Science Quickly

Industrial Revolution Pollution Found in Himalayan Glacier

18 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Ice cores from a Tibetan glacier reveal the first deposits of industrial revolution pollution, starting in layers dated to about 1780. Learn more abo...

Fight-or-Flight Nerves Make Mice Go Gray

15 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A new study in mice concludes stress can cause gray hair—and credits overactive nerves with the change in hue. Karen Hopkin reports.  Learn more ab...

Espresso May Be Better when Ground Coarser

13 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A very fine grind can actually hamper espresso brewing, because particles may clump more than larger particles will. Learn more about your ad choices....

Feral Dogs Respond to Human Hand Cues

11 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Most feral dogs that did not run away from humans were able to respond to hand cues about the location of food—even without training. Learn more abo...

Neandertals Tooled Around with Clams

07 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Neandertals ate clams and then modified the hard shells into tools for cutting and scraping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...

Fingering Fake Whiskeys with Isotopes

06 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Whiskeys claimed to be from the 19th century are revealed to be made with much more recently grown barley, thanks to the unique isotopic fingerprint o...

Having an Albatross around Your Boat

05 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

By outfitting 169 albatrosses with GPS data loggers, scientists were able to track fishing boats apparently trying to hide their location. Christopher...

Science News Briefs from All Over

03 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Here are a few brief reports about international science and technology from around the world, including one from the Democratic Republic of the Congo...

Facts about Groundhogs Other Than Their Poor Meteorology

02 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Groundhogs are less accurate at weather forecasting than are coin flips, but they are nonetheless pretty interesting critters. Learn more about you...

Did Animal Calls Start in the Dark?

01 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

One hypothesis says the ability to vocalize arose in nocturnal animals—and a new evolutionary analysis suggests there may be some truth to it. Chris...

Sign Languages Display Distinct Ancestries

30 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Well more than 100 distinct sign languages exist worldwide, with each having features that made it possible for researchers to create an evolutionary ...

Docs Given Updated Opioid Prescribing Habit

26 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers dialed down the default number of opioids in two hospitals’ prescription systems—and doctors ended up prescribing fewer pills. Christo...

Some Wolf Pups Show Innate Fetching Talent

25 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Some wolf pups will play fetch with a stranger, suggesting that an ability to playfully interact with people could have come before, and played a role...

Barred Owls Invade the Sierra Nevada

24 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

By listening to the sounds of the forest, biologists were able to identify an invasion of barred owls in spotted owl habitat. Christopher Intagliata r...

Curiosity Killed the ... Mouse?

23 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The cat parasite Toxoplasma gondii boosts curiosity in mice—which makes them more likely to be caught by cats, thus continuing the parasite’s lif...

This Fish Knows How to Stick Around

17 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The remora clings to other fish—and appears to use an unusual sense of touch to do so. Christopher Intagliata reports.  Learn more about your ad ch...

Antarctic Is Ripe for Invasive Species

15 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mussels and crabs are two of the creatures most likely to invade Antarctica in the next 10 years, a panel of scientists say. Christopher Intagliata re...

Bacteria Helped Plants Evolve to Live on Land

14 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Soil bacteria may have taken residence in early algal species, gifting the algae with the ability to withstand drier conditions on land. Annie Sneed...

Meteorite Contains Material Older Than Earth

13 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Murchison meteorite, which screamed to Earth 50 years ago, carried with it stardust that's seven billion years old. Christopher Intagliata reports...

Loss of Large Mammals Stamps Out Invertebrates, Too

12 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hunted areas of Gabon have fewer large mammals and a thicker forest understory—but they also have fewer termites. Jason G. Goldman reports. Learn mo...

Brittle Stars Can "See" without Eyes

09 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The starfish relatives can recognize patterns using photoreceptors on their arms—and their color-changing abilities could have something to do with ...

Atlantic Puffins Spotted Using Tools

07 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Scientists observed two Atlantic puffins using sticks to scratch themselves—the first known instance of seabirds using tools. Christopher Intagliata...

Traffic Cameras Show Why the Yankees Should Suffer Fewer Injuries in 2020

06 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The 2019 New York Yankees’ record number of injuries led to a change in training staff that will almost certainly correlate with, but not necessaril...

Science News Briefs from around the Globe

05 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A few brief reports about international science and technology from Indonesia to Spain, including one from Brazil about the highest-voltage electric e...

Part of Real Paleo Diet: It's a Tuber

03 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In South Africa archaeologists found the charred remains of a roasted root vegetable. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices...

You Traveled Far in 2019

02 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Getting around the sun last year was some trip. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fido's Human Age Gets New Estimates

27 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

By comparing how DNA gets altered over the lifetimes of people and dogs, researchers came up with a new way to compare canine years with human years. ...

Gift Wrapping Is Effective Future Trash

26 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Research suggests people value gifts more when they have to unwrap them. But how do we avoid all the wasted paper? Christopher Intagliata reports. Lea...

Superstrong Fibers Could Be Hairy Situation

24 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Human hair tested stronger than thicker fibers from elephants, boars and giraffes, providing clues to materials scientists hoping to make superstrong ...

Flaky Scalps Have a Unique Fungal Microbiome

20 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Certain species of bacteria and fungi seem to proliferate on dandruff-ridden scalps. The reason is a little more mysterious. Christopher Intagliata re...

Moths Flee or Face Bats, Depending on Toxicity

19 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Tiger moth species that contain bad-tasting and toxic compounds are nonchalant in the presence of bats, while edible moth species evade their predator...

Ancient Seawall Found Submerged

18 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In shallow waters off the coast of Israel, archaeologists have found entire villages—including one with a sunken seawall. Christopher Intagliata rep...

Citizen Scientists Deserve Journal Status Upgrade

14 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s an argument that citizen scientists deserve co-authorship on scientific journal papers to which they contributed research. Learn more abou...

Not All Hydropower Is Climate-Considerate

13 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

While some hydropower facilities release almost no greenhouse gases, others can actually be worse than burning fossil fuels. Learn more about your ad ...

Certain Zip Codes Pick Losers

12 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

People in certain zip codes are more likely to purchase products that flop, buy homes that are poor investments and pick political candidates who los...

Linguists Hear an Accent Begin

11 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Residents of an overwintering station in Antarctica provided linguists with evidence of the first small changes in speech that may signal the developm...

Romans Would Roam for Wood

10 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Archaeologists unearthed wood from a Roman villa when digging Rome’s subway—and scientists determined the planks came all the way from France. Chr...

When the Bellbird Calls, You Know It

09 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The white bellbird of the Amazon may be the loudest bird in the world.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fishy Trick Lures Life Back to Coral Reefs

05 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Playing the sounds of a healthy reef near damaged corals may help bring the fish community back. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your...

Rain Forest Dwellers and Urbanites Have Consistently Different Microbiomes

04 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A study done in South America found that with increasing population density, humans had more diversity of fungi on the skin but less microbial diversi...

Internet Cables Could Also Measure Quakes

03 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The fiber-optic cables that connect the global Internet could potentially be used as seismic sensors. Christopher Intagliata reports.  Learn more abo...

Science News Briefs from All Over

02 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A few brief reports about international science and technology from Mexico to Tanzania, including one about the need to quarantine bananas in Colombia...

Subtle Ancient Footprints Come to Light

29 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Ground-penetrating radar can detect tiny density differences that lead to images of ancient footprints impossible to discern by eye. Learn more abo...

Ancient Rock Art Got a Boost From Bacteria

25 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Indigenous artists in what’s now British Columbia created pigments by cooking aquatic bacteria. Christopher Intagliata reports.  Learn more about y...

Ick Factor Is High Hurdle for Recycled Drinking Water

24 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Recycled wastewater can be cleaner than bottled water, but people still avoid drinking it because of their disgust over its past condition. Learn more...

Bots Outperform Humans if They Impersonate Us

21 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Bots masquerading as humans in a game outperformed their human opponents—but the their superiority vanished when their machine identity was revealed...

Implanting Memories in Birds Reveals How Learning Happens

20 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers activated specific brain cells in zebra finches to teach them songs they’d ordinarily have to hear to learn. Learn more about your ad ch...

Dogs Like Motion That Matches Sound

19 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Pet dogs appeared more interested in videos of a bouncing ball when the motion of the ball matched a rising and falling tone. Christopher Intagliata r...

Egyptian Vats 5,600 Years Old Were For Beer Brewing

16 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Archaeologists working in the ancient city of Hierakonpolis discovered five ceramic vats containing residues consistent with brewing beer. Learn more ...

Famously Fickle Felines Are, in Fact, Clingy

13 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Cats are clingier to their human owners than their reputation would suggest. Karen Hopkin reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...

Aversion to Broccoli May Have Genetic Roots

12 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Study subjects with a gene variant that heightened their sensitivity to bitterness tended to eat fewer vegetables than people who didn’t mind bitter...

Marine Mammal Epidemic Linked to Climate Change

09 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A measleslike virus is ricocheting through marine mammal populations in the Arctic—and melting sea ice might be to blame. Christopher Intagliata rep...

Ant Colonies Avoid Traffic Jams

07 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers tracked thousands of individual ants to determine how they move in vast numbers without stumbling into gridlock. Learn more about your ...

Ranking Rise May Intimidate Opponents

06 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In an analysis of chess and tennis matches, players rising in the rankings did better than expected against higher-ranked opponents and better than s...

Familiar Tunes Rapidly Jog the Brain

05 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Within just a third of a second of hearing a snippet of a familiar refrain, our pupils dilate, and the brain shows signs of recognition. Christopher I...

Science News Briefs from around the Globe

01 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A few brief reports about international science and technology from Brazil to Hong Kong, including one about male elephants in India exhibiting unusua...

We Owe Our Pumpkins to Pooping Megafauna

31 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The pumpkin’s ancestor was an incredibly bitter, tennis-ball-sized squash—but it was apparently a common snack for mastodons. Christopher Intaglia...

Bird Egg Colors Are Influenced by Local Climate

29 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In cold, northern climates, eggs tend to be darker and browner—heat-trapping colors that allow parents to spend a bit more time away from the nest. ...

Crabs Do a Maze

28 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Green crabs learned to navigate a maze without making a single wrong turn—and remembered the skill weeks later. Christopher Intagliata reports.  Le...

Odd Bird Migrates Twice to Breed

24 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The phainopepla migrates from southern California to the desert Southwest to breed in the spring before flying to California coastal woodlands to do s...

Piranha-Proof Fish Gives Inspiration for Body Armor

23 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A gigantic fish from the Amazon has incredibly tough scales—and materials scientists are looking to them for bulletproof inspiration. Christopher In...

Galloping Ant Beats Saharan Heat

22 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Saharan silver ant feeds on other insects that have died on the hot sands, which it traverses at breakneck (for an ant) speeds. Learn more abou...

Some Mosquito Repellents Act like Invisibility Cloaks

21 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Synthetic repellents such as DEET seem to mask the scent of our “human perfume”—making us less obvious targets for mosquitoes. Christopher Intag...

Your Skull Shapes Your Hearing

17 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The resonant properties of your skull can amplify some frequencies and dampen others—and, in some cases, affect your hearing. Christopher Intagliata...

Tardigrade Protein Protects DNA from Chemical Attack

16 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Dsup protein protects DNA under conditions that create caustic free radical chemicals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...

"Mars-quakes" Could Reveal How Mars Was Built

15 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Rumblings on the Red Planet act like x-rays, allowing scientists to probe the hidden interior of Mars. Christopher Intagliata reports.  Learn more ab...

Artificial Intelligence Learns to Talk Back to Bigots

10 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Algorithms are already used to remove online hate speech. Now scientists have taught an AI to respond—which they hope might spark more discourse. Ch...

Nobel in Chemistry for Lightweight Rechargeable Batteries

09 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to John Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino “for the development of lithium-ion batteries.”...

Nobel in Physics for Exoplanets and Cosmology

08 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics goes to James Peebles “for theoretical discoveries in physical cosmology” and to Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz “...

Nobel in Physiology or Medicine for How Cells Sense Oxygen Levels

07 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine goes to William G. Kaelin, Jr., Peter J. Ratcliffe and Gregg L. Semenza “for their discoveries of ho...

Teeth Tell Black Death Genetic Tale

06 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

DNA from the teeth of medieval plague victims indicates the pathogen likely first arrived in eastern Europe before spreading across the continent. ...

Tiny Worms Are Equipped to Battle Extreme Environments

05 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Scientists found eight species of nematodes living in California’s harsh Mono Lake—quintupling the number of animals known to live there. Christop...

Heat Changes Insect Call, but It Still Works

02 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Tiny insects called treehoppers produce very different mating songs at higher versus lower temperatures, but the intended recipient still finds the ch...

Corals Can Inherit Symbiotic Adaptations to Warming

01 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Adult corals can reshuffle their symbiotic algae species to adapt to warming waters—and, it appears they can pass those adaptations on. Christopher ...

Brains of Blind People Adapt in Similar Fashion

30 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The brains of those who are blind repurpose the vision regions for adaptive hearing, and they appear to do so in a consistent way. Learn more about...

Science News Briefs from around the World

29 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A few brief reports about international science and technology from Hungary to Japan, including one about a wine grape in France that DNA testing show...

Musical Note Perception Can Depend on Culture

25 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Western ears consider a pitch at double the frequency of a lower pitch to be the same note, an octave higher. The Tsimane’, an indigenous people in ...

Nature Docs Avoid Habitat Destruction

24 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

BBC and Netflix nature documentaries consistently shy away from showing viewers the true extent to which we’ve damaged the planet. Christopher Intag...

Heat Loss to Night Sky Powers Off-Grid Lights

19 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A slight temperature difference at night between a surface losing heat and the surrounding air can be harnessed to generate electricity to power light...

Early Butchers Used Small Stone Scalpels

18 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Homo erectus used hand axes to butcher elephants and other game. But a new study suggests they also used finer, more sophisticated blades. Christopher...

Microplastics in Fresh Water Are Mostly Laundry Lint

17 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Microplastic particles are everywhere, but in freshwater systems, 60 percent of particles are clothing lint from laundry. Learn more about your ad ...

Kids Are Not Hurt by Screen Time

16 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A study finds no deleterious effects on mental health when kids spend their leisure time texting and engaging in other online activities. Learn more a...

Lab-Grown Human Mini Brains Show Brainy Activity

13 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As the little structures grow, their constituents specialize into different types of brain cells, begin to form connections and emit brain waves. They...

Eavesdropping Puts Anxious Squirrels at Ease

12 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Squirrels constantly scan their surroundings for hawks, owls and other predators. But they also surveil for threats by eavesdropping on bird chatter. ...

Earth's Magnetic Field Initiated a Pole Flip Many Millennia before the Switch

11 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Lava flow records and sedimentary and Antarctic ice core data show evidence of planetary magnetic field activity 20,000 years before the beginning of ...

Humpback Whales Swap Songs at Island Hub

10 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

At the Kermadec Islands, humpbacks from all over the South Pacific converge and swap songs. Christopher Intagliata reports.  Learn more about your ad...

Food Expiration Dates May Mislead Consumers

09 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Better food labeling could prevent people from throwing away a lot of “expired” food that’s still perfectly edible. Learn more about your ad cho...

Farmland Is Also Optimal for Solar Power

05 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The conditions of sunlight, temperature, humidity and wind that make cropland good for agriculture also maximize solar panel efficiency. Learn more ab...

Chemical Tweak Recycles Polyurethane into Glue

04 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It’s not easy to recycle polyurethane, so it’s usually tossed out or burned. But a chemical tweak can turn polyurethane into glue. Christine Herma...

Cholesterol Climbs after Crows Chomp Cheeseburgers

03 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Wild animals that live near humans have higher cholesterol than their rural counterparts—and our food could be to blame. Christopher Intagliata repo...

How Hurricanes Influence Spider Aggressiveness

30 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As Hurricane Dorian approaches Florida, consider that feeding style means that aggressive tangle-web spider colonies produce more offspring after seve...

Graphene Garment Blocks Blood-Sucking Skeeters

28 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A small patch of graphene on human skin seemed to block the mosquitoes’ ability to sense certain molecules that trigger a bite. Christopher Intaglia...

Martian Winds Could Spread Microbe Hitchhikers

26 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Microbes fly tens of miles over Chile’s dry, UV-blasted Atacama Desert—and scientists say the same could happen on Mars. Christopher Intagliata re...

Including Indigenous Voices in Genomics

21 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A program at the University of Illinois trains indigenous scientists in genomics—in hopes that future work will be aimed at benefiting those communi...

West Point Uniforms Signify Explosive Chemistry

19 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

U.S. Military Academy cadets wear the colors black, gray and gold for reasons found in gunpowder’s chemistry. Learn more about your ad choices. V...

Secrets of the Universe Trapped in Antarctic Snow

14 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Scientists found an interstellar iron isotope in Antarctic snow samples—which hints that our region of the universe may be the remnant of an ancient...

Certain Personality Types Are Likely to Make a "Foodie Call"

13 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Some people go on dates just to score a free meal—a phenomenon known as a “foodie call.” But it takes a certain personality type. Karen Hopkin r...

Artificial Intelligence Sniffs Out Unsafe Foods

12 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers trained machine-learning algorithms to read Amazon reviews for hints that a food product would be recalled by the FDA. Christopher Intagli...

A Computer Tells Real Smiles from Phonies

09 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Slight changes around the eyes are indeed a giveaway as to whether a smile is sincere or faked. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...

Stare Down Gulls to Avoid Lunch Loss

08 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers slowed the approach of greedy gulls by an average of 21 seconds by staring at the birds versus looking elsewhere. Christopher Intagliata r...