Science Quickly

Latest Episodes:

Infrared Light Offers a Cooler Way to Defrost Apr 08, 2019

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Light tuned to a specific frequency warms ice more than water—which could come in handy for defrosting delicate biological samples. Adam Levy reports.

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Spider Monkeys Optimize Jungle Acoustics Apr 04, 2019

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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.

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Tennessee Whiskey Relies on Missing Ingredients Apr 02, 2019

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Food chemists precisely measured how charcoal filtration contributes to Tennessee whiskey's smoother flavor. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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There's a Word for Today Apr 01, 2019

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English lacks some words that other languages pack with meaning.

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Bumblebee Queens Prefer Layovers to Nonstop Flights Mar 28, 2019

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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.

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Scenic City Sights Linked to Higher Happiness Mar 26, 2019

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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.

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Tech's Brain Effect: It's Complicated Mar 25, 2019

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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.

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Daylight Brings Toxic Beetles Together for Safety Mar 22, 2019

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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.

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Solar Jets Cause Standing Waves in Earth's Magnetic Field Mar 19, 2019

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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.

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Sing Solo for Higher Fidelity Mar 18, 2019

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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.

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