An all-ages trip to the frontiers of knowledge.
Posted every Monday, Bytesize Science
translates scientific discoveries from ACS’ 36
journals into intriguing stories about science,
medicine, energy, food and much more
Posted every Monday, Bytesize Science
translates scientific discoveries from ACS’ 36
journals into intriguing stories about science,
medicine, energy, food and much more
Bytesize Science
An all-ages trip to the frontiers of knowledge.
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In a finding that’s sure to get cheese lovers yakking, researchers in Nepal and Canada report that cheese from the milk of yaks, a big, hairy cow-like animal, may be better for you.
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by acclivity and koops. -
Scientists say that eating chicken, fish or vegetables once per week in place of red meat can help the environment.
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by mich3d, suonho, kjackson, fogma and acclivity. -
For years, scientists have tried to build an electronic tongue, a robot that could taste and smell food like we do. But before machines learn to taste their food, they first need to learn how to chew it. Scientists recently designed an artificial mouth that mimics the first vital steps of human digestion -- chewing, saliva release and the initial breakdown of food.
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by Jamius and Koops.
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For almost 70 years, doctors have given people antibiotic medicines to help people defeat invading germs, or microbes. But there is a constant tug-of-war between these microscopic monsters and people.
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by ljudman, Matt G and UncleSigmund. -
Earthlings are about to visit Mars again to search for traces of life. But since we can’t go in person, we are sending another robot spacecraft. Named Phoenix, the vehicle is scheduled to land on Mars on May 25 after a 420 million mile, 9-month voyage from Earth. An article on the Phoenix by Elizabeth K. Wilson appears in the May 25 issue of Chemical & Engineering News, the American Chemical Society's weekly newsmagazine.
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by ERH, suonho, DJ Chronos, Sruddi1 and Freqman.
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Scientists are working on ways of using gator blood to put the bite on germs that make cuts get infected and turn red and puffy with pus and pain.
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes sounds by smcameron, hazure, thanvannispen, acclivity and Koops. -
Now for some shocking news about plants: Scientists in Arizona report that exposing plants to low doses of electricity can boost levels of useful plant chemicals. Their finding could lead to cheaper and faster ways to produce useful plant-based materials such as medicines and pesticides.
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes electricity sounds by Halleck, apple crunch by Koops, farm sounds by acclivity, buzzing fly by galeku, laser sound by inferno and applause by SandyRB. -
For almost 25 years, chemists and other scientists have tried to build an electronic nose that can take a whiff of the air, food or other objects and say whether the odor is nasty or nice.
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes factory sounds by kokuya, dog bark by mich3d and electricity sound by Halleck -
Have you ever heard someone say they have an allergy to eggs? Thousands of children and adults cannot eat that egg-straordinary food. Thankfully, chemists in Germany and Switzerland now are reporting some good news for the egg-allergic.
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes chicken sound by mich3d, cricket sounds by reinsamba, scream sound by cdrk and stomach gurgle by nannygrimshaw. -
For more than 100 years, scientists have tried to discover the full chemical recipe for the pitcher plant’s digestive juices. Now two Japanese scientists have finally figured out this complex cocktail of digestive juices.
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes zoo noises by freesound, fly audio by galeku and dobroide, splash by junggle, gurgle by Halion and bubbles by suonho. -
Researchers have created a new blend, or hybrid, of rice by mixing a common species with a wild one. The result is high in protein and might help feed millions of poor and malnourished people around the world.
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes crowd sounds by Freqman, pop sound by Traveler and applause sounds by SandyRB. -
Scientists in Wisconsin have discovered an ingredient that prevents the formation of ice crystals that can spoil the smooth, silky texture of ice cream and other frozen foods. The substance, which acts like an antifreeze, is non-toxic and doesn’t change the taste of foods, the researchers say.
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes yeah kids sound by Totya, scream by thanvannispen, applause sounds by SandyRB. -
Black History Month is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the contributions of African American scientists. So this week, we turn our focus on how their amazing work has improved peoples’ lives throughout history.
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes chip crunch by FreqMan, truck backup sound by Corsica_S, gas stove audio by WIM, buzzing fly by dobroide, yeah kids sound by Totya. -
The bright, reflective shine of fish skin is a source of endless fascination for fishermen and aquarium owners. But what gives these swimmers their striking appearance?
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; Chill by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes coin drop by seejacksurf, wind chimes by acclivity, seagull audio by hazure, harp sound by zerolagtime, underwater sounds by suonho, laser by inferno and gasp by freqman. -
It seems unlikely, but scientists have discovered evidence that France may have been a hot, wet tropical rainforest 55 million years ago!
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; Sancho Panza gets a Latte and Whimsy Groove by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes needle skip and gasps by Freqman, rainforest ambient sounds by reinsamba and dinosaur roar by acclivity. -
Scientists are beginning to decode the secret chemical language that bacteria use to chat. This discovery could lead to new treatments for bacteria that shrug off existing medicine. Every year, these so-called 'superbugs' make more than 90,000 people in the United States very, very sick.
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; Highlights reel by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes ticking clock sound by acclivity, bell toll by dobroide and party sounds by Freqman. -
Scientists in Korea have solved a big mystery about the water strider: How on Earth does this bug manage to leap onto the water without sinking?
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; Cherry Blossom by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes pool splash by patchen, slap sound by scarbelly25, pained grunt by Sruddi1, underwater sounds by suonho, rowing sounds by hazure, bounce audio by FranciscoPadilla, water drop sound by junggle, camera shutter sound by Heigh-hoo, robot noise by Harri and racecar sound by prosounder. -
Scientists have discovered a new weapon in the battle against bad breath: chewing gum or mints made with from material found in the bark of the sweet magnolia tree.
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; song entitled Plain Loafer by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes ship sound by milo, toilet flush by megamart, toothbrush sound by samplecat, yeah vocals by totya and scream by thanvannispen. -
Boiled peanuts: the science of South Carolina’s official snack food.
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes boiling sound by Dobroide, “woohoo” vocal by UncleSigmund and “eating chips” sound by FreqMan. -
Dragon's blood may sound like part of a magic potion that is used to fend off enemies in an epic battle. It actually is a bright red plant sap that has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine.
Intro theme and sound effects by Adam Dylewski; Noble Race by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes dinosaur roar by acclivity, scream sound by cdrk, harp audio by zerolagtime, violin sound by dobroide, balloon inflation and deflation sounds by Halleck, stomach gurgle by nannygrimshaw and toothbrush sound by samplecat. -
Scientists in Massachusetts learn the sneaky secrets of cephalopods, nature's ultimate camouflage artists.
Intro theme and various sound effects by Adam Dylewski; scheming weasel by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes pool splash sound by patchen, underwater sounds by suonho, squish sound by Jamius and balloon inflation sound by Percy Duke. -
Some stomachs simply cannot get enough of one sweet treat; chocolate. Find out why!
Intro theme by Adam Dylewski; Dvorak Polka by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes kiss sound by roscoetoon, burp sound by jppi_Stu, male scream by thanvannispen, gurgling stomach sound by nannygrimshaw and brute vocal by Xythe. -
Thanks to a new gadget that gulps pollution right out of the air, scientists may be able to reduce the environmental damage caused by the hundreds of millions of cars worldwide.
Intro theme and sound effects by Adam Dylewski; Lasting Hope and Space Explorers music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes slurping sound by FranciscoPadilla, car ignition and horn sounds by Han1, single cough sound by zippi1, group cough sounds by Leady, gas stove sound by WIM, water drop sound by junggle, pool splash sound by patchen, brute vocal by Xythe and vacuum sound by tweeterdj. -
Sci-fi movies and comic books are not the only place you can find “hair-raising” mutants with super-powers. With the help of some special bacteria, scientists are giving plants mutant roots with abilities that may one day make super-heros turn green with envy. These roots may become biofactories — natural factories that churn out fuels, food flavorings, and even medicine.
Intro theme and sound effects by Adam Dylewski; The Way Out music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes male scream by thanvannispen, factory sounds by kokuya, car ignition sound by Han1, underwater sounds by suonho and applause sounds by SandyRB. -
The next time you rip a CD onto that shiny new iPod or cozy up with a DVD movie, give this some thought: Scientists have found a surprising new job for compact discs and players. Those silvery wafers of plastic may be taking a spin in a laboratory near you!
Intro theme by Adam Dylewski; Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes ripping sound by batchku, music by bebeto, pop sound by anbo, buzzing sound by swuing, record scratch by jungle, laser sound by inferno and wooping vocal by UncleSigmund. -
Scientists find a way to make a tasty African veggie called cassava more healthy.
Intro theme and sound effects by Adam Dylewski; “Whimsy Groove” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com); Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes crowd sounds by SandyRB. -
Shows at family adventure parks featuring Shamu — an orca or killer whale — have made these gigantic mammals one of the most famous marine animals. Shamu’s wild brothers and sisters, however, face many threats to their survival in the open ocean.
Intro theme by Adam Dylewski; Creative Commons licensed audio from freesound.iua.upf.edu includes shore sounds by Volivieri, ambient music by Genghis Attenborough, foghorn sound by Kathol and seagull sounds by Hazure.