Scientific American

Science Quickly

Science EN ↓ 1942 episodes

Host Rachel Feltman, alongside leading science and tech journalists, dives into the rich world of scientific discovery in this bite-size science variety show.

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Scientific American

Episodes

Cod Could Cope with Constrained Climate Change 28.01.2019 4:37

Cod egg survival stays high with limited warming, but plummets when the temperature rises a few degrees Celsius in their current spawning grounds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Intimate Hermit Crab Keeps Shell On 25.01.2019 3:44

A species of hermit crab appears to have evolved a large penis to enable intercourse without leaving, and thus possibly losing, its adopted shell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ecologists Eavesdrop with Bioacoustics 24.01.2019 3:43

By coupling audio recordings with satellite data and camera traps, ecologists can keep their eyes—and ears—on protected tropical forests. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saturn's Blingy Rings Are a Recent Upgrade 23.01.2019 3:27

Though Saturn formed about 4.5 billion years ago, its rings were added relatively recently—only 100 million to 10 million years ago. Karen Hopkin reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do-Gooders Should Survey Communities First 22.01.2019 4:45

Detroit residents declined an offer of free street trees—but were more willing to accept them if they had a say in the type of tree. Jason G. Goldman reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Viewing This Weekend's Lunar Eclipse 18.01.2019 4:05

A total lunar eclipse will grace the skies this Sunday, January 20—and it may or may not be red. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"<i>Mona Lisa</i> Effect" Not True for <i>Mona Lisa</i> 17.01.2019 3:16

The Mona Lisa effect is the illusion that the subject of a painting follows you with her gaze, despite where you stand. But da Vinci's famous painting doesn't have that quality. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ants Stick to Cliques to Dodge Disease 16.01.2019 3:46

Ants infected with fungal pathogens steer clear of other cliques within the colony—avoiding wider infection, and allowing for a sort of immunity. Lucy Huang reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mistimed Migration Means Bird Death Battles 13.01.2019 3:13

Climate change is shifting population numbers and nest building by resident and migratory birds in Europe—sometimes leading to deadly conflict. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monogamy May Be Written in Our Genes 11.01.2019 4:33

In animal studies, a set of 24 genes involved in neural development, learning and memory, and cognition, seem to be associated with monogamy. Karen Hopkin reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seeing Superman Increases Altruism 10.01.2019 4:13

Subject who saw a Superman poster were more likely to offer help than were people who saw another image. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inhaled RNA Might Help Heal Cystic Fibrosis 08.01.2019 3:18

Scientists are working to correct a genetic defect in cystic fibrosis patients by having them inhale RNA. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Invisible Killers Hitchhike on Native Plant Seedlings 04.01.2019 3:32

More than a quarter of the seedlings sampled at native plant nurseries were infected with pathogens—which could hamper restoration work. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Facebook Users Value the Service More Than Investors Do 02.01.2019 3:27

Users of the social network said they'd require payment of more than $1,000 to quit the platform for one year. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Science News from around the Planet 31.12.2018 3:38

A few brief reports about international science and technology from Germany to Rwanda, including one on the discovery of the world's oldest known brewery, discovered in Israel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Turn Xmas Tree into Food and Medicine 29.12.2018 2:58

Pine needles can easily be broken down into sugars as well as the building blocks of paint, adhesives and medicines. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Simple Sugars Wipe Out Beneficial Gut Bugs 27.12.2018 3:16

Fructose and sucrose can make it all the way to the colon, where they spell a sugary death sentence for beneficial bacteria. Karen Hopkin reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Smarter Pricing Could Ease Parking Frustration 26.12.2018 3:22

A new algorithm raises parking rates in busy neighborhoods and lowers them elsewhere, guaranteeing free parking spots regardless of location. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Hunger Hormone" Ghrelin Aids Overindulgence 25.12.2018 3:15

Ghrelin, the hormone that makes you hungry, also makes food, and food smells, irresistibly appealing. Karen Hopkin reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colorful Peacocks Impress Females with Good Vibes 24.12.2018 4:12

Peafowls' head crests are specifically tuned to the vibrations produced by feather-rattling male peacocks, thus acting as a sort of antenna. Jason G. Goldman reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Measuring the Strength of a Person's Gaze 23.12.2018 3:21

A new study suggests that, unconsciously, we actually do believe that looking exerts a slight force on the things being looked at. Karen Hopkin reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Relaxation Music" Works—but So Does Chopin 22.12.2018 3:35

So-called "relaxation music" is only about as effective as a soothing Chopin piece at lulling listeners into a relaxed state. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bone Building Needs Bit of Breakdown First 21.12.2018 3:47

The hormone irisin encourages bone remodeling, in part by first triggering another substance that encourages some bone breakdown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frog Picks Maternity Ward Like Goldilocks 20.12.2018 3:51

The Bahia's broad-snout casque-headed tree frog needs a pool to raise its young that's just right. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You Gotta Scratch That Itch 19.12.2018 3:31

A particular set of brain neurons may be behind registering itch and inducing us to scratch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices