60-second Science

Microbes fly tens of miles over Chile’s dry, UV-blasted Atacama Desert—and scientists say the same could happen on Mars. Christopher Intagliata reports. 

A program at the University of Illinois trains indigenous scientists in genomics—in hopes that future work will be aimed at benefiting those communities. Christine Herman reports. 

U.S. Military Academy cadets wear the colors black, gray and gold for reasons found in gunpowder’s chemistry.

Scientists found an interstellar iron isotope in Antarctic snow samples—which hints that our region of the universe may be the remnant of an ancient exploding star. Christopher Intagliata reports.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some people go on dates just to score a free meal—a phenomenon known as a “foodie call.” But it takes a certain personality type. Karen Hopkin reports.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Researchers trained machine-learning algorithms to read Amazon reviews for hints that a food product would be recalled by the FDA. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Slight changes around the eyes are indeed a giveaway as to whether a smile is sincere or faked. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Researchers slowed the approach of greedy gulls by an average of 21 seconds by staring at the birds versus looking elsewhere. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Honest, involuntary laughter cued people to laugh more at some really bad jokes than they did when hearing forced laughter.

By killing off many of New Zealand’s endemic birds, humans destroyed 50 million years’ worth of evolutionary history. Christopher Intagliata reports.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly half of bacteria gathered in public settings around the city were resistant to two or more commonly used antibiotics, such as penicillin and erythromycin. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Mating is risky business for black widow males—so they hitchhike on the silk threads left by competitors to more quickly find a mate. Christopher Intagliata reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Babies as young as a year and a half want leaders to fix situations in which they see someone else being treated unfairly.

Released or escaped parrots are now living in most states and are breeding in at least 21. For some, it’s a second chance at survival.

A few brief reports about international science and technology from Guatemala to Australia, including one about the first recorded tornado in Nepal.

Photographs snapped by safari tourists are a surprisingly accurate way to assess populations of African carnivores. Christopher Intagliata reports. 

Computer modeling revealed that insects with a celestial compass can likely determine direction down to just a couple degrees of error. Christopher Intagliata reports. 

Engineer John Houbolt pushed for a smaller ship to land on the lunar surface while the command module stayed in orbit around the moon.

Just before Neil Armstrong climbed back into the lunar module, he scooped up a few last-minute soil samples--which upturned our understanding of planetary formation. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Researchers dissected the jaws of ants infected with the Ophiocordyceps fungus to determine how the fungus hijacks the ants' behavior. Christopher Intagliata reports.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices