Tough Scruff

A lion stares directly into the camera, its mane filling the entire image

  In a pandemic, EVERY month is “No-Shave November!” This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying, “Wallop those whiskers! They can take it.” Humans aren’t the only ones who rock facial hair. Chimpanzees, lions, and goats all have beards too. But why? Are they more

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Probiotic Pollution Solution

Probiotics… it’s not just for breakfast anymore! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. There’s no easy way to clean up the pollutant trichloroethylene, or T-C-E. This common industrial solvent leaches into soils from improper disposal or spills. Even worse, it causes cancer! How can we

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Global Caterpillar Killers

Are pests destroying your garden? Maybe you should just. . . move! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Biologists know there are more species of everything near the lush equator. Which means lots of plants — and animals to eat them, like hungry caterpillars! So

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Toxic Nest

Paper, plastic, and… cigarette butts? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Urban birds scrounge up people’s trash to build their nests. No butts about it! Just like cigarettes aren’t good for you or me, they aren’t good for baby birds! But mama birds prefer them

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Sexy Scary Wings

Can colors be scary and sexy at the same time? This is Sandra Tsing Loh, with the Loh Down on Science, saying: Yes! At least for butterflies. Consider the heliconius erato butterfly of Central America. It sports a red band on its black forewing and a yellow stripe on its

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Playing Defense

Have no fear! Nanoscavengers are here! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. You won’t find nanoscavengers in the latest superhero comic, but they could protect you against dangerous nerve agents. Nerve agents are a deadly class of chemicals commonly used as weapons in wartorn areas.

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