Episodes – Page 173 – The Loh Down On Science

Monkey Movies

February 6, 2018 Loh Down Staff

Do apes go bananas over scary movies? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Have you ever re-watched old movies and cringed, anticipating the scary parts? Psychologists from Japan’s Kyoto University wondered if apes also get the creeps. Apes are known for their long term memories.

Rain Dance

February 5, 2018 Margaret Lugin

Oh boy: is yet more freak weather coming our way? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. When clouds are overloaded with water vapor, it rains. But warm cloud air can hold a lot more water than cooler air. So increased heat can create bigger water

Nervous Nellies

February 2, 2018 Loh Down Staff

Got a nervous habit? Maybe you’re a perfectionist! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying: Nail biting. Skin picking. Hair pulling. These are all examples of body-focused repetitive disorders—or BFRDs for short. Are they just nervous habits? Canadian researchers think not. They believe BFRDs are

Gettin’ Hangry

February 1, 2018 Loh Down Staff

Introducing hanger. Part hunger, part anger, let’s party! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying: You know what I’m talking about. Now, don’t get hangry with me. Point is, it’s hard to be nice when your stomach is growling. Why? A dietician at Texas A&M

Canine Conundrum

January 31, 2018 Loh Down Staff

Who’s smarter? Man’s best friend? Or wolves? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Many canine experts say dogs are smarter than wolves. That’s based on studies where researchers gave both animals unsolvable tasks. Like: removing treats from jars. Dogs usually give up. They turn their

Mosquito Mating

January 30, 2018 Loh Down Staff

Can mosquito species tell each other apart? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying: Well, not really. That’s why yellow fever mosquitoes will try to mate with Asian tiger mosquitoes, and vice versa. Enter University of Florida entomologists. They wondered about yellow fever mosquito populations

Freud’s Way

January 29, 2018 Loh Down Staff

Got a problem? Ask yourself: What would Sigmund Freud say? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. We often listen to our gut when making decisions. Well, according to Spanish researchers, Sigmund Freud’s gut trumps our own. Sort of. The researchers used virtual reality for an

Apes in the Kitchen

January 26, 2018 Loh Down Staff

Can you teach a chimp to cook? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying: Chimps probably won’t be whipping up souffles anytime soon. But there is evidence they might want to. Meet Alexandra Rosati and Felix Warneken of Harvard University. They’ve been conducting some intriguing

Communi-pee Pool

January 25, 2018 David Herman

Pee in the pool? NOT cool! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Community pools – hallmarks of summertime fun for kids and grown-ups. And ingrained in our memories of these neighborhood oases is the pungent odor of chlorine. Could you be soaking in more than

Your Cheatin’ Hormones

January 24, 2018 Loh Down Staff

Can our hormones make us cheaters? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Most discussions about cheating focus on ethics. But psychologist Robert Josephs, of the University of Texas at Austin, wondered: Are hormones involved? Because goodness knows hormones impact other decisions. If you know what