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 14, 2017 • 4min
Old Records Help Resurrect Historic Quake
Century-old records found in Puerto Rico helped reconstruct the damage caused there by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake—and could help disaster experts plan for the next big one. Julia Rosen reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 12, 2017 • 3min
This Cell Phone Needs No Battery
An experimental cell phone works by absorbing and reflecting radio waves—meaning it's incredibly energy efficient and needs no battery. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 7, 2017 • 3min
Bacteria Might Share the Blame for Eczema
In patients with severe eczema, Staphylococcus aureus strains dominated the skin microbe population—suggesting that certain types of bacteria could worsen eczema flares. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 4, 2017 • 3min
Franklin's Lightning Rod Served Political Ends
Whether lightning rods should have rounded or pointy ends became a point of contention between rebellious Americans and King George III.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 30, 2017 • 3min
Heat Will Hit America's Poorest Worst
Economists calculate that each degree Celsius of warming will dock the U.S. economy by 1.2 percent--and increase the divide between rich and poor. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 28, 2017 • 3min
Rainbow Photons Pack More Computing Power
Quantum bits, aka qubits, can simultaneously encode 0 and 1. But multicolored photons could enable even more states to exist at the same time, ramping up computing power. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 26, 2017 • 3min
Moths Inspire Better Smartphone Screens
Researchers designed an antireflective coating for smartphone screens, with inspiration from the bumpy eyes of moths. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 23, 2017 • 4min
Better Memory Begets Boredom
The better study participants scored in the memory test, the faster they got bored. Karen Hopkin reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 22, 2017 • 3min
DNA Points to Multiple Migrations into the Americas
DNA analysis of skeletons found in the Pacific Northwest backs up traditional oral histories, and suggests there could have been more than one colonization of the Americas. Emily Schwing reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 21, 2017 • 3min
Keep Rolling Luggage Upright with Physics
A team of physicists has revealed why rolling suitcases start rocking from wheel to wheel—and how to avoid that frustrating phenomenon. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
