Science Quickly

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Mongooses Pile on Warthogs--to Groom Them Jun 21, 2016

Show notes

In the first known example of a mutualistic relationship between two mammal species in which neither is a primate, mongooses feast on ticks and other parasites infesting warthogs.

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Lizard Stripes May Mess Up Predators' Timing Jun 20, 2016

Show notes

A lizard's stripes may make them look like they’re moving slower than they really are, confusing predators that tend to aim at the head but may wind up with the tail.

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Air Pollution Gives Storm Clouds a Stronger, Longer Life Jun 19, 2016

Show notes

More particulate matter in the air can build stronger, longer-lasting thunderstorms over the tropics, leading to more extreme storms. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Microbes May Contribute to Wine's "Character" Jun 16, 2016

Show notes

The microbes found in crushed grapes were linked to certain chemical fingerprints in the finished wine. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Fat Gets Gut Bacteria Working against the Waistline Jun 15, 2016

Show notes

In mice, intestinal microbes respond to a high-fat diet by producing acetate, which triggers the release of a hormone that makes mammals feel hungry, causing them to eat even more.

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Arctic Researcher Bears Up for Science Jun 13, 2016

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Wildlife researcher Joel Berger dons a polar bear outfit to study the reactions of musk oxen to the threat of bears increasingly driven onto the land for food.

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Submerged Lost City Really Bacterially Built Jun 11, 2016

Show notes

What looked like human-made structures underwater off Greece turned out to be millions-of-years-old concretions deposited by bacteria.

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Go to the (White) Light Jun 10, 2016

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An energy-efficient alternative to LEDs has greater focusing power, for microscopes and spotlights. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Bleached Coral Busts Fish Learning Jun 09, 2016

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Damselfish had trouble sniffing out survival clues by their fellows in damaged coral. Jason Goldman reports.

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Bigger Glasses Rack Up More Wine Sales Jun 08, 2016

Show notes

Serving wine in larger glasses boosted sales 10 percent in an English bar, possibly because customers think they're imbibing less per glass. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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