Science Quickly

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Traces of Pharmaceuticals Dwell in Wastewater-Grown Veggies Apr 27, 2016

Show notes

Volunteers who ate veggies grown in wastewater had higher (but still safe) levels of an epilepsy drug in their urine, compared with subjects who ate freshwater-grown veggies. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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This Plant Bleeds Nectar to Attract Help Apr 26, 2016

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When a species of nightshade is injured by hungry beetles, it produces sugary nectar at the wound site. The nectar attracts ants that then keep the beetles at bay.

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Climbing Bears Help Plants Keep Cool Apr 25, 2016

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Mountain-climbing bears transport cherry tree seeds, internally at first, to cooler, higher altitudes where the trees can survive as temperatures rise.

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Lower Your Voice Pitch to Persuade Apr 22, 2016

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Study volunteers whose voices deepened during a group debate tended to be more influential and convincing. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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This Primate's Calls Obey a Linguistic Law Apr 21, 2016

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The vocalizations of the gelada, a baboon relative, appear to follow a linguistic rule called Menzerath's law. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Woodpecker Head Bangs Communicate Info Apr 20, 2016

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Woodpeckers that listen to others of their kind drum into trees alter their behavior based on what they hear.

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Gambling Gave Science Some Lucky Breaks Apr 19, 2016

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The development of statistics, probability theory, game theory and chaos theory owes a lot to people trying to figure out various games of chance.

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Microbots Get the Lead Out--of Wastewater Apr 18, 2016

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Millions of tiny graphene robots can propel themselves through wastewater and scavenge heavy metals. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Heat ID'd as Subtle Cause of Rockfalls Apr 15, 2016

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Rockfalls without an obvious cause (like an earthquake or expanding ice) may be due to hot daily air temperatures expanding small cracks in cliff faces.

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Bearcats Naturally Pass the Popcorn Apr 14, 2016

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Researchers have uncovered the chemistry that makes the urine of bearcats smell like freshly cooked popcorn.

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