If he had, he’d have learned about Sarracenia, a genus of plants more commonly known as the North American Pitcher Plant. Had Lars paid attention the day his teacher brought one to class, he’d have seen him demonstrate how the plant used a sweet nectar to lure insects into its mouth, where they were smothered and digested alive.

But what did it matter if a dumb plant ate bugs? By high school, the oracle of the inter...