A Moment of Science

Fire: Not Just For Humans Anymore

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Humans have long been considered the only animals to use fire. However, scientific evidence from Australian Aboriginal groups have shown this is not t...

Butterfly Brains And Speciation

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What role do our brains play in evolution? Scientists study butterfly brains to learn more.

Is It A Waste To Wash Your Recyclables?

24 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We all try our best to reduce, reuse, recycle. But how much is washing out recycling really helping?

Plant Fossils Beneath The Greenland Ice Sheet

23 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A sample taken beneath Greenland's mile-thick ice sheet reveals much about the area's past million years of history, and provides a warning for its fu...

Some Countries Navigate Better Than Others

22 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What impacts our internal sense of direction? Research shows a surprising contributing factor.

Immune Response Of Early Embryos

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When do we develop our immune system?

Long-Lived Sea Species

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Animals like the tortoise are known to live much longer than humans. What other animals have equally impressive lifespans?

Changing Climate: Can Forests Make Like A Tree And Leave?

17 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As climate change becomes a more pressing issue, how will forests adapt to rising temperatures?

Bad Grades And Biological Clocks

16 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Doing well in classes is a bit more complicated to achieve than just studying hard. Today's A Moment of Science looks at how activity patterns might i...

Jonathan, The Giant Tortoise

15 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Have you heard of Jonathan the Giant Tortoise? Today's A Moment of Science has more on his impressive lifespan

Why Do African Apes Walk On Their Knuckles?

14 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chimps and gorillas are the only animals to walk on their knuckles, but why do they do this?

Additive And Subtractive Strategies

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We often first think of adding a new variable when problem solving, like giving a dying houseplant more water or fertilizer. Why don't we think of tak...

Running On The Water

10 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Many animals and insects, including two species of grebes, can run on water. But what sets these birds apart from others?

Bacteria Can Survive The Harsh Conditions Of Space

09 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The origin of life on Earth is still a mystery. The theory of panspermia looks to bacteria for answers.

Guayule: A Promising Crop From The Desert

08 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What exactly is guayule, and why is this lesser-known crop so useful?

Did Whales Learn To Avoid Whalers?

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sperm whales have the largest brain for any animal. Researchers are now wondering if that brain power leads to some interesting, complex thought.

The Cities Of The Maya

06 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers have always known the Mayan built a sophisticated civilization, but had assumed their numbers to be fairly small. A breakthrough has broug...

The Microbial Time-Travelers Of Pangaea

03 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Microbes are usually quick to evolve, but what if there's no need to change? Today's A Moment of Science looks at some consistent microbial designs.

Fastidious Felines

02 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

While it may seem like some of our furry friends' food preferences are incredibly picky, they actually have a refined pallet. Today's A Moment of Scie...

How Does Autotune Work?

01 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Very few of us can sing perfectly, but autotune helps hide a singer's mistakes. How does this process work?

The Scent Of Danger: Underwater

31 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In a crab-eat-crab underwater world, how are crustaceans able to protect themselves? Today's A Moment of Science has more on their sense for danger.

Albatross Conservation

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The albatross Wisdom has had an impressively long life. How can we best protect seabirds so they can experience the same?

What Is A Glacier?

27 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What are glaciers and how do they form? Today's A Moment of Science explains.

Feeding Cattle Seaweed

26 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Cows have a surprisingly high contribution to climate change. How can changing their diet help curb their impact?

Defensive Pessimism

25 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are there different benefits to being either an optimist or a pessimist? Today's A Moment of Science looks at those who see the glass as "half full."

Was Oumuamua A Nitrogen Iceberg?

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A 2017 space anomaly still has astronomers questioning what they saw. Now, they might have a new theory.

Why We Choose To Listen To Sad Music

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes we listen to sad music to feel better, and sometimes we listen to feel sadder. Why do we do that?

Mechanical Gears In An Insect

20 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Gears can be found in almost every mechanical device. Researchers discovered nature has designed some of its own.

Humongous Fungus

19 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What's the world's largest single organism? This fungus makes whales and elephants look tiny in comparison.

The Patagonia Picnic Table Effect

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What is The Patagonia Picnic Table Effect? Today's A Moment of Science looks at the relationship between birders and rare bird sightings.

Glitter In The Environment

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you've ever used glitter, it can seem like it takes forever to away. This is true for our environment as a whole, and today's A Moment of Science l...

Protecting Paddlefish Roe

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How can different species benefit from environmental protections? The case of the paddlefish is a good example of how we can better protect our neighb...

Life In The Deep Biosphere

13 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There's evidence that life can exist several miles underground. How do these unique ecosystems exist?

Trilobites Breathed Through Their Legs

12 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Humans have noses, fish have gills, and 450-million-year-old trilobites had dumbbell-shaped breathing structures hanging off their legs. Today's A Mom...

Turtles, Tortoises, Terrapins

11 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How can you tell the difference between a turtle, a tortoise, and a terrapin? Today's A Moment of Science breaks these classifications down.

The Oceans, Carbon, And Climate Change

10 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Climate change and carbon levels have a massive impact on our oceans. Newly published research looks into what the future of our oceans can look like.

Can Plants Learn?

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Pavlov's famous experiment ringing a bell before feeding a dog shed light on associative learning. Researchers wondered if plants were capable of maki...

Modern Alchemy: Lab-Made Gold

06 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Alchemy existed long before modern science, and it's appeal still lives on. Some still wonder, is transmutation possible?

Why Do Cats Shed All Year Round?

05 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If a cat's fur is supposed to protect them from the cold, why do they shed year round instead of seasonally?

Did Climate Change Kill North America's Mammals?

04 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

North America used to be home to some of the world's largest mammals. 10,000 years later, scientists are looking at climate change as a possible cause...

Screens And Sleep

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Artificial light from our devices has started affecting our ability to get to sleep. But how exactly does this happen? Today's A Moment of Science exp...

When A Song Gets Stuck In Your Head

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What makes a song so easy to stay in your head? Today's A Moment of Science looks at the characteristics of earworms.

How Climate Change Impacts Coffee Pollinators

30 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Coffee needs cool, mountainous areas to grow. As rising temperatures decrease suitable growing places, how will this impact pollinators?

When Crocodiles And Alligators Get The Munchies

29 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What else do these impressive predators eat besides meat?

Change Blindness

28 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Why are "spot the difference" games so difficult? The answer might have to do with how our brains evolved.

Lobsters' Long Lives

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We've probably all seen the claim that lobsters are immortal. How true is this fun fact?

Not Just A Pretty Face

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do our perceptions of attractiveness impact how we perceive people?

Traffic Noise And Mating Crickets

23 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How can noise impact other animals besides humans? Today's A Moment of Science explains more.

How We Got Teeth And Bones: The Beginnings Of Biomineralization

22 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What is biomineralization? Today's A Moment of Science explains.

Yuck!

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Why do humans have such a universal response when we find something disgusting?

Animals Use Reason, Just Like You

20 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Philosophers have often wondered what sets humans apart from animals. It turns out that distinction might be more difficult to find than previously th...

The Moon's Precious Ice

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Humans have already found water in many places on the Moon. Now, we want to explore the frozen water hidden deep inside craters at the Moon’s poles.

Busting Bedbugs

16 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How are bedbugs able to spread so quickly even though they don't fly? Today's A Moment of Science explains more.

The Albatross

15 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How much do you know about the albatross? Today's A Moment of Science takes a look at these impressive birds.

Early Crop Evolution

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today's A Moment of Science looks at the beginnings of how our ancestors influenced crop production.

The Sex Lives Of Reindeer Lichen

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For a long time, scientists thought reindeer lichen reproduced asexually. Now, new research shows the lives of these lichen may be more interesting th...

Cool Down With A Hot Drink On A Hot Day

12 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Is it better to drink a hot or cold beverage when trying to cool down?

Cats And Wildlife

09 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We might have domesticated cats, but how are their hunting instincts still impacting the environment?

Gopher Tortoises

08 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Why is the gopher tortoise known for saving its neighbor's lives? Today's A Moment of Science explains.

Birds And Small Mammals In The Desert

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do birds and small mammals deal with the heat when living in the desert?

Voting By Sneezing

06 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode looks at one of the unique ways animals communicate with each other.

Life Inside Sea Floor Rock

05 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode uncovers how the ocean floor might not be a lifeless place.

Neanderthals Were Kinda Gross

02 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

50,000 years ago, food was much more scarce. Today we look at the standards our ancestors may have had when it came to what they ate.

Earth's Early Continents

01 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What was our planet like in its infancy?

Female Dragonflies Fake Death To Survive

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Some female dragonflies have been observed using unconventional tactics to evade aggressive pursuers.

Fossilized Lightning

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Where can we find the marks of Zeus's stray lightning?

Dog Facial Expressions And Humans

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The assumption for years has been that animal facial expressions aren't related to complex cognitive processing. But research now suggests this may be...

Camber Angles

25 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How are racecar drivers able to stay so stable turning the corners of the racetrack? Besides years of practice, camber angles help out.

Should You Tap Your Soda Can?

24 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We've all heard the old wives's tale to tap your soda before opening it to prevent fizzing over. Is there any truth in this advice?

The Ogre-Faced Spider Hunts Using Sound

23 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today's A Moment of Science looks at some of the amazing qualities of the Ogre-Faced Spider.

How A Rogue Gene May Contribute To Cancer

22 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

New research into cancer sheds some light on a gene that might be contributing to cancer risks.

Amazing Roaches

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It seems like whenever a roach is spotted, it runs away before it can be caught. What sort of abilities do they have to help make this happen?

The Ambivalent Teenage Years Of Worms

18 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We probably all went through a few phases in our teenage years. How do other animals act during their adolescent stages?

This Snail Is Made Of Iron

17 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What makes this snail the punk rocker of the gastropod world? Learn more with today's A Moment of Science.

Politics And The Brain

16 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There's a lot to be learned from a brain scan. Is it possible for your brain to also show your political beliefs?

Telephobia

15 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Anxiety around phone calls is fairly common. How can we best combat this nervousness?

Coffee Shop Creativity

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Does getting work done in coffee shops actually help productivity levels?

Does Nutrasweet Have Calories?

11 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How are artificial sweeteners able to be so sweet yet have no calories? Today's A Moment of Science explains.

Sleeping Without A Brain

10 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sleep is important for our brains to properly function. But do animals without a central brain need sleep too?

Ancient Dental Records

09 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How much can teeth really tell us? As it turns out, it might be more than you think.

Animals And Napoleonic Intelligence

08 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When studying animal behavior, most research looks at how animals interact within their social groups. But what new information is there to learn when...

Addicted Ants

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do other animals besides humans react to drug exposure?

Identical Twins Aren't Always Genetically Identical

04 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For years, scientists have assumed that identical twins were the same down to their genes. Now, a new study sheds light on what we thought we knew abo...

Single Fish Female Seeks Good Father

03 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Does being a good parent help attract a mate?

Deforestation Is Stressing Out Animals

02 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Scientists look into the many ways deforestation can be harmful to animals.

The Plastic Brain

01 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How is the brain able to key in on specific conversations even when there's plenty of background noise? Today's A Moment of Science explains.

Horns vs. Antlers

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wondered how to tell the difference between horns and antlers? Today's A Moment of Science explains.

Plants Arming Themselves

28 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Plants might not be as defenseless against predators as they may first appear.

That's One Cold And Sleepy Squirrel

27 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For those of us who dislike winter, hibernating through the whole season doesn't sound too bad. How do Arctic ground squirrels do it?

How Some Grapes Conserve Their Water

25 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Climate change is impacting several of our favorite produce. Today, we look into how some grapes are able to fight back.

Bonobos Need Glasses Too

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

To learn more about the aging process in humans, we need to look at the aging process in some of our closest relatives.

Becoming Human

21 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Humans have evolved to use more and more complex tools, setting us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. But where did our use of tools begin?

Octopuses Sense Chemicals With Their Arms

20 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

While octopuses are known for their brainpower, their other abilities make them unique members of the animal kingdom.

Time Heals All Wounds...But Younger Wounds Heal Faster

19 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The older you get, the longer it seems for injuries to heal. But did you know scientists have figured out the reason why?

Sebum

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What exactly is sebum, and what role does it play in our bodies?

Contagious Violence

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Children are known to spread illnesses among their social groups fairly easily. But is there more than just sickness that can be spread?

This Reef Towers Over The Sea Floor

14 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

While it might be hard to believe, The Great Barrier Reef still holds many secrets for humanity to discover. This pinnacle reef is one of those secret...

Distracted From Survival

13 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Human activities are negatively impacting our water and air quality, but are there other ways we're harming our environment?

The Royal, Loyal Language Of Naked Mole Rats

12 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What do naked mole rats and royalty have in common? The answer lies in communication.

How Your Genes Impact The Effect Caffeine Has On You

11 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wondered why caffeine seems to impact people in different ways? The reason for this could be in our genes.