Science, Quickly

Latest Episodes:

Highway Crossings Protect Migrating Pronghorns—and Motorists Oct 06, 2018

Show notes

Twice a year, thousands of pronghorn antelope and mule deer migrate through Wyoming, and newly built highway crossings are sparing the lives of animals—and motorists. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Nobel in Chemistry for New and Useful Chemical Entities via Evolutionary Principles Oct 03, 2018

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Frances H. Arnold, George P. Smith and Gregory P. Winter share the 2018 chemistry Nobel for developing evolutionary-based techniques that lead to the creation of new chemical entities with useful properties.

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Nobel in Physics for Controlling Laser Light Oct 02, 2018

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Arthur Ashkin, Gérard Mourou and Donna Strickland share the 2018 physics Nobel for their work with lasers that have led to numerous practical applications, such as eye surgery.

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Nobel for Helping the Immune System Fight Cancer Oct 01, 2018

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James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo share the Nobel Prize for their work on harnessing the cancer patient's own immune system to destroy tumors.

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Scanning Ancient Civilizations from the Skies Sep 27, 2018

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An aerial laser scan of more than 800 square miles of Guatemalan jungle revealed Maya buildings, canals, roads and bridges. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Scale Can Measure Medicine—and Play a Scale, Too Sep 24, 2018

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Researchers have designed a musical instrument that can detect counterfeit drugs by the pitch of its notes. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Diverse Tree Portfolio Weathers Droughts Better Sep 21, 2018

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Forests with numerous tree species, and therefore a mix of water-management strategies, appear more tolerant of drought. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Pirates Needed Science, Too Sep 19, 2018

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On International Talk Like a Pirate Day, here's an eye-patch-witness account of how science helps in all peg-leg walks of life, even piracy

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Sea Otters' Powerful Paw Prey Perception Sep 18, 2018

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The marine mammals have extraordinarily sensitive touch—which helps them nab prey in the absence of other sensory cues. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Genetic Tweak Gave Early Humans a Leg Up Sep 13, 2018

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A mutation in a key gene may have endowed humans with superior endurance—allowing them to compete better with other animals on the savanna. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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