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
Apr 14, 2016 • 3min
Bearcats Naturally Pass the Popcorn
Researchers have uncovered the chemistry that makes the urine of bearcats smell like freshly cooked popcorn.
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Apr 13, 2016 • 3min
Transforming Stem Cells into Diabetes Beaters
Pancreatic type beta cells produced from stem cells can sense glucose, release insulin and treat a mouse model of diabetes. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 12, 2016 • 3min
Find Shows Widespread Literacy 2,600 Years Ago in Judah
Mundane notes about daily life on 16 ceramic shards written about 600 B.C. at an ancient military fortress in the Negev Desert reveal that literacy had to be common. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 11, 2016 • 3min
Frogs Signal Visually in Noisy Environments
The Brazilian torrent frog has the most sophisticated visual communications system yet documented for a frog species.
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Apr 7, 2016 • 4min
Choir Practice Could Lower Stress in Cancer Patients
A cancer center in the U.K. found that patients had significantly lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol after harmonizing for an hour. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 6, 2016 • 4min
Crater Bottoms Could Be Cradles of Martian Life
Four billion years ago asteroids and comets could have melted the Martian cryosphere, and started up hydrothermal springs—a potential hotspot for ancient microbial life. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 5, 2016 • 4min
Wolves Have Local Howl Accents
Understanding the regional vocal patterns of various canid species sheds light on animal communication and could help ranchers broadcast "keep away" messages to protect livestock.
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Apr 4, 2016 • 3min
Bird Combines Calls in Specific Order
The Japanese great tit combines two calls in a specific order and does not respond to a recording of the calls combined in reverse order, apparently demonstrating compositional syntax. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 1, 2016 • 3min
Cellular Circuit Computes with DNA
Researchers have created what they call the first "programming language" for cells, which compiles code into a genetic circuit. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 31, 2016 • 5min
Lasers Could Hide Earth from Prying Aliens
We could use laser light to mask our transits across the sun and thus hide Earth from any intelligent aliens looking for planets to invade Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
