Tiny Matters

In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we learn that humans aren’t the only mammals who menstruate. We explore the fulvous fruit bat’s 33‑day cycle, how reproductive biology differs across species, and why scientists still don’t fully understand why menstruation evolved in the first place. Then we take a deep dive into the world of mycotoxins: dangerous compounds produced by fungi. We cover how these toxins form, why they’re so hard to eliminate, and risks they pose to agriculture, livestock, and human health.
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A transcript and references for this episode can be found at acs.org/tinymatters.
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It’s no exaggeration to say that polio shaped modern medicine. Before a vaccine was available, polio outbreaks left thousands of people paralyzed, with some unable to breathe. But, in 1928, the development of the iron lung meant that, for the first time, humans could rely on a machine to stay alive. In this episode, we trace the rise of polio in the early 20th century, the science behind the virus, and the race to save lives. From early resuscitation experiments to the unexpected inspiration behind the iron lung, we uncover the innovation, ethical dilemmas, and human stories that defined this era, hearing from two people whose early childhoods and families were dramatically shaped by the disease.
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All Tiny Matters transcripts and references are available here.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Explore bold ideas and big solutions with Alex Honnold on Planet Visionaries, a podcast in partnership with the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative. I have become a regular listener this season and hope you enjoy it too!

Explore bold ideas and big solutions with Alex Honnold on Planet Visionaries, a podcast in partnership with the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative. I have become a regular listener this season and hope you enjoy it too!

In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we kick things off with a quick shout-out to a listener who started flossing thanks to a previous episode. Then we dive into the hidden history of the women “computers” at Harvard Observatory, including Henrietta Leavitt, who laid the foundation for modern astronomy with her groundbreaking discoveries including calculating the size of the Milky Way. Then we discuss the co-evolutionary arms race between passion vines and Heliconius butterflies, which includes fake eggs, toxic fruit, and impaled caterpillars.
We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to [email protected] *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.