Scent Smarts

Big city life – the sights, the sounds, the smells…is that PIZZA?!? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.  We can smell a warm slice ANYWHERE! But how is it that our nose ALWAYS knows?  Srinath Nizampatnam and colleagues at the University of Washington in St.

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Blood Reboot

Let’s get these blood cells into shape! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science Sickle cell anemia is a genetic condition that makes round red blood cells crescent- shaped. These cells can’t carry oxygen, which causes them to die early, blocking blood vessels. Patients with sickle

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Friendly Neigh-bears

Howdy, neigh-bear! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, and the story of three bears… The Indigenous First Nations of modern British Columbia hold strong connections to wildlife. One venerated animal? The grizzly bear, which has shared their homeland for millennia. Recently, grizzlies appeared in new

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School Spirit

You gotta dress to impress! Even in grade school! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. School uniforms – love ‘em or hate ‘em? Some educators believe wearing uniforms improves student behavior and strengthens school spirit. Others think dressing alike prevents students from expressing their true

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Fungal Construction

Doesn’t Bob the Builder seem like a fun-gi? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Wood, steel, concrete – SO last season! What’s the next ‘it’ construction material?  Ross McBee from Columbia University and his teams bet on LIVING BRICKS! They started with brick-shaped molds full

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Worth a Shot

Is your sleep quality ON THE ROCKS? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. WINE-ing about not getting a good night’s sleep? Maybe that after-work cocktail is to blame!  Dandan Zheng and researchers at Penn State University wondered whether alcohol intake affects sleep. To find out, they

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Laws of Attraction

Are YOU a perfect… “nine?” This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Thousands of beauty ads hit our inbox every day. And don’t get me started on those Instagram feeds! It’s hard not to judge ourselves against these impossible standards! But does OUR vision of ourselves

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Confuzzled Cats

Wanna hear something PAW-esome? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. You just want some peace after a long day at work. But that darn cat! It won’t leave you alone, no matter where you hide! What sort of sixth sense are they using to pin

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Under Pressure

“In a world of zero gravity, you won’t BELIEVE your eyes!”  This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Here on earth, our blood knows how to go where it belongs. But because astronauts live in zero gravity, nothing is pulling blood to their lower bodies. Over

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Clean and Green

One man’s trash is another man’s…disinfectant? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Time for spring cleaning! Get out those sprays, scrubs and solvents! But all those chemicals – so toxic to us AND our environment! Is there a CLEANER way to CLEAN? Fengbo Yu at

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