Science, Quickly

Latest Episodes:

Wolves Have Local Howl Accents Apr 05, 2016

Show notes

Understanding the regional vocal patterns of various canid species sheds light on animal communication and could help ranchers broadcast "keep away" messages to protect livestock.

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Bird Combines Calls in Specific Order Apr 04, 2016

Show notes

The Japanese great tit combines two calls in a specific order and does not respond to a recording of the calls combined in reverse order, apparently demonstrating compositional syntax.

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Cellular Circuit Computes with DNA Apr 01, 2016

Show notes

Researchers have created what they call the first "programming language" for cells, which compiles code into a genetic circuit. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Quasar Winds Clock In at a Fifth of Light Speed Mar 28, 2016

Show notes

Quasars can shape the evolution of their galaxies, by blasting 135-million-mph winds. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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The Fastball Gets Its Scientific Due in a New Documentary Mar 25, 2016

Show notes

The new movie Fastball dissects the pitch from the perspective of pitchers, hitters, umpires—and scientists, who talk about everything from the physics governing the trajectory of the ball to the neuroscience of the batter’s perception and reaction—including how the ball can appear to vanish.

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Garbage Pickings Get Storks to Stop Migrating Mar 23, 2016

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Some white storks have stopped migrating from Europe to sub-Saharan Africa in the winter, because of the availability of food in landfills.

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Cuba–U.S. Thaw Should Ease Scientific Collaborations Mar 21, 2016

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Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology researcher Eduardo Inigo-Elias, a veteran of efforts to work with Cuban researchers, talks about what improved relations between the U.S. and Cuba could mean for science and conservation.

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Bring a Musician to Untangle Cocktail Party Din Mar 17, 2016

Show notes

Musicians are better at separating out one meaningful audio stream from a combination, a skill that could help decipher a single conversation in a crowd. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Our Noise Bothers Overlooked Seafloor Critters Mar 15, 2016

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Creatures that live on the seafloor play vital roles in marine ecosystems, but human-made noise can alter their behaviors.

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Eavesdrop on Echolocation to Count Bats Mar 14, 2016

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Researchers created a model that can accurately predict a cave's bat populations using audio alone. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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