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
Apr 6, 2016 • 4min
Crater Bottoms Could Be Cradles of Martian Life
Four billion years ago asteroids and comets could have melted the Martian cryosphere, and started up hydrothermal springs—a potential hotspot for ancient microbial life. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 5, 2016 • 4min
Wolves Have Local Howl Accents
Understanding the regional vocal patterns of various canid species sheds light on animal communication and could help ranchers broadcast "keep away" messages to protect livestock.
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Apr 4, 2016 • 3min
Bird Combines Calls in Specific Order
The Japanese great tit combines two calls in a specific order and does not respond to a recording of the calls combined in reverse order, apparently demonstrating compositional syntax. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 1, 2016 • 3min
Cellular Circuit Computes with DNA
Researchers have created what they call the first "programming language" for cells, which compiles code into a genetic circuit. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 31, 2016 • 5min
Lasers Could Hide Earth from Prying Aliens
We could use laser light to mask our transits across the sun and thus hide Earth from any intelligent aliens looking for planets to invade Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 30, 2016 • 3min
Twin Birth Proposed for Colliding Black Holes That Produced Gravitational Waves
A flash of light shortly after the detection of gravitational waves could mean that that historic event has an added wrinkle—the black holes that collided may have been born in the same collapsing massive star. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 29, 2016 • 3min
City Birds Outwit Country Counterparts
Birds that live in urban environments are brasher than rural birds, solve problems better and even have more robust immune systems. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 28, 2016 • 4min
Quasar Winds Clock In at a Fifth of Light Speed
Quasars can shape the evolution of their galaxies, by blasting 135-million-mph winds. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 25, 2016 • 4min
The Fastball Gets Its Scientific Due in a New Documentary
The new movie Fastball dissects the pitch from the perspective of pitchers, hitters, umpires—and scientists, who talk about everything from the physics governing the trajectory of the ball to the neuroscience of the batter’s perception and reaction—including how the ball can appear to vanish.
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Mar 23, 2016 • 3min
Garbage Pickings Get Storks to Stop Migrating
Some white storks have stopped migrating from Europe to sub-Saharan Africa in the winter, because of the availability of food in landfills.
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