Cosmic Meet-Cute

Is true love written in the stars? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Ask Pluto and its dearest lover – er largest moon – Charon. They’re what the kids call a binary system. That means they orbit EACH OTHER. How? Adeene Denton from the University

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Tiny, but Mighty!

Got a clog? Here comes a microscopic cleaning crew! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Surgical implants for urinary problems can build up gunk over time. That buildup causes painful blockages and dangerous infections. The current fix? Replace the implant. OUCH! Not only is it

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Fungus Among Us

Who’s pulling the strings behind… Zombie Ants! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Some carpenter ants get infected by a fungus called Ophiocordyceps that hijacks their behavior. The ants climb leaves, and lock into a creepy “death grip.” Then the fungus sprouts and releases spores.

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Paging Dr. Mouse

Could a mouse save your life? Maybe so. This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Wenjian Sun and team at the University of Southern California tested just that. They wanted to know how animals react when one of their own suddenly loses consciousness. In the lab,

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Hard and Soft Prints

This gives a new meaning to a KNEESLAPPER! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. We can 3-D print hard and rigid prosthetics, and soft shoes and springs. But what about 3-D printing both materials into one object? No way? Yes way. Enter Ji-Won Kim and

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Dark Stars

Can dark matter shine bright? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Dark matter is an invisible substance all around us, with gravitational pull. We don’t know what it’s made of, or where it came from… but ancient stars might illuminate the picture. It’s theorized that

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Bowhead Paradox

Is the cure for cancer in… WHALES?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Big animals need TONS of cell divisions to grow. That means more chances for DNA oopsies – AKA CANCER. But bowhead whales – despite their size – AREN’T more prone to cancer!!

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Round the Lake

Who knows what secrets lie deep below the shadowy water? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. So, what’s lurking in a lake’s muddy bottom? Minerals! They quietly keep aquatic ecosystems running. But studying them? Not so quiet… or easy. Enter Mason Thackston and team from

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Great Grains!

Let’s break bread… This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Wheat feeds billions globally. But where did this journey begin? Enter Fei Lu and team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. They analyzed the DNA of over seven hundred wheat types, from wild grasses to modern

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Dogs Think Like Us

Rover, watch your mouth! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. The University of San Diego has been teaching dogs to talk!… by pressing soundboard buttons. Each button plays a different word. Some dogs have constructed fully coherent phrases. But are they just following their owner’s

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