Ocean Influencers

Three dolphins swimming just under the surface of the water.

Just cuz all your friends are doing it…? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Teenage years: a time to try new things! For better or worse. Some stuff we learn from our parents, other stuff from friends. Dolphins are no different! Case in point? Shelling!

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Smellovision

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

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Odd Couple Mice

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

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Tangled Tongues

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

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Soft Dino Shells

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

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Standup Pups

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

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Hocus Focus

Eyes peek through magical glowing hands

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

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Coral Conundrum

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.

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Antsy for Answers

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

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Technicolor Vision

It’s a truly brilliant world… for hummingbirds! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Pretty blues! Vibrant reds! We humans see colors because of special cells in our eyes called cones. Hummingbirds have an extra cone that detects UV light — light from the sun WE can’t see.

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