You’re SOOO bird-brained! But is that a bad thing? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. The BRAIN uses the most energy of mammal organs. And neurons, the brain-body messengers, use LOTS of sugar to communicate. Birds have much SMALLER brains than most mammals, but can
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There’s gold in them there … bacteria? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. When gold and copper are surrounded by certain other chemicals, they’re toxic to the environment. This can hurt the soil, and, in turn, the plants and animals living there. But Nature has
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Come out, come out, wherever you are! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. To treat cancer, first you have to find it –but cancer likes to play hide-and-seek. What if we could spot it easily — like exploring a cave with a flashlight? Nozomi Nishizawa
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Unbe-leaf-able! Plants can be SO defensive! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. You just brought home this plant and the leaves are already chewed up? How can we protect our green beauties? The answer could be. . . Tobacco plants. . They produce an arsenal
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Watch your tone! Professor Fluffykins might be listening. This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. You know what it’s called when someone’s good or bad mood rubs off on you? “Emotional Contagion.” This helps build social bonds within AND between species. Domesticated animals can distinguish between
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Here’s a bright idea for washing your veggies! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. You’ve heard how UV light could kill germs! Hospitals use this ALL THE TIME. But having to leave the light on constantly… Imagine the bill! What if you could clean it
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Oh no! Is that . . . a new gray hair?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Was it stress from traffic? Or hosting that interminable Thanksgiving dinner? More importantly, can I reverse it? Enter Ayelet Rosenberg from Columbia University and team. They tracked down fifteen people
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Pass the turkey – with extra tryptophan, please! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. We love our friendly gut bacteria – they help break down our Thanksgiving dinner! However, people with Celiac disease have less of this bacteria, leading to extra digestion troubles. What’s a
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Fitness trackers, VR, AI….oh my! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Today wearable tech is EVERYWHERE. Typically, these products are powered by lithium-ion batteries. Unfortunately, these are bad for the environment, and require frequent recharging. Is there an alternative? Xiaomeng Liu and team from the
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Overwhelmed and feeling stressed? WALK it off…but WHERE? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Previous studies have shown higher rates of mental illness and stress in the concrete jungle. But can a change of scenery help us out? Enter Sonja Sudimac and her team at
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