Latest Loh Downs – Page 144 – The Loh Down On Science

Storage Wars

October 28, 2020 Chris Toh

Five tomates attached by the vine in a woden bowl.

You say “tomato.” I say, “Counter or fridge?” This is Sandra Tsing Loh with The Loh Down on Science. Tomatoes! They can be the most delectable food on the planet — or taste like cardboard. Why? Larissa Kanski and colleagues at the University of Göttingen, Germany were curious. They wondered

Smellovision

October 26, 2020 Vivek Tyagi

black and white dog with a disguise nose and glasses

Bring fresh cookies to work – and the entire office is there in minutes! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying HOW does the nose know??. Yuli Wu and researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have sniffed out a clue. The team hooked up

Odd Couple Mice

October 23, 2020 Bryce Wilson

Hey, lab mice – take a walk on the wild side! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. For fifty years, scientists have worked hard to breed a standard lab mouse. Similar mice let researchers have better control over their experiments. They can compare different drugs

Tangled Tongues

October 22, 2020 Krista Fruehauf

Polyglot your tongue? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Many people think they are too old to learn a new language. Supposedly, young kids pick up languages faster because their brains are still developing. But is any of that really true? Joshua Hartshorne, Joshua Tenenbaum, and

Soft Dino Shells

October 21, 2020 Heidi Waite

A clutch of soft-shelled snake eggs surrounded by dirt

Which came first? The chicken or the soft shelled egg? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. For ages it was believed that dinosaur eggs were hard shelled – like chicken eggs! But is there a crack in that theory? Mark Norell and colleagues from the

Standup Pups

October 20, 2020 Sebastian Waz

A large dog bends over to greet a smaller dog

You’d rescue a dog, but would your dog rescue you? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. We love our furry friends — SO much, we shower them with toys and clean up their messes! But doesn’t that relationship seem awfully one-sided? Would your puppy return

Hocus Focus

October 19, 2020 Sebastian Waz

Can you stop cheaters… with magic? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. When exam time comes down, cheaters abound! Teachers might sit students far apart or banish book bags to a corner of the room. But are physical barriers really the only way? Professor Gail

Coral Conundrum

October 16, 2020 Kellen Kartub

An up close image of coral underwater. The coral in the foreground is bleached white while the coral in the background is brown. Small fish swim in the background.

Could fun in the sun – mean grief in the reef? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. The sun’s ultraviolet rays cause suntans, sunburns… and an increased risk of skin cancer. Sunscreen protects our skin by using chemicals like oxybenzone to absorb harmful UV rays.

Antsy for Answers

October 15, 2020 Xinyu Li

An areal shot of a group of black ants on red dirt.

Ants! They’re tiny, they’re mighty, they’re – master coders? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. How are hungry ants like scientists? Check out an anthill! Here ants wander randomly, searching until they reach their target. Scientists might also try a million paths before that EUREKA