Episodes – Page 146 – The Loh Down On Science

Smart Smell

September 7, 2020 Kimia Montazeri

Lime, lemon, … Cinnamon. One of these things is not like the others! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Familiar aromas can bring back childhood memories — OR send a chill up your spine! But why do things get personal for the brain when it

Drip Drop

September 4, 2020 Jessie Yaros

The sound of insomnia: cue the LEAKY FAUCET! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, on the most annoying sound ever. What causes that DRIP DRIP of a leaky bathtub? It’s not what you think! Anurag Agarwal at the University of Cambridge discovered the cause —

Pain Pal

September 3, 2020 Sebastian Waz

Paro, a fluffy white robot seal, sits on a table, looking off camera

Need a PAIN pal? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. When you got your first shot, did you squeeze Mom’s hand? Studies have shown that EMOTIONAL TOUCH, like hugging or holding hands, reduces pain. But if you find yourself ALONE at the doctor’s – who

Rhino’s Angels

September 2, 2020 Kimia Montazeri

A good BFF knows when to LISTEN! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. When it comes to avoiding poachers and predators, animals have different methods. Antelopes run crazy fast! But what about the chubby endangered black rhinoceros? Roan Plotz from Victoria University of Melbourne wondered.

Eating Mediterranean

September 1, 2020 Claudia-Francisca Lopez Camara

I am what I… YUM? Except for the carbs. This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. There are SO many diets. Choosing one is like finding the perfect avocado: HARD! Currently, the Mediterranean diet is in vogue! Veggies, fruit, legumes and olive oil. Toss in some

Bumblebee Gardening 101

August 31, 2020 Racine Rangel

What’s black and yellow and has a green thumb? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying… Bumblebee gardeners!? We know bees buzz around gardens, collecting pollen from flowers. But climate change is altering WHEN flowers bloom. Until the flowers show up, there’s no pollen for

Diabetic Lenses

August 28, 2020 Claudia-Francisca Lopez Camara

An eyeball with a contact lens with electrodes

Is that sugar in your…. EYE!? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. More than thirty million people in the US have diabetes – which can lead to vision trouble, among other things. Keeping track of blood sugar levels means pricking your finger several times every

Recycling Worms

August 27, 2020 Vivek Tyagi

The Earth is DROWNING in plastic! Can we find relief — at the pet store? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Almost ten percent of all plastics are polystyrene. Think: foam cups and to-go boxes. Polystyrene can take HUNDREDS of years to break down. Is

Cake or Broccoli?

August 26, 2020 Emily Sumner

A small bowl of chopped broccoli on top of a wooden cutting board

Toddlers – they always seem to get the last word! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science saying… Heads or tails? When adults are asked this, eighty percent pick heads. The FIRST option. But what about toddlers – which would they choose? Emily Sumner from the

Drumming Hearts

August 25, 2020 Vivek Tyagi

Does your heart march to the beat of your own drum? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. You may THINK you got rhythm — your body KNOWS it does! Timing is everything when it comes to keeping you alive. Whether it’s breathing or pumping blood, your