What is a protein? A biologist explains
A biologist explains where proteins come from and what role the 20,000 or so proteins in your body play in keeping you alive and kicking.
Nathan Ahlgren, Assistant Professor of Biology, Clark University •
conversation
Jan. 13, 2021 • ~5 min
Jan. 13, 2021 • ~5 min
biology proteins amino-acids curiosity-question
Why do smoke alarms keep going off even when there's no smoke?
An electrical engineer explains how smoke detectors work, and how to reduce the chances of a false positive.
MVS Chandrashekhar, Assistant professor of electrical engineering, University of South Carolina •
conversation
Jan. 8, 2021 • ~5 min
Jan. 8, 2021 • ~5 min
curiosity electrical-engineering curiosity-question multimedia fire-safety
Virgin births from parthenogenesis: How females from some species can reproduce without males
Parthenogenesis, a form of reproduction in which an egg develops into an embryo without being fertilized by sperm, might be more common than you realized.
Mercedes Burns, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• conversation
Dec. 15, 2020 • ~6 min
Dec. 15, 2020 • ~6 min
reproduction biology eggs wasps lizards sexual-reproduction embryo crustaceans aphids egg curiosity-question
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