Global Glow

Biofluorescent Springhares

Pop quiz: What hops. . . and glows?  This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. We’ve told you about glowing platypuses in Australia. And there are possums in the Americas that glow too! This glow-in-the-dark feature is called biofluorescence. Where else in the world can we

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Molar Bears

Image of black bear (Ursus thibetanus)

Mama bears know: raising kids is like pulling teeth!  This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. So, what really stands between a bear and your picnic basket?  Wildlife management! Japanese ecologists need to manage Asian black bears, and that involves tallying up newborn cubs. How does

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Global Glow

Biofluorescent Springhares

Pop quiz: What hops. . . and glows?  This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. We’ve told you about glowing platypuses in Australia. And there are possums in the Americas that glow too! This glow-in-the-dark feature is called biofluorescence. Where else in the world can we

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Aging Bat-ifully

Hey, influencers – have you heard about BEAUTY TIPS from BATS? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. For most mammals, the smaller they are, the shorter their lifespan. But not bats! If humans played by bat rules, we’d live past a hundred and fifty! What

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Singing Mouseketeers

Mousey in conversations? You’re not alone! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Some conversations just flow naturally. Others…not so much! Imagine small talk with the in-laws! Ugh! You have to tiptoe around sensitive topics, AND coordinate a hundred different mouth muscles! How does your brain

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Hopping to the Rescue

The Easter bunny is here… with a basket full of fresh air? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Urban homes often contain high levels of pollutants, known as volatile organic carcinogens. These VOC’s include formaldehyde, benzene, and chloroform. Yuck! Certain house plants are a good,

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Three Mom Mice

Is it the end of men? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Men. Who needs ‘em! Not some female sharks, spiders, and komodo dragons. They can create babies on their own. Mammals are different. For us, certain genes important for embryonic development are turned OFF

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Bat Talk

Overheard in the bat cave – conversation? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. That’s what Genevieve Wright at the University of Maryland wanted to know. In previous studies, Wright and colleagues found that brown bats seem to make six different types of social calls. Their

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Whale of a Tale

Too big…? too small… ? This BODY size is just right! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Mammals that live in the ocean are some of the largest animals in the world. Think whales and walruses. These mammals’ ancestors used to live on land. When

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