Prompt Cast
The Fascinating History of Mexican Jumping Beans
TLDR Mexican jumping beans, which are actually seeds, were a popular novelty item in the 60s and were introduced to the United States in the 1920s. These beans contain live moth larvae that eat the seed from the inside out, causing movement, and can be kept as pets.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Mexican jumping beans were a popular novelty item in the 60s that could be found in toy stores in the United States.
02:03
Mexican jumping beans are actually seeds that move and jump on their own, and were a popular form of entertainment before the invention of television and radio.
04:14
Mexican jumping beans were first introduced to the United States in the 1920s and were initially referred to as seeds before being called beans.
06:42
Mexican jumping beans were initially marketed as a novelty item by a 12-year-old boy in the 1940s and have since become a popular attraction, with Alamos and Sonora being considered the jumping bean capital of the world.
08:59
Mexican jumping beans contain live moth larvae that eat the seed from the inside out, causing movement, and weave their cocoon inside the seed, which creates enough force to move the seed pod.
11:20
Mexican jumping beans can be made to move by exposing them to heat, but this can kill the larvae inside, so it's not recommended.
13:19
Mexican jumping beans can be kept as pets and will wiggle when exposed to body heat, but they should be kept in a cool place and misted once a week to allow them to use their energy for eating and potentially see a moth come out.
Categories:
Society & Culture
