Tiny Matters

On January 27, 1958, newspaper editor Olga Huckins sat down to write an angry letter to a friend. Olga and her husband owned a private two-acre bird sanctuary, and the previous summer the government had sprayed the pesticide DDT all over that two acres to control the mosquitos. She saw wildlife, particularly birds, getting sick and dying. The friend Olga sent the letter to was none other than Rachel Carson, who would go on to write the book Silent Spring, exposing the dangers of synthetic pesticides, including DDT, and helping push forward the modern environmental movement and the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency.Today on the show we’re going to talk about the history of pesticides and their deployment, and how researchers are working to develop more effective, safer pesticides. We will also take a fascinating dive into the coevolution of plants and pests, specifically insects, and what we’re learning about the effectiveness of pesticides based on hundreds of millions of years of plant and insect evolution. Send us your science stories/factoids/news for a chance to be featured on an upcoming Tiny Show and Tell Us episode and to be entered to win a Tiny Matters coffee mug! And, while you're at it, subscribe to our newsletter at bit.ly/tinymattersnewsletter.Link to the Tiny Show & Tell story is here. You can find BirdCast here. All Tiny Matters transcripts and references are available here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we talk about the ampullae of Lorenzini that allow sharks to detect the electrochemical signals coming from prey. We also cover the fascinating science behind cyanide-filled clovers. Did you know cyanide is actually a very popular poison in the plant kingdom? We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to tinymatters@acs.org *or fill out this form* with your favorite science fact or science news story for a chance to be featured in a future episode and win a Tiny Matters mug!A transcript and references for this episode can be found at acs.org/tinymatters.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

E-cigarettes, commonly referred to as “vapes,” were invented in the early 2000s with the explicit goal of helping people quit smoking by transitioning them to something safer.  But there are many people, particularly in the United States, who start vaping without ever having smoked a cigarette, leading to fears that vaping will be an on-ramp to smoking — a “gateway drug.” In fact, in the U.S. alone, nearly half a million middle school students vape. And in 2019, the CDC started receiving reports of severe and acute lung injury in people who vaped. By February of 2020, almost 3,000 people had been hospitalized and 68 people had died. We know that smoking is deadly (in fact, it’s estimated to take about 10 years off your life), but of course vaping isn’t risk free. In this episode of Tiny Matters, we’ll dive into the science behind both to answer, “What’s more dangerous, smoking or vaping?” “And does vaping actually help people quit smoking cigarettes?” We’ll also get to the bottom of why so many people got sick or died from vaping back in 2019 and 2020, yet we haven’t seen injuries like that since. Send us your science stories/factoids/news for a chance to be featured on an upcoming Tiny Show and Tell Us episode and to be entered to win a Tiny Matters coffee mug! And, while you're at it, subscribe to our newsletter at bit.ly/tinymattersnewsletter.Link to the Tiny Show & Tell story is here. All Tiny Matters transcripts and references are available here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join science communicator George Zaidan as he unpacks the fascinating science of tides, explaining why some regions experience extreme tidal swings while others don’t. He vividly illustrates the moon’s gravitational pull creating two daily tides. Shift gears as George and Sam delve into ancient viral DNA in the human genome, revealing its surprising connection to cancer treatment resistance. They discuss how endogenous retroviruses could potentially hinder therapy effectiveness and explore new ways to enhance cancer treatments.

Carrie Jansen, a science writer and video producer, guest-hosts this discussion alongside Leon Klassens, a paleontology professor. They explore the fascinating evolution of the dodo on the isolated island of Mauritius, revealing how human arrival led to its rapid extinction. Klassens delves into the bird's anatomy and ecological significance, offering lessons for modern biodiversity challenges. The conversation shifts to the looming threat of supervolcanoes, detailing their potential catastrophic impact on humanity and the need for better preparedness.

George Zydan, a science communicator and producer known for his engaging storytelling, dives into the emotional bond between dogs and humans. He discusses how praise and food influence canine brains, revealing insights from fMRI studies on dog emotions like jealousy. The conversation shifts to hemoglycin, a polymer that rides on space dust, which may have played a crucial role in the origin of life on Earth. They explore how micrometeorites contribute to our understanding of this fascinating connection between dogs and cosmic history.

Chris Nowinski, a former WWE wrestler turned behavioral neuroscientist and CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, dives deep into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). He shares his harrowing experience of suffering a concussion in the ring and the pivotal role it played in his advocacy. The discussion reveals historical awareness of CTE, the devastating effects on athletes like Andre Waters, and ongoing efforts to diagnose and prevent this illness. Nowinski highlights the urgent need for improved safety measures in contact sports to protect future generations.

Discover the incredible phenomenon of neurogenesis, where your brain continues to produce new neurons even as you age! Learn about the significant link between exercise and brain health, emphasizing how aerobic activity can boost neuron growth and potentially fend off cognitive decline. Dive into the fascinating role of cerebrospinal fluid during sleep, which helps cleanse the brain while influenced by brain waves. These insights shed light on improving memory and combating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

In the early hours of January 7, 2022, David Bennett was out of options. At just 57 years old, he was bedridden, on life support, and in desperate need of a heart transplant for which he was ineligible. Yet Bennett would go on to live for two more months — not with a human heart, but with a heart from a pig. David Bennett was the first case of a pig heart being transplanted into a human, an example of xenotransplantation — when the cells, tissues or organs from one species are transplanted into another. In the United States, over 100,000 kids and adults are currently on the national transplant waiting list, and every day around 17 people on that list die while waiting. In today's episode, we cover the science and historical research that made Bennett’s transplant possible, and what doctors learned from him that helped the next heart xenotransplant recipient, Lawrence Faucette, live even longer. We also get into some of the ethics conversations surrounding xenotransplantation work — not just questions about the use of animals like pigs and baboons, but experiments with recently deceased, i.e. brain dead, people.Check out Jyoti Madhusoodanan's Undark story, "The Allure and Dangers of Experimenting With Brain-Dead Bodies" here. Her JAMA story we mention, also on xenotransplantion, is here.Send us your science stories/factoids/news for a chance to be featured on an upcoming Tiny Show and Tell Us episode and to be entered to win a Tiny Matters coffee mug! And, while you're at it, subscribe to our newsletter at bit.ly/tinymattersnewsletter.Links to the Tiny Show & Tell stories are here and here. Pick up a Tiny Matters mug here! All Tiny Matters transcripts are available here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anne Hilden, a chemistry enthusiast and scriptwriter for Headline Science, joins the discussion. They unveil the exciting discovery of nitroplasts, organelles with the potential to transform agriculture. The conversation takes a whimsical turn as they explore 1930s poetry by chemists, even those inspired by a few drinks! Additionally, they delve into a historical chemical map of North America, celebrating its role in revealing the origins of medicinal ingredients. It's a delightful blend of science and creativity that you won't want to miss!