Science Quickly

Latest Episodes:

Sack Sulfates to Preserve Sewers Aug 21, 2014

Show notes

Sulfates used in water treatment become sulfuric acid in our sewers, eating away at the concrete infrastructure. Cynthia Graber reports.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bio-Battery Produces Power from Your Perspiration Aug 20, 2014

Show notes

Exercising in the future could make dirty clothes and some clean energy. Karen Hopkin reports

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lose Your Job? Good for the Rest of Us Aug 19, 2014

Show notes

Recession lowers mortality in the population overall—even as the out-of-work individual’s risk of death rises. Karen Hopkin reports

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nose Knows What the Mind Tells It Aug 18, 2014

Show notes

When people with asthma think they’re smelling something noxious, their airways become inflamed—even when the odor is harmless. Karen Hopkin reports

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tiny Toe Tools Ensure Gecko Traction Aug 15, 2014

Show notes

To activate or loosen their grip on a surface, geckos extend and angle or retract tiny toe hairs that create contact points. Clara Moskowitz reports

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guys Prefer Electric Shocks to Boredom Aug 13, 2014

Show notes

Guys would rather zap themselves with electricity than be left alone with their thoughts for 15 minutes. Karen Hopkin reports

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Google Searches Linked to Stock Market Moves Aug 12, 2014

Show notes

When Web searches related to business and politics go up, the market tends to take a dive—although that connection may already be fading. Christopher Intagliata reports

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andromeda Snickers at Milky Way Mass Aug 06, 2014

Show notes

A new estimate finds that the Milky Way, once thought to be twice as massive as Andromeda, may actually only have half our neighbor galaxy's mass. Christopher Intagliata reports

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spider's Scat Disguise May Be Its Salvation Aug 05, 2014

Show notes

Masquerading as a bird turd appears to protect certain arachnids from getting eaten by wasps. Karen Hopkin reports

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

System Converts Solar Efficiently to Steam Aug 04, 2014

Show notes

A graphite disk resting on carbon foam collects sunlight to heat water directly to steam with 85 percent efficiency. Cynthia Graber reports

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices