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
GPS can get a bit buggy
Insects use their own GPS system to navigate, and scientists looked at how accurate their sense of direction is.
- A Moment of Science
What is alien hand syndrome?
Learn more about alien hand syndrome with today's A Moment of Science!
- A Moment of Science
Why did T. rexes have tiny arms?
The T. rex was one of the fiercest dinosaur predators, but why did it have such small arms?
- A Moment of Science
Why do we feel madly in love?
Love makes you do crazy things, but what is it exactly that makes us behave so differently?
- A Moment of Science
Convection in your coffee cup
There are some interesting physics to be found first thing in the morning.
- A Moment of Science
Planet of the ants
Humans like to think of Earth as our planet, but biology tells us otherwise.
- A Moment of Science
Bernoulli's hair dryer
Learn all about Bernoulli's principle with today's A Moment of Science!
- A Moment of Science
Humans can echolocate, too
We often associate bats with echolocation, but did you know some humans can have this ability too?
- A Moment of Science
The Earth's core and the evolution of complex life
For billions of years, life on Earth had included only microbes, and simple soft-bodied organisms. Then, within just a few tens of millions of years, a variety…
- A Moment of Science
Did sanitation make Rome any healthier?
Rome had a fairly sophisticated sanitation system, but didn't have a reduction in internal parasites. What made this possible?
- A Moment of Science
Same and different: Infants use analogies before they speak
The ability to make comparisons and analogies is a mental capacity that distinguishes human beings from at least most other animals.
- A Moment of Science
Magpie egg hormones impact their offsprings' boldness
Not all magpie jays are alike. Some individuals are much bolder than others. Now, scientists think they may have discovered a clue to explain the differences.
- A Moment of Science
Warped spacial mapping
Rats have good spacial mapping, but sometimes things can impact their mental image.
- A Moment of Science
Why are parrots so smart?
When scientists study parrots, they often appear as smart as monkeys and other mammals. How is this possible?
- A Moment of Science
Mitchell's Satyr: On the brink of extinction
The rare butterfly Mitchell's Satyr used to be found all over the Midwest.
- A Moment of Science
What makes blue ice?
Blue ice is relatively rare to see, so how does this formation get made?
- A Moment of Science
The strange life of a pyrosome
Pyrosomes might seem like a creature from science fiction, but they really exist. Learn all about them with today's A Moment of Science.
- A Moment of Science
Harsh winters are due to climate change
Our hotter summers are also impacting our colder winters. Find out more with today's A Moment of Science.
- A Moment of Science
Crabgrass has a sneaky trick
Crabgrass might be an eyesore in your lawn, but it presents an even bigger for crop growth.
- A Moment of Science
Sound off: Humans have simpler throats than monkeys
Would you ever mistake playground hoots as the call of a real baboon or great ape?
- A Moment of Science
To bee or not to bee
The Great American Eclipse of 2017 raised some interesting questions about bee behavior.
- A Moment of Science
Laughing gas isn't a laughing matter
Nitrous oxide isn't often talked about these days, but it is still an important greenhouse gas.
- A Moment of Science
How many bees does a meadow need?
They might be inconvenient on a personal level, but bees play a very important role in our environment.
- A Moment of Science
The ecological niche: Not just a hole in the wall
What is the significance of an ecological niche? Today's A Moment of Science explains.
- A Moment of Science
How do pets provide stress relief?
What is it about cute animals that calms us down?
- A Moment of Science
How vitamins got their name
Vitamins are a vital aspect of maintaining our help, but how did they get their name?
- A Moment of Science
The bloodsucking strategy of the vampire finch
The truth behind the vampire finch is stranger than fiction!
- A Moment of Science
No ant left behind
Rescuing each other from predators isn't a common behavior seen in animals, but the harvester ant shows its possible.
- A Moment of Science
Mole rats lead pretty painless lives
Mole rats are immune to certain kinds of pain, including what makes wasabi and some peppers spicy for humans.
- A Moment of Science
Chewing up our daily energy
Chewing takes up a small part of our day, but researchers believed it takes up a significant part of our energy.
- A Moment of Science
The next best thing to a yeti
A large, white animal with fur and claws? The yeti might not exist, but today's A Moment of Science has the next best thing.
- A Moment of Science
Seafloor mapping and a melting glacier
Why is a melting glacier such a cause for concern? Today's A Moment of Science looks closer at the research.
- A Moment of Science
The perfect pizza comes down to thermodynamics
Want to know the secret to a perfect pizza? It all comes down to science.
- A Moment of Science
The fascinating thievery of crows
Crows are some of the most intelligent birds on the planet. What keeps us fascinated with their behavior?
- A Moment of Science
The apple in your mind's eye
How well can you remember things you see every day, like logos?
- A Moment of Science
Yaks breathe easy, thanks to specialized cells
Breathing at high altitudes gets incredibly difficult. How are yaks able to live in such drastic conditions?
- A Moment of Science
Cataracts and cloudy vision
People are now living longer than ever, but there are a few drawbacks that come with old age.
- A Moment of Science
Mindset and genes
Our attitudes affect our bodies more than you might think. Find out how with today's A Moment of Science.
- A Moment of Science
Vanilla may one day come from plastic
Despite our associations, vanilla is actually far from boring.
- A Moment of Science
The curious properties of corks
17th-century physicist Robert Hooke was fascinated with corks. Today's A Moment of Science takes a closer look at his findings.
- A Moment of Science
A tusked and tufted deer
Learn more about the tufted deer with today's A Moment of Science!
- A Moment of Science
Brain waves and social behavior
The complex circuitry of the brain is the source of our emotions, thoughts, and behavior. One of the most important types of behavior, in humans and other…
- A Moment of Science
When the sky flashes green
It might sound like a fairy tale detail, but sometimes the sky can briefly turn green. How does this happen?
- A Moment of Science
Reflections in a spoon
Why do reflections change depending on the side of a spoon?
- A Moment of Science
The incredible walking sticks
Learn more about stick bugs with today's A Moment of Science!
- A Moment of Science
Bubble trouble: How to calm a shaken can of soda
Either intentionally or not, we've all unfortunately opened a can of soda that was shaken. Find out how to potentially avoid this bubble trouble with today's A…
- A Moment of Science
The significance of glass color
Have you ever wondered why wine bottles are traditionally olive green? Today's A Moment of Science has an answer.
- A Moment of Science
Dinosaurs in the snow
Scientists used to think dinosaurs were like giant lizards and not capable of living in cold climates. That no longer seems to be the case.
- A Moment of Science
The science of sweetened condensed milk
Sweetened condensed milk is a key ingredient in many delicious recipes. Why exactly was it created in the first place?
- A Moment of Science
Amazon's biodiversity enhanced by river movement
The Amazon is home to some of the greatest biodiversity on the planet. How is this made possible?
- A Moment of Science
Making clouds in your kitchen
When you heat up a kettle, it often seems like you can see the steam rising from it. What exactly are those white clouds made of?
- A Moment of Science
Sea turtles navigate by the magnetic field
Many animal species travel great distances each year. How do they avoid getting lost on the way to their destinations?
- A Moment of Science
The desert where rain is deadly
Learn more about the weather in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile.
- A Moment of Science
The impact of an underwater volcanic eruption
An underwater volcano eruption earlier this year could have long-term impacts on the global climate.
- A Moment of Science
How temperature impacts the perfect cup of coffee
What's the secret to making the perfect cup of coffee? Temperature plays a key role.
- A Moment of Science
How long is a day on each planet in the solar system?
How long does a day last on other planets?