Is what’s good for the goose… good for the farmer? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. We’ve been raising chickens for over four thousand years. But were they our first feathered friends? Masaki Eda from the University of Hokkaido and team went on a
Continue reading
Did you hear that SCREECH? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. We’re not the only ones WORN OUT by travel. Planes, trains, and automobiles – all get HEATED when there’s too much friction. Sometimes their metal even melts to a semi-liquid state. Scary! BUT, at
Continue reading
This’ll put some hair on your…. heart?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Cholesterol. We know it. We fear it. The L-D-L form clogs blood vessels, and causes HEART DISEASE. But it has a partner in crime. Imbalances in the sex hormone testosterone can be
Continue reading
Making a STINK about safety? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Skunks have a bold way to ward off predators: they SMELL! If a predator doesn’t take the hint from their warning stripes, they get sprayed! Does that mean certain stripe patterns are better at
Continue reading
Looking for a stylish new handbag? On to the produce aisle! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Sustainable fashion is all the rage, but did you know mushrooms can be made into textiles?! Their fibrous mycelia innards are the reason why. But, processing these mushroom
Continue reading
Is it a fruit? Is it a vegetable? Or…a superhero?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. What comes to mind when you think of tomatoes? Pizza… ketchup… maybe heartburn. How about a POWERHOUSE ANTIBACTERIAL? Really? Tomatoes can do that? Enter Ryan Kwon and team in
Continue reading
Feeling di-STRAW-t over ocean pollution? Listen up. This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Plastic straws degrade slowly in landfills and the ocean, far outliving their single use. Biodegradable straws have become more popular. But are they really ocean-friendly? Bryan James and team from Woods Hole
Continue reading
Bad work environment? Someone’s gotta speak up, but who? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. People are less likely to intervene in inappropriate situations when in large groups. This bystander effect is caused by social pressures felt when others evaluate us. But those with the
Continue reading
Get ready to be knocked out! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Fainting, or syncope, affects FORTY percent of people in their lifetime. It involves sudden drops in blood flow to the brain leading to loss of consciousness. But, the science behind fainting has long
Continue reading
Ew… this sponge smells FISHY! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Overfishing and climate change have drastically reduced global fish populations. Research about these fish is critical to prevent their extinction. Luckily, marine biologists have found an unlikely and ABSORBENT ally in studying the briny
Continue reading