Climate change has brought forth extreme fire events, like the Palisade and Eaton fires in Los Angeles, which devastated communities in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades in the beginning of 2025. And it’s becoming harder to not wonder: Is this just the world we live in now? Under the constant threat of catastrophic fires? Fortunately, we have the perfect guests to answer that question. We traveled to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and spoke with two of their scientists who study fires from ...
Jun 25, 2025•27 min•Ep. 87
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we talk about why the FDA recently banned Red Dye No. 3 and how concerned people should be about its use in food. Then we cover icy winter roads and the fascinating science behind clearing them and taking a more sustainable approach that won’t hurt the environment. We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to [email protected] * or fill out this form * with your favorite science fact or science news story for a ch...
Jun 18, 2025•17 min
In 1975, NASA launched two spacecraft to Mars. Viking 1 and Viking 2 arrived at their destination less than a year later, each bringing a lander to explore the surface of the planet and an orbiter to survey above. What was supposed to be a 90 day mission ended up lasting until the early 1980s. Those years provided scientists with important data about the Martian landscape, from seismometer readings of marsquakes to the reddish color of the sky. But the Viking missions had another important task:...
Jun 11, 2025•36 min•Ep. 86
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we talk about what dark energy and dark matter are made out of and how knowing more could upend our understanding of the Big Bang. Then we cover microchimeric cells — cells transferred between baby and mom — and how new research in mice shows that fetal cells that took residency in mom from a first pregnancy are replaced by new fetal cells of a second pregnancy. We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to tinymatte...
Jun 04, 2025•18 min
In December 2017, the FDA approved a new injectable drug to treat type 2 diabetes called semaglutide, which you likely know by its brand name: Ozempic. A few years later, during the pandemic, Wegovy, a drug with a higher dose of the same active ingredient, was approved specifically for chronic weight management. Soon after, people taking Ozempic started reporting a dramatic, even “life-changing” weight loss. Ozempic is now a bona fide blockbuster. So what’s the science behind these “wonder drugs...
May 28, 2025•26 min•Ep. 85
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we hear from a listener who has Marfan syndrome and dive into the complexities of the disease. Then we talk about pathogens that eat — or infiltrate! — plant DNA. We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to [email protected] * or fill out this form * with your favorite science fact or science news story for a chance to be featured. A transcript and references for this episode can be found at acs.org/tinymatters ....
May 21, 2025•13 min
Over the last 200 years or so, vaccines have come a long way, for a number of viruses. We’ve made so much progress, in fact, that in 2017 scientists began the early stages of vaccine development for some virus families they believed could pose a future pandemic threat. One of those families was Coronaviridae: coronaviruses. Not many people know that before SARS-CoV-2 started making its way into people in 2019, there was already a project underway in the U.S. to create a vaccine for a looming cor...
May 14, 2025•37 min•Ep. 84
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we break down what limits on anesthesia could mean, both for doctors and patients. Then we hear from a listener who’s on a research trip in Puerto Rico and went kayaking in a bioluminescent bay. What is bioluminescence? And what are the perfect conditions to try to see it? We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to [email protected] * or fill out this form * with your favorite science fact or science news story ...
May 07, 2025•13 min
The placenta is essential for life, but so much of its function is unknown. In this episode, we talk about how this disposable organ’s development within the early weeks of pregnancy shapes so much of what happens months later. We tackle what makes the human placenta so unique, what other animals like reptiles are teaching us about it, and how scientists are turning to evolution and computer models to see if we can better understand it. Check out the IVF episode of Tiny Matters. Send us your sci...
Apr 30, 2025•35 min•Ep. 83
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we hear from a listener about her incredible grandma who’s a pharmacist in Venezuela (still, at 92 years old!) and has inspired her love of science and current lab work. We then talk about orcas spotted wearing dead salmon as hats, and what this fishy behavior may mean. We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to [email protected] * or fill out this form * with your favorite science fact or science news story for...
Apr 23, 2025•15 min
The reason many of us hear about glaciers has to do with sea level rise — which makes sense! If all of the glaciers on Earth melted, sea levels are predicted to increase by about 230 feet (70 meters), which would flood coastal areas, envelope a number of islands, and seriously impact human infrastructure, including our current water resources. But glaciers do more than safeguard Earth’s future — buried within them is our ancient past. In January of this year, a team of scientists drilled nearly ...
Apr 16, 2025•29 min•Ep. 82
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we discuss the differences between e-cigarettes (vapes) and far-less-studied dry herb vaporizers. Then we talk about some of the incredible evolutionary adaptations of populations of people living at high altitudes. We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to [email protected] * or fill out this form * with your favorite science fact or science news story for a chance to be featured. A transcript and references f...
Apr 09, 2025•13 min
In the 1700s and early 1800s scientists from Europe and the Americas were studying what they called "race science," a pseudoscientific field of study promoting the idea that humans could be divided into separate and unequal races. Biases stemming from race science have influenced medicine for hundreds of years, and still have deadly consequences today. In this episode of Tiny Matters, we tackle some of these consequences, where they get their roots, and what people like our guest — physician and...
Apr 02, 2025•28 min•Ep. 81
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we discuss if a crocheted wasp nest could actually attract wasps and keep them from invading your property. Then we talk about how sewage is impacting the resilience of coral reefs. We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to [email protected] * or fill out this form * with your favorite science fact or science news story for a chance to be featured. A transcript and references for this episode can be found at ac...
Mar 26, 2025•13 min
In the 1970s, the rape kit began as a simple box with some envelopes, a comb, nail clippers, and a few other basic tools. The contents of the kit have evolved somewhat since then, but the technology to analyze samples has evolved astronomically. And, through and through, the rape kit has stood for the idea that every survivor has the right to go to a hospital, get a full forensic exam, and have their evidence taken seriously. On today's episode, we talk about how the rape kit became a reality an...
Mar 19, 2025•31 min•Ep. 80
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we cover the science of rainbows and why double rainbows are always mirror images. Then we talk about mysterious, yet super common, chromosomes called Robertsonian chromosomes that seem to have a significant impact on human health. We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to [email protected] * or fill out this form * with your favorite science fact or science news story for a chance to be featured. A transcript ...
Mar 12, 2025•11 min
Hemophilia is a rare bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency in clotting factors in the blood, which can cause permanent damage to joints and, in some cases, life threatening bleeding, both externally and internally. Today, people with hemophilia can live generally long, healthy lives, but in previous generations, the future wasn’t so bright. In fact, less than a century ago the life expectancy for someone with hemophilia hovered around just 10 years. It doesn’t receive much attention, and when...
Mar 05, 2025•34 min•Ep. 79
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we cover the incredible world of fungus farming ants and how it really needs to be a Pixar movie. Then we talk about what makes fresh squeezed juice taste so much better than the mass produced processed juices you pick up in the grocery store. We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to [email protected] * or fill out this form * with your favorite science fact or science news story for a chance to be featured. A...
Feb 26, 2025•15 min
In the summer of 2011, paleontologist and science writer Riley Black was on a mission. Walking through the Montana desert, she was on the lookout for a Tyrannosaurus rex. But that day, she wasn’t having any luck. Sitting atop a rock, she pulled out a geological hammer, sometimes called a rock pick, to dislodge a little piece and try to discern its composition. What she saw was a leaf, but upon closer inspection realized it was in fact the fossil of a leaf. As it turned out, finding it likely pro...
Feb 19, 2025•28 min•Ep. 78
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we consider if bacteriophages could become our biggest allies in the fight against antibiotic resistance. Then we cover the historical role of "night soil men" and how some sewage treatment systems today are setting the standard for sustainable management of human excrement while also making sure we don't get sick. We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to [email protected] * or fill out this form * with your f...
Feb 12, 2025•16 min
In 1893, Belgian paleontologist Louis Dollo suggested that evolution can’t go backwards in the exact same way that it proceeded. This became known as “Dollo’s Law,” and came under a lot of scrutiny. But, more recently, Dollo’s Law was co-opted into the idea that traits, once they gain a certain amount of complexity, can’t return to a simpler state. In this episode of Tiny Matters, we explore two exciting examples where scientists have found that not to be the case. Send us your science facts, ne...
Feb 05, 2025•30 min•Ep. 77
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we cover a species of armadillo that, as it turns out, is actually four species. Then we discuss what researchers know about if pregnant people have a better sense of smell. We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to [email protected] * or fill out this form * with your favorite science fact or science news story for a chance to be featured. A transcript and references for this episode can be found at acs.org/ti...
Jan 29, 2025•16 min
The 1940s were a pivotal time for the world. In the United States, as men went to fight in World War II, women became essential additions to the US workforce. And when the war ended, many of those women wanted to continue working. But having more children than they wanted or could care for was a huge barrier to making that a reality. When the oral birth control pill became available in 1960, it was a massive deal because it gave women control over when and if they wanted to have children. Today ...
Jan 22, 2025•27 min•Ep. 76
We’re always on the lookout for Tiny Show and Tell Us submissions and we thought, why not provide a little incentive? The first 40 listeners within the United States who send us their science facts or some cool news they’ve come across or even a fun science story from their childhood will be sent a Tiny Matters coffee mug with our original logo! You can submit at this link or email [email protected] . Ready, set, go! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice...
Jan 17, 2025•2 min
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we cover an aurora-like phenomenon — STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement) — and how citizen science led to its discovery and unforgettable name. Then we talk about convergent evolution in tenrecs, a fascinating family of animals endemic to Madagascar. Some look identical to hedgehogs, some are similar to opossums, and others look like moles. We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to tinymatters@ac...
Jan 15, 2025•13 min
On April 26, 1986, the Soviet Union’s Chornobyl Power Complex nuclear reactor 4 exploded, releasing a massive amount of highly radioactive material. People living near the power plant were forced to evacuate, and the area was deemed uninhabitable. But today, many animals — some the descendants of pets left behind — have made this region their home. In this episode, we chat with researchers who have spent a lot of time in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone studying the animals that live there, trying t...
Jan 08, 2025•28 min•Ep. 75
Happy 2025! Join us as we reflect back on 2024 and share exciting episode topics and podcast plans for 2025. Send us your science stories/factoids/news for a chance to be featured on an upcoming Tiny Show and Tell Us bonus episode and to be entered to win a Tiny Matters coffee mug! And, while you're at it, subscribe to our newsletter at bit.ly/tinymattersnewsletter . All Tiny Matters transcripts and references are available here . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pr...
Jan 01, 2025•18 min
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we cover a study where a researcher stepped on 116 snakes over 40,000 times for science (don’t worry, the ‘steps’ were more like touches, no snakes were harmed in the process). Then we get into why a pollen allergy might trigger an allergy to some of your favorite fruits. We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to [email protected] * or fill out this form * with your favorite science fact or science news story f...
Dec 18, 2024•16 min
Dominique Jean Larrey lived quite a life. He was born in 1766, and at the age of 13, had to walk from his home in a French village to study in the city of Toulouse. That journey was 70 miles, and yes, he walked it. That would be important much later in his life, when he found himself walking through the bitter cold in Russia as the Chief Surgeon of Napoleon's army. During that time, Napoleon's troops had to contend with the reality of Russian cold and temperatures that got as low as -37 degrees ...
Dec 11, 2024•27 min•Ep. 74
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we cover exciting new 'living robots' called xenobots — made from frog cells with the help of a supercomputer — and what they might be used for down the road. Then we challenge how much "junk" really makes up "junk DNA" and discuss the regulatory sequences and other things our DNA codes for that aren't functional proteins. We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to [email protected] * or fill out this form * wit...
Dec 04, 2024•18 min
