60-Second Science
Scientific American
Host Rachel Feltman, alongside leading science and tech journalists, dives into the rich world of scientific discovery in this bite-size science variety show.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 29, 2016 • 4min
Silk Road Transported Goods--and Disease
A 2,000-year-old latrine in China provides the first hard evidence that people carried diseases long distances along the ancient trading route.
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Jul 28, 2016 • 3min
Inbred Songbirds Croon out of Tune
Inbred canaries sang songs with less pure tones, and at slightly different pitches, than their outbred cousins—and female canaries seemed to be able to tell the difference.
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Jul 27, 2016 • 4min
Great Red Spot Helps Explain Jupiter's Warm Upper Atmosphere
A thermal spike linked to the solar system’s largest storm explains weather on gas-giant planets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 25, 2016 • 4min
Beaver Dams Strengthened by Humans Help Fish Rebound
Fish flourished in creeks in which human engineers helped shore up beaver dams made weak by poor timber availability.
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Jul 23, 2016 • 4min
Frigate Bird Flights Last Months
Great frigate birds may stay aloft for up to two months, eating and sleeping on the wing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 21, 2016 • 4min
For Lichens, 3's Not a Crowd
Biologists have identified a third species—a yeast—in some lichens, shaking up what's always been known as a two-party system. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 20, 2016 • 3min
Chicken Scent Deters Malaria Mosquitoes
The smell of a chicken wards off one species of malaria-spreading mosquito—meaning the scent compounds, or the birds themselves, might help deter disease. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 19, 2016 • 3min
Vaccinate Prairie Dogs to Save Ferrets
As was widely reported on social media, the U.S. is indeed going to use aerial drones to spread vaccine-laced pellets among prairie dogs to save endangered ferrets, although, contrary to some reports, no M&Ms will be involved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 16, 2016 • 4min
Fuel-Efficient Engines Have a Sooty Flaw
A newer type of fuel injection offers better fuel economy, but paradoxically increases black carbon emissions—meaning a pollution trade-off. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 14, 2016 • 4min
Mucus Lets Dolphins Emit Their Clicks
A model of the dolphin vocal apparatus shows that they need a coating of mucus to produce their distinctive sounds.
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