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
Oct 11, 2023 • 9min
A Soggy Mission to Sniff Out a Greenhouse Gas 'Bomb' in the High Arctic
A tower in the Arctic sniffs out signs of catastrophic thaw in the permafrost, focusing on the release of greenhouse gases. The podcast discusses the challenges of data collection in the Arctic, including limited monitoring towers and the impact of climate change.
Oct 9, 2023 • 9min
This Indigenous Community Records the Climate Change That Is Causing Its Town to Erode Away
This podcast discusses the impact of climate change on the Inuvialuit community in Tuktoyaktuk, Canada. They talk about efforts to relocate the graveyard, disappearing Tuck Island, and the importance of data collection and community-based monitoring. The speakers highlight the role of permafrost thaw and reduction in Arctic sea ice in exacerbating erosion, and end on a message of resilience and hope.
Oct 6, 2023 • 10min
Journey to the Thawing Edge of Climate Change
What is a permafrost thaw slump? Just imagine a massive hole with an area the size of more than nine football fields—and growing—where ice-cold ground once stood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 4, 2023 • 10min
A Popular Decongestant Doesn't Work. What Does?
The popular decongestant phenylephrine is not effective, an FDA panel found. Here’s what to use instead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 2, 2023 • 13min
The State of Large Language Models
We present the latest updates on ChatGPT, Bard and other competitors in the artificial intelligence arms race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 29, 2023 • 12min
Song of the Stars, Part 3: The Universe in all Senses
An astronomy festival in Italy opted to make all of its events and workshops multisensory. The organizers wanted to see whether sound, touch and smell can, like sight, transmit the wonders of the cosmos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 27, 2023 • 12min
Song of the Stars, Part 2: Seeing in the Dark
A blind astronomer “sonified” the universe’s most explosive events: gamma-ray bursts. By listening to, rather than looking at, the data, she made a critical discovery and changed the field of astronomy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 25, 2023 • 12min
Song of the Stars, Part 1: Transforming Space into Symphonies
Space is famously silent, but astronomers and musicians are increasingly turning astronomical data into sound as a way to make discoveries and inspire people who are blind or visually impaired. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 22, 2023 • 16min
This Researcher Captured Air from the Amazon in Dive-Bombs--And Found Grim Clues That the Forest Is Dying
Researcher captures air from the Amazon using dive-bombs, revealing alarming findings about the forest's decline. Discussion on carbon dioxide concentrations, forest behavior, and the declining carbon sink in the Amazon. Climate change threatens the southern Amazon with a longer dry season and potential species extinction. Degradation of the eastern forest poses a threat to the entire Amazon ecosystem.
Sep 20, 2023 • 11min
Should You Get a Blood Test For Alzheimer's?
Easy tests for Alzheimer's are now available, but they may not offer much help yet. This podcast explores the challenges of treatment and the importance of blood tests in diagnosing Alzheimer's. It discusses the advantages and limitations of blood tests compared to other diagnostic tools. The current recommendations for getting a blood test are also highlighted, along with the limitations of current treatment options.
