Color Me Happy

Hey, adults of a certain age. Do you like to color? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science saying, coloring books! They’re not just for kids anymore. Adults claim they help reduce stress and improve well-being. But how effective are they compared to traditional art therapy?

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ElectronINKed

Sensor tattooed on skin

Smartwatch weighing you down? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying… How smart are they, anyway? Tracking your health and fitness is important – you want a device that knows you like your own skin! Faheem Ershad from the University of Houston has a solution.

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Ancient DNA

Tuatara (kind of reptile)

Fans of Jurassic Park, listen up! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. The tuatara is an ancient reptile with close ties to dinosaurs. It looks like a lizard, but has TEETH — and triple-digit birthdays! What makes this critter so special? Neil Gemmell and an

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Toys for Tots

A kid in the middle of a room plenty of toys

Are you buying too many toys for your kids?? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Children leave toys everywhere in the house. What a mess! Sure, playing is critical for child development. But does the NUMBER OF TOYS affect how children play? Alexia Metz and

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Cuddle Buddies

Two lemurs cuddling

Are hugs the new chicken soup? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Think of your gut as a soup of friendly bacteria. Everybody’s recipe is custom made to work with our bodies properly. These good bacteria help digest food and fight disease. Scientists know that

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Make it Snow

Street picture while snowing

Let it snow or MAKE it snow?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Winter is right around the corner! Time to get your skis waxed and skates sharpened! But what if it doesn’t snow? The problem goes deeper than winter sports. Water scarcity is becoming

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The Perfect Pop

A pot with overfloading popcorn on a gas stove

Movie magic meets… popcorn science? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. No movie night is complete without delicious, buttery popcorn! But have you ever wondered what makes those kernels pop and jump? A study led by Ecole Polytechnic tried to explain this phenomenon. Two French

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Perfection Perception

"How to take the perfect selfie" instructions

It’s hard to be a millennial—when you’re a millennial? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Overachievers. OCD. Helicopter parents. Buzz words, sure, but are these tied to real phenomena? Enter researchers from the UK, Thomas Curran and Andrew Hill. They compiled over one-hundred-and-fifty studies from

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Rain Dance

Bridge with a person with a red umbrella in the middle while it is raining

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 air can hold a lot more water than cooler air. So increased heat can create bigger water bombs.

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Sweet Solution

Acura NSX GT3 Race Car testing at Gingerman Raceway

A spoonful of sugar… makes your car lighter? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Carbon-fiber. It’s a defining feature of elite planes, racing cars, and even sports equipment. This ultra-light material means cars need less fuel and you can swing that racket faster. But carbon-fiber’s

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