Science Quickly

Wealthier people gave a lower percentage to charity in 2012, while the less affluent increased their giving during the Great Recession.

Motion-capture technology reveals the dynamics of walking and how the body relies on precise foot placement to maintain balance, with implications for movement disorders and robotics.

Nobel laureates Eric Betzig, Stefan Hell, and William Moerner discuss their groundbreaking research in super-resolved fluorescence microscopy, which allows for the study of single molecules in living cells. The podcast highlights the importance of this technique in observing rare events and reactions at the molecular level.

Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano, and Shuji Nakamura discuss their Nobel Prize-winning invention of efficient blue light-emitting diodes, which enable bright and energy-saving white light sources. They explain the significance of combining red, green, and blue light and highlight applications in flashlights and smartphones.

John O'Keefe, May-Britt Moser, and Edvard I. Moser, Nobel Prize winners, discuss the brain's positioning system and how humans navigate using mental maps.

Reindeer and moose saliva interferes with plant toxins, allowing them to eat vegetation. Salivary secretions play a significant role in large mammals' ability to decrease toxin production.

Increasing palm oil yields can lead to a bigger demand for land and more forest destruction, which policymakers need to address.

Guest Steve Mirsky, a dedicated reporter on soil microbes, explores the fascinating microbial diversity hidden beneath Manhattan's Central Park. He reveals how the park acts as a biological melting pot, showcasing microbes that are also found in far-flung places like deserts and tundras. The conversation uncovers the surprising connections between urban soil and global ecosystems, highlighting nature's resilience and adaptability in even the most unexpected locations.

A study proposes using seafaring garbage to define ocean borders and track ocean debris. Surface water currents create barriers that limit mixing between different ocean regions, which has implications for spilled oil.

Scientists have genetically manipulated yeast to produce morphine, offering a potential solution to the challenges faced in opiate production.