Shows / A Moment of Science
A Moment of Science
A Moment of Science is a daily audio podcast, public radio program and video series providing the scientific story behind some of life's most perplexing mysteries.
Episodes
- A Moment of Science
What makes hummingbird wings so pretty?
Many birds have striking features, but the hummingbird's wings are unique.
- A Moment of Science
The future of bananas
Bananas are a staple fruit in our dieting habits, but scientists have some concerns about its future.
- A Moment of Science
Why our recorded voices sound so different
Why do our recorded voices sound so different from inside our own heads?
- A Moment of Science
Can moon dust shield us from the sun?
A study suggests a valuable resource sits right on the surface of the Moon: dust.
- A Moment of Science
Trees that farm their own drought tolerance
With climate change, stronger droughts are challenging the world’s forests.
- A Moment of Science
An illusion in your coffee cup
Things are not always as they seem, and this little demonstration will prove it.
- A Moment of Science
Glass frogs turn translucent by hiding their blood
Researchers sometimes make biomedically important findings in the strangest places. One such discovery took place with glass frogs--tiny amphibians that live…
- A Moment of Science
Eating more with loved ones
Overeating at Thanksgiving or other family functions feels pretty common. Is there a reason for that?
- A Moment of Science
The toxic legacy of leaded gasoline
In the 1920s automotive engineers made one of the greatest mistakes of the twentieth century.
- A Moment of Science
Camouflaging with iridescence
Iridescent coloring is pretty eye-catching, so how can it be used as camouflage?
- A Moment of Science
Sending a cube into space
What's the size of a toaster, weighs about three pounds, and orbits the Earth?
- A Moment of Science
Voiceless frogs can fall in love, too
Today's A Moment of Science has the love story of a frog who can't sing.
- A Moment of Science
Queen bees don't have it easy
Queen bees don't have to leave the hive, but that doesn't mean they have easy lives.
- A Moment of Science
How the voice humanizes information
Research suggests how we receive information (reading vs hearing) can inform our opinions about the topic at hand.
- A Moment of Science
The significance of mouthfeel
Mouthfeel, or texture, is an important component of flavor while we eat.
- A Moment of Science
Modern bird beaks aren't so modern after all
New fossil evidence suggests previous assumptions about beak evolution weren't quite right.
- A Moment of Science
Fish have their own dog days of summer
Hotter weather makes humans more irritable. Turns out we aren't the only species impacted by the dog days of summer.
- A Moment of Science
The brain and mapping your toes
In most people’s brains, each finger is represented by its own small section in the brain, but the same isn’t true for toes.
- A Moment of Science
How the spitting cobra spits
Spitting cobras are dangerous because they don't even need to bite their victim in order to do damage. How do they do it?
- A Moment of Science
How to see ghosts with Pepper's ghost illusion
Learn more about the practical effect known as Pepper's ghost illusion.
- A Moment of Science
Frisky groundhogs in February
When groundhogs first emerge in February, they have very specific priorities.
- A Moment of Science
Keeping sweet corn sweet
Not much really compares to fresh picked sweet corn in the summer, and it turns out that there may be a very good scientific reason for why so many of us…
- A Moment of Science
Why is it so easy to break a coffee cup?
Learn about the role of leverage in breaking mugs with today's A Moment of Science.
- A Moment of Science
Are solar storms a threat to the internet?
The internet is one of the most valuable resources of our time. What potential threats exist to our global network?
- A Moment of Science
The mysterious origins of the Macrauchenia
Learn more about the Macrauchenia, a creature Charles Darwin considered as one of the strangest ever.
- A Moment of Science
Caribou and their mighty migration
The idea of heading south for the winter isn’t exclusive to humans. Plenty of animals embark on huge trips as the seasons change.
- A Moment of Science
What is the Heisenberg uncertainty principle?
One of the most bewildering developments of modern physics is the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. On today's Moment of Science we'll learn what this is, and…
- A Moment of Science
Flowers choose the best pollinators
It turns out flowers have some say in who carries their pollen.
- A Moment of Science
Arthropods in your house
They might not be welcome house guests, but your home probably has more arthropods than you think.
- A Moment of Science
How does the windhover hover?
Have you ever seen a raptor stay motionless in the air?
- A Moment of Science
Grapefruit and your medication
Did you know eating grapefruit can be ill advised, depending on your medication?
- A Moment of Science
Invasive species and tornadoes
Tornadoes can leave devastating destruction in their path, and impact an environment in surprising ways.
- A Moment of Science
The gun embodiment effect
Researchers wondered whether the act of wielding a gun would make a person perceive other people as wielding a gun as well.
- A Moment of Science
Turning your world upside down
See how our visual systems invert images with this simple demonstration.
- A Moment of Science
Less oxygen, stronger alligator hearts
Usually less oxygen leads to problems, but that isn't the case for alligator eggs.
- A Moment of Science
The smooth wake from a ship
Why would a ship's wake be smooth and not more chaotic? A Moment of Science explains.
- A Moment of Science
Tricking your muscles, with a door frame
Learn more about your muscles' sensory receptors with today's A Moment of Science!
- A Moment of Science
Crows can choose if they want to call
Some sounds are involuntary, but crows have the ability to determine if they want to call.
- A Moment of Science
The biggest earthquake humans ever experienced
There have been several devastating earthquakes in recent history. Today's A Moment of Science looks at what is suspected to be the biggest earthquake our…
- A Moment of Science
The complexities of feeling hangry
Have you ever felt hangry? Turns out this emotion is more complex than you might think.
- A Moment of Science
Getting grounded, but keeping your wings
Why do flightless birds still have their wings?
- A Moment of Science
Don't sweat the small stuff with moisture-wicking fabric
How does moisture-wicking fabric work while you're working out?
- A Moment of Science
Hills in the ocean
Despite appearances from the surface, the ocean has a surprising geographical range.
- A Moment of Science
Pickle me this
Learn more about the widespread technique of pickling with today's A Moment of Science.
- A Moment of Science
The invasive jumping worm
Gardeners would tell you earthworms are a crucial species in keeping their plants healthy, but not all worms are beneficial for your plants
- A Moment of Science
Wet weather leads to brighter colors
Not only leaves, but rocks, soil, and road surfaces all have more intense color when they're wet than when they're dry.
- A Moment of Science
Defending Earth: The impact threat
An asteroid striking our planet might be a popular storyline in science fiction, but how likely is this possibility really?
- A Moment of Science
Leafhoppers might be fans of climate change
Find out more about leafhoppers and why they might like global warming with today's A Moment of Science.
- A Moment of Science
When did humans learn to cook?
Anthropologists think our ancestors solved the calorie problem by learning to cook their food with fire.
- A Moment of Science
The amazing regeneration of the axolotl
We’ve all heard of lab rats—but what about lab axolotls?
- A Moment of Science
You can see the forest and the trees
Learn more about reforestation practices with today's A Moment of Science.
- A Moment of Science
The curve of a meandering river
Check out today's A Moment of Science for more on one of nature's most basic and subtle shapes -- the winding, back-and-forth S-curve of a meandering river.
- A Moment of Science
Internal compass helps guide fish home
We recently looked at the internal GPS systems of insects, but what about other wildlife?
- A Moment of Science
How getting back on the horse can help
Today's A Moment of Science is all about the benefits of hippotherapy.
- A Moment of Science
Your Pong opponent is a dish of brain cells
Pong is so easy you might say anyone could master it. And Pong’s newest players? A group of lab-grown brain cells.