60秒科学:Profanity Bleeps Physical Pain

Profanity Bleeps Physical Pain Holy @$#%! According to neuroscientists from Britains Keele University, dropping the f-bomb can actually relieve physical pain. In the upcoming August 5th issue of the journal NeuroReport, the researchers say swearing

60秒科学:Are Parasites to Thank for Sex?

Are Parasites to Thank for Sex? A study in the journal The American Naturalist implies that parasites helped drive the development of sex, because the shuffling of genes gives sex-produced progeny an advantage over asexual genetic clones. Cynthia Gr

60秒科学:Really Mass Media

Really Mass Media In London last week at the World Conference of Science Journalists, Philip Hilts, the director of the Knight Science Journalism Program at M.I.T., reviewed the worldwide state of Internet and cell phone use, two of the major ways p

60秒科学:Future of Science Coverage

Future of Science Coverage At the World Conference of Science Journalists in London last week, outgoing Scientific American Editor in Chief John Rennie talked to writers about the future of what they do, remarks that also pertain to this podcast. St

60秒科学:Genetic Link For Perfect Pitch?

We might think perfect pitch is an innate talent. Well, a study in the American Journal of Human Genetics is providing some evidence for that. Perfect pitch, aka absolute pitch, is the rare ability to name or recreate musical notes like A or middle

60秒科学:Rain Zone Moving North

Rain Zone Moving North An article in Nature Geoscience predicts that the rainiest area on Earth, the intertropical convergence zone, is moving steadily north. Christie Nicholson reports [The following is an exact transcript of this podcast.] If youv

60秒科学:Why Didn't Earth Freeze Completely?

Why Didn't Earth Freeze Completely? Research published in the July 2 issue of Nature reveals one reason our planet didn't succumb to an enveloping ice sheet during glacial ages. Christie Nicholson reports. [The following is an exact transcript of th

60秒科学:Science, Though Beneficial, Losing Importance

The results are in, and, Americans pretty much like science. Eighty-four percent of those polled think that sciences effect on society is mostly positive. Thats the result of two phone surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center and the American As

60秒科学:Champagne Bubbles Key to Taste

Champagne Bubbles Key to Taste A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that champagne's bursting bubbles provide aromatic compounds that add to the taste. Adam Hinterthuer reports Lets raise a toast to champagne. And its

60秒科学:Odds Favor Drunk Trauma Victims

Odds Favor Drunk Trauma Victims A study in the journal American Surgeon finds that trauma victims who were inebriated at the time of their injury have higher survival rates than their sober counterparts. Rachel Kremen reports Being drunk might make y

60秒科学:Beating Heart Tissue from Stem Cells

Beating Heart Tissue from Stem Cells In a study in the journal Science, researchers explain how they used mouse embryonic stem cells and microchip technology to create heart muscle tissue that actually beats. Cynthia Graber reports One of the goals o

60秒科学:Celeb Vaccine Wars: Peet Beats Maher

Celeb Vaccine Wars: Peet Beats Maher Comedian Bill Maher advises against vaccinations. But actress Amanda Peet--and Dr. Bill Frist--have it right: vaccines are good. Steve Mirsky comments In the celebrity vaccine wars, Im siding with actress Amanda P

60秒科学:Odd Spider Prefers Salad

Odd Spider Prefers Salad In a study in the journal Current Biology, researchers report the discovery of an unusual spider, Bagheera kiplingi, that eschews meat and chews acacia tips. Karen Hopkin reports Its said that real men dont each quiche. And r

60秒科学:Antioxidants-Diabetes Connection

Antioxidants-Diabetes Connection In a study in the journal Cell Metabolism, some mice given antioxidants were more likely to become diabetic, because free radicals help muscle cells respond to insulin. Karen Hopkin reports. Youve no doubt heard of fr

60秒科学:Genome: Now in 3-D!

Genome: Now in 3-D! In a study in the journal Science, researchers report the mapping of the three-dimensional structure of the human genome, and the finding that the cell's nucleus is divided into two regions, one where DNA goes to get expressed. Cy

60秒科学:Pill May Change Attraction

Pill May Change Attraction In a study in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution, researchers note that the birth control pill may change a woman's choice in whom she finds attractive. Cynthia Graber reports Some people like to think theres somet

60秒科学:Nobel Prize in Physics

Nobel Prize in Physics The 2009 Nobel Prize in physics goes to Charles Kao of Standard Communications Labs in England and the Chinese University of Hong Kong for the invention of practical optical fiber communication, and George Smith and Willard Boy

60秒科学:The Great Depression Increased Life Expectancy

The Great Depression Increased Life Expectancy A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that the population life expectancy actually increased during the Great Depression. Karen Hopkin reports Believe it or not, depression

60秒科学:Ig Nobel Prizes Awarded

Ig Nobel Prizes Awarded On the eve of the Nobel Prize announcements, the Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded at Harvard, for studies into knuckle-cracking and other vital medical and scientific research. Karen Hopkin retorts When there are Nobel prizes ther

60秒科学:Brain's Speech Center Finally Talks

Brain's Speech Center Finally Talks In a study in the journal Science, researchers analyzed the inner workings of Broca's area, long known as the brain's speech center, in pre-op brain surgery patients. Cynthia Graber reports In 1865, Pierre Paul Bro