Getting a twenty-one isn’t just a win at blackjack! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. In the endless pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, research is turning to our genetics. Specifically, the work of Tim Frayling and researchers at the University of Exeter. They’re leading an
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The Secret Life of Cells
Cells can have nuclei, mitochondria and… family secrets? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. We each have a family tree of ancestors. Turns out, our cells also have a family tree! Doctors can use them to isolate diseased cells. But no one has created a
Continue readingCotton Cuisine
How’d you like to wear your shirt —and eat it, too? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh with the Loh Down on Science. When fibers are plucked from a cotton plant, what’s left behind is pile of seeds practically bursting with protein. Unfortunately they’re also bursting with a
Continue readingPain-Free Family
Which hurts more—creeping barefoot across a bed of hot coals, or shoving razor sharp knives into your arms? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying: Neither! At least for members of certain street-performing family from Pakistan. All six members were born with the inability to
Continue readingOriginal Yeast
Bread, beer, infections—what’s the common thread? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science saying, in many cases, it’s yeast. But where did the FIRST yeast start? Meet scientists Gianni Liti from the Université Côte d’Azur and Joseph Schacherer from the Université de Strasbourg. They studied the
Continue readingZika Detector
Did playing doctor just get real? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. What if you could diagnose viruses – like Zika – from home? This may be possible very soon! Right now, a Zika diagnosis requires a blood test. This can be challenging and expensive
Continue readingRainbow Bacteria
Can you paint with all the colors of…BACTERIA? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Bacteria come in all shapes, sizes and colors, just like people. Controlling these colors could give us the best shade for new shoes.. But how are bacterial colors controlled? Scientists at
Continue readingSuper Rice
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s… SUPER RICE? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Fertilizers are mostly made of NITROGEN. Plants needs it to grow. But, too much nitrogen SLOWS growth for some plants! Other plants grow BIG and TALL with lots of it.
Continue readingGoing Batty
What’s Batman’s REAL super-power? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Viruses take energy and nutrients from their hosts. BUT it also takes energy to FIGHT viruses! In us humans, eventually, either the host or the virus dies. But, BATS can carry viruses for YEARS. How?
Continue readingDiet Roulette
Eat right so your pants won’t be tight! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, asking, but how? From Atkins to South Beach to vegan diets, new diet trends never stop! But all have mixed reviews. Is there a healthy meal plan that works for everyone?
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