SSS 2009-06-05

This is Scientific American's 60-second Science. I'm Karen Hopkin, this will just take a minute. When it comes to lizards' sex, size dose matter. But not in the way you might think. Because in the June 4th online issue of Journal Current Biology, sci

SSS 2009-06-03

This is Scientific Americans 60-Second Science, Im Cynthia Graber. This will just take a minute. Seismologists spend a lot of time listening to the earth. Ocean acoustic monitors have been providing information on the earths vibrations since the 1930

SSS 2009-06-02

Leptin is a hormone made by fat cells that tells you when you're full. If you didn't have leptin---and some people don't---youd eat way too much, get real fat and almost certainly develop diabetes. Leptin acts like a natural appetite suppressant. Kid

SSS 2009-06-01

This is Scientific American's 60-Second Science. I'm Steve Mirsky, got a minute? On May 19th, President Obama announced a new federal gas mileage standard. He wants the country's entire car and light truck fleet to average 35.5 miles per gallon by 20

SSS 2009-05-15

This is Scientific Americans 60-second Science, Im Steve Mirsky, got a minute? Friends who had a swimming pool also had a little sign posted that said, We dont swim in your toilet. Please dont pee in our pool. Despite such widespread admonitions, 4/5

SSS 2009-05-14

This is Scientific American's 60-second Science. I'm Cynthia Graber, this will just take a minute. Americans have gained a lot of weight in the past few decades. Is it our sedentary lifestyle? The increase in processed foods and sweeteners? Supersize

SSS 2009-05-13

This is Scientific American's 60-second Science. I'm Karen Hopkin. This will just take a minute. Hybrid cars are good for the environment, but scientists say that they might be bad for pedestrians. Because hybrids are so quiet that can be hard for wa

SSS 2009-05-12

This is Scientific American's 60-second Science. I'm Karen Hopkin. This will just take a minute. Exercise is good for you. Antioxidants are good for you, but put them together, and its not as good as you think because a recent study shows that some v

SSS 2009-05-08

This is Scientific Americans 60-second Science. Im Karen Hopkin, this will just take a minute. For every action there is a reaction, and for many movements we make, there is an intention. We think about moving, and we move. Now a study published in t

SSS 2009-06-04

This is Scientific American's 60-Second Science. I'm Steve Mirsky. This will just take a minute. Remember the heady days of 2007 before the large economy sized recession? Well, even back then medical problems contributed to over 62 percent of all ban

SSS 2009-06-08

This is Scientific American's 60-second Science, I'm Steve Mirsky. Got a minute? Back on January 15th, US Airways Flight 1549 made that amazing water landing in the Hudson after both engines were taken out by Canada geese, which can weigh eight pound

SSS 2009-06-09

This is Scientific American's 60-second Science. I'm Cynthia Graber. This will just take a minute. Guys, heres another reason to eat your veggies: they might be good for your sperm. Some studies show that male fertility and whats called seminal quali

SSS 2009-06-10

This is Scientific American's 60-second Science. I'm Karen Hopkin. This will just take a minute. For folks whove engaged in the strange ritual of speed dating, finding that special someone is like winning a romantic game of musical chairs. Now scient

SSS 2009-06-11

This is Scientific American's 60-second Science. I'm Karen Hopkin. This will just take a minute. What do a hummingbird, a moth, and a maple tree have in common? They all use a similar trick to fly. Okay, okay, a maple tree doesnt fly. But its seeds k

SSS 2009-06-12

This is Scientific American's 60-second Science. I'm Adam Hinterthuer. Got a minute？ When an Iraqi reporter threw his shoe at President Bush, University of Washington neurologists were delighted. But not because of politics. The fling was just real

SSS 2009-06-15

This is Scientific American's 60-second Science. I'm Steve Mirsky. Got a minute? Could it be that our understanding of rain was all wet? A new study says that some drops of rain are falling faster than they should be. Which ultimately means that it m

SSS 2009-06-16

This is Scientific American's 60-second Science. I'm Karen Hopkin. This will just take a minute. About a billion years from now, some scientists say, the sun will be too bright for comfort, and our formerly hospitable planet will no longer be able to

SSS 2009-06-17

This is Scientific American's 60-second Science. I'm Karen Hopkin. This will just take a minute. If you were a bird, how big could you be? Well, an ostrich can weigh 400 poundsbut it cant get off the ground. So what if you want to fly? University of

SSS 2009-07-01

This is Scientific American's 60-Second Science, I'm Christie Nicholson. Got a minute? During the last ice age our problem was too little carbon. Unlike today where too much carbon is causing global warming. Past glacial ages occurred partly because

SSS 2009-07-03

This is Scientific American's 60-second Science. I'm Christie Nicholson. Got a minute? We might think perfect pitch is an innate talent. Well, a study in the American Journal of Human Genetics is providing some evidence for that. Perfect pitch, aka a