60-Second Science
By Scientific American
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Podcast Description
Leading science journalists provide a daily minute commentary on some of the most interesting developments in the world of science. For a full-length, weekly podcast you can subscribe to Science Talk: The Podcast of Scientific American. To view all of our archived podcasts please go to www.scientificamerican.com/podcast
| Name | Description | Released | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 |
Does Bad Dog Mean Bad Owner? | People expressing a preference for aggressive dog breeds scored higher for conscientiousness on a personality test than did those who liked gentler dogs. Christopher Intagliata reports. | 29 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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2 |
Cuttlefish Use Ancient Ink Formula | The melanin in modern-day cuttlefish ink is nearly chemically identical to the pigment found in ancient cephalopods' fossilized ink sacs. Sophie Bushwick reports | 25 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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3 |
Eating Fat Makes Mouse Brain Want More | Mice fed a high-fat diet make new cells in the hypothalamus, which may increase the desire to eat more. Karen Hopkin reports | 24 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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4 |
Babies' Attention Choices Fall within Goldilocks Zone | Babies quickly lost interest in a video when the material they were confronted with was either boringly simple or stultifyingly complex. Cynthia Graber reports | 23 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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5 |
High-Ranking Baboons Heal Faster | The higher their social status, the less likely male baboons are to fall ill and the faster they recover from both illness and injury. Sophie Bushwick reports | 22 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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6 |
Management Steered Women Brokers into Pay Gap | A study of stockbroker data from the mid-'90s shows that management can affect women's pay even when that pay is based solely on commission. Cynthia Graber reports | 21 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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7 |
Flavors Fluctuate with Temperature | Chilling or heating bitter, sour, sweet and astringent solutions changed their flavor intensity in different ways. Sophie Bushwick reports | 18 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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8 |
Mice Meal Times Influence Weight Gain | Mice that ate a high-fat diet within an eight-hour period daily gained less weight than mice that ate the same amount of food over the entire day. Cynthia Graber reports | 17 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
9 |
Pesky Primate Plans Projectile Pitches | Santino the chimp collects and conceals rocks to throw at spectators at his zoo in Sweden. Karen Hopkin reports | 16 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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10 |
Whales Adjust Their Hearing Sensitivity | When warned of a loud noise, a false killer whale reduced its hearing sensitivity in anticipation of the sound. Sophie Bushwick reports | 15 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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11 |
Hot Jupiters Smarten Search for Other Earths | One way to limit the search for Earth-like exoplanets is to figure out where they cannot exist and eliminate those systems. Cynthia Graber reports | 14 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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12 |
Nut-Cracking Chimps Demonstrate Cultural Differences | A chimpanzee's tool choice for cracking nuts depends on its community. Sophie Bushwick reports | 11 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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13 |
Sharing Opinions Feels at Least as Good as Earning Money | Divulging personal details activated the reward center of subjects' brains, a feeling for which they were willing to sacrifice money. Sophie Bushwick reports | 10 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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14 |
Creepy People Leave You Cold | A socially awkward or inappropriate person can make others feel physically colder. Amy Kraft reports | 7 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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15 |
Pork Order May Peak Odor | A proposed European ban on pig castration could make pork smell bad to people with the right genes. Cynthia Graber reports | 3 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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16 |
Genes Link Touch and Hearing | Tests with twins show that touch sensitivity is connected closely with hearing ability. Rose Eveleth reports | 2 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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17 |
Garlic Compound Fights Food-Borne Bacteria | Diallyl sulfide, a compound found in garlic, was much more effective than two standard antibiotics at wiping out bacteria responsible for digestive system infections. Sophie Bushwick reports | 1 5 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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18 |
Obese People May Fail to Buckle Up | People of normal weight are 67 percent more likely to buckle their car seat belts than are obese people. Steve Mirsky reports | 30 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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19 |
Your Dog Wants Your Food | Dogs recognize and respond to human social signals to conclude that your food is more desirable than theirs. Sophie Bushwick reports | 26 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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20 |
"Pay What You Want" May Deter Consumers | Pay-what-you-want pricing may inadvertently give consumers the untenable choice to either pay more or feel cheap, driving them away from making a purchase at all. Sophie Bushwick reports | 25 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
21 |
Leeches Spill Guts about Elusive Mammals | Leeches can provide DNA evidence of the presence of rare mammals up to four months after having fed on one. Cynthia Graber reports | 24 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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22 |
Brain Seeks the Voice among Many Speakers | Our brains focus on one speaker in a cacophony of voices based not only on the audio input we receive, but also on our listening goals. Sophie Bushwick reports | 22 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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23 |
Why Paper Yellows as It Ages | As paper ages, oxidation changes molecules in cellulose so that they absorb some wavelengths of light and make the paper look yellow. Sophie Bushwick reports | 17 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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24 |
Ice Is Nice for Insect Bites | To relieve the annoying itch of insect bites, your best bet may be the simple application of ice to numb the bitten area and reduce inflammation. Cynthia Graber reports | 16 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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25 |
Today Is Unlucky for People Who Have Bad Luck Today | A study of traffic accidents on Friday the 13th found that there are some. Steve Mirsky reports | 13 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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26 |
Anxiety Boosts Threat Odor Perception | Anxious men are especially good at detecting low concentrations of disagreeable scents, perhaps an evolutionary legacy of predator perception. Cynthia Graber reports | 12 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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27 |
Warmer Temps May Bollux Botanicals | Although higher temperatures can initially spur plant growth, the boost looks short-lived. Sophie Bushwick reports | 11 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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28 |
Free Apps Drain Battery | Some free apps use the majority of the energy they pull on tasks other than the app itself--such as uploading user info and downloading ads. Christopher Intagliata reports | 10 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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29 |
Sparrows Sing Higher to Pierce Urban Din | White-crowned sparrows in San Francisco are singing in a higher pitch than they did in 1969 to be heard over louder traffic. Christopher Intagliata reports | 9 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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30 |
Lent End Means Hyena Free Lunch | In northern Ethiopia, hyenas must hunt more during Lent, when local Christians give up meat and provide fewer scraps to the scavengers. Cynthia Graber reports | 6 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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31 |
Focused Students Put Down Their Smart Phones | More effective learners send and receive text messages less frequently during class. Sophie Bushwick reports | 5 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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32 |
Programs Aim to Turn Science Undergrads into K-12 Teachers | At a higher education and science policy roundtable in New York City, University of Colorado at Boulder chancellor Philip DiStefano talked about his institution's efforts to attract science majors to teaching K-12. Steve Mirsky reports | 4 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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33 |
YouTube Winner Sends Spiders to Space | Amr Mohamed's winning entry in the YouTube Space Lab contest will have jumping spiders hunt in zero-gravity on the International Space Station. Mariette DiChristina reports | 3 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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34 |
Dengue Virus Makes Mosquitoes Better Spreaders | The dengue virus makes its mosquito hosts more bloodthirsty and quicker to find a blood meal, thus spreading the virus faster. Christopher Intagliata reports | 2 4 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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35 |
Struggling Young Readers Like Kindles | Middle school students in a reading improvement class liked using e-readers for a variety or reasons, and felt their reading improved as a result. Sophie Bushwick reports | 29 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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36 |
Thyme Kills Acne Bacteria | Natural compounds in the herb thyme were more effective against acne-causing bacteria in cultures than were conventional treatments. Cynthia Graber reports | 28 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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37 |
Rhythm and Music Help Math Students | Kids who learned fractions through a music-based curriculum outperformed peers in traditional math classes. Sophie Bushwick reports | 27 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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38 |
Researchers Ferret Out Reasons for Runner's High | Dogs and humans release natural painkillers after running, but ordinarily sedentary ferrets that run do not. The chemical compounds may be an adaptation to reward the necessary behavior in running species. Christopher Intagliata reports | 26 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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39 |
Classical Music Slows Mice Transplant Rejection | Mice with mismatched heart transplants that were exposed to classical music had much slower rejection rates than did mice exposed to other music and sounds. Sophie Bushwick reports | 23 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
40 |
Gun-Toting Increases Bias to See Guns Toted | A person holding a gun may be more likely to think they see a weapon being carried by another. Christopher Intagliata reports | 22 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
41 |
Emotion in Music Mirrors Speech | Tonal relationships that express emotions in classical South Indian music are similar to ones used in Western music, and both mimic vocalizations. Cynthia Graber reports | 21 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
42 |
Recycled Toilets Make Path Green | The Meador Kansas Ellis Trail became the first certified sustainable road under the Greenroads rating system, in part because it contains recycled commodes. Sophie Bushwick reports | 20 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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43 |
Frog Species Found in Big Apple | A previously unknown species of leopard frog has been found in an urban range centered on Yankee Stadium in New York City. Christopher Intagliata reports | 19 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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44 |
Sex-Deprived Flies Seek Swig Solace | Sexually frustrated fruit flies preferred alcohol-laced food more than their satisfied compatriots did. Cynthia Graber reports | 16 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
45 |
Green Laser Erases Print | Quick bursts of green laser light can erase print, without damaging or discoloring the paper. Karen Hopkin reports | 15 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
46 |
Deeper Voice Gives Electoral Advantage | Study subjects tended to pick the deeper-voiced candidate when they heard anonymous voices purported to be running for office. Karen Hopkin reports | 14 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
47 |
Your Mileage Price May Vary | Adjusted for inflation and for the better mileage you probably now get, the cost to go a mile may be cheaper than it was three decades ago. Steve Mirsky reports | 13 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
48 |
Produce Consumption Ups Eater's Looks | Consuming more produce increases red and yellow colors in the skin of Caucasians, whom observers then rate as more attractive. Sophie Bushwick reports | 12 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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49 |
QWERTY Keyboard Leads to Feelings about Words | Words with more letters on the right side of a QWERTY keyboard are thought of more positively than are words primarily typed on the left side. Sophie Bushwick reports | 9 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
50 |
Chimp Cops Arbitrate Disputes | High-ranking chimps in a group break up scuffles and keep the peace. Karen Hopkin reports | 8 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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51 |
New Gels Heal Themselves--and Maybe You | Self-healing hydrogels may find uses in industry, including better plastics, as well as in medicine, such as the treatment of stomach perforations and ulcers. Sophie Bushwick reports | 7 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
52 |
Earthshine Sets Example for Life-Light Search | Researchers looking for life on exoplanets tried a proof-of-concept experiment by examining the light bouncing off Earth, via the moon. Cynthia Graber reports | 6 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
53 |
Psoriasis Linked to Protection from HIV-1 | Many psoriasis patients have the same gene variants as people who are not significantly affected by an HIV-1 infection. Charles Q. Choi reports | 5 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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54 |
Mars Swings into Opposition March 3 | Every two years and two months Earth and Mars line up with the sun, giving us a relatively close view of the Red Planet. Cynthia Graber reports | 2 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
55 |
Fish Finning Fails Financially | An economic analysis of the value of sharks for ecotourism alone finds that each individual is worth far more alive than dead for its fins. Steve Mirsky reports | 1 3 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
56 |
Do Whale Research without Getting Seasick | Join the more than 5,000 citizen scientists who are helping researchers identify the songs of individual whales. Mariette DiChristina reports | 29 2 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
57 |
Oldest New World Cave Art Discovered | A figure engraved in the bedrock of a Brazilian cave dates back at least 10,000 years. Cynthia Graber reports | 27 2 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
58 |
New Driver Style Predicts Crash Risk | New drivers with more " g -force events," like quick turns and sudden braking, had more crashes and near hits. Amy Kraft reports | 24 2 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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59 |
New Male Terminates Monkey Pregnancies | Female gelada monkeys spontaneously abort 80 percent of pregnancies by a displaced male when a new male succeeds him. Sophie Bushwick reports | 23 2 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
60 |
Our Birth Control Undermines Amphibians | Human oral contraceptives that find their way back into the environment might be having an effect on frog mating. Christopher Intagliata reports | 22 2 12 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 60 Episodes |
Customer Reviews
information in a hurry
I don't have the time or the inclination to listen to the longer podcasts. However I am interested in the current affairs in science. These minute long podcasts are ideal for learning a lot in a short period of time. As well as the informative angle they are delivered with a sense of humour which makes them more appealing still.
good clean science fun
Fun witty not always obscure science with real relevance. keep up the good work
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- Category: Natural Sciences
- Language: English
- © 2012 Scientific American, a division of Nature America, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
