Science Talk

By Scientific AmericanScience

Science Talk episodes

June 17, 2018 Jupiter Crackles with Polar Lightning
Juno spacecraft data suggest lightning on Jupiter is much more common than we thought—but it congregates near the poles, not the equator as on Earth. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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3 min
June 15, 2018 Coral Reefs Keep Costly Waves at Bay
A new analysis found the flood protection benefits of coral reefs save the global economy $4 billion dollars a year. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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3 min
June 14, 2018 Hippo Dung Fouls Up Freshwater Fisheries
Hippo poop is piling up in Tanzania’s freshwater fisheries—which is bad news for biodiversity, and deleterious for the dinner plate. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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5 min
June 13, 2018 A Litmus Test for Bad Breath
Researchers engineered a portable device that detects even the tiniest trace of hydrogen sulfide—one of the primary offenders in bad breath. Karen Hopkin reports.

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4 min
June 11, 2018 Prez (of AMA) Issues Call to Arms-Science
At the AMA annual meeting the organization's president petitioned for an evidence-based, science-driven analysis of gun violence and solutions.

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5 min
June 08, 2018 Powder Pulls Drinking Water from Desert Air
A structure known as a metal organic framework traps water vapor by night, then releases it when heated the next day. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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4 min
June 06, 2018 Ancient Clan War Explains Genetic Diversity Drop
Some 5,000 to 7,000 years ago, the diversity of Y chromosomes plummeted. A new analysis suggests clan warfare may have been the cause. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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4 min
June 05, 2018 Saying "This May Hurt" May Make It Worse
Warning a child that something, like a vaccine shot, will hurt can actually increase their perception of the pain.

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4 min
June 01, 2018 Mongooses Gift Grooming for Guard Duty
Humans and other primates often reciprocate good deeds. A new study suggests a nonprimate, the dwarf mongoose, does so, too, even after a delay. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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4 min
May 31, 2018 Some Trees Beat Heat with Sweat
During extreme heat waves, a species of eucalyptus copes by releasing water and taking advantage of evaporative cooling. Other trees may do the same.

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5 min

About Science Talk

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Science Talk is a podcast of longer-form audio experiments from Scientific American--from immersive sonic journeys into nature to deep dives into research with leading experts.