A Moment of Science

Orangutans holler out their travel plans

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do you picture Tarzan yelling and swinging from vine to vine through a jungle? This mental image has some basis in reality with orangutan behavior.

Photographing a black hole

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do you photograph something that doesn't reflect light?

Methane from glaciers and volcanoes

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn more about the relationship between volcanoes, glaciers, and methane.

Vinegar eels do the wave

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There are several organisms in the animal kingdom that move with a certain synchronization. Learn more about the wave of the vinegar eels with today's...

Lying in a foreign language comes easier

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do you find it difficult to tell a lie? Research shows telling one in a different language may be easier.

Even fruit flies have culture

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Fruit flies are very social creatures and even have their own established culture.

Our ancient relative, Australopithecus sediba

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Find out more about this member of our family tree with today's A Moment of Science!

The icy lumps that grow beneath the ground

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn more about the unique geological formation known as pingos with today's A Moment of Science!

Matters of the heart rate

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Resting heart rate is different for babies versus adults. Why is that exactly?

Howler monkeys are changing color

21 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The traditionally dark fur of the howler monkey is starting to get light yellow patches. Scientists look into why this is happening.

Cells and organ failure

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When you get a cut, your cells quickly start to divide and heal. What does this process look like for our internal organs?

Climate change clues from the past

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers look to the geological evidence from the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum to inform policies for our future.

How do cranes communicate?

16 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Without the power of speech, how do birds communicate?

White noise and sleep quality

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Having background noise is helpful for some to get to sleep. What exactly is white noise, and why does it impact our quality of rest?

The coolest orangutans use slang

14 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How does popularity work in the animal kingdom? For orangutans, there might be a few similarities to human behavior.

The musical mpingo tree

13 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Find out more about this musical tree with today's A Moment of Science!

Raindrops on the rear window

12 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Raindrops always appear to miss the rear window of cars. Why does this happen?

Why are dreams so hard to remember?

09 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Even the most vivid dreams can be difficult to remember soon after waking up. Why don't dreams leave more of an impression?

Are you waking up with tea or coffee?

08 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What's your preference to get your morning started?

Ocean waves squared

07 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever seen ocean waves form a square? What causes this unique formation?

Reducing the power consumption of computers

06 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Energy consumption is a major concern when it comes to environmental impact. The power computers require presents a threat of its own.

Why do giraffes have such long necks?

05 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

They're an iconic animal, but why exactly do giraffes have such long necks?

The icy volcanoes of Pluto

02 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn more about the dwarf planet of our solar system, Pluto.

Dyslexia in English vs Chinese

01 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How does dyslexia differ across languages?

Does the patas monkey speak for the trees?

31 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn more about the animal that may have inspired Dr. Seuss' Lorax with today's A Moment of Science.

Diamonds in the sky

30 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Diamonds are a treasured resource on Earth, but how common are they on other planets?

Termites can help out in a drought

29 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Regardless of how we might personally feel about insects, they do play an important role in our ecosystems. Find out the benefits of termites with tod...

Smelling your way around

26 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How does your sense of smell impact your ability to navigate?

More internet means more migration

25 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the modern age, the internet has a huge impact on countless factors in our daily lives. Learn why migration is effected as well with today's A Mome...

A crow species can infer weight

24 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Corvids are known to be pretty clever birds, but did you know they're good at guessing weight as well?

The battle between Triceratops and Triceratops

23 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Many animals fight within their own species, and the dinosaurs were not exception.

Why is it so hard to swat a fly?

22 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Flies are notorious house pests. Why can it be so hard to get rid of them?

Geese domestication may be 7,000 years old

19 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

While we may think of chickens as the first domesticated fowl, evidence suggests the goose got there first.

Choking under pressure

18 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Pressure can come from any number of sources, especially for athletes competing at the top of their fields. Today's A Moment of Science has more on th...

The causes of root rot and how to fight back

17 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What exactly is root rot, and how can we best protect our plants?

AI develops prejudice all on its own

16 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Prejudices can come from learned behavior, even for artificial intelligence.

The fastest movement on the planet

15 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Cheetahs are the fastest runners on the planet, but there's another surprising contender with impressive moves of their own.

Weather pattern predictability

12 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How far in advance can we accurately predict the weather?

Ancient feathers encased in amber

11 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The unique protective properties of amber provide a unique insight into ancient findings.

What is decanting and why does it matter?

10 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How does decanting actually change the makeup of a wine?

Fireflies as the monarchs of the night

09 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Fireflies and monarch butterflies can't easily camouflage themselves from predators. How do they stay safe?

Railroads on fire

08 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn why railroads sometimes need to heat up with a fire in today's A Moment of Science!

Learning English? Try Latin

05 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn more about the benefits of studying Latin when learning a new language with today's A Moment of Science!

Love it or hate it: cilantro

04 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What makes cilantro such a divisive addition to food?

What are frost quakes?

03 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You've heard of an earthquake, but what exactly are frost quakes?

Dolphins may help us understand menopause

02 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dolphins have always been fascinating creatures to study. Recently, scientists have looked to see what we can learn from dolphins about some of our ow...

Why does rubbing alcohol feel cold?

01 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When you use rubbing alcohol on your skin, why does it feel cold?

How plants communicate with their family trees

29 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Plants have long been understood to communicate with each other, but do they listen to some fellow plants more often than others?

Walking can be a real uphill battle

28 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why is walking uphill such hard work?

The prickly truth behind a porcupine's quills

27 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How much do you know about the real danger of porcupine quills? Fill in some blanks with today's A Moment of Science!

Math is not really a language

26 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You might have heard math described as its own language, but is it really?

The grizzly bear's unusual nickname

25 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Have you heard of grizzly bears being called "Rototillers of the Rockies"?

What really causes dry skin?

22 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We know things such as taking hot showers, excess bathing, and sun exposure can cause dry skin. But why do these factors actually influence our bodies...

A flightless bird's family tree

21 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The ostrich, rhea, cassowary, and emu are all flightless birds who share a family tree. How did these animals evolve to get this way?

The moon, coral growth, and how many days used to be in a year

20 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Growth rings in corals reveal some interesting insights into how many days were in a year millions of years ago.

Finches can categorize colors

19 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn more about how the zebra finch thinks about color with today's A Moment of Science!

Black carbon pollution and melting ice in Antarctica

18 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Human pollution has an impact on all environments across the globe, including in remote Antarctica.

The dusky dottyback fish goes undercover

15 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Many animals use mimicry to confuse others around them. Learn how the dottyback fish uses this ability with today's A Moment of Science.

The bubble that lasted for a whole year

14 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why do bubbles pop so soon, and how long can they really last?

How losing a tail can save your genes

13 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Some animals are able to lose a limb to save themselves in a process called autotomy.

A fourth state of matter

12 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Solid, liquid, gas...and what else? Learn about plasma with today's A Moment of Science.

How orb-weaving spiders build their webs

11 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn more about this impressive feat of engineering with today's A Moment of Science!

When I yawn, my dog yawns

08 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Have you noticed if you yawn, your pet tends to copy you? Why does that happen?

How blind and sighted people understand color

07 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

While blind people can learn that roses are red, how deep is this understanding of “redness”?

Ghosts and robots in the lab

06 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever experienced the sensation of someone touching you who wasn't really there? A lab experiment may shed light on why that happens.

The incredible scientific discovery found on Facebook

05 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Discoveries can come from some surprising sources, including over social media.

The bone wars of paleontology

04 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the infamous feud which helped launch the field of paleontology into the mainstream with today's A Moment of Science!

Tasteless penguins

01 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Penguins have a very fish-heavy diet, but do they actually like how it tastes? Learn more about their senses with today's A Moment of Science

The ruthless carnivore of the plant world

30 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn all about the ferocious butterwort plant with today's A Moment of Science!

What goes on at CERN?

29 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How much do you know about CERN? Learn more about it with today's A Moment of Science.

A vaccine against Alzheimer's disease?

28 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Alzheimer's disease has well-known effects with seemingly few methods of treatment. New research may shed some hope on this subject.

Frogs can't poison themselves

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Frogs are known to have some deadly toxins at their disposal. But if they're so deadly, how do they keep from poisoning themselves?

Welcome to the Laughing Gas Ball

24 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is known today as a part of major surgery. But what did its discoverer have in mind?

The fish whose blood isn't red

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Blood is often associated with the color red, but that isn't true for all species. Learn about the special case of fish in the Antarctic.

You shouldn't pet that honey badger

22 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Honey badgers might look like friendly mammals, but they're among the fiercest animals on the planet.

Waking up and feeling tired

21 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever wake up and feel groggy and slow? You're probably experiencing sleep inertia.

The millipede that really does have one thousand feet

20 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Millipedes have many feet, but none until now have truly lived up to their name. Researchers in 2021 have found a true millipede in Western Australia.

How animals use chromatophores in coloration

17 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Color is everywhere in the animal kingdom and plays an important role in several behaviors. Learn about the details behind these beautiful displays wi...

Volcanoes warm, then cool, the Earth

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do volcanoes impact our planet? Find out more about this explosive science with today's A Moment of Science.

How can you tell the difference between horns and antlers?

15 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is there a difference between horns and antlers? Find out with A Moment of Science!

What is wax, anyway?

14 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Wax is a common substance in our lives, but what is it exactly?

The connection between a cottonwood, a beaver, and a beetle

13 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What kind of relationship exists between a tree, a beaver, and a beetle? Find out with today's A Moment of Science.

The heat death of the universe

10 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If the universe started with the Big Bang, what will it look like far into the future?

Evolution, batesian mimicry, and snakes

09 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Yesterday we looked closer at batesian mimicry, and today's A Moment of Science checks out another example of this phenomenon in snakes.

Evolving with batesian mimicry

08 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"Monkey see, monkey do" might be a common phrase for humans, but there's some truth behind this for other species as well. Learn more about batesian m...

When pigs fly: Hope for heart patients in designed swine

07 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Organ transplants can be a complicated process on a number of levels, including finding a suitable organ match in the first place. New research may ha...

How did you get those big muscles?

06 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Countless sources will claim to have "the real secret" behind getting big muscles. What does science say about our bodies?

The science behind apple pie

03 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Want to learn more about this tasty treat? Read about food science with A Moment of Science!

In nature, sometimes size matters

02 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Even animals can be bullies, and it turns out size plays an important role in how an animal behaves with others in its species.

Pets have their own obesity epidemic

01 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Obesity is a well-known issue in the United States, and humans aren't the only ones impacted.

Salmon that shape mountains

31 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Environments can shape a species, but what about the other way around?

Carbon isotopes and past life on Mars

30 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

NASA’s Curiosity rover is exploring Gale crater on Mars. The crater contains rock formed from sediments deposited billions of years ago on the botto...

The light of spring

27 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There are many changes with the coming of spring, including sunlight. Learn more with today's A Moment of Science!

How to find a "super tree"

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers wondered what the best trees were for absorbing air pollution, and created a ranking scale as a result of their findings.

The problem with zero gravity

25 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Zero gravity is often confused for weightlessness. Learn more about why that comparison isn't really accurate with today's A Moment of Science.

An arsenic green wallpaper to dye for

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are very aware of the dangers of arsenic exposure, but that didn't stop some of our ancestors from using this poison in a number of objects t...

The tomato plant's surprising defense against caterpillars

23 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You might think a plant would be defenseless against predators, but that's not really the case. Learn more about the tomato plant's defense system wit...

Soap bubbles and butterfly wings

20 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What do soap bubbles and butterfly wings have in common? Learn the answer with today's A Moment of Science!

The world's largest colony of fish nests

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There are many surprises still within the area of the Antarctic, including its unexpected abundance of life. Learn more about the discovery of fish ne...

Big mouth, even bigger bite

18 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Creatures today like crocodiles have some impressive force behind their jaws, but did any animals of the past pack an even more powerful punch? Learn ...