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,
Continue reading
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
Continue reading
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
Continue reading
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
Continue reading
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
Continue reading
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
Continue reading
To the moon and beyond! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. To support life on the moon, oxygen is crucial! But there are no plants for photosynthesis. What can we do?! Enter Yingfang Yao from Nanjing University and team. They analyzed a sample of moon-dirt
Continue reading
Do plants get SUNBURNS?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. It’s great to have some fun in the sun… for humans and vegetation alike! We get some vitamin D, they get some energy to make food… But sunlight on the UV spectrum is dangerous… It
Continue reading
UGH! Stuck at ANOTHER red light! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Don’t you just HATE stop-and-go traffic? It’s not only frustrating, it increases fuel use and emissions! That’s a lose-LOSE! Could SELF-DRIVING vehicles offer a solution? Enter Vindula Jayawardana and Cathy Wu from the
Continue reading
A spoonful of sugar helps us say, “Fake medicine, you’re GOING DOOOWN!” This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Many of us depend on essential medications to keep us healthy. But counterfeit drugs–those marketed as name brand and genuine, but not–abound. ! How can we be
Continue reading