Speedy Sponges

As these sponges filter water for food, they collect DNA that can be used for biodiversity surveys. A. RIESGO

Whoooo lives in a pineapple under the sea?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. SpongeBob Squarepants is quite the active sea sponge! But scientists have long assumed that REAL sea sponges can only move early on in life. As adults, they’re thought to settle down

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Natural High

Image of woman running on street.

Is there really such a thing as a NATURAL high? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.  WHY run for fun? Many do it for RUNNER’S HIGH! Natural opioids known as endorphins are thought to cause this feeling. BUT could something else be going on? Michael

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F-ANT-astic Queen

This image reveals a worker jumping ant Harpegnathos saltator murdering the queen. The queen had just torn off her own wings after a successful mating and was scouring the forest floor in search for a suitable nest site.

Does being a mom make you lose brain cells? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. The queen is usually the only ant who gives birth in a colony. And most queens are born, not made. But Indian Jumping Ants are special! Some female worker ants

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Bees or Birds?

Bee flying to Foxglove flower.

“Make new friends, but keep the old” – but what if you move 10,000 miles away?? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Foxgloves are purple or white bell-shaped flowers native to Europe. They hang off the stem, like fruits, and have short tubes that store

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Spice for Life

Red hot peppers on orange background.

Could a jalapeno a day keep the doctor away? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. From Poblanos to Habañeros, hot peppers are the SPICE of life! But could they be a literal lifesaver? Sickle cell disease, which is inherited, causes misshapen red blood cells. This

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Fresh Brains!

Images of zombies walking around.

Besides zombies . . . who ELSE loves BRAINS?? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying… Scientists! For research, they sometimes use brain tissue surgically removed to reduce seizures from epilepsy patients. Usually, the brain cells are tested more than twelve hours AFTER removal. But

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Sticky Feet

Starting a climb? Use your MUSSELS! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. We have robots that can build things, wait tables, even play the violin! But what about robots that can climb walls like Spiderman? Junwen Huang and a team from Xiamen University in China

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Hydrogen Sensor

Hydrogen logo on gas stations fuel dispenser. h2 combustion engine for emission free ecofriendly transport. 3d rendering — Stock Image & Photo

Hydrogen power! It can take us up into outer space or down the freeway! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Potato chips, gummy worms, awesome playlist – ready for a road trip!  Or . . . ALMOST ready! To get from L.A. to San Diego

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Useful Leftovers

Wine in glass.

Hmm, medium-bodied, oaky, with notes of straight-up…sugar?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Wine tasting can be fun! However, not everything in the vat ends up in the bottle. Wine MAKING produces a lot of waste! California alone trashes two hundred thousands tons a year.

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Only One Shot

In this 2006 image, a qualified healthcare practitioner was in the process of administering an intramuscular immunization to a woman, using the woman’s right shoulder muscle as the injection site.

Say it together: “One shot to rule them all!” This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. I got my flu shot LAST year — why do I need another one?? Because the flu virus resembles a spiky seed pod! Your immune system recognizes those spikes to

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