Science Quickly

Christopher Damman, a clinical associate professor of gastroenterology at the University of Washington, chats about the impact of Halloween treats on your gut health. He explains how sugar overloads can upset the balance of gut microbes and why moderation is key. Damman also shares insights on which candies are kinder to your microbiome and emphasizes the benefits of whole foods, fiber, and polyphenols for gut health. After a sugar spree, he suggests wholesome foods to help restore your gut flora.

Kelley Cotter, an assistant professor at Pennsylvania State University specializing in algorithms and social media, dives into TikTok's influential algorithm and its potential U.S. spin-off. She discusses how ownership changes could impact transparency and content diversity. Kelley highlights what makes TikTok distinct, emphasizing short videos and user engagement. The conversation also touches on how new investors might reshape the platform's ideology and content curation, making the future of TikTok a fascinating area of exploration.

Iceland is now home to mosquitoes for the first time, a surprising sign of climate change's reach. With the planet's albedo decreasing, the effects could accelerate global warming. The resurgence of bird flu poses significant threats to agriculture, impacting turkey prices dramatically. Meanwhile, a study links urinary tract infections to contaminated meat, while hopeful news shines through: peanut allergies in toddlers are on the decline, and North Atlantic right whales are showing signs of recovery.

When the U.S. president claimed that acetaminophen use during pregnancy could cause autism in a person’s offspring, it reignited a deeper conversation about how little we know about medication safety for pregnant people. In this episode, Scientific American senior health editor Tanya Lewis explains why pregnant individuals are routinely excluded from clinical trials—and how that gap in research puts millions at risk.  Recommended Reading Nobody Knows How Tylenol Really Works Is Tylenol Safe for Children? Does Tylenol Use during Pregnancy Cause Autism? What the Research Shows E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check the show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shiri Lev-Ari, an associate professor of psychology at Royal Holloway, specializes in language and social communication. She dives into what makes apologies resonate as sincere, revealing that longer, clearer language often signals genuine remorse. Lev-Ari discusses fascinating topics like iconicity in language and how word length impacts perceptions of effort in apologies. She also shares insights from her Twitter study, showing that people instinctively use longer words in apology tweets, and reflects on how this might change our view of celebrity apologies.

Explore the alarming rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs and their global impact. Discover a rare chikungunya case on Long Island and what it means for public health. Learn about effective anti-inflammatory supplements like omega-3s and curcumin. Uncover the vulnerabilities of satellites, including a growing magnetic weak zone and alarming data leaks. Plus, dive into the intriguing world of stink bugs, which harbor a surprising fungal nursery to protect their eggs. This week, science reveals both threats and hidden wonders!

Dan Vergano, a Senior Editor at Scientific American and investigative journalist, delves into the mysterious journey of the El Ali meteorite, a rare find with minerals never before seen on Earth. He discusses its significance as a community landmark in Somalia and the shocking theft by armed men in 2020. The conversation explores the ethical dilemmas researchers face when studying stolen artifacts and the broader implications of meteorite smuggling in today's high-end collector market. Scientists express feelings of being duped, sparking necessary conversations about ethical practices.

Thoracic surgeon Jonathan Villena from NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell sheds light on the alarming rise of lung cancer among younger, nonsmoking women. He discusses crucial risk factors like radon exposure, secondhand smoke, and genetics. Villena highlights barriers to screening and how stigma affects diagnosis, urging awareness of persistent coughs and family cancer history. He also covers advances in targeted therapies and the role of research in improving lung cancer care. This insightful conversation reveals why early detection and proactive health measures are vital.

This week on Science Quickly, we break down the 2025 Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine, Physics and Chemistry. We also unpack the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s shifting COVID vaccine guidance, a controversial call to split the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot and a new study on child malnutrition in Gaza. Recommended Reading 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Awarded for Discoveries of How the Body Puts the Brakes on the Immune System 2025 Chemistry Nobel Goes to Molecular Sponges That Purify Water, Store Energy and Clean Up the Environment How the Physics Nobel Recognized Quantum Weirdness and Avoided Hype Annual COVID Vaccines Protect People against Severe Disease, Even with Prior Immunity E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check the show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this engaging discussion, Jeffrey Kuhlman, a former White House physician who served multiple presidents, reveals the complex world of presidential medical care. He shares fascinating anecdotes about treating leaders like Obama and balancing their health privacy with public transparency. Kuhlman emphasizes the importance of emergency preparedness and managing medical issues that might impact leadership. His insights shed light on the delicate nature of ensuring a president's health without turning it into a celebrity spectacle, providing a unique perspective on healthcare at the highest level.