Rice Cooker

Rice is delicious! But no longer nutritious? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Climate change can really bring the heat! But, ocean levels aren’t the only thing on the rise. Carbon dioxide levels are also increasing. How does this change in the atmosphere affect our

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Recycling Worms

A small tan and black Superworm

The Earth is DROWNING in plastic! Can we find relief — at the pet store? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Almost ten percent of all plastics are polystyrene. Think: foam cups and to-go boxes. Polystyrene can take HUNDREDS of years to break down. Is

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Road to Grapeness

Do slippery roads mean…sour grapes? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. When winter weather causes dangerous driving, salt is often used to melt the ice and make streets less slippery. But is this for the best? Mehdi Honarvar Nazari from Washington State University doesn’t think

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Organic Pollution

Forest meadows, fresh flowers… tail pipe exhaust? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Secondary organic aerosols–gah! These tiny particles are a class of chemicals that form the air around us. As natural and industrial gas emissions interact with sunlight, the resulting particles reflect or absorb

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High Tide

Is there a 4:20 in the afternoon. . . for fish? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Headaches, depression, diabetes – our medicine cabinets are FULL of pills! And unfortunately, our bodies don’t fully absorb all the medications we take. The leftovers end up….um, in

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Fantastic Plastic

Reduce, Reuse… Refashion? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Plastics are everywhere – our homes, offices, and sadly our environment. They don’t break down easily so they accumulate in oceans and landfills. So don’t forget to recycle! But how else can we limit our litter?

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Deep Dive

What menacing secrets lurk in the depths of the ocean? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science,saying…one word: “Plastics!” Plastics have been invading our oceans for years. Unfortunately, many animals, such as sea turtles, mistake them for food. But does plastic reach the creatures dwelling in

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Super Spinach

Spinach! Excellent source of vitamins, minerals — bomb detection? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, and with the latest twist on your favorite superfood. Plants are constantly taking in information from their surroundings. Their roots act like telephone wires that communicate and receive signals from

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Smog Breath

Does this smog make me look fat? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, and a weight-gain study we hope doesn’t make you hyperventilate! Who’s asking it? Environmental health scientists at Ohio State University. They wanted to examine how exposure to air pollution early in life

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Coral Conundrum

An up close image of coral underwater. The coral in the foreground is bleached white while the coral in the background is brown. Small fish swim in the background.

Could fun in the sun – mean grief in the reef? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. The sun’s ultraviolet rays cause suntans, sunburns… and an increased risk of skin cancer. Sunscreen protects our skin by using chemicals like oxybenzone to absorb harmful U-V rays.

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