Tiny Matters

We tend to think of space as vast and mostly empty, yet the region just above Earth is far from it. In this episode, we explore the surprising congestion of low Earth orbit, where tens of thousands of satellites and millions of pieces of debris are hurtling around at incredible speeds. From a major satellite collision in 2009 to the looming threat of the Kessler Effect — where Earth’s orbit becomes so densely packed that collisions set off an unstoppable chain reaction — we unpack how even tiny fragments can cause massive damage to spacecraft, disrupt critical services, and potentially put astronauts and even us Earth dwellers at risk. We talk with scientists about creative solutions that could help tackle this growing problem, including space lasers, and we ask an important question: who is responsible for keeping space clean?Check out American Medieval here or 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.

For over a thousand years, humans have been harnessing wind energy. It may have begun with small, grain‑grinding windmills in ancient Persia, but today you might spot Hoover‑Dam‑sized offshore turbines as you drive along the east coast. How did we get here? In this episode of Tiny Matters, we explore the first electric wind turbines built in the late 1800s, how government policies in the 1970s and ’80s shaped the modern wind industry, and why giant offshore wind farms are suddenly in the news. We also clear up misinformation stemming from a Hollywood blockbuster as well as what we know about the impact of wind farms on whales, birds and bats.Send us your science facts, news, or other stories for a chance to be featured on an upcoming Tiny Show and Tell Us bonus episode. And, while you're at it, subscribe to our newsletter!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.

In 1599, a family in a small French town claimed that their daughter was possessed by a demon called Beelzebub and, despite daily exorcisms, the demon possessing this woman was staying put. So France’s Henri IV set up a royal commission that would try something a little different. The woman would still receive exorcisms, complete with the normal exorcism accoutrements, but with a catch. The priest wouldn’t actually be Catholic, the water in the vessel would be ordinary water, and the Latin used wouldn’t be religious — it would be from Virgil’s famous poem Aeneid. That's because this wasn't actually an exorcism. It was an experiment built on a deceptively simple tool that scientists and doctors still use today to study new medical treatments: a placebo.In this episode, we explore the surprising origins and evolution of one of modern medicine’s most important tools: the clinical trial. We follow the development of experimental design across centuries to modern day randomized controlled trials and the debates about their limitations, trying to answer the question, “How do we know whether a treatment truly works?”Send us your science facts, news, or other stories for a chance to be featured on an upcoming Tiny Show and Tell Us bonus episode. And, while you're at it, subscribe to our newsletter!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.

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. Send us your science facts, news, or other stories for a chance to be featured on an upcoming Tiny Show and Tell Us bonus episode. And, while you're at it, subscribe to our newsletter!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.