60-Second Science
Scientific American
Host Rachel Feltman, alongside leading science and tech journalists, dives into the rich world of scientific discovery in this bite-size science variety show.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 3, 2018 • 4min
City Life Favors Downsized Invertebrates
Most invertebrates get smaller on average in cities, although a few very mobile species respond to urbanization by growing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 2, 2018 • 3min
People Ration Where They Roam
An analysis of the movement of some 40,000 people suggests most of us frequent only 25 places—and as we sub in new favorites, we drop old ones. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 28, 2018 • 4min
Humans Can Size One Another Up with a Roar
Listeners to a person letting loose with a roar can accurately estimate the size and formidability or the human noise maker. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 26, 2018 • 3min
Piano Lessons Tune Up Language Skills
Six months of piano lessons can heighten kindergartners' brain responses to different pitches, and improve their ability to tell apart two similar-sounding words. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 25, 2018 • 4min
Cardinal Rule: Female Birds Sing, Too
Many people assume only male birds do the singing. But females also sing in at least 660 species and perhaps many more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 22, 2018 • 3min
Bird's Song Staying Power Implies Culture
Certain motifs in swamp sparrow songs can last hundreds, even thousands of years—evidence of a cultural tradition in the birds. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 21, 2018 • 3min
Alaskan Beluga Whales Ace Hearing Exam
Researchers tested the hearing of beluga whales in an Alaskan bay and found that they seem to have suffered little hearing loss due to ocean noise. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 19, 2018 • 4min
Fat–Carb Combo Is a Potent One–Two Punch
Foods high in both carbs and fats tickle the brain’s reward circuits more so than snacks that showcase just one or the other. Karen Hopkin reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 17, 2018 • 3min
Jupiter Crackles with Polar Lightning
Juno spacecraft data suggest lightning on Jupiter is much more common than we thought—but it congregates near the poles, not the equator as on Earth. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 15, 2018 • 3min
Coral Reefs Keep Costly Waves at Bay
A new analysis found the flood protection benefits of coral reefs save the global economy $4 billion dollars a year. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
