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 28, 2019 • 3min
Crabs Do a Maze
Green crabs learned to navigate a maze without making a single wrong turn—and remembered the skill weeks later. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 24, 2019 • 4min
Odd Bird Migrates Twice to Breed
The phainopepla migrates from southern California to the desert Southwest to breed in the spring before flying to California coastal woodlands to do so again in summer.
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Oct 23, 2019 • 4min
Piranha-Proof Fish Gives Inspiration for Body Armor
A gigantic fish from the Amazon has incredibly tough scales—and materials scientists are looking to them for bulletproof inspiration. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 22, 2019 • 4min
Galloping Ant Beats Saharan Heat
The Saharan silver ant feeds on other insects that have died on the hot sands, which it traverses at breakneck (for an ant) speeds.
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Oct 21, 2019 • 3min
Some Mosquito Repellents Act like Invisibility Cloaks
Synthetic repellents such as DEET seem to mask the scent of our “human perfume”—making us less obvious targets for mosquitoes. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 17, 2019 • 4min
Your Skull Shapes Your Hearing
The resonant properties of your skull can amplify some frequencies and dampen others—and, in some cases, affect your hearing. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 16, 2019 • 4min
Tardigrade Protein Protects DNA from Chemical Attack
The Dsup protein protects DNA under conditions that create caustic free radical chemicals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 15, 2019 • 4min
"Mars-quakes" Could Reveal How Mars Was Built
Rumblings on the Red Planet act like x-rays, allowing scientists to probe the hidden interior of Mars. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 10, 2019 • 4min
Artificial Intelligence Learns to Talk Back to Bigots
Algorithms are already used to remove online hate speech. Now scientists have taught an AI to respond—which they hope might spark more discourse. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 9, 2019 • 4min
Nobel in Chemistry for Lightweight Rechargeable Batteries
The 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to John Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino “for the development of lithium-ion batteries.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
