Science, Quickly

Latest Episodes:

Marine Mammal Epidemic Linked to Climate Change Nov 09, 2019

Show notes

A measleslike virus is ricocheting through marine mammal populations in the Arctic—and melting sea ice might be to blame. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Ant Colonies Avoid Traffic Jams Nov 07, 2019

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Researchers tracked thousands of individual ants to determine how they move in vast numbers without stumbling into gridlock.

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Ranking Rise May Intimidate Opponents Nov 06, 2019

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In an analysis of chess and tennis matches, players rising in the rankings did better than expected against higher-ranked opponents and better than similarly ranked players who were not rising.

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Science News Briefs from around the Globe Nov 01, 2019

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A few brief reports about international science and technology from Brazil to Hong Kong, including one about male elephants in India exhibiting unusual social behaviors.

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We Owe Our Pumpkins to Pooping Megafauna Oct 31, 2019

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The pumpkin’s ancestor was an incredibly bitter, tennis-ball-sized squash—but it was apparently a common snack for mastodons. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Bird Egg Colors Are Influenced by Local Climate Oct 29, 2019

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In cold, northern climates, eggs tend to be darker and browner—heat-trapping colors that allow parents to spend a bit more time away from the nest. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Crabs Do a Maze Oct 28, 2019

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Green crabs learned to navigate a maze without making a single wrong turn—and remembered the skill weeks later. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Odd Bird Migrates Twice to Breed Oct 24, 2019

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The phainopepla migrates from southern California to the desert Southwest to breed in the spring before flying to California coastal woodlands to do so again in summer.

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Piranha-Proof Fish Gives Inspiration for Body Armor Oct 23, 2019

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A gigantic fish from the Amazon has incredibly tough scales—and materials scientists are looking to them for bulletproof inspiration. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Galloping Ant Beats Saharan Heat Oct 22, 2019

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The Saharan silver ant feeds on other insects that have died on the hot sands, which it traverses at breakneck (for an ant) speeds.

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