Down to Earth

Plants growing in SMAG soil

Water woes? Time to get down to earth! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Wide open sunlit lands, as far as the eye can see. Should be a great place to grow crops! Problem? the earth is dry and sandy in almost HALF of global

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Continue reading

Gut and Paste

Woman stressed out with hands in her head

Stressed? You have GUT to relax! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Money! Politics! Global warming! Stress is abundant in our everyday lives. Recent studies show that certain foods affect our microbiomes — that is, our gut bacteria. Foods like red meat, artificial sweeteners, and

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Continue reading

A Snooze Boost

Person sleeping

Exams…ugh! I’m drinking Red Bull and pulling all-nighters but I can’t remember ANYTHING! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. After a good night’s sleep, our memory is tip-top compared to when we’re more bleary-eyed. But how does a snooze help us remember? Jing Zhang and

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Continue reading

Healing Tea

Could a cup of tea a day keep the doctor away?  This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Tea-time – it’s not just an excuse for cookies! Tea can give you energy, help you sleep, even soothe your stomach! But can it do even more? José

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Continue reading

Daunted Dingoes

You’ve heard of scarecrows – how about scare-DINGOES?! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.  Australian wolves, known as DINGOES, prey on farmers’ livestock. When they’re caught  having a farm fresh meal, it becomes their LAST meal. Is there a…FRIENDLIER way to fend off predators? Enter

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Continue reading

Blockheads

Are the building blocks for math skills… literal building blocks? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.  Luis builds a tower. Kim builds a town. Rosie crashes in, and it all falls down! Building blocks are great for preschoolers playing pretend, but do they REALLY teach

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Continue reading

Microdosing for Plants

Don’t mind me! I’m just microdosing my plants… with ALCOHOL!? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Rice and wheat are staple foods that are at risk globally due to drought. So, scientists want to improve plant growth during water restriction. Could ethanol, a drinkable alcohol,

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Continue reading

Time Flies

Just one more game of Mahjong Solitaire. . . What — it’s been six hours?!? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Does time REALLY fly when you’re having fun? Or does it just SEEM that way? Masamichi Hayashi Richard Ivry from UC Berkeley have some

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Continue reading

That Playpus Glow

What has fur and GLOWS brighter than a Tyra Banks Smize?! (That’s a smile with your eyes.) This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Some animals really light up a room…BUT only under ultraviolet light. This is called biofluorescence. Scientists believe mammals like possums use it

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Continue reading

Stimulated Learning

The latest development in learning? It’s literally SHOCKING! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. When you’re learning something new, your brain starts firing electrical pulses. These signals help you track and record information. But – does it work in reverse? Could a jolt of electricity

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Continue reading