Goldilocks Soundscape

Why are we so productive at bustling coffee shops?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Noise can be a distraction. When it’s too loud, it’s hard to work. But too quiet isn’t great either! So what’s the Goldilocks zone? Enter Karthik Srinivasan from the University

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Muting Moths

SHHHH! I’m trying to SLEEP.  This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.  City noise is a big issue. But not for moths! Their scaly wings literally have NOISE-CANCELING abilities – it keeps them from becoming bat food. Could MOTHS offer a solution for noise pollution? Thomas

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Drip Drop

The sound of insomnia: cue the LEAKY FAUCET! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, on the most annoying sound ever. What causes that DRIP DRIP of a leaky bathtub? It’s not what you think! Anurag Agarwal at the University of Cambridge discovered the cause —

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Flee Bird

Busy airports… are for the birds! Unfortunately. This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Birds can really be a nuisance. Especially around airports. These unwanted aviators cost domestic airlines billions of dollars in damages and delays. They’ve tried blasting recordings of hawks. They’ve tried air cannons.

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Noise Pollution

Don’t forget to dry your hands! WHAT? What’d you say?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Many public restrooms have electric hand dryers. It saves trees and cuts down on trash! But those noisy contraptions have little kiddos covering their ears! Young scientist Nora Louise

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Spider Sense

As if spiders weren’t scary enough…they’re listening to us, too?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Jumping spiders are vicious predators known for their keen eyesight. Not so much for their hearing, because they lack eardrums. But now researchers from Harvard and Cornell have spun

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Animal Eavesdroppings

Are forest animals the next Bandcamp stars? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Humans have been working hard to preserve the world’s oceans, deserts and forests. But how is that working out? You COULD use satellites to track forest growth. But satellites can’t see the

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Survival of the Loudest

Who’s tough enough to survive on ….The Voice?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Animals must compete for food, mates, and other resources to win the survival race. The successful ones tend to be larger or more physically formidable than their opponents. But size can

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Quiet Creativity

Does your inner Van Gogh need a special jam? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science Music, food for the ears and the soul! Many claim that listening to music gets their creative juices flowing. But what if background music actually STUNTS the creative process? Meet

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