Podcast
60-Second Science
Leading science journalists provide a daily minute commentary on some of the most interesting developments in the world of science. For a full-length, weekly podcast you can subscribe to Science Talk: The Podcast of Scientific American . To view all of our archived podcasts please go to www.scientificamerican.com/podcast
Episodes
These Endangered Birds Are Forgetting Their Songs
Apr 16 2021
Australia’s critically endangered regent honeyeaters are losing what amounts to their culture—and that could jeopardize their success at landing a mate.
To Fight Climate Change: Grow a Floating Forest, Then Sink It
Apr 12 2021
A fast-growing front in the battle against climate change is focused on developing green technologies aimed at reducing humankind’s carbon footprint, but many scientists say simply reducing emissions is no longer enough. We have to find new ways to suck carbon out of the atmosphere. A Maine start-up is looking to raise a sinkable carbon-capturing forest in the open ocean.
COVID, Quickly, Episode 4: The Virtual Vaccine Line and Shots for Kids
Apr 09 2021
Today we bring you the fourth episode in a new podcast series: COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.
Big Physics News: The Muon g-2 Experiment Explained
Apr 07 2021
Particles called muons are behaving weirdly, and that could mean a huge discovery.
Boston's Pigeons Coo, 'Wicked'; New York's Birds Coo, 'Fuhgeddaboudit'
Apr 05 2021
The two cities’ rock doves are genetically distinct, research shows.
Imperiled Freshwater Turtles Are Eating Plastics--Science Is Just Revealing the Threat
Mar 31 2021
We know a lot about how sea turtles are threatened by our trash, but new research has just uncovered an underreported threat hiding inside lakes and rivers.
COVID, Quickly, Episode 3: Vaccine Inequality--plus Your Body the Variant Fighter
Mar 26 2021
Today we bring you the third episode in a new podcast series: COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.
Using Dragonflies as Contamination Detectors
Mar 24 2021
By collecting the larvae of the fast flyers, researchers have turned the insects into “biosentinels” that can track mercury pollution across the country. Berly McCoy reports.
Smartphones Can Hear the Shape of Your Door Keys
Mar 18 2021
Can you pick a lock with just a smartphone? New research shows that doing so is possible.
Chimpanzees Show Altruism while Gathering around the Juice Fountain
Mar 16 2021
New research tries to tease out whether our closest animal relatives can be selfless
COVID, Quickly, Episode 2: Lessons from a Pandemic Year
Mar 11 2021
Today we bring you the second episode in a new podcast series: COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.
That Mouse in Your House--It's Smarter, Thanks to You
Mar 09 2021
Scientists studied three varieties of house mice and found that those who had lived alongside humans the longest were also the craftiest at solving food puzzles. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Kangaroos with Puppy Dog Eyes
Mar 04 2021
New research shows that when faced with an impossible task, the marsupials look to humans for help.
COVID, Quickly, Episode 1: Vaccines, Variants and Diabetes
Feb 26 2021
Today we begin a new podcast series: COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American ’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between.
Machine Learning Pwns Old-School Atari Games
Feb 25 2021
You can call it the “revenge of the computer scientist.” An algorithm that made headlines for mastering the notoriously difficult Atari 2600 game Montezuma’s Revenge can now beat more games, achieving near perfect scores, and help robots explore real-world environments. Pakinam Amer reports.
E-Eggs Track Turtle Traffickers
Feb 23 2021
Decoy sea turtle eggs containing tracking tech are new weapons against beach poachers and traffickers.
Bromances Could Lead to More Romances for Male Hyenas
Feb 10 2021
Spotted hyena males do not fight for mates, so how are certain males shut out of the mating game?
A Heroic Effort to Measure Helium
Feb 05 2021
After an intense game of cat and mouse with different particles, atomic physicists have measured the radius of the helium nucleus five times more precisely than before. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News Briefs from around the World
Feb 02 2021
Here are some brief reports about science and technology from around the world, including one from Costa Rica about decoy sea turtle eggs with the potential to catch poachers.
Scientists Take a Cattle Head Count in India
Jan 28 2021
The research team determined that the city of Raipur in central India has at least one street cow for every 54 human residents. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Ancient Dogs Had Complex Genetic Histories
Jan 22 2021
Some dog population genetics show similarities to ours, such as in the ability to digest grains. But other lineages differ.
Bees Use 'Bullshit' Defense to Keep Giant Hornets at Bay
Jan 11 2021
The prospect of death by giant hornet has pushed some Asian honeybees to resort to a poop-based defense system
Humans May Have Befriended Wolves with Meat
Jan 08 2021
Unlike humans, wolves can subsist on protein alone for months—so scientists say we may have lobbed leaner leftovers their way. Christopher Intagliata reports.
How to Avoid Becoming a Meal for a Cheetah
Jan 06 2021
Researchers help farmers in Namibia avoid costly cattle losses by tracking big cat hangouts
How the Coronavirus Pandemic Shaped Our Language in 2020
Jan 01 2021
Linguist Ben Zimmer says the pandemic has turned us all into amateur epidemiologists utilizing terms such as “superspreader” and “asymptomatic.” Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News Briefs from around the Planet
Dec 29 2020
Here are some brief reports about science and technology from around the world, including one from Panama about the toll lightning takes on tropical trees.
Ravens Measure Up to Great Apes on Intelligence
Dec 22 2020
Juvenile ravens performed just as well as chimps and orangutans in a battery of intelligence tests—except for assays of spatial skills. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Baby Bees Deprive Caregivers of Sleep
Dec 22 2020
Bee larvae and pupae appear to secrete a chemical that does the work of a late-night cup of coffee for their nurses.
How the Wolves Change the Forest
Dec 17 2020
New research tracked the canines in northern Minnesota for years to see just how they reshape their ecosystems. Audio of wolves inside Voyageurs National Park, courtesy of Jacob Job .
Brain Sides Are Both Busy in New Language Learning
Dec 17 2020
A study of adults learning a new language found that speaking primarily activated regions in the left side of the brain, but reading and listening comprehension were much more variable
Eye Treatment Stretches Mouse Sight Beyond Visible Spectrum
Dec 12 2020
Nanoparticles that attach to photoreceptors allowed mice to see infrared and near-infrared light for up to two months.
This Bat Wears a Face Mask
Dec 12 2020
The wrinkle-faced bat covers its face with a flap of skin, seemingly as part of its courtship rituals.
The Denisovans Expand Their Range into China
Dec 03 2020
Evidence of the ancient humans was limited to a cave in Siberia. But now scientists have found genetic remains of the Denisovans in China. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Undersea Earthquakes Reveal Sound Warming Info
Nov 30 2020
Travel time differences for sound waves produced by undersea earthquakes in the same place at different times can provide details about ocean warming.
Duckbill Dino Odyssey Ended in Africa
Nov 24 2020
A duckbill dinosaur jawbone found in Morocco means that dinosaurs crossed a large body of water to reach Africa.
Early Mammals Had Social Lives, Too
Nov 19 2020
Chipmunklike animals that lived among the dinosaurs appear to have been social creatures, which suggests that sociality arose in mammals earlier than scientists thought. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News Briefs from All Over
Nov 18 2020
Here are some brief reports about science and technology from around the world, including one, from the dormant volcano Llullaillaco in Chile, about a mouse that is the highest-dwelling mammal ever documented.
Divide and Conquer Could Be Good COVID Strategy
Nov 13 2020
COVID might be fought efficiently with fewer shutdowns by restricting activities only in a particular area with a population up to 200,000 when its case rate rises above a chosen threshold.
Zebra Coloration Messes With Fly Eyes
Nov 10 2020
Horseflies misjudge landings on zebra patterns, compared with solid gray or black surfaces, which provides evidence for why evolution came up with the black-and-white pattern.
Science Sound(E)scapes: Head Banging and Howling in the Amazon
Nov 06 2020
Need a break from politics and the pandemic? You’re probably not in the Amazon rain forest right now, but we can take you there in audio. Today, in part three of our three-part audio sound escape, we ascend into the trees where howler monkeys and crimson-crested woodpeckers rule the airwaves.
Science Sound(E)scapes: Amazon Frog Choruses at Night
Nov 05 2020
Need a break from politics and the pandemic? You’re probably not in the Amazon rain forest right now, but we can take you there in audio. Today, in part two of our three-part audio sound escape, we descend into a nighttime flood of frog music.
Science Sound(E)scapes: Amazon Pink River Dolphins
Nov 04 2020
Need a break from politics and the pandemic? You’re probably not in the Amazon rain forest right now, but we can take you there in audio. Today, in part one of our three-part audio sound escape, we listen to dolphins hunting among the trees.
Frog Vocals Lead to Small Preference
Nov 03 2020
The concave-eared torrent frog's unusual ear anatomy lets it hear high-frequency calls, which gives a mating advantage to the littler males that sing soprano.
Science News Briefs from around the Globe
Nov 03 2020
Here are some brief reports about science and technology from all over, including one from the United Arab Emirates about the the first interplanetary mission by an Arab country.
Election Science Stakes: Technology
Nov 01 2020
We wrap up our preelection series with Scientific American senior editor Jen Schwartz, who talks about the possible effects of the election results on technology development and use.
Election Science Stakes: Energy
Oct 30 2020
Scientific American senior editor Mark Fischetti and associate editor Andrea Thompson talk about this election and the future of U.S. energy research and policy.
Election Science Stakes: Environment
Oct 30 2020
Scientific American senior editor Mark Fischetti talks about how this election will affect environmental science and policy.
Election Science Stakes: Climate
Oct 29 2020
Scientific American ’s associate editor for sustainability Andrea Thompson talks about how climate science and policy will be affected by this election.
Election Science Stakes: Medicine and Public Health
Oct 28 2020
Scientific American ’s senior medicine editor Josh Fischman talks about issues in medicine and public health that will be affected by this election.
Election 2020: The Stakes for Science
Oct 27 2020
Scientific American ’s editor in chief sets up this week’s series of podcasts about how this election could affect science, technology and medicine.
Why Some Easter Island Statues Are Where They Are
Oct 26 2020
Many of the statues not along the coast are in places that featured a resource vital to the communities that lived and worked there.
Acorn Woodpeckers Fight Long, Bloody Territorial Wars
Oct 24 2020
More than 40 of the birds, in coalitions of three or four, may fight for days over oak trees in which to store their acorns.
Funky Cheese Rinds Release an Influential Stench
Oct 23 2020
The volatile compounds released by microbial communities on cheese rinds shape and shift a cheese’s microbiome. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Dinosaur Asteroid Hit Worst-Case Place
Oct 22 2020
The mass-extinction asteroid happened to strike an area where the rock contained a lot of organic matter and sent soot into the stratosphere, where it could block sunlight for years.
River Ecosystem Restoration Can Mean Just Add Water
Oct 20 2020
Planners returned water to the dry bed of Arizona’s Santa Cruz River in 2019, and various species began showing up on the same day.
3,000-Year-Old Orbs Provide a Glimpse of Ancient Sport
Oct 18 2020
Researchers say three ancient leather balls, dug up from the tombs of horsemen in northwestern China, are the oldest such specimens from Europe or Asia. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Humans Make Wild Animals Less Wary
Oct 16 2020
From mammals to mollusks, animals living among humans lose their antipredator behaviors.
Play Helped Dogs Be Our Best Friends
Oct 13 2020
The ancestors of today’s dogs already exhibited some playfulness, which became a key trait during domestication.
Neandertal DNA May Be COVID Risk
Oct 11 2020
A stretch of Neandertal DNA has been associated with some cases of severe COVID-19, but it’s unclear how much of a risk it poses. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Nobelist Talks CRISPR Uses
Oct 08 2020
New Nobel laureate in chemistry Jennifer Doudna talks about various applications of the gene-editing tool CRISPR.
Blue Whale Song Timing Reveals Time to Go
Oct 07 2020
Blue whales off California’s coast sing at night—until it’s time to start migrating, and they switch to daytime song.
New Nobel Laureate Talks Today's Virology
Oct 06 2020
Charles Rice, who today shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of the hepatitis C virus, talked about how rapidly research now occurs, compared with his early work.
Greenland Is Melting Faster Than Any Time in Past 12,000 Years
Oct 04 2020
Researchers determined that Greenland is on track to lose more ice this century than during any of the previous 120 centuries. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Sloths Slowly Cavort by Day Now
Oct 03 2020
The disappearance of their predators in a disturbed ecosystem has turned Atlantic forest sloths from night creatures to day adventurers.
Dinosaurs Got Cancer, Too
Sep 29 2020
Researchers seeking evidence for cancer in dinosaurs found it in a collection of bones at a paleontology museum in Alberta.
Fluttering Feathers Could Spawn New Species
Sep 25 2020
Fork-tailed flycatchers make a fluttering sound with their wings—but separate subspecies have different “dialects” of fluttering. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News from around the World
Sep 22 2020
Here are some brief reports about science and technology from all over, including one from Israel about what DNA reveals about the Dead Sea Scrolls’ parchment.
These Small Mammals Snort to a Different Tune
Sep 18 2020
Hyraxes, which live in Africa and the Middle East, punctuate their songs with snorts. And the snorts appear to reflect the animals’ emotional state. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Ice Age Temperatures Help Predict Future Warming
Sep 17 2020
Scientists determined that temperatures were 11 degrees cooler during the last ice age—and that finding has implications for modern-day warming. Julia Rosen reports.
High-Elevation Hummingbirds Evolved a Temperature Trick
Sep 15 2020
Hummingbirds in the Peruvian Andes enter a state of torpor at night to conserve energy, dipping their body temperature to as low as 38 degrees Fahrenheit. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Why Pet Pigs Are More like Wolves Than Dogs
Sep 14 2020
Given an impossible task, a dog will ask a human for help, but a wolf will not seek help—and neither will a pet pig.
Bricks Can Be Turned into Batteries
Sep 10 2020
Pumping cheap iron-oxide-rich red bricks with specific vapors that form polymers enables the bricks to become electrical-charge-storage devices.
Leftovers Are a Food-Waste Problem
Sep 10 2020
Researchers found that leftovers are likely to end up in the trash, so they advise cooking smaller meals in the first place to avoid food waste. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Some Dinosaurs Probably Nested in Arctic
Sep 09 2020
The finding of a baby dinosaur fossil in the Arctic implies that some dinos nested in the region, which was milder than today but not toasty.
Star Systems Can Be Born Topsy-Turvy
Sep 04 2020
Astronomers observed an odd triple-star system that offers clues about misaligned planetary orbits. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Death by Lightning Is Common for Tropical Trees
Sep 02 2020
A study estimates that 200 million trees in the tropics are mowed down by lightning annually.
Science Briefs from around the World
Sep 01 2020
Here are some brief reports about science and technology from all over, including one from Antarctica about how there’s something funny about penguin poop.
Alaska's Salmon Are Shrinking
Aug 29 2020
Every year, Alaska’s big salmon runs feature smaller salmon. Climate change and competition with hatchery-raised salmon may be to blame. Julia Rosen reports.
End of 'Green Sahara' May Have Spurred a Megadrought in Southeast Asia
Aug 28 2020
That drought may have brought about societal shifts in the region 5,000 years ago. Christopher Intagliata reports.
White Rhinos Eavesdrop to Know Who's Who
Aug 26 2020
The finding could potentially help wildlife managers keep better tabs on their herds. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Prehistoric Marine Reptile Died after a Giant Meal
Aug 22 2020
Researchers found extra bones within a 240-million-year-old ichthyosaur fossil—which they determined to be the ichthyosaur’s last, possibly fatal meal. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Cows with Eye Images Keep Predators in Arrears
Aug 19 2020
Butterflies, fish and frogs sport rear-end eyespots that reduce predation. Painting eye markings on cows similarly seems to ward off predators.
Warbler Species Fires Up Song Diversity
Aug 18 2020
Hermit warblers in California have developed 35 different song dialects, apparently as a result of wildfires temporarily driving them out of certain areas.
Why Lava Worlds Shine Brightly (It's Not the Lava)
Aug 13 2020
Scientists determined that “lava world” exoplanets do not derive their brightness from molten rock but possibly get it from reflective metallic clouds. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Aardvarks Are Ailing amid Heat and Drought
Aug 12 2020
Climate change is expected to bring more frequent droughts and heat waves to Africa’s Kalahari Desert. And aardvarks might not be able to cope. Jason G. Goldman reports.
The World's Highest-Dwelling Mammal Lives atop a Volcano
Aug 07 2020
Scientists spotted a mouse at the summit of Llullaillaco, a 22,000-foot-tall volcano on the border of Chile and Argentina. Julia Rosen reports.
Dampening of the Senses Is Linked to Dementia Risk
Aug 05 2020
A decline in smell was the sense loss most strongly associated with such risk in a recent study. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Translucent Frog Optics Create Camo Color
Aug 04 2020
Rather than undergoing active chameleonlike color changes, glass frogs’ translucency allows light to bounce from their background and go through them—making their apparent color close to their setting.
Paired Comparisons Could Mean Better Witness Identifications
Aug 03 2020
Compared with traditional lineup techniques, a series of two-faces-at-a-time choices led to more accurate identification by study witnesses.
Foxes Have Dined on Our Leftovers for 30,000 Years
Aug 02 2020
An analysis of fox fossils found evidence that they scavenged from wolf and bear kills until Homo sapiens supplied plenty of horse and reindeer remains.
Mexico Caves Reveal Ancient Ocher Mining
Jul 31 2020
Now submerged caves in the Yucatán Peninsula contain remains of ocher-mining operations that date back at least 10,000 years.
In Bee Shortage, Bubbles Could Help Pollinate
Jul 28 2020
Soap bubbles are sticky enough to carry a pollen payload and delicate enough to land on flowers without harm.
Science News Briefs from around the Planet
Jul 27 2020
Here are some brief reports about science and technology from all over, including one about how a lizard population responded to hurricanes by developing larger and stickier toe pads on average.
Seismologists Find the World Quieted Down during Pandemic Lockdowns
Jul 26 2020
COVID-19-related lockdowns dampened human activity around the globe—giving seismologists a rare glimpse of the earth’s quietest rumblings. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Old Art Offers Agriculture Info
Jul 24 2020
Art museums are filled with centuries-old paintings with details of plants that today give us clues about evolution and breeding practices.
How COVID-19 Decreases Weather Forecast Accuracy
Jul 23 2020
Meteorologists take advantage of weather data collected by commercial jetliners at different altitudes and locations. Fewer flights mean less data.
Cricket Avoids Being Bat Food by Doing Nothing
Jul 23 2020
The sword-tailed cricket can discern bats’ echolocation signals by only responding to calls of a certain volume—at which point it plummets out of their approach.
Speaker System Blocks City Noise
Jul 22 2020
The system works like noise-cancelling headphones but fits over an open window. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Civil War Vaccine May Have Lessons for COVID-19
Jul 20 2020
Vaccination used against smallpox during the Civil War reveals the identity of the distantly related virus used to keep troops disease-free.
Can People ID Infectious Disease by Cough and Sneeze Sounds?
Jul 17 2020
Individuals aren’t very good at judging whether someone coughing or sneezing has an infectious condition or is simply reacting to something benign.
Why Some Birds Are Likely To Hit Buildings
Jul 14 2020
Those that eat insects, migrate or usually live in the woods are most likely to fly into buildings that feature a lot of glass.
Sparrow Song Undergoes Key Change
Jul 11 2020
White-throated sparrows made a change to their familiar call that quickly spread across Canada.
Polynesians and Native South Americans Made 12th-Century Contact
Jul 10 2020
Scientists have found snippets of Native South American DNA in the genomes of present-day Polynesians, and they trace the contact to the year 1150. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Animals Appreciate Recent Traffic Lull
Jul 09 2020
Researchers saw a third fewer vehicle collisions with deer, elk, moose and other large mammals in the four weeks following COVID-19 shutdowns in three states they tracked.
Bat Says Hi as It Hunts
Jul 07 2020
Velvety free-tailed bats produce sounds that help them locate insect prey but simultaneously identify them to their companions.
Forests Getting Younger and Shorter
Jul 07 2020
Old, big trees are dying faster than in the past, leaving younger, less biodiverse forests that store less carbon worldwide.
Young Great White Sharks Eat off the Floor
Jul 03 2020
The stomach contents of young great white sharks show that they spend a lot of time patrolling the seafloor for meals.
Tweets Reveal Politics of COVID-19
Jul 01 2020
Political scientists analyzed congressional tweets and observed how Republicans and Democrats responded differently to the virus. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Nature's Goods and Services Get Priced
Jul 01 2020
The gross ecosystem product, or GEP, tries to take into account the contribution of nature to the economy.
Animal Migrations Track Climate Change
Jun 30 2020
Many species are known to have changed their migration routes in response to the changing climate. They now include mule deer and Bewick’s swans.
Science Briefs from around the World
Jun 25 2020
Here are some brief reports about science and technology from around the planet, including one about a 70-million-year-old mollusk fossil that reveals years back then had a few more days than we have now.
Stiffer Roads Could Drive Down Carbon Emissions
Jun 20 2020
By hardening the nation’s streets and highways, trucks would use less fuel and spare the planet carbon emissions. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Unicorns of the Sea Reveal Sound Activities
Jun 19 2020
Narwhals, recognizable by their large single tusk, make distinct sounds that are now being analyzed in depth by researchers.
Human Speech Evolution Gets Lip-Smacking Evidence
Jun 17 2020
A study of our closest evolutionary relatives finds that the chimp behavior known as lip smacking occurs in the same timing range as human mouths during speech.
Printed Coral Could Provide Reef Relief
Jun 16 2020
Three-dimensional printed coral-like structures were able to support the algae that live in real corals, which could help restore reefs and grow algae for bioenergy production.
'Snot Palaces' Reveal Undersea Creature Secrets
Jun 12 2020
Scientists are studying the delicate mucus houses built by creatures called larvaceans to better understand how they live. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Helping Kids Cope with COVID-19 Worries
Jun 10 2020
The psychological state of children may need special attention during COVID-19 impacts and isolation.
Ancient DNA Rewrites Dead Sea Scroll History
Jun 09 2020
By sequencing DNA from the dust of dead sea scrolls, scientists were able to glean new clues about the ancient manuscripts. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Whale Protections Need Not Cause Lobstering Losses
Jun 08 2020
Right whales, other whales and turtles get caught in lobster trap lines, but fewer lines can maintain the same lobster catch levels.
How to Keep COVID-19 Conspiracies Contained
Jun 07 2020
An expert on climate denial offers tips for inoculating people against coronavirus conspiracy notions.
Bioluminescence Helps Prey Avoid Hungry Seals
Jun 03 2020
Prey animals flash biochemically produced light to confuse elephant seals hunting in the dark. But at least one seal turned the tables.
3 Words Mislead Online Regional Mood Analysis
Jun 02 2020
Analyzing keywords on Twitter can offer a loose measure of the subjective well-being of a community, as long as you don’t count three words: good, love and LOL.
COVID Has Changed Soundscapes Worldwide
Jun 01 2020
The Silent Cities project is collecting sound from cities around the planet during the coronavirus pandemic to give researchers a database of natural sound in areas usually filled with human-generated noise.
Science News Briefs from All Over
May 28 2020
Here are some brief reports about science and technology from around the planet, including one about an incredibly well-preserved horned lark ( Eremophila alpestris ), like the one pictured, that lived 46,000 years ago.
Colorful Corals Beat Bleaching
May 28 2020
Exposed to mildly warmer waters, some corals turn neon instead of bleaching white. The dramatic colors may help coax symbiotic algae back. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Skinny Genes Tell Fat to Burn
May 23 2020
A gene whose mutated form is associated with cancer in humans turns out to have a role in burning calories over a long evolutionary history.
Malaria Mosquitoes Are Biting before Bed-Net Time
May 22 2020
Mosquitoes that like to bite at night are being thwarted by bed nets, leading to the rise of populations that prefer to bite when the nets are not up yet.
We're Being Tested
May 15 2020
President Trump pointed out yesterday that if we didn't do any testing for the virus we would have very few cases, which forces us to confront the issues posed by testing in general.
Barn Owl Babies Can Be Helpful Hatch Mates
May 15 2020
Food sharing is mainly found in adult animals as a part of social bonding. But in a rarely observed behavior in birds, older barn owl chicks will share food with younger ones.
Donut Sugar Could Help Stored Blood Last
May 13 2020
Dehydrated blood that could be kept at room temperature for years may be possible thanks to a sugar used to preserve donuts—and made by tardigrades and brine shrimp so they can dry out and spring back with water.
Lemur Flirting Uses Common Scents
May 11 2020
To entice female ring-tailed lemurs, males rub wrist secretions, which include compounds we use in perfumes, onto their tail and then wave it near the gals.
Flamingos Can Be Picky about Company
May 08 2020
They don’t stand on one leg around just anybody but often prefer certain members of the flock.
Horses Recognize Pics of Their Keepers
May 06 2020
Horses picked out photographs of their current keepers, and even of former keepers whom they had not seen in months, at a rate much better than chance.
Tapirs Help Reforestation via Defecation
May 02 2020
The large herbivores appear to prefer disturbed areas over more intact ones and spread many more seeds in those places through their droppings.
Virus-Infected Bees Practice Social Distancing
May 01 2020
Bees infected with a virus cut back on interactions within their hive but find it easier to get past sentries at neighboring hives.
New Data on Killer House Cats
Apr 30 2020
Wild cats kill more animals than domestic ones do. But pet cats kill many more of them in a small area than similarly sized wild predators.
Science News Briefs from around the World
Apr 29 2020
Here are a few brief reports about science and technology from around the planet, including one about what the eruption of Mount Vesuvius might have done to one ill-fated resident of Herculaneum.
Birds on Rhinos' Back Help Them Avoid Poachers
Apr 22 2020
Oxpeckers riding on rhinoceroses feast on ticks, and their calls warn the nearsighted herbivores about approaching humans.
Jane Goodall: We Can Learn from This Pandemic
Apr 22 2020
In a teleconference promoting her participation in Earth Day events on the National Geographic Channel, Goodall talked about what gives her hope during the pandemic and what she hopes we all learn from it.
Our 3,000th Episode
Apr 20 2020
Here are some “highlights” from the past 13.5 years of this podcast.
How Herbivore Herds Might Help Permafrost
Apr 17 2020
Introducing herds of large herbivores in the Arctic would disturb surface snow, allowing cold air to reach the ground and keep the permafrost frosty.
Lung Cancer Screen Could Be Easy Pee-sy
Apr 16 2020
In mice, a test for lung cancer involves nanoprobes that recognize tumors and send reporter molecules into the urine for simple analysis.
Obama Talks Some Science Policy
Apr 15 2020
As he endorsed Joe Biden today, former president Barack Obama touched on some environmental, economic and science matters.
Red-Winged Blackbirds Understand Yellow Warbler Alarms
Apr 14 2020
Researchers studying yellow warbler responses to the parasitic cowbird realized that red-winged blackbirds were eavesdropping on the calls and reacting to them, too.
Waiter, What's This Worm Doing in My Sushi?
Apr 10 2020
Well, it’s probably there because the odds on its presence have gone way up in the past 40 years. But such parasites are still much more of a health problem for whales and dolphins than they are for us.
What's a Narwhal's Tusk For?
Apr 09 2020
Although the tusk can be a weapon, the variation in tusk length among animals of similar body size points to it being primarily a mating status signal.
Coronavirus Misinformation Is Its Own Deadly Condition
Apr 08 2020
Pulitzer-winning Laurie Garrett, author of The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance, talks about the dangers of politicians offering coronavirus misinformation.
Coronavirus Can Infect Cats
Apr 07 2020
Tigers and lions at the Bronx Zoo have tested positive for the virus, and studies show that house cats—but apparently not dogs—can become infected.
Squid's Glowing Skin Patterns May Be Code
Apr 03 2020
Humboldt squid can rapidly change the pigmentation and luminescence patterns on their skin by contracting and relaxing their muscles, possibly to communicate.
Bird Fossil Shared Earth with T. rex
Apr 02 2020
Dating back 67 million years, this representative of the group of modern birds has been dubbed the Wonderchicken (which is not an April Fools’ Day joke).
City Birds: Big-Brained with Few Offspring or Small-Brained with a Lot
Apr 01 2020
To make it in urban areas, birds tend to be either large-brained and able to produce few offspring or small-brained and extremely fertile. In natural habitats, most birds brains are of average size.
Coyotes Eat Everything from Fruits to Cats
Mar 31 2020
The diets of coyotes vary widely, depending on whether they live in rural, suburban or urban environments—but pretty much anything is fair game.
Tiny Wormlike Creature May Be Our Oldest Known Ancestor
Mar 30 2020
The bilateral organism crawled on the seafloor, taking in organic matter at one end and dumping the remains out the other some 555 million years ago.
Science News Briefs from around the Planet
Mar 29 2020
Here are a few brief reports about science and technology from around the planet, including one about the discovery of an intact chicken egg dating to Roman Britain.
Help Researchers Track COVID-19
Mar 27 2020
By entering your health status, even if you’re feeling fine, at the Web site COVID Near You, you can help researchers develop a nationwide look at where hotspots of coronavirus are occurring.
Sick Vampire Bats Restrict Grooming to Close Family
Mar 26 2020
When vampire bats feel sick, they still engage in prosocial acts such as sharing food with nonrelatives. But they cut back on grooming anyone other than their closest kin.
Exponential Infection Increases Are Deadly Serious
Mar 25 2020
Listen in as I use two calculators to track the difference in numbers of infections over a short period of time, depending on how many people each infected individual infects on average.
Swamp Wallaby Reproduction Give Tribbles a Run
Mar 22 2020
They’re not born pregnant like tribbles, but swamp wallabies routinely get pregnant while pregnant.
Ocean Plastic Smells Great to Sea Turtles
Mar 20 2020
Ocean plastic gets covered with algae and other marine organisms, making it smell delicious to sea turtles—with potentially deadly results.
Ancient Clam Shell Reveals Shorter Day Length
Mar 17 2020
The growth layers in a 70-million-year-old clam shell indicate that a year back then had more than 370 days, with each day being only about 23.5 hours.
Snapping Shrimp Make More Noise in Warmer Oceans
Mar 12 2020
As oceans heat up, the ubiquitous noise of snapping shrimp should increase, posing issues for other species and human seagoing ventures.
Stress from Undersea Noise Interferes with Crab Camouflage
Mar 11 2020
In an example of how sea noise can harm species, exposed shore crabs changed camouflaging color sluggishly and were slower to flee from simulated predators.
Indigenous Amazonians Managed Valuable Plant Life
Mar 04 2020
Studies on very old vegetation in the Amazon basin show active management hundreds of years ago on species such as Brazil nut and cocoa trees.
Computers Confirm Beethoven's Influence
Mar 03 2020
By breaking 900 classical piano compositions into musical chunks, researchers could track Ludwig van Beethoven’s influence on the composers who followed him. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News Briefs from around the World
Mar 02 2020
Here are a few brief reports about science and technology from around the world, including one from off the California coast about the first heart rate measurement done on a blue whale.
Jet Altitude Changes Cut Climate-Changing Contrails
Feb 26 2020
Increasing or decreasing the altitude of aircraft by a few thousand feet to avoid thin layers of humidity could make a major reduction to contrails’ contribution to climate change.
Thoroughbred Horses Are Increasingly Inbred
Feb 25 2020
Inbreeding in Thoroughbreds has increased significantly in the past 45 years, with the greatest rise occurring in the past 15 or so of them.
Pablo Escobar's Hippos Could Endanger Colombian Ecology
Feb 20 2020
Hippos that escaped from drug kingpin Pablo Escobar’s private zoo are reproducing in the wild. And with increasing numbers, they could threaten ecosystems.
Wasp Nests Help Date Aboriginal Art
Feb 20 2020
Art created by Australian Aboriginal people used organic carbon-free pigments, but wasp nests above or below the art can be used for radiocarbon dating that supplies boundaries for the age of artworks.
Industrial Revolution Pollution Found in Himalayan Glacier
Feb 18 2020
Ice cores from a Tibetan glacier reveal the first deposits of industrial revolution pollution, starting in layers dated to about 1780.
Fight-or-Flight Nerves Make Mice Go Gray
Feb 15 2020
A new study in mice concludes stress can cause gray hair—and credits overactive nerves with the change in hue. Karen Hopkin reports.
Espresso May Be Better when Ground Coarser
Feb 14 2020
A very fine grind can actually hamper espresso brewing, because particles may clump more than larger particles will.
Feral Dogs Respond to Human Hand Cues
Feb 11 2020
Most feral dogs that did not run away from humans were able to respond to hand cues about the location of food—even without training.
Neandertals Tooled Around with Clams
Feb 08 2020
Neandertals ate clams and then modified the hard shells into tools for cutting and scraping.
Fingering Fake Whiskeys with Isotopes
Feb 07 2020
Whiskeys claimed to be from the 19th century are revealed to be made with much more recently grown barley, thanks to the unique isotopic fingerprint of the nuclear-testing era.
Having an Albatross around Your Boat
Feb 06 2020
By outfitting 169 albatrosses with GPS data loggers, scientists were able to track fishing boats apparently trying to hide their location. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News Briefs from All Over
Feb 04 2020
Here are a few brief reports about international science and technology from around the world, including one from the Democratic Republic of the Congo about a toad that has evolved coloring that makes it look like a deadly snake’s head.
Facts about Groundhogs Other Than Their Poor Meteorology
Feb 02 2020
Groundhogs are less accurate at weather forecasting than are coin flips, but they are nonetheless pretty interesting critters.
Did Animal Calls Start in the Dark?
Feb 01 2020
One hypothesis says the ability to vocalize arose in nocturnal animals—and a new evolutionary analysis suggests there may be some truth to it. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Sign Languages Display Distinct Ancestries
Jan 31 2020
Well more than 100 distinct sign languages exist worldwide, with each having features that made it possible for researchers to create an evolutionary tree of their lineages.
Docs Given Updated Opioid Prescribing Habit
Jan 27 2020
Researchers dialed down the default number of opioids in two hospitals’ prescription systems—and doctors ended up prescribing fewer pills. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Some Wolf Pups Show Innate Fetching Talent
Jan 26 2020
Some wolf pups will play fetch with a stranger, suggesting that an ability to playfully interact with people could have come before, and played a role in, dog domestication.
Barred Owls Invade the Sierra Nevada
Jan 25 2020
By listening to the sounds of the forest, biologists were able to identify an invasion of barred owls in spotted owl habitat. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Curiosity Killed the ... Mouse?
Jan 24 2020
The cat parasite Toxoplasma gondii boosts curiosity in mice—which makes them more likely to be caught by cats, thus continuing the parasite’s life cycle. Karen Hopkin reports.
This Fish Knows How to Stick Around
Jan 17 2020
The remora clings to other fish—and appears to use an unusual sense of touch to do so. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Antarctic Is Ripe for Invasive Species
Jan 16 2020
Mussels and crabs are two of the creatures most likely to invade Antarctica in the next 10 years, a panel of scientists say. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Bacteria Helped Plants Evolve to Live on Land
Jan 14 2020
Soil bacteria may have taken residence in early algal species, gifting the algae with the ability to withstand drier conditions on land. Annie Sneed reports.
Meteorite Contains Material Older Than Earth
Jan 13 2020
The Murchison meteorite, which screamed to Earth 50 years ago, carried with it stardust that's seven billion years old. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Loss of Large Mammals Stamps Out Invertebrates, Too
Jan 12 2020
Hunted areas of Gabon have fewer large mammals and a thicker forest understory—but they also have fewer termites. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Brittle Stars Can "See" without Eyes
Jan 10 2020
The starfish relatives can recognize patterns using photoreceptors on their arms—and their color-changing abilities could have something to do with it. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Atlantic Puffins Spotted Using Tools
Jan 08 2020
Scientists observed two Atlantic puffins using sticks to scratch themselves—the first known instance of seabirds using tools. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Traffic Cameras Show Why the Yankees Should Suffer Fewer Injuries in 2020
Jan 07 2020
The 2019 New York Yankees’ record number of injuries led to a change in training staff that will almost certainly correlate with, but not necessarily cause, a lower injury rate this coming season.
Science News Briefs from around the Globe
Jan 06 2020
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Indonesia to Spain, including one from Brazil about the highest-voltage electric eel ever discovered.
Part of Real Paleo Diet: It's a Tuber
Jan 04 2020
In South Africa archaeologists found the charred remains of a roasted root vegetable. Christopher Intagliata reports.
You Traveled Far in 2019
Jan 03 2020
Getting around the sun last year was some trip.
Fido's Human Age Gets New Estimates
Dec 27 2019
By comparing how DNA gets altered over the lifetimes of people and dogs, researchers came up with a new way to compare canine years with human years.
Gift Wrapping Is Effective Future Trash
Dec 27 2019
Research suggests people value gifts more when they have to unwrap them. But how do we avoid all the wasted paper? Christopher Intagliata reports.
Superstrong Fibers Could Be Hairy Situation
Dec 25 2019
Human hair tested stronger than thicker fibers from elephants, boars and giraffes, providing clues to materials scientists hoping to make superstrong synthetic fibers.
Flaky Scalps Have a Unique Fungal Microbiome
Dec 21 2019
Certain species of bacteria and fungi seem to proliferate on dandruff-ridden scalps. The reason is a little more mysterious. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Moths Flee or Face Bats, Depending on Toxicity
Dec 19 2019
Tiger moth species that contain bad-tasting and toxic compounds are nonchalant in the presence of bats, while edible moth species evade their predators.
Ancient Seawall Found Submerged
Dec 19 2019
In shallow waters off the coast of Israel, archaeologists have found entire villages—including one with a sunken seawall. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Citizen Scientists Deserve Journal Status Upgrade
Dec 15 2019
Here’s an argument that citizen scientists deserve co-authorship on scientific journal papers to which they contributed research.
Not All Hydropower Is Climate-Considerate
Dec 14 2019
While some hydropower facilities release almost no greenhouse gases, others can actually be worse than burning fossil fuels.
Certain Zip Codes Pick Losers
Dec 12 2019
People in certain zip codes are more likely to purchase products that flop, buy homes that are poor investments and pick political candidates who lose. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Linguists Hear an Accent Begin
Dec 12 2019
Residents of an overwintering station in Antarctica provided linguists with evidence of the first small changes in speech that may signal the development of a new accent.
Romans Would Roam for Wood
Dec 10 2019
Archaeologists unearthed wood from a Roman villa when digging Rome’s subway—and scientists determined the planks came all the way from France. Christopher Intagliata reports.
When the Bellbird Calls, You Know It
Dec 10 2019
The white bellbird of the Amazon may be the loudest bird in the world.
Fishy Trick Lures Life Back to Coral Reefs
Dec 05 2019
Playing the sounds of a healthy reef near damaged corals may help bring the fish community back. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Rain Forest Dwellers and Urbanites Have Consistently Different Microbiomes
Dec 04 2019
A study done in South America found that with increasing population density, humans had more diversity of fungi on the skin but less microbial diversity in the gut.
Internet Cables Could Also Measure Quakes
Dec 04 2019
The fiber-optic cables that connect the global Internet could potentially be used as seismic sensors. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News Briefs from All Over
Dec 03 2019
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Mexico to Tanzania, including one about the need to quarantine bananas in Colombia that are potentially infected by a fungus.
Subtle Ancient Footprints Come to Light
Nov 30 2019
Ground-penetrating radar can detect tiny density differences that lead to images of ancient footprints impossible to discern by eye.
Ancient Rock Art Got a Boost From Bacteria
Nov 25 2019
Indigenous artists in what’s now British Columbia created pigments by cooking aquatic bacteria. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Ick Factor Is High Hurdle for Recycled Drinking Water
Nov 25 2019
Recycled wastewater can be cleaner than bottled water, but people still avoid drinking it because of their disgust over its past condition.
Bots Outperform Humans if They Impersonate Us
Nov 22 2019
Bots masquerading as humans in a game outperformed their human opponents—but the their superiority vanished when their machine identity was revealed. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Implanting Memories in Birds Reveals How Learning Happens
Nov 21 2019
Researchers activated specific brain cells in zebra finches to teach them songs they’d ordinarily have to hear to learn.
Dogs Like Motion That Matches Sound
Nov 20 2019
Pet dogs appeared more interested in videos of a bouncing ball when the motion of the ball matched a rising and falling tone. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Egyptian Vats 5,600 Years Old Were For Beer Brewing
Nov 17 2019
Archaeologists working in the ancient city of Hierakonpolis discovered five ceramic vats containing residues consistent with brewing beer.
Famously Fickle Felines Are, in Fact, Clingy
Nov 14 2019
Cats are clingier to their human owners than their reputation would suggest. Karen Hopkin reports.
Aversion to Broccoli May Have Genetic Roots
Nov 13 2019
Study subjects with a gene variant that heightened their sensitivity to bitterness tended to eat fewer vegetables than people who didn’t mind bitter flavors. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Marine Mammal Epidemic Linked to Climate Change
Nov 10 2019
A measleslike virus is ricocheting through marine mammal populations in the Arctic—and melting sea ice might be to blame. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Ant Colonies Avoid Traffic Jams
Nov 08 2019
Researchers tracked thousands of individual ants to determine how they move in vast numbers without stumbling into gridlock.
Ranking Rise May Intimidate Opponents
Nov 06 2019
In an analysis of chess and tennis matches, players rising in the rankings did better than expected against higher-ranked opponents and better than similarly ranked players who were not rising.
Familiar Tunes Rapidly Jog the Brain
Nov 06 2019
Within just a third of a second of hearing a snippet of a familiar refrain, our pupils dilate, and the brain shows signs of recognition. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News Briefs from around the Globe
Nov 02 2019
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Brazil to Hong Kong, including one about male elephants in India exhibiting unusual social behaviors.
We Owe Our Pumpkins to Pooping Megafauna
Oct 31 2019
The pumpkin’s ancestor was an incredibly bitter, tennis-ball-sized squash—but it was apparently a common snack for mastodons. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Bird Egg Colors Are Influenced by Local Climate
Oct 30 2019
In cold, northern climates, eggs tend to be darker and browner—heat-trapping colors that allow parents to spend a bit more time away from the nest. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Crabs Do a Maze
Oct 29 2019
Green crabs learned to navigate a maze without making a single wrong turn—and remembered the skill weeks later. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Odd Bird Migrates Twice to Breed
Oct 24 2019
The phainopepla migrates from southern California to the desert Southwest to breed in the spring before flying to California coastal woodlands to do so again in summer.
Piranha-Proof Fish Gives Inspiration for Body Armor
Oct 24 2019
A gigantic fish from the Amazon has incredibly tough scales—and materials scientists are looking to them for bulletproof inspiration. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Galloping Ant Beats Saharan Heat
Oct 23 2019
The Saharan silver ant feeds on other insects that have died on the hot sands, which it traverses at breakneck (for an ant) speeds.
Some Mosquito Repellents Act like Invisibility Cloaks
Oct 22 2019
Synthetic repellents such as DEET seem to mask the scent of our “human perfume”—making us less obvious targets for mosquitoes. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Your Skull Shapes Your Hearing
Oct 18 2019
The resonant properties of your skull can amplify some frequencies and dampen others—and, in some cases, affect your hearing. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Tardigrade Protein Protects DNA from Chemical Attack
Oct 16 2019
The Dsup protein protects DNA under conditions that create caustic free radical chemicals.
"Mars-quakes" Could Reveal How Mars Was Built
Oct 16 2019
Rumblings on the Red Planet act like x-rays, allowing scientists to probe the hidden interior of Mars. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Artificial Intelligence Learns to Talk Back to Bigots
Oct 11 2019
Algorithms are already used to remove online hate speech. Now scientists have taught an AI to respond—which they hope might spark more discourse. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Nobel in Chemistry for Lightweight Rechargeable Batteries
Oct 09 2019
The 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to John Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino “for the development of lithium-ion batteries.”
Nobel in Physics for Exoplanets and Cosmology
Oct 08 2019
The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics goes to James Peebles “for theoretical discoveries in physical cosmology” and to Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz “for the discovery of an exoplanet orbiting a solar-type star.”
Nobel in Physiology or Medicine for How Cells Sense Oxygen Levels
Oct 07 2019
The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine goes to William G. Kaelin, Jr., Peter J. Ratcliffe and Gregg L. Semenza “for their discoveries of how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability.” They identified molecular machinery that regulates gene activity in response to changing levels of oxygen.
Teeth Tell Black Death Genetic Tale
Oct 07 2019
DNA from the teeth of medieval plague victims indicates the pathogen likely first arrived in eastern Europe before spreading across the continent.
Tiny Worms Are Equipped to Battle Extreme Environments
Oct 05 2019
Scientists found eight species of nematodes living in California’s harsh Mono Lake—quintupling the number of animals known to live there. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Heat Changes Insect Call, but It Still Works
Oct 02 2019
Tiny insects called treehoppers produce very different mating songs at higher versus lower temperatures, but the intended recipient still finds the changed songs attractive.
Corals Can Inherit Symbiotic Adaptations to Warming
Oct 02 2019
Adult corals can reshuffle their symbiotic algae species to adapt to warming waters—and, it appears they can pass those adaptations on. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Brains of Blind People Adapt in Similar Fashion
Oct 01 2019
The brains of those who are blind repurpose the vision regions for adaptive hearing, and they appear to do so in a consistent way.
Science News Briefs from around the World
Sep 29 2019
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Hungary to Japan, including one about a wine grape in France that DNA testing shows has been cultivated for almost a millennium.
Musical Note Perception Can Depend on Culture
Sep 25 2019
Western ears consider a pitch at double the frequency of a lower pitch to be the same note, an octave higher. The Tsimane’, an indigenous people in the Bolivian Amazon basin, do not.
Nature Docs Avoid Habitat Destruction
Sep 25 2019
BBC and Netflix nature documentaries consistently shy away from showing viewers the true extent to which we’ve damaged the planet. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Heat Loss to Night Sky Powers Off-Grid Lights
Sep 19 2019
A slight temperature difference at night between a surface losing heat and the surrounding air can be harnessed to generate electricity to power lights.
Early Butchers Used Small Stone Scalpels
Sep 18 2019
Homo erectus used hand axes to butcher elephants and other game. But a new study suggests they also used finer, more sophisticated blades. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Microplastics in Fresh Water Are Mostly Laundry Lint
Sep 17 2019
Microplastic particles are everywhere, but in freshwater systems, 60 percent of particles are clothing lint from laundry.
Kids Are Not Hurt by Screen Time
Sep 16 2019
A study finds no deleterious effects on mental health when kids spend their leisure time texting and engaging in other online activities.
Lab-Grown Human Mini Brains Show Brainy Activity
Sep 13 2019
As the little structures grow, their constituents specialize into different types of brain cells, begin to form connections and emit brain waves. They could be useful models for development and neurological conditions.
Eavesdropping Puts Anxious Squirrels at Ease
Sep 13 2019
Squirrels constantly scan their surroundings for hawks, owls and other predators. But they also surveil for threats by eavesdropping on bird chatter. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Earth's Magnetic Field Initiated a Pole Flip Many Millennia before the Switch
Sep 12 2019
Lava flow records and sedimentary and Antarctic ice core data show evidence of planetary magnetic field activity 20,000 years before the beginning of the last pole reversal.
Humpback Whales Swap Songs at Island Hub
Sep 11 2019
At the Kermadec Islands, humpbacks from all over the South Pacific converge and swap songs. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Food Expiration Dates May Mislead Consumers
Sep 09 2019
Better food labeling could prevent people from throwing away a lot of “expired” food that’s still perfectly edible.
Farmland Is Also Optimal for Solar Power
Sep 05 2019
The conditions of sunlight, temperature, humidity and wind that make cropland good for agriculture also maximize solar panel efficiency.
Chemical Tweak Recycles Polyurethane into Glue
Sep 05 2019
It’s not easy to recycle polyurethane, so it’s usually tossed out or burned. But a chemical tweak can turn polyurethane into glue. Christine Herman reports.
Cholesterol Climbs after Crows Chomp Cheeseburgers
Sep 03 2019
Wild animals that live near humans have higher cholesterol than their rural counterparts—and our food could be to blame. Christopher Intagliata reports.
How Hurricanes Influence Spider Aggressiveness
Aug 30 2019
As Hurricane Dorian approaches Florida, consider that feeding style means that aggressive tangle-web spider colonies produce more offspring after severe weather, while docile colonies do better in calm conditions.
Graphene Garment Blocks Blood-Sucking Skeeters
Aug 28 2019
A small patch of graphene on human skin seemed to block the mosquitoes’ ability to sense certain molecules that trigger a bite. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Martian Winds Could Spread Microbe Hitchhikers
Aug 26 2019
Microbes fly tens of miles over Chile’s dry, UV-blasted Atacama Desert—and scientists say the same could happen on Mars. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Including Indigenous Voices in Genomics
Aug 22 2019
A program at the University of Illinois trains indigenous scientists in genomics—in hopes that future work will be aimed at benefiting those communities. Christine Herman reports.
West Point Uniforms Signify Explosive Chemistry
Aug 20 2019
U.S. Military Academy cadets wear the colors black, gray and gold for reasons found in gunpowder’s chemistry.
Secrets of the Universe Trapped in Antarctic Snow
Aug 14 2019
Scientists found an interstellar iron isotope in Antarctic snow samples—which hints that our region of the universe may be the remnant of an ancient exploding star. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Certain Personality Types Are Likely to Make a "Foodie Call"
Aug 13 2019
Some people go on dates just to score a free meal—a phenomenon known as a “foodie call.” But it takes a certain personality type. Karen Hopkin reports.
Artificial Intelligence Sniffs Out Unsafe Foods
Aug 12 2019
Researchers trained machine-learning algorithms to read Amazon reviews for hints that a food product would be recalled by the FDA. Christopher Intagliata reports.
A Computer Tells Real Smiles from Phonies
Aug 09 2019
Slight changes around the eyes are indeed a giveaway as to whether a smile is sincere or faked.
Stare Down Gulls to Avoid Lunch Loss
Aug 08 2019
Researchers slowed the approach of greedy gulls by an average of 21 seconds by staring at the birds versus looking elsewhere. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Real Laughs Motivate More Guffaws
Aug 08 2019
Honest, involuntary laughter cued people to laugh more at some really bad jokes than they did when hearing forced laughter.
Extinction Wipes Out Evolution's Hard Work
Aug 06 2019
By killing off many of New Zealand’s endemic birds, humans destroyed 50 million years’ worth of evolutionary history. Christopher Intagliata reports.
London Is Crawling with Drug-Resistant Microbes
Aug 03 2019
Nearly half of bacteria gathered in public settings around the city were resistant to two or more commonly used antibiotics, such as penicillin and erythromycin. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Male Black Widows Poach Rivals' Approaches
Aug 02 2019
Mating is risky business for black widow males—so they hitchhike on the silk threads left by competitors to more quickly find a mate. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Babies Want Fair Leaders
Jul 31 2019
Babies as young as a year and a half want leaders to fix situations in which they see someone else being treated unfairly.
Parrots Are Making the U.S. Home
Jul 31 2019
Released or escaped parrots are now living in most states and are breeding in at least 21. For some, it’s a second chance at survival.
Science News Briefs from All Over
Jul 30 2019
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Guatemala to Australia, including one about the first recorded tornado in Nepal.
Tourist Photographs Help African Wildlife Census
Jul 25 2019
Photographs snapped by safari tourists are a surprisingly accurate way to assess populations of African carnivores. Christopher Intagliata reports.
For Ants, the Sky's the Compass
Jul 24 2019
Computer modeling revealed that insects with a celestial compass can likely determine direction down to just a couple degrees of error. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Why Two Moonships Were Better Than One
Jul 20 2019
Engineer John Houbolt pushed for a smaller ship to land on the lunar surface while the command module stayed in orbit around the moon.
One Small Scoop, One Giant Impact for Mankind
Jul 20 2019
Just before Neil Armstrong climbed back into the lunar module, he scooped up a few last-minute soil samples--which upturned our understanding of planetary formation. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Investigating the Zombie Ant's "Death Grip"
Jul 19 2019
Researchers dissected the jaws of ants infected with the Ophiocordyceps fungus to determine how the fungus hijacks the ants' behavior. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Attractive Young Females May Have Justice Edge
Jul 16 2019
Youths rated as attractive were less likely to have negative encounters with the criminal justice system—but only if they were women. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Tobacco Plants Made to Produce Useful Compounds
Jul 15 2019
A proof-of-concept study got transgenic tobacco plants to make a useful enzyme in their chloroplasts, not nuclei, minimizing chances for transfer to other organisms.
Rhinos and Their Gamekeepers Benefit from AI
Jul 12 2019
Starting in 2017, an artificial intelligence monitoring system at the Welgevonden Game Reserve in South Africa has been helping to protect rhinos and their caretakers.
Backpack Harvests Energy as You Walk
Jul 11 2019
The pack produces a steady trickle of electricity from the swinging motion of your stuff. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Why Baseballs Are Flying in 2019
Jul 09 2019
An analysis of the 2019 edition of the Major League baseball points to reasons why it's leaving ballparks at a record rate.
Some Hot Dog Histology
Jul 04 2019
A lab analysis found that even an all-beef frankfurter had very little skeletal muscle, or "meat." So what’s in there? Christopher Intagliata reports.
Mind and Body Benefit from Two Hours in Nature Each Week
Jul 02 2019
People who spent at least two hours outside—either all at once or totaled over several shorter visits—were more likely to report good health and psychological well-being. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Scientist Encourages Other Women Scientists to Make Themselves Heard
Jun 30 2019
Geneticist Natalie Telis noticed few women asking questions at scientific conferences. So she publicized the problem and set about to make a change. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Male Bats Up Mating Odds with Mouth Morsels
Jun 27 2019
Males that allow females to take food right out of their mouths are more likely to sire offspring with their dining companions.
Scientists Fool Flies with "Virtual Tastes"
Jun 27 2019
By switching fruit flies' sensory neurons on and off with light, scientists were able to create the sensation of sweet or bitter tastes. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Wheat Plants "Sneeze" and Spread Disease
Jun 26 2019
Wheat plants' leaves repel water, which creates the perfect conditions for dew droplets to catapult off the leaves—taking pathogenic spores for the ride. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Elite Runners' Microbes Make Mice Mightier
Jun 25 2019
Mice that were fed bacteria isolated from elite athletes logged more treadmill time than other mice that got bacteria found in yogurt.
Science News Briefs from around the World
Jun 24 2019
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Canada to Kenya, including one about how humans thousands of years ago in what is now Argentina butchered and presumably ate giant ground sloths.
Antiperspirant Boosts Armpit and Toe-Web Microbial Diversity
Jun 22 2019
Rather than wiping microbes out, antiperspirants and foot powders increased the diversity of microbial flora in armpits and between toes. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Monkey Cousins Use Similar Calls
Jun 18 2019
Two monkey species who last shared a common ancestor 3 million years ago have "eerily similar" alarm calls.
How Millipedes Avoid Interspecies Sexual Slips
Jun 16 2019
Millipedes, often blind, have come up with clever physical signals to ward off sexual advances from members of wrong species.
You Contain Multitudes of Microplastics
Jun 13 2019
People appear to consume between 74,000 and 121,000 microplastic particles annually, and that's probably a gross underestimate.
A Biodegradable Label Doesn't Make It So
Jun 13 2019
At the third Scientific American “Science on the Hill” event, “Solving the Plastic Waste Problem”, one of the issues discussed by experts on Capitol Hill was biodegradability.
High School Cheaters Nabbed by Neural Network
Jun 06 2019
Researchers trained a neural network to scrutinize high school essays and sniff out ghostwritten papers. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Preserved Poop Is an Archaeological Treasure
Jun 05 2019
Anthropologists found parasite eggs in ancient poop samples, providing a glimpse of human health as hunter-gatherers transitioned to settlements. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Remembering Murray Gell-Mann
Jun 04 2019
Murray Gell-Mann, 1969 Nobel Laureate in Physics who identified the quark, died May 24th.
Bonobo Mothers Supervise Their Sons' Monkey Business
May 30 2019
Some wild female bonobos introduce their sons to desirable females—then make sure their relations won’t be interrupted by competing males. Karen Hopkin reports.
Music May Orchestrate Better Brain Connectivity in Preterm Infants
May 29 2019
Preterm babies who listened to music in the neonatal intensive care unit had brain activity that more closely resembled that of full-term babies. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Icy Room Temperatures May Chill Productivity
May 24 2019
A new study suggests women's performance on math and verbal tasks increases as room temperature rises, up to about the mid 70s F. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Bird Beak Shapes Depend on More Than Diet
May 22 2019
A study found that only a small percentage of bird beak shape variation is dependent on diet, with other factors like display and nest construction probably playing parts too.
Ancient Gum Gives Archaeologists Something to Chew On
May 21 2019
Chewing gums discovered in western Sweden contain the oldest human DNA found in Scandinavia. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Nobelist: Harness Evolution as a Problem-Solving Algorithm
May 17 2019
Frances Arnold, the Caltech scientist who shared the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, says evolution can show us how to solve problems of sustainability.
Unread Books at Home Still Spark Literacy Habits
May 16 2019
Growing up in a home filled with books enhances enhances intellectual capacity in later life, even if you don't read them all.
Kid Climate Educators Open Adult Eyes
May 15 2019
A study finds that kids, especially daughters, are effective at teaching their parents about climate issues.
Penguin Poop Helps Biodiversity Bloom in Antarctica
May 15 2019
Ammonia from penguin poop gets carried on Antarctic winds, fertilizing mosses and lichens as far as a mile away. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Ancient Whiz Opens Archaeology Window
May 13 2019
The residue of ancient urine can reveal the presence of early stationary herder-farmer communities.
U.S. Coral Reefs Do $1.8 Billion of Work Per Year
May 09 2019
By dampening the energy of waves, coral reefs protect coastal cities from flooding damage and other economic losses. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Could Air-Conditioners Help Cool the Planet?
May 06 2019
Researchers want to outfit air conditioners with carbon-capture technology. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Chemists Investigate Casanova's Clap
May 03 2019
In his memoirs, the womanizing writer Giacomo Casanova described suffering several bouts of gonorrhea—but researchers found no trace of the microbe on his handwritten journals. Karen Hopkin reports.
Software Sniffs Out Rat Squeaks
May 02 2019
Algorithms learned to sift ultrasonic rat squeaks from other noise, which could help researchers who study rodents’ emotional states. Lucy Huang reports.
New Model Aims to Solve Mystery of the Moon's Formation
May 01 2019
Scientists propose that the moon could have formed when a Mars-sized object slammed into an Earth covered in magma seas. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Cats Recognize Their Names—but May Not Respond
Apr 30 2019
Felines move their ears, heads and tails more when they hear their names compared to when they hear similar words. Jim Daley reports.
Science News Briefs from All Over
Apr 27 2019
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Liberia to Hawaii, including one on the discovery in Northern Ireland of soil bacteria that stop the growth of MRSA and other superbugs.
Hurricane Maria Rain Amount Chances Are Boosted by Climate Change
Apr 26 2019
The likelihood of an event like Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and of its massive precipitation, is fivefold higher in the climate of today than it would have been some 60 years ago
Harder-Working Snakes Pack Stronger Venom
Apr 26 2019
Snake venom toxicity depends on snake size, energy requirements and environmental dimensionality more than on prey size.
River Dolphins Have a Wide Vocal Repertoire
Apr 25 2019
Freshwater dolphins are evolutionary relics, and their calls give clues to the origins of cetacean communication in general. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Honeybees Can Put Two and Two Together
Apr 24 2019
The tiny brain of a honeybee is apparently able to calculate small numbers' addition and subtraction. Annie Sneed reports.
4/20 Traffic Accidents Claim Curbed
Apr 20 2019
A deeper data dive calls into question a 2018 study that found a spike in fatal traffic accidents apparently related to marijuana consumption on this date.
Hyena Society Stability Has Last Laugh
Apr 20 2019
Female hyenas keep their clans in line by virtue of their complex social networks. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Gluten-Free Restaurant Foods Are Often Mislabeled
Apr 19 2019
One in three gluten-free dishes tested at restaurants contained gluten—especially GF pizzas and pastas. Christopher Intagliata reports.
What Chickens Can Teach Hearing Researchers
Apr 18 2019
At an April 9th event sponsored by the Kavli Foundation and produced by Scientific American that honored Nobel and Kavli Prize winners, neuroscientists James Hudspeth and Robert Fettiplace talked about the physiology of hearing and the possibility of restoring hearing loss.
Nobelist Says System of Science Offers Life Lessons
Apr 16 2019
At an April 9th event sponsored by the Kavli Foundation and produced by Scientific American that honored Nobel and Kavli Prize winners, economist Paul Romer talked about how the social system of science offers hope for humanity and for how we can live with each other.
Squeezed Potassium Atoms Straddle Liquid and Solid
Apr 13 2019
At extreme pressures, potassium atoms can be both liquid and solid at the same time, a phase of matter known as "chain melt." Christopher Intagliata reports.
Urban Coyote Evolution Favors the Bold
Apr 12 2019
Coyotes become fearless around people in just a few generations—which isn’t good for their longterm co-existence with humans in cities. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Computers Turn an Ear on New York City
Apr 11 2019
NYU’s “Sounds of New York City” project listens to the city—and then, with the help of citizen scientists, teaches machines to decode the soundscape. Jim Daley reports.
Whitening Strips Alter Proteins in Teeth
Apr 09 2019
Hydrogen peroxide in whitening treatments penetrates enamel and dentin, and alters tooth proteins. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Infrared Light Offers a Cooler Way to Defrost
Apr 08 2019
Light tuned to a specific frequency warms ice more than water—which could come in handy for defrosting delicate biological samples. Adam Levy reports.
Spider Monkeys Optimize Jungle Acoustics
Apr 05 2019
The monkeys lower the pitch of their "whinnies" when they're far from the rest of their group, which might help the calls travel further through jungle foliage. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Tennessee Whiskey Relies on Missing Ingredients
Apr 03 2019
Food chemists precisely measured how charcoal filtration contributes to Tennessee whiskey's smoother flavor. Christopher Intagliata reports.
There's a Word for Today
Apr 01 2019
English lacks some words that other languages pack with meaning.
Bumblebee Queens Prefer Layovers to Nonstop Flights
Mar 29 2019
Scientists tracked bumblebee queens with radar when they emerged from hibernation and found the bees take only brief flights en route to a new nest. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Scenic City Sights Linked to Higher Happiness
Mar 27 2019
Tracking the location and mood of 15,000 people, researchers found that scenic beauty was linked to happiness—including near urban sights like bridges and buildings. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Tech's Brain Effect: It's Complicated
Mar 26 2019
We don't yet know what the immersion in technology does to our brains, but one neuroscientist says the answer is likely to be that there's good, there's bad, and it's complex.
Daylight Brings Toxic Beetles Together for Safety
Mar 23 2019
During daylight hours, hundreds of bombardier beetles of multiple species will congregate together to more effectively ward off any predators not afraid of a lone beetle's toxic spray.
Solar Jets Cause Standing Waves in Earth's Magnetic Field
Mar 19 2019
When jets of charged particles from the sun hit our magnetosphere, some of the ensuing ripples travel toward the northern and southern poles and get reflected back. The resulting interference allows standing waves to form, like on a drumhead.
Sing Solo for Higher Fidelity
Mar 19 2019
By tracking duetting choir singers, researchers found that when an individual singer's pitch drifts off tune their partner’s tend to too. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Edible Insect Breeding Led to Larger but Not Necessarily Better Larvae
Mar 15 2019
Researchers aiming to lower the cost of mealworms were able to double the worms' size, but the larger larvae had fewer eggs and weaker offspring. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Busting Earth-Bound Asteroids a Bigger Job Than We Thought
Mar 12 2019
A new model suggests smashing killer space rocks with insufficient force could let gravity pull the pieces back together. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Weekday–Weekend Sleep Imbalance Bad for Blood Sugar Regulation
Mar 11 2019
Weekday sleep deprivation with weekend make-up sleeping seems to be worse for blood sugar control than even chronic sleep deprivation alone.
Warm-Blooded Animals Lost Ability to Heal the Heart
Mar 08 2019
Thyroid hormone, which helps warm-blooded animals regulate body temperature, also appears to put a halt on heart regeneration. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Animal Migrations Track with Wikipedia Searches
Mar 06 2019
By analyzing nearly 2.5 billion Wikipedia page views, researchers found species searches reflect seasonal animal migrations and plant blooming. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Baseball Commish Talks Big Data
Mar 05 2019
At a sports technology conference, baseball commissioner Rob Manfred addressed issues including an automated strike zone and advanced analytics.
Background Music Might Stifle Creativity
Mar 04 2019
Volunteers who listened to music solved fewer word puzzles than others who worked in silence. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News Briefs from around the Globe
Mar 04 2019
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Greenland to Palau, including one on the discovery of a trove of mummified cats in Egypt.
Budding Yeast Produce Cannabis Compounds
Mar 01 2019
Biologists have taken the genes that produce cannabinoids in weed and plugged them into yeast, making rare and novel compounds more accessible. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Who Has "the Right Stuff" for Mars?
Feb 26 2019
Humans traveling to Mars will be required to operate with a degree of autonomy human astronauts have never had, due to communication delays. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Grandma's Influence Is Good for Grandkids
Feb 25 2019
Grandmothers can enhance the survival of grandchildren. That is, unless grandma’s too old or lives too far away. Karen Hopkin reports.
Should Robots Have a License to Kill?
Feb 23 2019
Artificial intelligence experts, ethicists and diplomats debate autonomous weapons. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Warming Climate Implies More Flies—and Disease
Feb 21 2019
The incidence of foodborne illness could jump in a warming world, due to an increase in housefly activity. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Light-Skin Variant Arose in Asia Independent of Europe
Feb 19 2019
A new genetic study of Latin Americans provides evidence that gene variants for lighter skin color came about in Asia as well as in Europe. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Teach Science Process over Findings
Feb 19 2019
Seismologist and policy advisor Lucy Jones says science education needs to teach how science works more than just what it finds out.
Human Diet Drugs Kill Mosquitoes' Appetite, Too
Feb 16 2019
When researchers fed mosquitoes a drug used to treat people for obesity, the insects were less interested in hunting for their next human meal ticket. Karen Hopkin reports.
Grazing Deer Alter Forest Acoustics
Feb 15 2019
Deer populations have exploded in North American woodlands, changing forest ecology—and how sounds, like birdsong, travel through the trees. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Elephant Weight Cycles with New Teeth
Feb 15 2019
Elephants have six sets of teeth over their lives, sometimes two sets at once. At those times, they can extract more nutrition from food and put on weight.
Finally Over for Mars Rover
Feb 13 2019
The rover Opportunity has called it quits after working for more than 14 years on Mars.
Our Brains Really Remember Some Pop Music
Feb 12 2019
Although millennials' memory of recent pop tunes drops quickly, their ability to identify top hits from the 1960s through 1990s remains moderately high. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Biologists Track Tweets to Monitor Birds
Feb 09 2019
Conservation biologists can track the whereabouts of endangered species by the sounds they make, avoiding cumbersome trackers and tags. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Desalination Could Cause Ecological Sea Change
Feb 07 2019
An environmental assessment of the nation's largest desalination plant finds mixed results. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Different Humpback Whale Groups Meet to Jam
Feb 07 2019
Humpback populations from the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet up south of Africa and trade song stylings.
Targeting Certain Brain Cells Can Switch Off Pain
Feb 04 2019
By turning off certain brain cells, researchers were able to make mice sense painful stimuli—but not the associated discomfort. Karen Hopkin reports.
Neandertal Spears Were Surprisingly Deadly
Jan 31 2019
Javelin throwers chucking replicas of Neandertal spears were able to hit targets farther away, and with greater force than previously thought to be possible. Christopher Intagliata reports.
"Rectenna" Converts Wi-Fi to Electricity
Jan 30 2019
Researchers built a small, flexible device that harvests wi-fi, bluetooth and cellular signals, and turns them into DC electricity. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News Briefs from the World Over
Jan 29 2019
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Papua New Guinea to Kazakhstan, including one on the slow slide of Mount Etna in Italy.
Cod Could Cope with Constrained Climate Change
Jan 28 2019
Cod egg survival stays high with limited warming, but plummets when the temperature rises a few degrees Celsius in their current spawning grounds.
Intimate Hermit Crab Keeps Shell On
Jan 26 2019
A species of hermit crab appears to have evolved a large penis to enable intercourse without leaving, and thus possibly losing, its adopted shell.
Ecologists Eavesdrop with Bioacoustics
Jan 24 2019
By coupling audio recordings with satellite data and camera traps, ecologists can keep their eyes—and ears—on protected tropical forests. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Saturn's Blingy Rings Are a Recent Upgrade
Jan 24 2019
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.
Do-Gooders Should Survey Communities First
Jan 23 2019
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.
Viewing This Weekend's Lunar Eclipse
Jan 19 2019
A total lunar eclipse will grace the skies this Sunday, January 20—and it may or may not be red. Christopher Intagliata reports.
"Mona Lisa Effect" Not True for Mona Lisa
Jan 18 2019
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.
Ants Stick to Cliques to Dodge Disease
Jan 16 2019
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.
Mistimed Migration Means Bird Death Battles
Jan 13 2019
Climate change is shifting population numbers and nest building by resident and migratory birds in Europe—sometimes leading to deadly conflict. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Monogamy May Be Written in Our Genes
Jan 12 2019
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.
Seeing Superman Increases Altruism
Jan 10 2019
Subject who saw a Superman poster were more likely to offer help than were people who saw another image.
Inhaled RNA Might Help Heal Cystic Fibrosis
Jan 09 2019
Scientists are working to correct a genetic defect in cystic fibrosis patients by having them inhale RNA. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Invisible Killers Hitchhike on Native Plant Seedlings
Jan 05 2019
More than a quarter of the seedlings sampled at native plant nurseries were infected with pathogens—which could hamper restoration work. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Facebook Users Value the Service More Than Investors Do
Jan 03 2019
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.
Science News from around the Planet
Dec 31 2018
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.
Turn Xmas Tree into Food and Medicine
Dec 30 2018
Pine needles can easily be broken down into sugars as well as the building blocks of paint, adhesives and medicines. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Simple Sugars Wipe Out Beneficial Gut Bugs
Dec 27 2018
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.
Smarter Pricing Could Ease Parking Frustration
Dec 27 2018
A new algorithm raises parking rates in busy neighborhoods and lowers them elsewhere, guaranteeing free parking spots regardless of location. Christopher Intagliata reports.
"Hunger Hormone" Ghrelin Aids Overindulgence
Dec 25 2018
Ghrelin, the hormone that makes you hungry, also makes food, and food smells, irresistibly appealing. Karen Hopkin reports.
Colorful Peacocks Impress Females with Good Vibes
Dec 24 2018
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.
Measuring the Strength of a Person's Gaze
Dec 24 2018
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.
"Relaxation Music" Works—but So Does Chopin
Dec 22 2018
So-called "relaxation music" is only about as effective as a soothing Chopin piece at lulling listeners into a relaxed state. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Bone Building Needs Bit of Breakdown First
Dec 21 2018
The hormone irisin encourages bone remodeling, in part by first triggering another substance that encourages some bone breakdown.
Frog Picks Maternity Ward Like Goldilocks
Dec 20 2018
The Bahia's broad-snout casque-headed tree frog needs a pool to raise its young that's just right.
You Gotta Scratch That Itch
Dec 19 2018
A particular set of brain neurons may be behind registering itch and inducing us to scratch.
Join Blue Planet II Live-Tweet
Dec 14 2018
Starting December 16, ocean scientists will live-tweet the BBC documentary series Blue Planet II, available via Netflix.
Big-Boned Chickens May Be Humans' Geologic Legacy
Dec 13 2018
Millions of years from now, the geologic record of the "Anthropocene" will be littered with plastics, yes, but also chicken bones. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Ancient Marine Reptiles Had Familiar Gear
Dec 12 2018
Ichthyosaurs had traits in common with turtles and modern marine mammals, like blubber and countershading camouflage. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Little Aphids Ride Big Ones to Safety
Dec 12 2018
When trouble lurks, juvenile aphids drop off of the plants they're eating and hitch a ride on bigger aphid escapees.
Utah's Deserts Are Bee Hotspots
Dec 09 2018
The Trump administration is shrinking Utah's desert monuments, stripping some federal protections for wild pollinators. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Who's a Smart Dog?!
Dec 07 2018
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.
Data Reveals Most Influential Movies
Dec 06 2018
By analyzing the network connections between 47,000 films on IMDb, researchers found the most influential films ever made. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Blue Whales Have Changed Their Tune
Dec 01 2018
In the last few decades blue whale calls have been getting lower in pitch—and a rebound in their numbers may be the reason. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Smart Meters Speed Showers
Nov 27 2018
Smart meters on showerheads encouraged hotel guests to conserve—even though they personally saved no money. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Mars Mission Makes Clean Landing
Nov 26 2018
The sounds of the Mars InSight Mission control room during the tense minutes leading to the landing on the surface.
Do Wine over Those Brussels Sprouts
Nov 22 2018
Taking a swig of red wine before eating Brussels sprouts appears to moderate Brussels sprouts' polarizing flavor. Christopher Intagliata reports
Rains Bring a Microbial Massacre to Chilean Desert
Nov 20 2018
Freak heavy rainstorms in 2015 and 2017 wiped out many dry-adapted microbes in the Atacama Desert, useful info in the search for life off Earth. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Consensual Hugs Seem to Reduce Stress
Nov 18 2018
People who had a conflict in a given day but also got hugged were not as affected by the negative interaction as were their unhugged counterparts.
World's Largest Organism Faces Bleak Future
Nov 17 2018
The single organism that is the Utah aspen grove known as Pando is on the decline due to herbivores wiping out its youngest tree outgrowths
U.S. Immigrants Leave Country—and Microbes—Behind
Nov 15 2018
Immigrants to the U.S. lose their native mix of gut microbes almost immediately after arriving in the U.S.—which researchers can't quite explain. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News Briefs from All over
Nov 14 2018
A few very brief reports about international science and technology from Alaska to Indonesia, including one on offshore dairy farming from the Netherlands.
Babies and Chimps Share a Laugh
Nov 11 2018
Adult humans laugh primarily on the exhale, but human babies laugh on the inhale and the exhale—as do chimps. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Singing Fish Reveal Underwater Battles in the Amazon
Nov 09 2018
Researchers recorded piranha "honks" and catfish "screeches" in the Peruvian Amazon, which might illuminate fish activity in murky jungle waters. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Social Construct of Race Imposes Biology
Nov 08 2018
Anthropologist Jennifer Raff argues that race is culturally created, but has biological consequences.
Pandas Swoon to Particular Croons
Nov 07 2018
Listening to the sounds panda pairs make when they're introduced could lead to better breeding success. Christopher Intagliata reports.
First Benefit of Knowing Your Genome
Nov 02 2018
The "low hanging fruit" of genome-related health care will be knowing which drugs are likely to treat you best, says science journalist Carl Zimmer.
For Halloween, Consider the Chocolate Midge
Oct 31 2018
A tiny fly, related to biting no-see-ums, pollinates cacao trees and enables our chocolate cravings. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Dolphins Dumb Down Calls to Compete with Ship Noise
Oct 30 2018
Bottlenose dolphins simplify and raise the pitch of their whistles to be heard above underwater shipping noise. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Asocial Octopuses Become Cuddly on MDMA
Oct 22 2018
Octopuses react to MDMA much like humans do. And not surprisingly, given their anatomy, the animals are excellent huggers. Annie Sneed reports.
Science News Briefs from around the Globe
Oct 21 2018
A few very brief reports about science and technology from around the globe, including one from Mongolia on horse dentistry.
Wild Songbirds Can Pick Up New Tunes
Oct 19 2018
Researchers taught two dozen wild sparrows new songs, by playing them the recordings of sparrows that live thousands of miles away. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Health Care Let Neandertals "Punch above Their Weight"
Oct 18 2018
By caring for their sick and injured, Neandertals were able to expand into more dangerous environments and pursue more deadly prey. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Nice People Have Emptier Wallets
Oct 16 2018
A study correlating personality traits with financial data found that agreeable people had lower savings, higher debt and higher bankruptcy rates. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Solar Eclipse Was a Buzzkill for Bees
Oct 13 2018
Bees suddenly fell silent when the sun disappeared during last year's solar eclipse—perhaps because they were tricked into night mode. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Confident Tone Overcomes Accent Distrust
Oct 12 2018
English as-a-first-language Canadian study subjects were less trusting of statements in English spoken with a foreign accent, unless the speaker sounded confident about their assertion.
Mom's Genes Make Some Giraffes Hard to Spot
Oct 10 2018
Baby giraffes inherit aspects of their mothers' patterning—which could give them a survival advantage if good camouflage runs in the family. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Economics Nobel Highlights Climate Action Necessity
Oct 09 2018
William Nordhaus shared the 2018 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, "for integrating climate change into long-run macroeconomic analysis,” with Paul Romer, "for integrating technological innovations into long-run macroeconomic analysis."
Highway Crossings Protect Migrating Pronghorns—and Motorists
Oct 06 2018
Twice a year, thousands of pronghorn antelope and mule deer migrate through Wyoming, and newly built highway crossings are sparing the lives of animals—and motorists. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Beer Fermentation Hops Along
Oct 05 2018
The bittering agents called hops have enzymes that chew up starch and unleash more fermentable sugar—which can boost alcohol and CO2 in the finished brew. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Nobel in Chemistry for New and Useful Chemical Entities via Evolutionary Principles
Oct 03 2018
Frances H. Arnold, George P. Smith and Gregory P. Winter share the 2018 chemistry Nobel for developing evolutionary-based techniques that lead to the creation of new chemical entities with useful properties.
Nobel in Physics for Controlling Laser Light
Oct 02 2018
Arthur Ashkin, Gérard Mourou and Donna Strickland share the 2018 physics Nobel for their work with lasers that have led to numerous practical applications, such as eye surgery.
Nobel for Helping the Immune System Fight Cancer
Oct 01 2018
James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo share the Nobel Prize for their work on harnessing the cancer patient's own immune system to destroy tumors.
Blasey Ford Spells Out Trauma Memory Formation
Oct 01 2018
Christine Blasey Ford's professional expertise came into play during her testimony regarding the Supreme Court nomination.
Scanning Ancient Civilizations from the Skies
Sep 27 2018
An aerial laser scan of more than 800 square miles of Guatemalan jungle revealed Maya buildings, canals, roads and bridges. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Antifreeze Surface Fights Ice with Ice
Sep 26 2018
Patterning a surface with tiny stripes of ice prevents frost formation on the rest of the surface—a technique that could keep planes or roads frost-free. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Scale Can Measure Medicine—and Play a Scale, Too
Sep 25 2018
Researchers have designed a musical instrument that can detect counterfeit drugs by the pitch of its notes. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Diverse Tree Portfolio Weathers Droughts Better
Sep 22 2018
Forests with numerous tree species, and therefore a mix of water-management strategies, appear more tolerant of drought. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Pirates Needed Science, Too
Sep 19 2018
On International Talk Like a Pirate Day, here's an eye-patch-witness account of how science helps in all peg-leg walks of life, even piracy
Sea Otters' Powerful Paw Prey Perception
Sep 19 2018
The marine mammals have extraordinarily sensitive touch—which helps them nab prey in the absence of other sensory cues. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News Briefs from Around the World
Sep 17 2018
A few very brief reports about science and technology from around the globe.
Genetic Tweak Gave Early Humans a Leg Up
Sep 13 2018
A mutation in a key gene may have endowed humans with superior endurance—allowing them to compete better with other animals on the savanna. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Earlier Springs May Mean Mistimed Bird Migrations
Sep 12 2018
Springtime's arriving earlier across North America. But the degree of change isn't the same everywhere, which could spell trouble for migratory birds. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Survey the Wildlife of the "Great Indoors"
Sep 11 2018
Biologists are enlisting citizen scientists to poke around under the sink and behind the curtains, for wildlife living in the "great indoors." Karen Hopkin reports.
When Neutron Stars Collide
Sep 07 2018
Astrophysicists have gotten a better glimpse at what happens to crashing neutron stars by listening in on the electromagnetic echoes of the collision. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Bonnethead Sharks Are Underwater Lawn Mowers
Sep 06 2018
The hammerhead relatives consume copious amounts of sea grass, and have the digestive machinery to process it—making them true omnivores. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Hurricane Is a Natural Selection Experiment
Sep 06 2018
When Hurricane Irma blew through the Turks and Caicos, lizards with shorter hindlimbs lucked out. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Pasta Problem Cracked!
Sep 05 2018
An intrepid undergrad led the way to understanding the physics of snapping strands of spaghetti.
Science News You Might Have Missed
Aug 31 2018
A few very brief reports about science and technology from around the globe.
Pineapple Waste Won't Be Wasted
Aug 27 2018
Costa Rican scientists are extracting valuable materials from the peel and stubble of pineapples.
Sometimes Mosquitoes Are Just Thirsty
Aug 24 2018
Mosquitoes want your blood for its proteins...or simply to hydrate on a hot, dry day.
Robot Bartender Will Take Your Order
Aug 23 2018
Digital assistants have to respond quickly, but correctly—so researchers are studying how real humans navigate that trade-off, to design better machines. Christopher Intagliata reports.
As Spring Arrives Earlier, Arctic Geese Speed Up Their Migration
Aug 22 2018
The birds are arriving in the Arctic up to 13 days earlier than they used to. But at a cost: hunger. Annie Sneed reports.
Freeloading Ants Help the Workflow
Aug 21 2018
Fire ants tunnels got excavated efficiently by only a small percentage of the group doing most of the work, thus avoiding pileups in tight spaces.
Ancient Americans Bred Symbolically Important Scarlet Macaws
Aug 20 2018
Genetic information from the bones of macaws found in abandoned pueblos suggests they were bred and distributed as a commodity. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Rising CO2 Means Monarch Butterfly Bellyaches
Aug 17 2018
Milkweed grown with more carbon dioxide in the air supplies fewer toxins to monarch butterflies that need the toxins to fight off gut parasites.
For Some Crows, Migration Is Optional
Aug 16 2018
Crows are what's known as "partial migrants"—as cold weather approaches, some crows fly south whereas others stay put. And that behavior appears to be ingrained. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Plants Dominate the Planet's Biomass
Aug 15 2018
About 80 percent of Earth's biomass is plant life, with humans about equal to krill way down the heft chart.
Solar Eclipse of 2017 Boosted Science Interest
Aug 14 2018
The Michigan Scientific Literacy Survey of 2017 found that last year's total solar eclipse got Americans more interested in celestial science.
Crickets Carve Tools to Amplify Their Chirps
Aug 14 2018
The insects fashion and use "baffles"—sound controllers—made of leaves to produce sound more efficiently. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Computerized Chemical Toxicity Prediction Beats Animal Testing
Aug 11 2018
Researchers programmed a computer to compare structures and toxic effects of different chemicals, making it possible to then predict the toxicity of new chemicals based on their structural similarity to known ones.
Better Data Could Mean Better Dating
Aug 10 2018
Both men and women tended to pursue mates just 25 percent more desirable than themselves — suggesting they are "optimistic realists." Christopher Intagliata reports.
To Evolve Baleen, Lose Your Teeth First
Aug 09 2018
Whale ancestors probably never had teeth and baleen at the same time, and only developed baleen after trying toothlessness and sucking in prey.
Corn Variety Grabs Fertilizer from the Air
Aug 07 2018
A variety of corn from Oaxaca, Mexico, has aerial roots that harbor nitrogen-fixing bacteria, allowing the corn to suck nitrogen straight from the air. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Birds Learn Safety from Other Kinds of Birds
Aug 03 2018
Birds become good at avoiding danger by eavesdropping on the alarm calls of other birds—and the learning occurs without even seeing their peers or predators. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Microbes Share Your Morning Metro Commute
Aug 02 2018
An analysis of the Hong Kong metro found microbes, including some with antibiotic resistance genes, freshly disperse throughout the system each day. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Oh Say Can You See Subtle Details?
Aug 01 2018
Different people have differing aptitudes for observing small changes and particular features.
Some Crows Hit On Dead Companions
Jul 31 2018
About 5 percent of crows will attempt to copulate with other crows that have joined the choir invisible .
Mouth Sets Healing Standard
Jul 30 2018
Certain proteins that coordinate the healing response are present at higher levels in oral tissue—meaning wounds in the mouth fix faster. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Border Wall Could Disrupt Hundreds of Species
Jul 26 2018
More than 2,500 scientists signed a letter saying that an expanded U.S.–Mexico border wall would threaten both biodiversity and scientific research. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Turn a Wall into a Touch Screen Cheap
Jul 26 2018
Researchers used a couple of hundred dollars worth of materials to turn a wall into a giant touch screen
Ancient Tooth Tartar Traps Clues to Iron Age Diet
Jul 24 2018
By analyzing the proteins in ancient dental plaque, archaeologists determined that British menus almost three millennia ago featured milk, oats and peas. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Honey Bee Alarm Signal Could Protect Elephants
Jul 23 2018
Chemicals designed to simulate honeybee alarm pheromones could deter elephants from farmers’ crops, easing conflicts with humans. Annie Sneed reports.
Sea Level Rise Could Inundate the Internet
Jul 20 2018
Extreme sea level rise could swamp internet cabling and hubs by 2033—and coastal cities like New York, Seattle and Miami are at greatest risk. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Astronomy Tool Helps ID Sharks
Jul 20 2018
Shark researchers used a system for recognizing patterns in star field photographs to identify whale sharks, which have individual spot patterns.
Mammals Moonlight around Human Settlements
Jul 19 2018
A study of human–mammal interaction across the globe found animals are more prone to take to the night around humans. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Jupiter's Moon Total Hits 79
Jul 17 2018
The International Astronomical Union reports that there are now 79 known Jovian moons, with a dozen found last year.
Moths Evade Bats with Slight of Wing
Jul 17 2018
Some moth species have evolved long wing tails that flutter and twist as the moth flies, which distract hungry bats. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Science News You Might Have Missed
Jul 14 2018
Very brief reports about science and technology from around the globe.
Smart Mouth Guard Senses Muscle Fatigue
Jul 13 2018
A prototype flexible electronic mouth guard can measure lactate levels in an athlete’s saliva, tracking muscle fatigue during training and performance.
Favorite Wine Grapes May Need Genetic Help
Jul 11 2018
Wine book author Kevin Begos explains that just a few varieties of wine grapes dominate the industry, which leaves them vulnerable to potentially catastrophic disease outbreaks.
Iridescence Could Help Critters Hide in Plain Sight
Jul 07 2018
Iridescence appears to break up the recognizable shape of objects—making them harder to spot. Karen Hopkin reports.
Primate Conflicts Play Out in the Operating Room
Jul 05 2018
By analyzing 200 surgeries, anthropologists found mixed-gender operating room teams exhibited the highest levels of cooperation. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Sharks Make a Splash in Brooklyn
Jul 05 2018
Visitors can see and learn about sharks and their environment in the new "Ocean Wonders: Sharks!" facility at the Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium.
City Life Favors Downsized Invertebrates
Jul 04 2018
Most invertebrates get smaller on average in cities, although a few very mobile species respond to urbanization by growing.
People Ration Where They Roam
Jul 03 2018
An analysis of the movement of some 40,000 people suggests most of us frequent only 25 places—and as we sub in new favorites, we drop old ones. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Humans Can Size One Another Up with a Roar
Jun 29 2018
Listeners to a person letting loose with a roar can accurately estimate the size and formidability or the human noise maker. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Piano Lessons Tune Up Language Skills
Jun 26 2018
Six months of piano lessons can heighten kindergartners' brain responses to different pitches, and improve their ability to tell apart two similar-sounding words. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Cardinal Rule: Female Birds Sing, Too
Jun 26 2018
Many people assume only male birds do the singing. But females also sing in at least 660 species and perhaps many more.
Bird's Song Staying Power Implies Culture
Jun 22 2018
Certain motifs in swamp sparrow songs can last hundreds, even thousands of years—evidence of a cultural tradition in the birds. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Alaskan Beluga Whales Ace Hearing Exam
Jun 22 2018
Researchers tested the hearing of beluga whales in an Alaskan bay and found that they seem to have suffered little hearing loss due to ocean noise. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Fat–Carb Combo Is a Potent One–Two Punch
Jun 20 2018
Foods high in both carbs and fats tickle the brain’s reward circuits more so than snacks that showcase just one or the other. Karen Hopkin reports.
Jupiter Crackles with Polar Lightning
Jun 18 2018
Juno spacecraft data suggest lightning on Jupiter is much more common than we thought—but it congregates near the poles, not the equator as on Earth. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Coral Reefs Keep Costly Waves at Bay
Jun 15 2018
A new analysis found the flood protection benefits of coral reefs save the global economy $4 billion dollars a year. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Hippo Dung Fouls Up Freshwater Fisheries
Jun 15 2018
Hippo poop is piling up in Tanzania’s freshwater fisheries—which is bad news for biodiversity, and deleterious for the dinner plate. Jason G. Goldman reports.
A Litmus Test for Bad Breath
Jun 14 2018
Researchers engineered a portable device that detects even the tiniest trace of hydrogen sulfide—one of the primary offenders in bad breath. Karen Hopkin reports.
Prez (of AMA) Issues Call to Arms-Science
Jun 12 2018
At the AMA annual meeting the organization's president petitioned for an evidence-based, science-driven analysis of gun violence and solutions.
Powder Pulls Drinking Water from Desert Air
Jun 08 2018
A structure known as a metal organic framework traps water vapor by night, then releases it when heated the next day. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Ancient Clan War Explains Genetic Diversity Drop
Jun 06 2018
Some 5,000 to 7,000 years ago, the diversity of Y chromosomes plummeted. A new analysis suggests clan warfare may have been the cause. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Saying "This May Hurt" May Make It Worse
Jun 06 2018
Warning a child that something, like a vaccine shot, will hurt can actually increase their perception of the pain.
Mongooses Gift Grooming for Guard Duty
Jun 02 2018
Humans and other primates often reciprocate good deeds. A new study suggests a nonprimate, the dwarf mongoose, does so, too, even after a delay. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Some Trees Beat Heat with Sweat
May 31 2018
During extreme heat waves, a species of eucalyptus copes by releasing water and taking advantage of evaporative cooling. Other trees may do the same.