Valley Girl Whales

  Valley girls and whales unite! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Certain whales use echolocation clicks to catch prey. Despite being an important skill, scientists weren’t really sure how they made the sound. What’s the source of the clicking?   Peter Madsen from Aarhus University

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Disappearing Act

What?! He just… disappeared! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Nocturnal glassfrogs don’t need a magician to make them disappear. They have translucent skin and muscles that help them camouflage as they sleep. We can’t even see their blood! How do they do that, and

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Goldilocks Soundscape

Why are we so productive at bustling coffee shops?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Noise can be a distraction. When it’s too loud, it’s hard to work. But too quiet isn’t great either! So what’s the Goldilocks zone? Enter Karthik Srinivasan from the University

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Microdosing for Plants

Don’t mind me! I’m just microdosing my plants… with ALCOHOL!? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Rice and wheat are staple foods that are at risk globally due to drought. So, scientists want to improve plant growth during water restriction. Could ethanol, a drinkable alcohol,

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Cancer Catchers

Aww c’mon, shed a tear! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying … It’s good for you, and our cells agree! To communicate, cells release tiny packages carrying genetic information and proteins that travel through us. They don’t know where these info-pacs go. But some

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Bird Brainiacs

You’re SOOO bird-brained! But is that a bad thing? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. The BRAIN uses the most energy of mammal organs. And neurons, the brain-body messengers, use LOTS of sugar to communicate. Birds have much SMALLER brains than most mammals, but can

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Pet Talk 101

Watch your tone! Professor Fluffykins might be listening. This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. You know what it’s called when someone’s good or bad mood rubs off on you? “Emotional Contagion.” This helps build social bonds within AND between species. Domesticated animals can distinguish between

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Muting Moths

SHHHH! I’m trying to SLEEP.  This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.  City noise is a big issue. But not for moths! Their scaly wings literally have NOISE-CANCELING abilities – it keeps them from becoming bat food. Could MOTHS offer a solution for noise pollution? Thomas

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Shop a Latte?

How ‘bout a caffeine charged shopping spree?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science saying..  Doesn’t that sound like the perfect pairing? Get that Joe and GOOO through those aisles – snatch up those bargains! But how does caffeine ACTUALLY impact our spending? Dipanyan Biswas from

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