Science, Spoken

Latest Episodes:

The Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Birthed Today's Rainforests Apr 15, 2021

Show notes

Plant fossils from Columbia reveal the forests of the Cretaceous period were sparser and less humid than their modern-day counterparts.

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Sneaky New Bacteria on the ISS Could Build a Future on Mars Apr 14, 2021

Show notes

NASA tracks the microbes that live on the space station, and sometimes it discovers new ones. Those hardy bugs may offer clues about surviving long missions.

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Narwhal Tusks Tell a Troubling Tale Apr 13, 2021

Show notes

An analysis of the 10-foot-long teeth shows that as the Arctic warms, narwhal diets are changing, and their bodies are accumulating more mercury.

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The Weird Science of Loneliness and Our Brains Apr 12, 2021

Show notes

Social isolation as been linked to poorer physical and mental health, but scientists are finally starting to understand its neurological impact.Â

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This Robot Could Help Fulfill Your Online Shopping Sprees Apr 09, 2021

Show notes

Ambi Robotics is using years of research in robot manipulation to teach machines how to get a grip. The secret? Giving them suction cups for fingers.

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The Feds Want You to Destroy This Sneaky Mussel’s Hiding Spot Apr 08, 2021

Show notes

Moss balls sold for aquariums can hide Zebra mussels, invasive mollusks that quickly overtake waterways. The US government would like you to kill them, please.

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Boston Dynamics’ New Robot Doesn’t Dance. It Has a Warehouse Job Apr 07, 2021

Show notes

Called Stretch, the machine may look wildly different than its famous cousins Spot and Atlas, but it shares a ton of their DNA.

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Scientists Finally Identify a Deadly Toxin That's Been Killing Birds Apr 06, 2021

Show notes

Thousands of eagles and other fowl have died from a mysterious condition that attacks their nervous systems. Now, after decades of investigation, we know why.

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How to Kill a Zombie Fire Apr 05, 2021

Show notes

Underground peat fires refuse to die, even when flooded with water. So scientists developed a new weapon to put them down for good.

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Even Mild Brain Injuries Raise the Risk of Dementia Apr 02, 2021

Show notes

A new study shows that concussions and other head traumas can have long-lasting effects on our health.

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