“HEY immune system! Bring it on!” This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Your immune system is an army that protects you from disease. But in the heat of battle – these soldiers can get confused! With inflammatory bowel disease, intestines make TOO much of a
Continue readingAuthor: Jaclyn Beck
Dinos on Ice
Could Rudolph have been a red-nosed, . . . T. Rex?!? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Dinosaur fossils are found all over the world, including the North Pole! What were they doing up THERE? Enter Patrick Druckenmiller from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and
Continue readingANT-i Aging
What does a worker ant have to do to get the royal treatment? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Like bees, ants live in social colonies. Close quarters means infections and parasites can wipe out the colony fast. You’d think a tapeworm infestation spells doom
Continue readingElephant GPS
An elephant never forgets … its GPS? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. When African elephants get wanderlust, they pack their trunks and hit the road! They follow trails created by generations of elephants moving between water and food across the Savannah. How come they
Continue readingToxic Toolbox
As Woody says – “There’s a snake in my boot!” This is Sandra sing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Imagine you’re hiking and “sssss” – a rattlesnake! Eek! If you do get bit, the local doc MIGHT have an antidote, but will it work? Even closely-related species can
Continue readingAncient Omelets
Remember the Stone Age? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying…of course you don’t! If you did, you might picture Neanderthals in caves. But did you know that Stone Age people also lived on beaches? Ruins of ancient coastal towns are all over Africa. Exactly
Continue readingFeel the Burn
Can you eat more Ghost Peppers than a mole-rat? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. The highveld mole-rat has a superpower. It can roll around in a colony of stinging ants without breaking a sweat! The ants sting with a chemical called AITC, the same
Continue readingLiquid Spectacle
Nothing like diving into a good book! But why do they make the print so SMALL??? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Presbyopia, or far-sightedness, is a common problem for (ahem) eyes of a certain age. Bring on the bifocals —
Continue readingExtreme Armor
Would you wear a sugar-coated bathing suit in a hot tub? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Most living things wouldn’t survive a dip into a volcanic hot spring. The water is nearly boiling and super acidic! But somehow, single-celled creatures called Sulfolobus islandicus thrive
Continue readingInk of My Heart
What if a tattoo could save your life? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Heart disease patients need continuous heart monitoring for optimum treatment. But traditional monitors are bulky and uncomfortable to wear. Electronic, or E-tattoos, are a comfortable, wearable alternative. These thin devices are
Continue reading