Somebody pinch me! Am I REALLY awake? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Brain injury can make it difficult to tell if someone’s conscious or not! Patients in a coma may respond to things, but only as a reflex. How can doctors tell the difference?
The Easter bunny is here… with a basket full of fresh air? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Urban homes often contain high levels of pollutants, known as volatile organic carcinogens. These VOC’s include formaldehyde, benzene, and chloroform. Yuck! Certain house plants are a good,
Baby dinosaur or…Jurassic omelette? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Most birds incubate their eggs by sitting on them. But how did big, heavy dinosaurs warm their eggs without smashing them? This question captured the attention of Kohei Tanaka. He studies Oviraptorosaur fossils. Parent Oviraptorosaurs
Have you ever leaned in for a kiss that wasn’t? Awkward! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. We humans are generally good at predicting social cues. A handshake versus a hug, for example. How? By observing those around us and comparing to our previous experiences.
More money, more problems? Not if you are a social-climbing metal! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Electrons are like the currency of chemistry. And usually, elements like to have a full wallet! Many elements, like carbon and oxygen, are stuck at eight electrons —
Democracy is all about civility… right? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Conflict happens. Kids pull hair, spouses fight, politicians declare war. But democracies have voting power! Does that make us nicer than dictatorships? Meet political scientists Michael Gilbilisco, from Caltech, and Casey Crisman-Cox from
As “Game of Thrones” fans know — winter is coming! Let’s hope the white walkers don’t have night vision! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. We humans aren’t the best at night vision. We detect motion with direction-selective ganglion cells, or DSGCs. Some specifically detect
Family road trip! What’s that smell? Is it Dad, Mom, or–? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science saying: Pee-yew! It’s cows, and their poop! Cows smell bad but their poop smells worse. Then again, could a climate change secret be hiding in those cow pies..?
Shhh!!! There’s blood suckers out here!! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Mosquitos!. By the time we hear them, it’s already too late – we’re lunch! But could THEY be the ones to hear US coming first? Meet Ron Hoy and Gil Menda, of Cornell
What happens when love and touch meet? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Love isn’t always about words. We say a lot in the way we touch and hold loved ones. These physical contacts release feel-good brain chemicals like oxytocin. But do those brain responses
