Your daily 90-second dose of real science for real people, with Sandra Tsing Loh!
Can your bridesmaids predict your lifespan? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Scientists say personality somewhat predicts mortality. For example, inactive, fatty-food-loving people are susceptible to early heart attacks. Psychologists at Washington University in St. Louis were interested in this mortality connection. Problem is, most
Are hugs the new chicken soup? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Think of your gut as a soup of friendly bacteria. Everybody’s recipe is custom made to work with our bodies properly. These good bacteria help digest food and fight disease. Scientists know that
Hey, adults of a certain age. Do you like to color? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science saying, coloring books! They’re not just for kids anymore. Coloring books aren’t just for kids anymore. Adults claim they help reduce stress and improve well-being. But how effective
Hey, guys: You can be large or you can be loud. This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, and a trade-off that makes monkeys howl. Howler monkeys, that is. They’re native to Central and South American forests. And they’re known for their loud calls, which carry
“I love you” will never be the same again. This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. About to leave a voicemail for your sweetie? Log on to your laptop instead! That’s what Alan Dennis and Taylor Wells suggest. In their study, they asked college students to
Can our hormones make us cheaters? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Most discussions about cheating focus on ethics. But psychologist Robert Josephs, of the University of Texas at Austin, wondered: Are hormones involved? Because goodness knows hormones impact other decisions. If you know what
Will you marry me… AND my love for Pepsi? Before popping the question, consider how compatible you are with that special someone. Think: similar backgrounds, values, or religion. But Coke over Pepsi – deal-breaker? Researchers from Duke University examined how brand preferences affect relationships. They had hundreds of couples list
Are sexist men less evolved? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Meet biologist Michael Kasumovic. He studies evolution in various contexts. Like online. For example, when male gamers, hiding behind Internet anonymity, harass female gamers. Kasumovic’s team participated anonymously in the multiplayer shoot-em-up game, Halo-Three.
Sure, women know the pain of giving birth, but they’ve never been stricken by the Man Flu! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Say you, or someone you love, is bedridden with a cold. Completely debilitated. It’s a condition affectionately called the “man flu.” Are
Can science get you a date? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Meet Khalid Khan of the London School of Medicine. He was curious about studies on courtship. Seems we’re healthier when we’re in love! Khan wondered: Then wouldn’t it make sense, medically, to help