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Tiny Matters: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Multitude
Science shapes every facet of our lives, but so much of its influence is overlooked or buried in the past. Tiny Matters is an award-winning science podcast about the small science of big things. From the microbes behind deadly diseases to the molecules informing our search for extraterrestrial life, hosts and former scientists Sam Jones and Deboki Chakravarti embrace the awe and messiness of science and its significance both today and in the past, asking questions like, "how was IVF invented?," "what do glaciers tell us about Earth’s ancient past?," and "why is smallpox the only human infectious disease we’ve eradicated?"
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- 2 days ago35 min
Secrets in the peat: Ghost lights, bog bodies, and life built on death
For centuries, ghostly lights floating over bogs have appeared in folklore. Known by names including will-o'-the-wisp, corpse candles, and ‘Lantern Jack,’ they’ve inspired stories of supernatural tricksters leading travelers astray, sometimes to their doom. But in 2024, scientists finally uncovered the chemistry behind the phenomenon. From there, we travel deep into the strange world of bogs. These waterlogged landscapes help cool the planet and have preserved ancient artifacts — including human bodies — for thousands of years, helping teach us about what life was like many millennia ago, but also providing insight into some of the diseases that plague humanity today, including Alzheimer's.Related episodes you may enjoy: Biofilms: The sticky, slimy communities behind some of medicine's toughest infectionsForaminifera: The one-celled predators that shaped our planet (and kept the receipts)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- 1 weeks ago32 min
[BONUS] The ‘Tyrant Lizard Queen’ and how evolution shaped our anxious brains: Tiny Show and Tell Us #58
Why does your brain sometimes react to a stressful meeting or traffic jam like you’re being hunted by a lion on the savannah? In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we explore the evolutionary roots of anxiety, why our internal alarm system sometimes misfires, and how treatments can help some people. Then paleontologist and author Riley Black joins the show to talk about her new book Tyrant Lizard Queen: The Love, Life, and Terror of Earth’s Greatest Carnivore. She shares why T. rex is a much more complicated dinosaur than the movie monster we’re used to seeing. We hear about how T. rex grew, hunted, weathered dramatic environmental changes, and fit into her ecosystem. Related episodes you may enjoy: Decoding dinosaur colors and the failure of postpartum care: Tiny Show and Tell Us #57Treating Depression: Then versus now and the SSRI debateSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- 2 weeks ago31 min
The canaries in the coal mine: How sentinel species monitor our world
For decades, coal miners relied on canaries to warn them about deadly carbon monoxide underground. Canaries were retired from that work at the end of the 20th century, but today scientists still rely on certain organisms, referred to as sentinels, to reveal hidden environmental threats. In this episode, we trace the history of the canary in the coal mine to today and explore how researchers use songbirds, mussels, and oysters to monitor mercury, industrial pollution, and other contaminants that can linger in ecosystems for generations. NOAA's Mussel Watch program is celebrating 40 years! Learn more here: https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/a-legacy-of-coastal-health-celebrating-40-years-of-noaas-national-mussel-watch-program/Related episodes you may enjoy: How do you save a species?: Breakthroughs from cheetahs, red wolves, and 'spicy' toadsDeep sea mining: Environmental uncertainty, ‘Law of the Sea,’ and shark potatoesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- 3 weeks ago19 min
[BONUS] Decoding dinosaur colors and the failure of postpartum care: Tiny Show and Tell Us #57
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, a listener asks why maternal mortality rates in countries like the U.S. and Canada have risen while many other wealthy nations have seen them plateau or even decrease. We talk about postpartum health, racial disparities, access to care, and why support after birth can be just as important as care during pregnancy and delivery. Then we switch gears and discuss how we know the colors of some dinosaurs. The answer lies in tiny fossilized structures called melanosomes, which allowed researchers to reconstruct some of the colors of dinosaurs.Related episodes you may enjoy: The Mothers of Gynecology: The centuries that led to today’s Black maternal mortality crisisDinosaur Fossils: Inspiring Jurassic Park and helping us predict Earth's futureSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- Sep 30, 202641 min
How do you save a species?: Breakthroughs from cheetahs, red wolves, and 'spicy' toads
Cheetahs carry the genetic scars of an Ice Age bottleneck, red wolves are so rare that every egg matters, and harlequin frogs need their natural toxins restored before they can thrive in the wild again. But avoiding extinction requires far more than protecting habitat alone. In this episode, we talk with scientists at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute to explore cutting-edge science helping these animals not just survive but thrive, including innovative reproductive technologies like ‘ovary-on-a-chip.’Similar episodes you may enjoy:Extinction: Rethinking the dodo's demise, and could a supervolcano threaten humanity's future?What is de-extinction, really? Conservation, genetics, and lessons from 'dire wolves'See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- Sep 23, 202632 min
[BONUS] Milking spiders and why this scientist’s grave is covered in gifts: Tiny Show and Tell Us #56
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we first discuss funnel-web spiders, who are among the most venomous spiders on Earth. Maybe somewhat paradoxically, their toxins are being studied to treat human disease and chronic pain. Then we talk with historian Claire Aubin about J. Willard Gibbs’ grave at Yale, where she’s a professor. Gibbs was a quiet scientific genius whose work transformed chemistry. He was also seemingly a very cool dude, and today his gravesite is decorated by students seeking good luck before exams. Check out This Guy Sucked wherever you get podcasts!We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to tinymatters@acs.org or fill out this form with your favorite science fact or science news story for a chance to be featured.A transcript and references for this episode can be found at acs.org/tinymatters.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- Sep 16, 202637 min
Biofilms: The sticky, slimy communities behind some of medicine's toughest infections
Biofilms are everywhere: your teeth, your kitchen sponge, and even medical implants. Scientists are uncovering how these highly organized microbial communities protect bacteria from antibiotics and the immune system, and how understanding their hidden lives could help us fight some of the scariest infections, particularly those that disproportionately impact people with cystic fibrosis.Learn more about CALM here.Check out Wow If True wherever you listen to podcasts!A transcript and references for this episode can be found at acs.org/tinymatters.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- Sep 9, 202623 min
[BONUS] ‘Drinking Grandma,’ digital cadavers and debunking a grave robbing myth: Tiny Show and Tell Us #55
In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we explore the fascinating history of embalming, from ancient mummies to arsenic-laced funeral practices (that weren’t all that long ago!). Then we chat about cadaver dissection, the importance of Leonardo da Vinci's anatomical drawings, and whether virtual reality could someday replace anatomy labs. Plus, what's the real story behind those creepy iron cages found above burial plots in old cemeteries?Learn more about CALM here.We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to tinymatters@acs.org or fill out this form with your favorite science fact or science news story for a chance to be featured.A transcript and references for this episode can be found at acs.org/tinymatters.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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About Tiny Matters
Science shapes every facet of our lives, but so much of its influence is overlooked or buried in the past. Tiny Matters is an award-winning science podcast about the small science of big things. From the microbes behind deadly diseases to the molecules informing our search for extraterrestrial life, hosts and former scientists Sam Jones and Deboki Chakravarti embrace the awe and messiness of science and its significance both today and in the past, asking questions like, "how was IVF invented?," "what do glaciers tell us about Earth’s ancient past?," and "why is smallpox the only human infectious disease we’ve eradicated?"
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Frequently Asked Questions
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It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Tiny Matters as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
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When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
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Tiny Matters publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Tiny Matters cover?
Tiny Matters covers topics including Science. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
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