evolution – Page 7 – The Loh Down On Science

Sex and the Single Sawfish

June 28, 2018 Loh Down Staff

Don’t have a date? Or a mate? No problem! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Animals sometimes go solo. Why? Because they can reproduce without mating: virgin birth! Technically, it’s called “parthenogenesis.” Instead of DNA from mom and dad, offspring just have mom’s DNA. So

Ocean Jazz

June 18, 2018 Ted Yoo

What’s a whale’s favorite music jam? Apparently: the bluuuuueees! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Forget Coachella – there’s a BIGGER music festival happening… deep in the North Atlantic ocean! The headliners? Breeding bowhead whales! All winter long, these whales flirt by singing songs to

Monkeys vs. Humans

June 11, 2018 Loh Down Staff

Are humans really at the top of the food chain? This is Sandra Tsing Loh, with the Loh Down on Science. Compared to our great ape cousins, we humans are way ahead in the evolutionary race. We’ve got bigger brains. We also reproduce faster than expected for our body size.

Mother’s Milk

May 11, 2018 Loh Down Staff

Does mom play favorites … with milk? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying:It seems like an odd question. But since the 1970s, scientists have been studying whether mother animals treat daughters and sons differently. And, at least in terms of lactation, the answer is

Universal Language

May 10, 2018 Ted Yoo

Don’t speak the language? Just keep smiling! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Many gestures are universal. A warm smile is innately understood all around the world. A thumbs up, however? That’s learned and doesn’t translate across cultures. But where did all of these gestures

Bridesmaids

March 28, 2018 Loh Down Staff

Can your bridesmaids predict your lifespan? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Scientists say personality somewhat predicts mortality. For example, inactive, fatty-food-loving people are susceptible to early heart attacks. Psychologists at Washington University in St. Louis were interested in this mortality connection. Problem is, most

Scaling Wall Scaling

March 20, 2018 Loh Down Staff

Sorry Spider-man, but you’re no gecko! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Zoologists at the University of Cambridge wondered: Why can some animals with sticky feet scale walls while others can’t? They studied 225 climbing animals of various sizes. From mites and spiders to tree

Cuddle Buddies

March 19, 2018 Ted Yoo

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

Pessimistic Pups

March 12, 2018 Loh Down Staff

Are dogs optimists or pessimists? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying: It depends on the dog. Animal scientists think the way dogs respond to cues can indicate whether they expect good or bad outcomes. In other words, whether they are natural optimists or pessimists!

Lucky Genes

March 7, 2018 Loh Down Staff

Hey parents! Your kid is vomiting – why aren’t you sick? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, on germs and genes. You know the drill. Your pride and joy brings home a stomach bug. You’re both up all night, exposed to MANY icky bodily fluids.