A Moment of Science
Episodes
Estrogen and Breathing
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which air is obstructed to some degree while someone sleeps, but it’s more common in men for a reason.
Loud Dolphins
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A noisy ocean full of human activity makes it harder for dolphins to hear each other.
Lighter Than Air
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Who was the first to fly? You might guess Orville Wright, but actually, the first flight occurred in the 18th century after the discovery of hydrogen.
Fail 15% of the Time to Learn Best
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you get the answer right 100% of the time, you’re just not learning anything new.
Stand Up, Be More Creative?
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sitting for long stretches of time is detrimental to your health, and possibly your creativity.
Scared of Snakes?
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
According to some biological anthropologists, humans have evolved to be particularly wary of snakes.
Painful Math
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Does math anxiety cause you pain? According to one study, the brain thinks so.
A Million Years in the Dark: The World of the Mexican Blind Cavefish
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Suppose as a fish, you lived your entire life in darkness. How would you find your way around?
The Smell of Anxiety
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do emotions impact our sense of smell?
Myopic Misery
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You may have heard the phrase “Sadder but wiser,” but according to one study, sadness seems to make us less wise, at least with money.
Sometimes It's Good to Be Second Best
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re a baboon, being an alpha comes with its benefits. However, it comes with a price.
When Forgetfulness Comes in Handy
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Clark’s Nutcracker, a pretty bird that lives in the mountains of western North America, sometimes gets forgetful about where they hide pine nuts...
Those Who Don't Like Music
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone likes music, right? Except the people with what’s being called “specific musical anhedonia.”
Small Testicles, Better Fathers?
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A study with 70 men assessed interest and involvement in parenting and took some measurements. Can you guess the results?
Why Humans--but Not Chimps--Get Cancer
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Humans and chimpanzees share 96 percent of their DNA. So why are diseases like cancer so common in humans but so rare in chimps?
Bear-crossed Lovers
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Polar Bears and Grizzly Bears do share some DNA, but they’re separate species. Except for a couple instances.
The Butterwort: Ruthless Carnivore of the World
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mosquitoes, ants, and midges, had best take warning – this plant is nature’s flypaper!
Working Overtime
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The more money you make, the more likely you are to work more. But is that healthy?
Imaginary Eating
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can imagination help you eat less?
A Brief History of "High-fidelity" Sound
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How did the limitations of early recording techniques influence how speak on the radio?
Can Tooth Fillings Pick Up Radio Signals?
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lucille Ball once made a spooky claim: while driving down a bumpy road, she began to hear music—from inside her mouth!
Why We Can't Walk Through Walls
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Atoms are mostly empty space, so what’s stopping us from walking through walls?
Fearing the Dentist
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It turns out, you might have inherited your fear of the dentist.
Roots of Nausea
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A team of Canadian researchers identify the brain mechanism in rats that appears to control nausea.
Selfish Sheep
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why do animals like sheep, zebras, fish, and birds, tend to congregate and move around in flocks?
How Yoga Reduces Stress
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all know that Yoga can reduce stress, but how does it work?
Bacteria Portrait Sessions
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Biologists at Indiana University are making time lapse videos to learn about the life of bacteria.
The Ultraviolet Coloring of Flowers
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bees can learn a lot about a flower from its ultraviolet colors.
The Remains of a Cambrian Dinner
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A team of paleontologists working in the Canadian Rockies have unearthed an ancient worm's fossilized remains, dinner and all!
"It Takes a Village"
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You've might have heard this African proverb, but did you know that it doesn't just apply to humans?
When You Get an Itch...
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tough itch to scratch? Take a lesson from the bears.
Zebra Stripes
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brown and orange stripes can camouflage animals, but even Darwin was puzzled by black and white zebra stripes.
Lake Vostok
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Despite being in Antarctica, this underground lake isn’t frozen.
Plate Tectonics on Mars
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are there earthquakes on Mars? Or should we call them Marsquakes?
Amazing Roaches
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can roaches be so sneaky and fast?
Wetland bacteria, methane, and global climate change
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wetlands might not seem like they’re producing any methane, but invisible forces are at play.
Colorful Giant Penguins
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Water King was a giant penguin that lived in Peru about thirty six million years ago.
Why More Variety in Nature’s ‘Grocery Store’ Helps Species Coexist
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever reached for a bag of chips at the same moment as another shopper? Why doesn’t one species grab every resource for itself?
Becoming Part of the Music
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you’re at a loud concert, you can probably feel the thump of the bass. Why can’t you feel high-pitched sounds?
Glacier "Sawdust"
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do glaciers give icy cold mountain lakes that dazzling shade of blue?
Depression and the Immune System
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Depression may have an evolutionary benefit: it may improve one's chances of fighting off infection.
Comfy Mice, Better Science
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why do lab mice always have to be kept so cold?
Hunting and Drawing
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Did ancient Neanderthals make cave paintings? Or were they too busy hunting?
Invisible plant-microbe friendships and how they expand the plant niche
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The best kinds of relationships are the ones that help you grow.
The Emotional Oracle Effect
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can you predict the future? You might have a greater chance if you trust yourself.
Bog Bodies
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do pickles and human corpses found in European peat bogs have in common?
Llama Dung
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Scientists analyzing ancient lake mud think that the success and development of the Inca empire was partially due to... llama dung?
Singing Toadfish
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
These fish – that kind of look like toads – can make a sound like a foghorn.
Tiny Pollution Detectors
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dogs get all the press for being wonderful scent detectors. But who could imagine that the lowly clam would take on a similar role as water based poll...
The Partitioning of the Pollinator
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you're making dinner, you probably want something easy. As it turns out, bees are also looking for the most efficient meal.
White Nose Syndrome Mystery
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A fungus has wreaked havoc on millions of bats since 2006.
A Cool Particle
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Clouds reflect sunlight, so could they help reduce climate change?
Migraines and Exercise
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you experience migraines, should you avoid exercise to prevent triggering a migraine?
Crocodiles Swam the Atlantic
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you were going to bet on a species to send on an ocean voyage without a boat, crocodiles would be a good pick.
Ancient Disease Resistance
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Scientists studying ancient Neanderthals believe they may know why some modern people have the immunity to certain conditions while others do not.
Fast brain waves provide new insights into sleep and wakefulness
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Neuroscientists discover previously unmeasured brain activity by using shorter timescales.
Poisonous Rats
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Yes, poisonous rats do exist. But only because they know how to steal.
Sleeping with Pets
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is it dangerous to sleep with pets? Only if you kiss them on the nose.
Bomb-Sniffing Plants
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some plants release toxins when they're threatened by a hungry insect looking for a meal. These bioengineers ran with the idea.
The Loudest Animal on Earth
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A great blue whale? How about a lion roaring? The loudest animal on Earth is actually quite small.
Why and When Did Mammals Start Producing Milk?
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our early mammalian ancestors did not have nipples, so where did they come from?
Eavesdropping Bats Learn to Recognize a Good Meal
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bats use echolocation to find prey, but it's not the only method for Fringe-lipped bats.
Dogs at Work
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bringing dogs to work might sound like a recipe for chaos, but it might actually make you more productive.
The Social Web of Bullying
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all know how bullying works, but research paints a more nuanced picture finding links between aggression and social status.
Is it OK to Drink Urine?
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Suppose it's an emergency? Well, here's everything you need to know.
Why Can’t We Remember Being Babies?
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Scientists know that infancy is a time of rapid learning. So, how come we can’t remember being a baby?
Getting Fat at Work
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Seems like there are plenty of reasons for the obesity epidemic, but it might actually have to do with work.
Beet Juice and Dementia
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Beet juice helps lower blood pressure. Could it also help prevent dementia?
Bird Hormones Mirror Life Strategies
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hormones play a crucial role in an animal’s survival. Do different stress levels indicate different behaviors?
A Creature From Hell: Earth's Oldest Ant
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Finding an insect fossil in rock is unusual. What did these prehistoric ants look like?
Stimulating Math
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you allergic to math? Researchers might have found a treatment just for you.
The Long March
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does walking have to do with fish? It turns out, the blueprint for walking might have existed for longer than previously thought.
Discovering a New Organ: the Interstitium
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You might be wondering how anatomists could have missed an organ in the human body, but that might to do with how unusual it is.
Solve for Tomorrow: High School Inventions
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What was your greatest high school achievement? What about an award-winning invention?
Doodling for Memory
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you prone to doodling when you should be paying attention? It might actually keep you focused.
Genetically-Modified Food
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you're into health food or junk food, there's a good chance it's been genetically modified.
How Tropical Hummingbird Chicks Scare Predators Away
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The tropical rainforest is dangerous – you might have to get a little creative to ward off predators.
Just Say Neigh
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Horses are sometimes prone to strange addictions.
Vitamins. What's Too Much?
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When do supplements become detrimental?
Broken Heart Syndrome
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you heal from a broken heart? What if it landed you in the ER?
You'd Look Stunning in Infrared
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why are we Earth dwellers so attuned to visible light, instead of some other segment of the spectrum?
Is there life on K2 18b?
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you detect signs of life on exoplanets without traditional telescopes?
Why Clones Ain't Copies
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You can copy the genes, but you'll never be able to copy the gene expression.
Clones Ain't Copies
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The world's first cloned cat had a different personality altogether than its clone mother--she was much more friendly, in fact.
Meeting Your Future (Virtual) Self
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you could go back in time, what would you say to yourself? What if you could simulate that experience?
How We Know That Humpty Dumpty Wasn't a Cat
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How are cats so good at landing?
Bad Vibrations
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You've heard of good vibrations, but what about the bad ones that come from holding a jack hammer too long?
Smelling in Stereo
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why do snakes have forked tongues and why do they flick them?
Let'r Rip
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why does paper tend to tear better in one direction?
A Moment of Silence
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You might listen to relaxing music to center your focus, but does silence work better?
Is It Possible To Be "Bored To Death?"
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is that boring job slowly killing you? According to this study, it's possible.
Visitors From Alpha Centauri
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do we have extraterrestrial visitors in our solar system?
Teenage Marijuana Use May Lead To Psychotic Symptoms In The Future
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A 10-year study on teenage cannabis users reveals the risk of developing psychotic illness.
Australopithecus africanus: Your (Mostly) Vegetarian Relative
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You might know a vegetarian in your family, but what about your prehistoric relatives?
What Causes Morning Breath?
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have bad morning breath? What about a raspy morning voice? Gravity is to blame.
The Ancient Cannibals of Maszycka Cave
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Archeologists have made a gruesome discovery at an archeological site in Southern Poland.
Why Are Siamese Cats Cross-Eyed?
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever noticed that Siamese cats are cross-eyed? In fact, that's the only way a Siamese cat can see straight.
Right Brain, Left Face
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever noticed that famous portraits always tend to depict people from their left side?
Why Do Teens Make Dumb Decisions
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Adults aren't exempt from making dumb decisions, either. It's all about impulse control.
The Creature with an Extra Brain
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Thinking with your stomach? After all, it does have its own nervous system.