Science Quickly

Latest Episodes:

A Humble Fish with a Colorful Edge Jan 28, 2017

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The cichlid, a small fish, has one of the most incredible visual systems known—which allows it to adapt to differently colored environments. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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LSD's Long, Strange Trip Explained Jan 26, 2017

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When LSD binds to serotonin receptors, it pulls a "lid" closed behind it, locking it in place for hours, and explaining its long-lasting effects. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Umbrellas Plus Sunscreen Best Bet to Beat Burns Jan 25, 2017

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Sunscreen or beach umbrellas alone were unable to completely prevent sunburns—so researchers suggest combining the methods instead. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Ants Use Celestial Cues to Travel in Reverse Jan 24, 2017

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The six-legged savants appear to use celestial cues and three forms of memory, as they blaze a trail back to the nest. Karen Hopkin reports.

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High-Sugar Diet Makes Flies Drop Like...Flies Jan 23, 2017

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A study examines the effects of a high-sugar diet on the life spans of fruit flies. Another studies how the flies’ appetite-suppressing pathways may be similar to ours. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Pesticide Additive Could Be One Culprit in Bee Deaths Jan 21, 2017

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A common pesticide additive, known as an "inert" ingredient, could be one of the causes of the die-offs beekeepers have observed in their hives. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Knot Not Easy to Knot Jan 18, 2017

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Chemists have synthesized the most complex molecular knot ever, using a strand just 192 atoms long. The advance could lead to new tougher materials. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Bat Chatter Is More Than a Cry in the Dark Jan 14, 2017

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Using algorithms developed for human speech recognition, researchers decoded which bats in an experimental colony were arguing with each other, and what they were arguing about. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Bird Feeders Attract Bird Eaters, Too Jan 13, 2017

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Some predators are attracted to the food in bird feeders, and end up targeting nestlings, too. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Adult Daughter Orcas May Trigger Moms' Menopause Jan 12, 2017

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Competition between older female orcas and their adult daughters when they can breed simultaneously may cause the matriarch to enter menopause.

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