Episodes – Page 139 – The Loh Down On Science

Tough Scruff

November 2, 2020 Sebastian Waz

A lion stares directly into the camera, its mane filling the entire image

In a pandemic, EVERY month is “No-Shave November!” This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying, “Wallop those whiskers! They can take it.” Humans aren’t the only ones who rock facial hair. Chimpanzees, lions, and goats all have beards too. But why? Are they more

Sweet Tooth

October 30, 2020 Emily Sumner

Think YOUR sweet tooth gets you in trouble? That’s nothing compared to Hansel and Gretel! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Birthday cake! Juice boxes! Froot Loops! Kids LOVE sugar! But just how much — and WHY? Sara Petty and her team at University of

Talking Hands

October 29, 2020 Lauren Urban

A female with her hand outstretched towards the camera.

Talk to the hand… nooo really, talk to the hand. This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Learning a new language is HARD! Thankfully, new apps can translate words in real time. But what about American Sign Language? Enter Jun Chen and colleagues from the University

Storage Wars

October 28, 2020 Chris Toh

Five tomates attached by the vine in a woden bowl.

You say “tomato.” I say, “Counter or fridge?” This is Sandra Tsing Loh with The Loh Down on Science. Tomatoes! They can be the most delectable food on the planet — or taste like cardboard. Why? Larissa Kanski and colleagues at the University of Göttingen, Germany were curious. They wondered

Smellovision

October 26, 2020 Vivek Tyagi

black and white dog with a disguise nose and glasses

Bring fresh cookies to work – and the entire office is there in minutes! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying HOW does the nose know??. Yuli Wu and researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have sniffed out a clue. The team hooked up

Odd Couple Mice

October 23, 2020 Bryce Wilson

Hey, lab mice – take a walk on the wild side! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. For fifty years, scientists have worked hard to breed a standard lab mouse. Similar mice let researchers have better control over their experiments. They can compare different drugs

Tangled Tongues

October 22, 2020 Krista Fruehauf

Polyglot your tongue? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Many people think they are too old to learn a new language. Supposedly, young kids pick up languages faster because their brains are still developing. But is any of that really true? Joshua Hartshorne, Joshua Tenenbaum, and

Soft Dino Shells

October 21, 2020 Heidi Waite

A clutch of soft-shelled snake eggs surrounded by dirt

Which came first? The chicken or the soft shelled egg? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. For ages it was believed that dinosaur eggs were hard shelled – like chicken eggs! But is there a crack in that theory? Mark Norell and colleagues from the

Standup Pups

October 20, 2020 Sebastian Waz

A large dog bends over to greet a smaller dog

You’d rescue a dog, but would your dog rescue you? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. We love our furry friends — SO much, we shower them with toys and clean up their messes! But doesn’t that relationship seem awfully one-sided? Would your puppy return