A Moment of Science

Why did T. rexes have tiny arms?

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The T. rex was one of the fiercest dinosaur predators, but why did it have such small arms?

Why do we feel madly in love?

20 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Love makes you do crazy things, but what is it exactly that makes us behave so differently?

Cockroaches have personalities and make choices

17 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How personable are cockroaches?

Convection in your coffee cup

16 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There are some interesting physics to be found first thing in the morning.

Planet of the ants

15 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Humans like to think of Earth as our planet, but biology tells us otherwise.

Bernoulli's hair dryer

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Learn all about Bernoulli's principle with today's A Moment of Science!

Humans can echolocate, too

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We often associate bats with echolocation, but did you know some humans can have this ability too?

The Earth's core and the evolution of complex life

10 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For billions of years, life on Earth had included only microbes, and simple soft-bodied organisms. Then, within just a few tens of millions of years, ...

Did sanitation make Rome any healthier?

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rome had a fairly sophisticated sanitation system, but didn't have a reduction in internal parasites. What made this possible?

Same and different: Infants use analogies before they speak

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The ability to make comparisons and analogies is a mental capacity that distinguishes human beings from at least most other animals.

Magpie egg hormones impact their offsprings' boldness

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Not all magpie jays are alike. Some individuals are much bolder than others. Now, scientists think they may have discovered a clue to explain the diff...

Warped spacial mapping

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rats have good spacial mapping, but sometimes things can impact their mental image.

Why are parrots so smart?

03 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When scientists study parrots, they often appear as smart as monkeys and other mammals. How is this possible?

Trust comes with old age

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The older we get, the more trusting we tend to become.

Flies that eat spiders

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

"Come inside my web," said the spider to the fly...

Mitchell's Satyr: On the brink of extinction

31 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The rare butterfly Mitchell's Satyr used to be found all over the Midwest.

What makes blue ice?

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Blue ice is relatively rare to see, so how does this formation get made?

The strange life of a pyrosome

27 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Pyrosomes might seem like a creature from science fiction, but they really exist. Learn all about them with today's A Moment of Science.

Harsh winters are due to climate change

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our hotter summers are also impacting our colder winters. Find out more with today's A Moment of Science.

Crabgrass has a sneaky trick

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Crabgrass might be an eyesore in your lawn, but it presents an even bigger for crop growth.

Sound off: Humans have simpler throats than monkeys

24 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Would you ever mistake playground hoots as the call of a real baboon or great ape?

To bee or not to bee

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Great American Eclipse of 2017 raised some interesting questions about bee behavior.

Laughing gas isn't a laughing matter

20 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Nitrous oxide isn't often talked about these days, but it is still an important greenhouse gas.

How many bees does a meadow need?

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

They might be inconvenient on a personal level, but bees play a very important role in our environment.

The ecological niche: Not just a hole in the wall

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What is the significance of an ecological niche? Today's A Moment of Science explains.

How do pets provide stress relief?

17 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What is it about cute animals that calms us down?

How vitamins got their name

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Vitamins are a vital aspect of maintaining our help, but how did they get their name?

The bloodsucking strategy of the vampire finch

13 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The truth behind the vampire finch is stranger than fiction!

Surgery in the Stone Age

12 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How long have we had sophisticated medical knowledge?

No ant left behind

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rescuing each other from predators isn't a common behavior seen in animals, but the harvester ant shows its possible.

Mole rats lead pretty painless lives

10 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mole rats are immune to certain kinds of pain, including what makes wasabi and some peppers spicy for humans.

Chewing up our daily energy

09 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chewing takes up a small part of our day, but researchers believed it takes up a significant part of our energy.

The next best thing to a yeti

06 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A large, white animal with fur and claws? The yeti might not exist, but today's A Moment of Science has the next best thing.

Seafloor mapping and a melting glacier

05 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why is a melting glacier such a cause for concern? Today's A Moment of Science looks closer at the research.

The perfect pizza comes down to thermodynamics

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Want to know the secret to a perfect pizza? It all comes down to science.

The fascinating thievery of crows

03 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Crows are some of the most intelligent birds on the planet. What keeps us fascinated with their behavior?

The apple in your mind's eye

02 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How well can you remember things you see every day, like logos?

Yaks breathe easy, thanks to specialized cells

30 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Breathing at high altitudes gets incredibly difficult. How are yaks able to live in such drastic conditions?

Cataracts and cloudy vision

29 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

People are now living longer than ever, but there are a few drawbacks that come with old age.

Mindset and genes

28 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our attitudes affect our bodies more than you might think. Find out how with today's A Moment of Science.

Vanilla may one day come from plastic

27 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Despite our associations, vanilla is actually far from boring.

The curious properties of corks

26 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

17th-century physicist Robert Hooke was fascinated with corks. Today's A Moment of Science takes a closer look at his findings.

A tusked and tufted deer

23 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn more about the tufted deer with today's A Moment of Science!

Brain waves and social behavior

22 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The complex circuitry of the brain is the source of our emotions, thoughts, and behavior. One of the most important types of behavior, in humans and o...

When the sky flashes green

21 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It might sound like a fairy tale detail, but sometimes the sky can briefly turn green. How does this happen?

Reflections in a spoon

20 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why do reflections change depending on the side of a spoon?

The incredible walking sticks

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn more about stick bugs with today's A Moment of Science!

Bubble trouble: How to calm a shaken can of soda

16 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Either intentionally or not, we've all unfortunately opened a can of soda that was shaken. Find out how to potentially avoid this bubble trouble with ...

The significance of glass color

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wondered why wine bottles are traditionally olive green? Today's A Moment of Science has an answer.

Dinosaurs in the snow

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Scientists used to think dinosaurs were like giant lizards and not capable of living in cold climates. That no longer seems to be the case.

The science of sweetened condensed milk

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sweetened condensed milk is a key ingredient in many delicious recipes. Why exactly was it created in the first place?

Amazon's biodiversity enhanced by river movement

12 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Amazon is home to some of the greatest biodiversity on the planet. How is this made possible?

Making clouds in your kitchen

09 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When you heat up a kettle, it often seems like you can see the steam rising from it. What exactly are those white clouds made of?

Sea turtles navigate by the magnetic field

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Many animal species travel great distances each year. How do they avoid getting lost on the way to their destinations?

The desert where rain is deadly

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn more about the weather in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile.

The impact of an underwater volcanic eruption

06 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

An underwater volcano eruption earlier this year could have long-term impacts on the global climate.

How temperature impacts the perfect cup of coffee

05 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What's the secret to making the perfect cup of coffee? Temperature plays a key role.

How long is a day on each planet in the solar system?

02 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How long does a day last on other planets?

Rediscovered: The world's largest bee

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Megachile pluto, commonly called “Wallace’s giant bee” is the world’s largest bee. And perhaps the most elusive.

Ancient settlements in the Amazon

30 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Archeological evidence shows people have lived on the Amazon for thousands of years. New research sheds further light on what these early settlements ...

The question of a rock and a rowboat

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you drop a rock overboard from a boat, does the water surface rise?

Vegetarian birds have more friends

28 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How does diet impact social life? It turns out vegetarian birds of a feather really do flock together.

Knowing your emotions can reduce anger

25 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

While anger can lead to aggression for some, it doesn't in everyone. This difference comes down to emotional differentiation.

Ancient dogs got bigger to guard livestock

24 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Over a relatively short period of 6,000 years, dogs got larger on average. This change didn't come down to simple chance.

How rainbow weevils get their spots

23 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn more about why the spots that give the rainbow weevil its name with today's A Moment of Science!

Dinosaur snouts as air conditioning

22 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A dinosaur's nose was surprisingly useful, especially when it needed to cool down.

Why are dogs so friendly towards humans?

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We think of dogs as man's best friend, but why does this relationship exist?

Moths have their own acoustic camouflage

18 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Moths' main predators rely on echolocation, so they've adopted their own acoustic camouflage to avoid becoming prey.

Some spots on the Moon are almost room temperature

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There's no air or drinkable water on the Moon, but at least the temperature would be pretty comfortable.

Pain and genetic mutation

16 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A rare genetic mutation means some can feel little to no pain. Learn more about it with today's A Moment of Science.

Hummingbirds, altitude, and global climate change

15 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With shifting global temperatures, many environments will change. Not all animals will be able to adapt quickly.

Why do we like coffee?

14 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Humans have evolved to dislike bitter tastes as a form of protection. So why do we still like the taste of coffee?

The "thieving magpie" stereotype isn't quite true

11 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The idea of corvids stealing shiny things isn't that true to reality.

Solar power at night

10 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Solar power is a helpful alternative to fossil fuels, with the drawback of not collecting power at night. There may be a new way to conquer this limit...

Travel by warp bubble

09 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As popularized in science fiction, warp capabilities could greatly reduce travel times. What would make this possible?

Why is the dark side of the Moon so different?

08 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There’s something different about the dark side of the Moon, and it’s not just that we can’t see it from the Earth.

Your shadow can have a halo

07 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes a faint glow can occur around your shadow. Where does this come from?

How plants make sure their pollen gets delivered to the right place

04 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If a pollinator visits flowers from different species, how do plants make sure their pollen gets to a flower of the same species, a crucial step in ma...

Ancient Egyptians and their cats

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We've loved cats for thousands of years, but how did this relationship begin?

How to walk from the U.S. to Russia

02 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know you can walk from the U.S. to Russia in only 2.5 miles?

The jabuticaba fruit literally grows on trees

01 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why would it be unique for a fruit to grow on a tree? Learn more about the jabuticaba with today's A Moment of Science!

Christmas beetles for dinner

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

These beetles are a favorite snack among foxes, but is their diet always so simple?

Dependence on our smartphones

28 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Depending on our phones too much can lead to some health risks. Learn more with today's A Moment of Science.

Plants passing down info to their offspring

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Even plant parents care for their offspring, passing on vital information.

Food and global climate change

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How does climate change impact our food production?

Mosquitoes, disease, and global warming

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rising temperatures impact some unexpected areas of our lives. Learn more about how climate change effects mosquitoes with today's A Moment of Science...

Eroding topsoil troubles Midwest farms

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After over 200 years of cultivating fields, topsoil has eroded in these areas. What exactly does that mean for farmland?

How lavender relaxes us

21 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do you find lavender calming? Find out why that might be the case with today's A Moment of Science.

Spiderman lives in the Amazon

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn more about the slingshot spider's similarities to the Marvel superhero with today's A Moment of Science!

How did people get ice before refrigeration?

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today's A Moment of Science looks closer at the history of refrigeration.

Giraffes use nurseries, too

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Humans aren't the only ones to send their kids to daycare. Turns out giraffes do the same thing!

Extreme heat causes railroads to bend

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How does heat impact our world? In extreme conditions, even railroad tracks can be impacted.

Giant pandas and bamboo

14 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Pandas are known for essentially just eating bamboo, but was their diet always so selective?

Yawning in virtual reality

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Virtual reality can mimic the real world pretty convincingly, but it can't mimic human behavior perfectly.

Eavesdropping for food

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Eavesdropping is usually frowned upon among humans, but not always for animals.

An inky ring in a glass of water

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how to make a ring of ink in water with today's A Moment of Science!

The power of grunting in tennis

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tennis players are known for the noises they make during games. How do these grunts effect their gameplay?

The super abilities of bats

07 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Find out more details of bats' abilities with today's A Moment of Science!

Making older skin young again

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The epic of Gilgamesh and the quest for eternal youth might have a modern update with new research into skin rejuvenation.

Discovered in a museum drawer: Simbakubwa kutokaafrika

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Discoveries come from a number of surprising places, including museums.