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Science Quickly

Scientific Americanwww.sciencequickly.com
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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Episodes

Intimate Hermit Crab Keeps Shell On

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

Jan 25, 20194 min

Ecologists Eavesdrop with Bioacoustics

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

Jan 24, 20194 min

Saturn's Blingy Rings Are a Recent Upgrade

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

Jan 23, 20193 min

Do-Gooders Should Survey Communities First

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

Jan 22, 20195 min

Viewing This Weekend's Lunar Eclipse

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

Jan 18, 20194 min

"<i>Mona Lisa</i> Effect" Not True for <i>Mona Lisa</i>

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

Jan 17, 20193 min

Ants Stick to Cliques to Dodge Disease

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

Jan 16, 20194 min

Mistimed Migration Means Bird Death Battles

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

Jan 13, 20193 min

Monogamy May Be Written in Our Genes

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

Jan 11, 20195 min

Seeing Superman Increases Altruism

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

Jan 10, 20194 min

Inhaled RNA Might Help Heal Cystic Fibrosis

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

Jan 08, 20193 min

Invisible Killers Hitchhike on Native Plant Seedlings

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

Jan 04, 20194 min

Facebook Users Value the Service More Than Investors Do

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

Jan 02, 20193 min

Science News from around the Planet

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

Dec 31, 20184 min

Turn Xmas Tree into Food and Medicine

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

Dec 29, 20183 min

Simple Sugars Wipe Out Beneficial Gut Bugs

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

Dec 27, 20183 min

Smarter Pricing Could Ease Parking Frustration

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

Dec 26, 20183 min

"Hunger Hormone" Ghrelin Aids Overindulgence

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

Dec 25, 20183 min

Colorful Peacocks Impress Females with Good Vibes

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

Dec 24, 20184 min

Measuring the Strength of a Person's Gaze

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

Dec 23, 20183 min

"Relaxation Music" Works&mdash;but So Does Chopin

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

Dec 22, 20184 min

Bone Building Needs Bit of Breakdown First

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

Dec 21, 20184 min

Frog Picks Maternity Ward Like Goldilocks

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

Dec 20, 20184 min

You Gotta Scratch That Itch

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

Dec 19, 20184 min

Join <i>Blue Planet II</i> Live-Tweet

Starting December 16, ocean scientists will live-tweet the BBC documentary series Blue Planet II, available via Netflix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 14, 20183 min

Big-Boned Chickens May Be Humans' Geologic Legacy

Millions of years from now, the geologic record of the "Anthropocene" will be littered with plastics, yes, but also chicken bones. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 13, 20184 min

Ancient Marine Reptiles Had Familiar Gear

Ichthyosaurs had traits in common with turtles and modern marine mammals, like blubber and countershading camouflage. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 12, 20183 min

Little Aphids Ride Big Ones to Safety

When trouble lurks, juvenile aphids drop off of the plants they're eating and hitch a ride on bigger aphid escapees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 11, 20184 min

Utah's Deserts Are Bee Hotspots

The Trump administration is shrinking Utah's desert monuments, stripping some federal protections for wild pollinators. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 08, 20183 min

Who's a Smart Dog?!

An estimate of dog intelligence requires looking at non-dogs as well to understand what's special to canines and what is just typical of the taxonomic groups they're in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 06, 20184 min
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