Scienceline

Growing up in Houston, Marina Watowich was no stranger to hurricane seasons. This familiarity now drives Watowich’s research in genomics, where she seeks to understand how the environment affects the aging process. She isn’t studying aging in humans — but in a unique population of monkeys in Puerto Rico.

These monkeys live on an isolated island off Puerto Rico and give researchers unique access and insights into monkey genetics. In 2017, Hurricane Maria walloped Puerto Rico and tore down trees on the island where the monkeys live. After the storm, Watowich and colleagues discovered the primate survivors aged rapidly, findings that have implications for human aging after natural disasters.

Scienceline reporter Hannah Loss speaks with Watowich on her journey to uncover the aftermath of hurricanes on aging.

Also find the full story on Scienceline's website: https://scienceline.org/2022/08/aging-primates/

Sounds used:

Cyclone Hurricane Hugo 1989 by solostud | CC BY 3.0

Dj0287 via The Weather Channel

Tetana Adkins Mace via NBC News

Sloan's TV Airchive via KHOU TV

Cayo Santiago monkey sounds courtesy of Noah Snyder-Mackler

Chimpanzees are nearing extinction in many countries. Of the four subspecies of these great apes, western chimpanzees are the most endangered. Experts estimate that their distribution is now extremely patchy, with 80% of their numbers having declined in the last 20 years. The largest-remaining population is found in the Ivory Coast in Western Africa, with smaller populations in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Liberia. 

Poaching and habitat loss are some of the well-known threats to chimpanzees. But a study published last September finds that road developments are exacerbating their population decline. Noise pollution emanating from the construction of roads and poachers gaining access to more remote locations are some of the reasons to blame. A team of primate conservationists have quantified the extent to which roads jeopardize their communities. They say that just about 4.5% of the chimp population are left unaffected by roads. 

On this episode of the Scienceline podcast, reporter Niranjana Rajalakshmi speaks with primate behavior experts who suggest a few strategies that could mitigate the impact of roads on western chimpanzees. 

Find more information at Scienceline.org

Thinking about climate change can be overwhelming, even paralyzing. Attempting to solve this global crisis will take enormous efforts by politicians, companies and local leaders to reverse the negative effects on our planet. 

On this global stage, where can artistic expression fit into our response and communication efforts? Enter climate change theater — an effort by playwrights, educators and scientists to spread information and awareness about the impacts of human behavior on the environment. While filled with serious themes of melting ice caps and polluted waterways, these plays also offer hope for a positive future.

Join Scienceline reporter Hannah Loss on a trip up the Hudson Valley as she experiences a global series of storytelling and live performances organized by Climate Change Theatre Action.

You can read more on our website: https://scienceline.org/2022/03/climate-change-on-the-global-stage/

Music:

Bedtime Story for My (future) Daughter by Caity-Shea Violette, performed by Hudson River Playback Theatre

The Oysters, by Miranda Rose Hall, performed by Andrew Brehm, Eric Magnus and Liz Zito

What do Tiger Woods, Michelle Williams and President Joe Biden all have in common? Like around 3 million people in the United States, they are all people who stutter.

Stuttering commonly develops around childhood and most people stop stuttering by the time they reach adulthood. However, stuttering persists for some adults and researchers haven’t been able to figure out why. But findings from a recent study may get them one step closer to finding out: Adults don’t stutter when they talk alone.

Join Scienceline reporter Kharishar Kahfi as he learns more about the communication disorder and what the new discovery adds to the field of stuttering research.

You can read more on our website: https://scienceline.org/2022/03/do-stutterers-always-stutter-not-really/

Music:

Thinking Music by Kevin MacLeod | Filmmusic.io Standard License

Western Streets by Kevin MacLeod | Filmmusic.io Standard License

Sound effect:

Phone Ringing by acclivity | CC BY 3.0

The Central Park Running Club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 in the morning. Not much stops them from starting their days together with an early morning jaunt through the park — not cold, not rain and not even January’s big snowstorm. 

What’s so special about exercising together that it gets these intrepid Central Park runners out of bed and onto the road each week? In this episode of the Scienceline podcast, Emily talks to runners, a neuroscientist and a health psychologist to find out. 

Find more information at Scienceline.org: https://scienceline.org/2022/02/what-we-gain-by-exercising-together/

Music: 

Springtime After a Long Winter by Azovmusic | End-User License Agreement

Sound Effects:

Guitar: Alexander Nakarada | CC BY 4.0

The Republic of Tuva, located in the Russian Federation, is known across the world for its music. If you’ve ever heard Tuvan vocalists sing, you’ll understand why. A piercing whistle hovers over a deep, buzzing drone — two very different sounds coming from the same singer’s vocal tract as he harmonizes with himself.

So how do these master vocalists sing two notes at once? The answer lies in the most fundamental principles of sound. And in theory, anyone can learn to do it. 

On this episode of the Scienceline podcast, experience the captivating beauty of Tuvan throat singing and the physics that makes it possible.

You can find more information on Scienceline: https://scienceline.org/2022/02/how-tuvan-vocalists-sing-two-notes-at-once/

Effects:

Acoustic data from Bergevin et al. (2020) | Used with permission

Music:

”My Throat” by Alash | Used with permission

”Karachal” by Alash | Used with permission

Sometimes, being a “material girl” comes with a downside. An endless cycle of fashion trends doesn’t only weigh on your wallet; it takes a toll on the planet too.

In 2020, the fashion industry accounted for 10% of the world’s carbon emissions, which is more than the oceanic shipping and international flight industries combined. If current practices continue undeterred, experts predict emissions will only increase.

Just like the larger issue of climate change, the path to fixing the fashion industry is disagreed upon. The good news? There are personal changes you can make to your shopping habits and potential policy changes that could help.

Scienceline reporter Maiya Focht dives deeper into the fast fashion industry, giving you an overview of the most important trend: caring for the environment.

More information on Scienceline.org: https://scienceline.org/2022/02/fighting-fast-fashion/

MUSIC USED IN ORDER:

Dark Fog by Kevin MacLeod | Filmmusic.io standard license

Raving Energy by Kevin MacLeod | Filmmusic.io standard license

Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod | Filmmusic.io standard license

SOUND EFFECTS

Newscast waterfall:

Vice News

Teen Vogue

DW Documentary

MTV Impact

CBS News

Trend waterfall:

Sisters Forever

Kerina Wang

Model Mouth

Katelyn Dewitt

Laini Ozark

Have you ever wondered how the universe will end? Chances are that the answer is “yes”;  humans tend to have an innate curiosity when it comes to morbid questions.

Scientists, of course, are no different. Cosmologists have pondered the ultimate fate of the universe, and many have converged on a theory: the “heat death of the universe,” also known as the “Big Freeze.” The Big Freeze theory suggests that, one day, all the energy in the universe will become evenly distributed, preventing any further action from occurring. In other words, the entire universe will essentially “freeze” into place.

To learn more about this theory and the science behind it, Scienceline’s Daniel Leonard sat down with a postdoctoral researcher in cosmology (plus another special guest). Listen to what he discovered below.

Read more at Scienceline.org: https://scienceline.org/2022/02/the-icy-fate-of-the-universe/

Music:

Solstice by Ross Budgen | CC by 4.0

Art of Silence by Uniq | CC by 4.0

Sound Effects:

Robert Frost’s “Fire and Ice,” read for Librivox by Alan Davis Drake | Public Domain Mark 1.0

Gong: Under the Home | CC0 1.0

Splash: lwdickens | CC0 1.0

Wind: Sound Effect Database | CC by 4.0

Today, many charcuterie boards, servings of buffalo chicken and cobb salads feature blue cheese and possibly even a glass of beer. New evidence shows that humans’ taste for a cheese flavored by fungi may have begun as early as 800 B.C.

The Hallstatt salt mines in the Eastern Alps preserved excrement left behind by the workers who extracted salt from underground. Last year, researchers analyzed molecules on four samples of paleofeces, or very old human poop, and found evidence of blue cheese and pale ale consumption as early as the Iron Age nearly 3,000 years ago.

Join Scienceline reporter Delaney Dryfoos on a foray to unearth the dietary habits of European salt miners from the Bronze Age to the Baroque era.

You can also listen to this episode of the Scienceline podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher.

Music:

Krainer Waltz - Traditional Austrian and Slovenian Music by JuliusH | Pixabay License

Like many other volunteers, Brooklyn resident Hailee got involved with feral cat care by accident. After seeing cats in need around her neighborhood, she adopted some, found veterinary resources for others and joined a community of cat-savvy neighbors.

Throughout New York City a network of volunteers and professionals are working to compassionately reduce feral cat populations. “In 2003, only 25% of animals who came into the shelters got out alive… now what the industry calls the live release rate has been consistently over 90% for the past few years,” says Kathleen O’Malley, director of community cat education for the non-profit organization Bideawee.

Armed with humane traps, spay and neuter procedures, cat food and warm shelters, cat lovers have helped lower numbers of feral cats while keeping them safe at the same time.

Join Scienceline reporter Tatum McConnell as she learns more about managing feral cats in New York City.

You can listen to this episode of the Scienceline podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher.

Music:

Hardboiled by Kevin MacLeod | Filmmusic.io Standard License

Shades of Spring by Kevin MacLeod | Filmmusic.io Standard License

Modern Jazz Samba by Kevin MacLeod | Filmmusic.io Standard License

Sound effects:

Footsteps in Street Woman by Stevious42 | CC BY 3.0

Cat Meow2 by steffcaffrey | CC0 1.0

Typing on a keyboard by SamsterBirdies | CC0 1.0

Cat Meow3 by steffcaffrey | CC0 1.0