What menacing secrets lurk in the depths of the ocean? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science,saying…one word: “Plastics!” Plastics have been invading our oceans for years. Unfortunately, many animals, such as sea turtles, mistake them for food. But does plastic reach the creatures dwelling in
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Bite Me
To live or to die…? Depends on your. . . teeth? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. One hundred and eighty million years ago, gigantic marine reptiles ruled the seas. Then, water levels began rising… dramatically! Not all seafaring reptiles could adapt. So, who survived
Continue readingMercury Madness
I’ll have the seafood platter – hold the mercury! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Coal power plants and paper mills spew pollution – including mercury — into the atmosphere and ocean. It can be nasty stuff, and dangerous, too! But double trouble happens when
Continue readingPlastic for Dinner
Just say “no” to plastic straws. Think of the turtles! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science Plastic is everywhere – in packaging, fast-food containers … dirt?! Yes, dirt! Farmers sometimes mix plastic chips with mulch to improve plant growth. But the plastic stays in our
Continue readingMighty Methane Munchers
It’s jolly! Its green! But its …not a giant? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. The ocean is teeming with diverse life, especially at hot vents on the ocean floor! For example, Archaea — single celled organisms, not to be confused with bacteria. Tiny, one-celled
Continue readingPlastic, Heal Thyself!
Family potluck, plate of fixin’s. . . Another plastic fork bites the dust! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Plastic items break every day, from phone cases to prosthetics. If only they could fix themselves! Traditional plastic is like a long chain of repeating molecular
Continue readingWindy Warming
Windmills taking the wind out of your sails? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. More and more cities around the world are committing to renewable energy. Coal plants produce carbon dioxide which can lead to global warming. But other options aren’t perfect either! Meet Lee
Continue readingHey, That’s My Spot!
Parking structures! Hivelike, crowded, suffocating. . . literally? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. If you feel suffocated in over-crowded parking structures, there could be a reason. We know that cars contribute to air pollution. And parking garages have lots of cars. So, it’s no
Continue readingEnergize and Kick Butt
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
Continue readingHow Sweet it is!
Pop quiz: how are smoggy skies and glazed jelly doughnuts alike? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Dirty, polluted air can damage our health. From heart disease to cancer, those tiny particles cause big problems! Scientists wondered if air pollution could even cause… diabetes? Ziyad
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