60-Second Science

Ada Limón, U.S. Poet Laureate, discusses her involvement in NASA's Europa Clipper mission and the inspiration behind her poem. They explore the connection between water and Earth, reflect on the challenges of writing an authentic poem for space, and discuss the poet's relationship with the NASA team. Ada Limón reads a poem dedicated to Europa that emphasizes human curiosity and awe towards the mysteries of the universe.

Caterpillars use unique strategies to survive winter, including production of antifreeze compounds. The Woolly Bear caterpillar has spiky fuzz for protection. Climate change may impact their survival. Other caterpillars can also endure freezing temperatures.

A honeybee swarm has as much electric charge as a thundercloud, and the insects’ mass movements in the atmosphere might even have some influence on the weather. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scientists use AI and digital bioacoustics to decipher the unique language of bats and bees. They uncover fascinating insights about Egyptian fruit bats' communication, including signature calls and dialects. Researchers also analyze honeybee communication using AI and computer vision, identifying signals like tooting, quacking, whooping, and piping. The invention of digital bioacoustics is compared to the microscope, impacting the study of animal communication and challenging the human-nonhuman divide.

Learn how resting the brain can actually help train it faster and improve the learning process. Discover how rest periods during practice aid in learning new skills. Explore how the brain compresses and replays sequences during rest periods, boosting learning and memory.

The podcast discusses an allergic reaction to red meat caused by a tick bite, known as alpha-gal syndrome. It explores the challenges of avoiding certain foods and highlights the lack of awareness among healthcare providers. The chapter also addresses the symptoms, spread, and treatment options for alpha-gal syndrome, emphasizing the importance of tick bite prevention.

A “Darwinian paradox” is that homosexual activity occurs even though it does not lead to or aid in reproduction. But if you visit three capuchin monkeys in Los Angeles, they’ll show you how beneficial their liaisons are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comparing the Luddite movement to modern concerns about AI and automation, exploring tactics, outcomes, and rhetoric similarities. Comparing Luddite protests to Hollywood writer and actor strikes, and discussing concerns about self-driving robo-taxis. Addressing misconceptions about the Luddites and highlighting the need for fair and inclusive technological development.

Xenotransplants could help to solve the organ transplant crisis—if researchers can get the science right. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Migratory birds face danger from artificial lights at night, but researchers are using weather radar to track their movements. By studying bird migration patterns and understanding the impact of weather, machine learning can predict bird movements. Light pollution poses a threat to birds, causing behavior changes and building collisions. Maps can predict bird migration patterns and cities can reduce light pollution to promote bird conservation.