Science Quickly

Latest Episodes:

Electric Eels Increase Shock by Leaving Water Oct 01, 2017

Show notes

Submerged electric eels lose current to water, so they apparently leap into the air to minimize their contact with water and maximize their shock value.

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Australian Bird Dips Its Dinner Sep 29, 2017

Show notes

A chance observation led researchers to add the Australian Magpie to the short list of birds that dunk their food in water before eating.

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Tsunami Sent Species on a Transoceanic Trip Sep 28, 2017

Show notes

The 2011 east Japan tsunami swept huge amounts of wreckage out to sea—and Japanese species hitchhiked across the Pacific on the debris. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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1 Sneeze, 1 Vote among African Wild Dogs Sep 27, 2017

Show notes

Individuals in packs of African wild dogs appear to sneeze to make their wishes known regarding when to get up and hunt.

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This Frog Can't Hear Its Own Calls Sep 24, 2017

Show notes

The frogs' calls are too high-pitched for the frog to detect, which may be an artifact of evolution. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Building a Better Mirror for Telescopes Sep 22, 2017

Show notes

More reflective telescope mirrors allow astronomers to capture more photons—and do more science. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Galaxies Far, Far Away Send Us Highest-Energy Cosmic Rays Sep 21, 2017

Show notes

A new study hints that the most energetic particles ever seen come from far beyond the Milky Way.

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Springtime Now Arrives Earlier for Birds Sep 20, 2017

Show notes

A trove of scientific notes from the early 1900s suggests a warming climate is driving birds to migrate earlier to New York’s Mohonk Preserve. Julia Rosen reports.

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Warming Puts Squeeze on Ancient Trees Sep 17, 2017

Show notes

As temperatures rise, the tree line moves upslope. But ancient bristlecone pines are losing that upslope race to faster-colonizing neighbors. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Rising CO2 Pushes Plants to Drink Sparingly Sep 16, 2017

Show notes

As carbon dioxide levels rise, plants are sipping water more efficiently—which could come in handy in a drier future. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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