Science, Quickly

Latest Episodes:

Facts about Groundhogs Other Than Their Poor Meteorology Feb 02, 2020

Show notes

Groundhogs are less accurate at weather forecasting than are coin flips, but they are nonetheless pretty interesting critters.

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

Did Animal Calls Start in the Dark? Feb 01, 2020

Show notes

One hypothesis says the ability to vocalize arose in nocturnal animals—and a new evolutionary analysis suggests there may be some truth to it. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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

Sign Languages Display Distinct Ancestries Jan 30, 2020

Show notes

Well more than 100 distinct sign languages exist worldwide, with each having features that made it possible for researchers to create an evolutionary tree of their lineages.

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

Docs Given Updated Opioid Prescribing Habit Jan 26, 2020

Show notes

Researchers dialed down the default number of opioids in two hospitals’ prescription systems—and doctors ended up prescribing fewer pills. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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

Some Wolf Pups Show Innate Fetching Talent Jan 25, 2020

Show notes

Some wolf pups will play fetch with a stranger, suggesting that an ability to playfully interact with people could have come before, and played a role in, dog domestication.

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

Barred Owls Invade the Sierra Nevada Jan 24, 2020

Show notes

By listening to the sounds of the forest, biologists were able to identify an invasion of barred owls in spotted owl habitat. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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

Curiosity Killed the ... Mouse? Jan 23, 2020

Show notes

The cat parasite Toxoplasma gondii boosts curiosity in mice—which makes them more likely to be caught by cats, thus continuing the parasite’s life cycle. Karen Hopkin reports.

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

This Fish Knows How to Stick Around Jan 17, 2020

Show notes

The remora clings to other fish—and appears to use an unusual sense of touch to do so. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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

Antarctic Is Ripe for Invasive Species Jan 15, 2020

Show notes

Mussels and crabs are two of the creatures most likely to invade Antarctica in the next 10 years, a panel of scientists say. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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

Bacteria Helped Plants Evolve to Live on Land Jan 14, 2020

Show notes

Soil bacteria may have taken residence in early algal species, gifting the algae with the ability to withstand drier conditions on land. Annie Sneed reports.

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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected