The Twilight Zone

For your consideration: a baffling conundrum – a question without an answer. Next stop . . .The Twilight Zone! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. I’ve been puzzling over this Sudoku for HOURS! Maybe it’s time for . . . a trip to the inner

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Ancient Energy Boost

Hunter! Gatherer! Farmer! Who works the hardest – or smartest? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Humanity’s evolution from earlier species took a LOT of energy. Bigger brains, needier children, and longer lifespans meant we had a lot on our PLATES – literally! How did

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Scarred Heart

Is there a cure for an achy breaky heart? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Inquiring romance novelists want to know – how do you mend a broken heart? Or at least – a SCARRED heart?  Scarring of heart tissue is a common symptom of

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Virtually Painless

Lost at Minecraft AGAIN? Painful! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, asking…but what if video games could bring pain RELIEF? Henry Xiang and team from the Nationwide Children’s Hospital tried this out on pediatric burn patients. They designed a virtual reality game requiring patients to

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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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