Science Talk

By Scientific AmericanScience

Science Talk episodes

September 12, 2016 World Wilderness Down 10 Percent in 20 Years
South America and central Africa lost the most wilderness in a decline since the 1990s that saw the planet's wild areas down by a tenth

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4 min
September 08, 2016 Photonic Chip Could Strengthen Smartphone Encryption
The chip uses pulses of laser light to generate truly random numbers, the basis of encryption. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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3 min
September 07, 2016 Protein Test Could Complement Crime Scene DNA Analysis
Researchers determined that the variation of a couple hundred proteins in a person's hair could be enough to single her out from one million individuals. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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4 min
September 02, 2016 Shark Fins Contain Toxic "One–Two Punch"
Sharks can accumulate both methylmercury and a toxin called BMAA, which can have synergistic effects on human consumers. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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4 min
August 31, 2016 Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program Actually Promotes It
Teenage girls who cared for infant dolls, an intervention meant to prevent pregnancy, actually had a higher risk of getting pregnant by age 20. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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4 min
August 29, 2016 Color-Changing Skin Aids Climate Control and Communication
Bearded dragons modify their colors for camouflage or to maintain body temperature, or to communicate with other dragons. Jason G. Goldman reports.

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4 min
August 25, 2016 Waste Amphetamines Alter Underwater Ecosystems
Using an artificial stream system, researchers found that amphetamine residues altered insect and microbial life in aquatic ecosystems. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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3 min
August 24, 2016 A Green Solution to Improve Indoor Air Quality
In 12 hours Dracaena plants removed nearly all the acetone from an airtight chamber, suggesting they might be put to use as air filters in nail salons. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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4 min
August 23, 2016 Humans Are Superpredators in the Landscape of Fear
Badgers were far more frightened by the sounds of humans than by their traditional predators, such as bears or wolves.

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5 min
August 19, 2016 Voters Are Seldom Swayed by Local Campaign Stops
A survey during the 2012 election found that bus tours and visits to greasy spoons didn't do much to change voter opinions. Christopher Intagliata reports.

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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.