Science, Quickly

Latest Episodes:

Last Woollies Had Mammoth Mutations Mar 02, 2017

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The final holdout woolly mammoths had large numbers of harmful mutations—which would have given them satiny coats and a weakened sense of smell. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Neandertals Live On in Our Genomes Feb 28, 2017

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Researchers found that Neandertal gene variants still affect the way genes are turned off and on in modern humans. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Guppy Groups Provide Friendly Protection against Foes Feb 20, 2017

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Guppies exposed to predators tend to aggregate into smaller, more tightly knit groups, which may allow them to coordinate their predator avoidance strategies. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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Spaceflight Squishes Spacefarers' Brains Feb 18, 2017

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Astronauts’ gray matter is compressed by time in space—except in an area that controls feeling and movement in the legs. Karen Hopkin reports.

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Cool Coating Chills in Sunlight Feb 13, 2017

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A thin film coating can chill a vat of water to 15 degress Fahrenheit cooler than its surroundings, by absorbing—and then emitting—the sun's infrared rays. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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Partnered-Up Men More Attractive to Women Feb 09, 2017

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Women rate a man they see with an attractive woman as more desirable than an unattached man. Erika Beras reports.

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The Arctic's Anti-Snowball Snowball Effect Feb 02, 2017

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Arctic heat waves melt sea ice, which promotes more warming and even more ice loss. In other words, it’s a snowball effect—or in this case, an anti-snowball effect. Julia Rosen reports.

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Hawaiian Crows Ready for the Call of the Wild Jan 30, 2017

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The critically endangered birds have done well in captive breeding, meaning they may be ready once more for wild living, and the repertoire of calls associated with it. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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A Humble Fish with a Colorful Edge Jan 28, 2017

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The cichlid, a small fish, has one of the most incredible visual systems known—which allows it to adapt to differently colored environments. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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LSD's Long, Strange Trip Explained Jan 26, 2017

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When LSD binds to serotonin receptors, it pulls a "lid" closed behind it, locking it in place for hours, and explaining its long-lasting effects. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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