Science Talk

By Scientific AmericanScience

Science Talk episodes

June 02, 2015 Chimps Would "Cook" Food If They Could
A new study suggests that chimps have the cognitive skills necessary for cooking—such as patience—even if they don't control fire. Christopher Intagliata reports

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5 min
June 01, 2015 High Heels Heighten Health Hazard
Emergency room visits due to high heel shoe–related injuries doubled between 2002 and 2012. Erika Beras reports

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4 min
May 31, 2015 Parrotfish Build Islands with Their Poop
Parrotfish munching on algae ingest coral and then eliminate the rocky substrate, creating island-building grade sediment in places like the Maldives. Julia Rosen reports

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4 min
May 29, 2015 Blood Pressure Vaccine Lengthens Rat Lives
A DNA-based vaccine gave rats six months of protection against high blood pressure as well as healthier hearts. Christopher Intagliata reports

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4 min
May 28, 2015 CSI: Middle Pleistocene
Skull fragments dating back 430,000 years appear to be those of the world's first known murder victim, based on the damage observed. Dina Maron reports

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3 min
May 27, 2015 Mummy Mavens Unwrap Preservation Methods
In 1994 researchers made a mummy. Now scientists have reverse engineered the process to figure out how it's done, with the mummy makers still around to tell them how they did. Cynthia Graber reports

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3 min
May 26, 2015 Smart Cane Could Help Blind ID Faces
High-tech sticks could help visually impaired people spot obstacles and even identify acquaintances as they approach. Larry Greenemeier reports

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3 min
May 21, 2015 Dolphin Deaths Linked to 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
Unusual adrenal and lung conditions seen in dead dolphins in the months after the 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill point to the oil as the cause. Steve Mirsky reports

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4 min
May 20, 2015 Octopus Skin Senses Light, No Eyes or Brain Needed
The skin of a California octopus species has a molecular light-sensing mechanism that allows it to change color to match its surroundings with no input from the creature's eyes or brain. Dina Fine Maron reports

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4 min
May 19, 2015 First Woman MLBer Will Probably Pitch
Contemporary women's baseball chronicler Jennifer Ring says the fastest women pitchers currently hit speeds in the 80s (mph) and it keeps going up. Steve Mirsky 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.