Science Talk

By Scientific AmericanScience

Science Talk episodes

July 04, 2017 Franklin's Lightning Rod Served Political Ends
Whether lightning rods should have rounded or pointy ends became a point of contention between rebellious Americans and King George III.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
3 min
June 30, 2017 Heat Will Hit America's Poorest Worst
Economists calculate that each degree Celsius of warming will dock the U.S. economy by 1.2 percent--and increase the divide between rich and poor. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4 min
June 28, 2017 Rainbow Photons Pack More Computing Power
Quantum bits, aka qubits, can simultaneously encode 0 and 1. But multicolored photons could enable even more states to exist at the same time, ramping up computing power. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4 min
June 26, 2017 Moths Inspire Better Smartphone Screens
Researchers designed an antireflective coating for smartphone screens, with inspiration from the bumpy eyes of moths. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
3 min
June 23, 2017 Better Memory Begets Boredom
The better study participants scored in the memory test, the faster they got bored. Karen Hopkin reports.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4 min
June 22, 2017 DNA Points to Multiple Migrations into the Americas
DNA analysis of skeletons found in the Pacific Northwest backs up traditional oral histories, and suggests there could have been more than one colonization of the Americas. Emily Schwing reports.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4 min
June 21, 2017 Keep Rolling Luggage Upright with Physics
A team of physicists has revealed why rolling suitcases start rocking from wheel to wheel—and how to avoid that frustrating phenomenon. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4 min
June 20, 2017 Wolves Need More Room to Roam
Ecologists say wolves should be allowed to roam beyond remote wilderness areas—and that by scaring off smaller predators like coyotes and jackals, wolves might do a good service, too. Emily Schwing reports.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4 min
June 19, 2017 Wacky Florida's Weird Science
Journalist Craig Pittman of the Tampa Bay Times talks about his book, Oh, Florida! How America’s Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
33 min
June 19, 2017 Engineers Build Bendy Batteries for Wearables
Researchers built silver–zinc batteries that can bend and stretch—meaning they could be more elegantly integrated into future wearable devices. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4 min

About Science Talk

From the publisher's feed

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.