Science, Quickly

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Lab-Grown Human Mini Brains Show Brainy Activity Sep 13, 2019

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As the little structures grow, their constituents specialize into different types of brain cells, begin to form connections and emit brain waves. They could be useful models for development and neurological conditions.

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Eavesdropping Puts Anxious Squirrels at Ease Sep 12, 2019

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Squirrels constantly scan their surroundings for hawks, owls and other predators. But they also surveil for threats by eavesdropping on bird chatter. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Earth's Magnetic Field Initiated a Pole Flip Many Millennia before the Switch Sep 11, 2019

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Lava flow records and sedimentary and Antarctic ice core data show evidence of planetary magnetic field activity 20,000 years before the beginning of the last pole reversal.

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Food Expiration Dates May Mislead Consumers Sep 09, 2019

Show notes

Better food labeling could prevent people from throwing away a lot of “expired” food that’s still perfectly edible.

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Farmland Is Also Optimal for Solar Power Sep 05, 2019

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The conditions of sunlight, temperature, humidity and wind that make cropland good for agriculture also maximize solar panel efficiency.

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Chemical Tweak Recycles Polyurethane into Glue Sep 04, 2019

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It’s not easy to recycle polyurethane, so it’s usually tossed out or burned. But a chemical tweak can turn polyurethane into glue. Christine Herman reports.

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How Hurricanes Influence Spider Aggressiveness Aug 30, 2019

Show notes

As Hurricane Dorian approaches Florida, consider that feeding style means that aggressive tangle-web spider colonies produce more offspring after severe weather, while docile colonies do better in calm conditions.

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Graphene Garment Blocks Blood-Sucking Skeeters Aug 28, 2019

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A small patch of graphene on human skin seemed to block the mosquitoes’ ability to sense certain molecules that trigger a bite. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Martian Winds Could Spread Microbe Hitchhikers Aug 26, 2019

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Microbes fly tens of miles over Chile’s dry, UV-blasted Atacama Desert—and scientists say the same could happen on Mars. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Including Indigenous Voices in Genomics Aug 21, 2019

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A program at the University of Illinois trains indigenous scientists in genomics—in hopes that future work will be aimed at benefiting those communities. Christine Herman reports.

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