energy – The Loh Down On Science

A Powerful Leg-Up

December 2, 2019 Quang Pham

I WOULD be out there getting my steps – but I forgot to charge up my Fit-Bit! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Walking gets our blood flowing and burns calories. But can walking power MORE than just our well-being? Enter Wei-Hsin Liao from the

RoboBee

November 13, 2019 Kendra Walters

Look! It’s a bird… it’s a plane… it’s RoboBee! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Drones help us explore areas we can’t get to on foot. But the bulkier the drone, the more difficult and dangerous to fly. So smaller IS better! But microdrones can’t

P is for Power

September 30, 2019 Loh Down Staff

Can we power our cell phones with fuel cells that are really wee? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying: Yes! Meaning, not only are the cells tiny, but their power source is, shall we say, free flowing. That’s according to scientists at the University

Fabric Man

September 6, 2019 Loh Down Staff

You’ve heard of Ironman, but what about Fabric Man?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. People can wear robotic devices known as exosuits to assist with everyday movements. For example, soldiers can wear them to carry heavy loads. People with spinal cord injuries can even

Towering Termites

July 17, 2019 Chloe Groome

Are your next building contractors. . . TERMITES? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. These pesky bugs are a nightmare for homeowners. But – surprise! Turns out some termites are quite the little architects! African termites build towering skyscrapers out of dirt and termite spit.

Put a Gribble in Your Tank!

April 23, 2019 Van Wifvat

Gas prices have you feeling CRABBY? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Fossil fuels aren’t going to be around forever. Fortunately, scientists are finding new ways to develop similar fuels from wood! But turning wood into fuel might need the help of a little friend.

Energize and Kick Butt

December 12, 2018 Jessica Monterrosa Mena

Here’s a new energy solution that kicks butts… literally! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. What’s one of the most toxic environmental pollutants? Cigarette butts! Tobacco waste is non-biodegradable. And it’s full of harmful chemicals! Luckily, scientists in South Korea have discovered a kick-BUTT method

Nap Time

October 24, 2018 Loh Down Staff

In after-lunch meetings, when people drone on and you doze off, don’t blame bad Powerpoints. Blame food coma! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, and on food coma—the unbearable sleepiness that sets in about a half an hour after you’ve finished a big meal. According

Butane on Wheels

September 26, 2018 Priyam Patel

Bicycles. Green energy… in more ways than one! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Hydrocarbons like butane are chemicals used in fuels. Fuels use the energy stored in the bonds of these molecules. Bonds can hold a lot of energy, but too much makes them

Power House

August 30, 2018 Kellen Kartub

Hey couch potatoes! Could watching TV power… your home? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Despite our best intentions, we constantly waste energy. Not because I fell asleep watching Jeopardy, again, but due to heat loss. Phones, computers, cars – almost any device or large