why for “most likely to actually exist,” we choose Squirtle! It makes sense that our winner is a water Pokémon, as some of the strangest real-world creatures live in the water, as I recently rediscovered in the CuriosityStream series “Deep Ocean,” narrated by the legendary David Attenborough. For example, the nautilus encountered in the first episode looks remarkably similar to the Pokémon Omanyte.
Since CuriosityStream sponsored this video, you can get a full year of their expertly curated shows about science, history, food, travel, and more for just $15. Plus, you’ll gain access to Nebula, which features exclusive content from your favorite educational YouTubers, including us! To take advantage of this exclusive offer and support MinuteEarth, visit curiositystream.com/minuteearth and use code “minuteearth” at checkout. Thanks, CuriosityStream!
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This version removes informal language and maintains a professional tone while preserving the original content’s intent and meaning.
Biology – The study of living things, including plants, animals, and other organisms. – In biology class, we learned about how plants make their own food through photosynthesis.
Animals – Living organisms that can move and respond to their environment, such as mammals, birds, and insects. – Lions, elephants, and zebras are some of the animals we studied in our science project.
Plants – Living organisms that usually grow in the ground and use sunlight to make their own food. – We planted seeds in the garden to observe how plants grow over time.
Electricity – A form of energy that can be used to power devices and is produced by the movement of electrons. – We learned how electricity flows through a circuit to light up a bulb.
Water – A liquid that is essential for life and makes up a large part of the Earth’s surface. – Water is crucial for plants and animals to survive, as it helps them stay hydrated.
Creatures – Living beings, especially animals, that are part of the natural world. – The ocean is full of fascinating creatures like dolphins and jellyfish.
Science – The study of the natural world through observation and experiments. – In science class, we conducted an experiment to see how different liquids affect plant growth.
Lizard – A type of reptile that often has a long body and tail, and can be found in warm climates. – The lizard basked in the sun on a rock to warm up its body.
Turtle – A reptile with a hard shell that lives in water or on land. – We watched the turtle slowly make its way across the sandy beach.
