Curiosity Weekly - podcast cover

Curiosity Weekly

Discoverywww.discovery.com

Welcome to Curiosity Weekly from Discovery, hosted by Dr. Samantha Yammine. Once a week, we’ll bring you the latest and greatest in scientific discoveries and break down the details so that you don’t need a PhD to understand it. From neuroscience to climate tech to AI and genetics, no subject is off-limits. Join Sam as she interviews expert guests and investigates the research guiding some of the most exciting scientific breakthroughs affecting our world today.  


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Episodes

How Adderall Hurts Studying, 3 Gym Class Mistakes, and How Much Coffee You Should Drink

Learn why you should think twice before using Adderall as a study tool; 3 things gym class got wrong; and the healthiest number of cups of coffee to drink per day, according to a huge umbrella review. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: Adderall Doesn't Make Everyone "Smarter" 3 Things Gym Class Got Wrong This Is the Healthiest Number of Cups of Coffee to Drink Per Day...

Sep 28, 201810 min

5-Minute Hack to Beat Procrastination, Spider Benefits and Dangers, and Philosophical Disciplines

Learn a 5-minute hack for beating procrastination from Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom; why spiders are good for your home, and the most humane way to get rid of them; and a primer on a few philosophical disciplines to get you started in the world of philosophy. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: The 5-Minute Hack for Beating Procrastination Used by Instagram's Co-...

Sep 27, 20189 min

Gardening with Martian Soil, How to Stop Overspending, and a Technique for Remembering Things

Learn how you can grow a garden in "regolith" Martian soil; how to stop spending too much money on frivolous purchases; and a memory technique you can use to remember pretty much everything. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: This Company Wants You to Grow a Garden in Martian Soil To Avoid Overspending, Think of Money as Hours of Your Life Use the Memory Palace Techni...

Sep 26, 20189 min

First All-Female North Pole Expedition, Humans on the Food Chain, and How to Measure Your Meaning in Life

Learn about the world’s first all-female expedition to the North Pole; where humans rank on the food chain; and why you should take a science-backed quiz to help you measure your meaning in life. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: SKILLSHARE: Two months of unlimited access to more than 20 thousand classes for just 99 cents The World's First All-Female Expedition to th...

Sep 25, 20189 min

How to Stop Procrastinating, Astronauts Seeing Cosmic Rays, and What Causes That Fresh Rain Smell

Learn what causes that fresh rain smell; how astronauts can actually see cosmic rays; and a trick you can use to stop procrastinating called the “frog rule.” In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: Know that Fresh Rain Smell? Here's What Causes It The Frog Rule Can Help You Stop Procrastinating on Important Tasks Astronauts Can Actually See Cosmic Rays Please tell us about...

Sep 24, 20189 min

Sleep vs. Exercise, Milky Way Pictures, Military Method for Sleeping Anywhere, and Voice Recording Science (w/ Matthan Ring Black)

Learn which is more important, sleep or exercise; why you’ve never seen a picture of the whole Milky Way; a trick for falling asleep any time, anywhere, with a military-tested trick; and why your voice sounds different when you hear a recording of yourself. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com — and learn about the human voice from opera singer Matthan Ring Black — to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: Slee...

Sep 23, 201810 min

Hangover Impairment, Moon Landings in the 1600s, and Harmful Effects of 24/7 Workplaces

Learn about the impact of keeping employees available 24/7; a theologian who made plans to go to the moon in the 1600s; and new research into how being hungover can be just as dangerous as being drunk. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: Keeping Employees Available 24/7 Harms Collaboration and Mental Health This Theologian Made Plans for a Moon Landing in the 1600s Han...

Sep 21, 20189 min

Why There Are Monkeys If We Evolved From Them (w/ Natalia Reagan), Adult Chickenpox, and Disaster Survival Traits

Learn what personality traits it takes to survive a disaster, and why chickenpox is so much worse for adults. Plus, special guest Natalia Reagan answers the question: if we evolved from monkeys, then why are there still monkeys? In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: These Are the 8 Characteristics Shared by People Who Have Survived Disasters Why Is Chickenpox So Much Wor...

Sep 20, 20188 min

SpaceX’s First Private Passenger in Space, Running Myths Busted, and Bright-Line Rule Goal Setting

Learn about the first private passenger going to space, thanks to SpaceX; a trick for setting goals that you can actually stick to; and myths about running that we’ll bust so you can run with some peace of mind. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: SpaceX Has Identified the First Private Passenger to Go to Space Use Bright-Line Rules to Establish — and Achieve — Your Go...

Sep 19, 20189 min

Why You Should Talk to Strangers, How to Find Your Strengths, and Words with Most Definitions

Learn about why you probably like talking to strangers more than you think (and why you should do it more often); how to discover your personal strengths; and the words with the most definitions in the English language, according to The Guinness Book of Records. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: This Study Says You Might Like Talking to Strangers More Than You Realiz...

Sep 18, 20188 min

Doctors Beat AI with Swarm Intelligence (w/ Dr. Louis Rosenberg, Unanimous AI CEO); Plus, Hurricane Prediction Technology

Learn how technology is helping us get smarter when it comes to hurricane predictions. Then, Dr. Louis Rosenberg, CEO of Unanimous AI, explains how doctors were able to outsmart cutting-edge artificial intelligence by using swarm intelligence to combine their expertise. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following story from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: Hurricane Prediction Is Getting Smarter Thanks to Technology Addit...

Sep 17, 20189 min

Pretzel History, How Earth Got Its Water, Runner’s High Origins, and Words Named After People

Learn about where the water on Earth might have come from; the surprising history of the pretzel, including the monk who invented it; words you probably didn’t know are named after people; and where “runner’s high” comes from, and whether it’s genetic. Please leave us a 5-star rating on our Amazon Alexa Flash Briefing ! We really appreciate it! Anyone with an Amazon account can do it. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get sm...

Sep 16, 201810 min

Pavlov’s Dog Myths, Three Types of Perfectionism, and What The Universe Is Expanding Into

Learn about Ivan Pavlov’s dogs, and why you might not know them as well as you thought. Then, learn about the three types of perfectionism that are ruining your life. Plus: if the universe is expanding, then what is it expanding into? In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: The One Thing You Know About Pavlov and His Dogs Is Wrong Three Types of Perfectionism Are Ruining Y...

Sep 14, 20189 min

String Theory Primer, Night Owl and Morning Person Science, and All-Nighter Study Habits

Learn what makes someone a night owl or a morning person; get a quick primer on on string theory; and discover whether you should pull an all-nighter studying for a test. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: What Makes Someone a Night Owl or a Morning Person? String Theory Says We Have at Least 10 Dimensions, but That's Not the Weirdest Thing About It Studying for a Tes...

Sep 13, 20189 min

Saturn’s Hexagon Hurricane, Planned Obsolescence, and Kaizen for Continuous Improvement

Learn about a hexagon-shaped hurricane on Saturn; a Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement; and why products are only built to last for a few years. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: Why Does Saturn Have a Hexagon-Shaped Hurricane? Kaizen Is the 5-Step Philosophy of Continuous Improvement Planned Obsolescence Is Why Some Products Aren't Built to Last Please te...

Sep 12, 20189 min

Odd Historical Overlaps, Closed Doors Save Lives, and Vacation Time Helps A Company’s Bottom Line

Learn about some surprising overlaps in time that’ll make you question your history skills; why keeping your bedroom door closed could save your life; and why vacation time is good for a company’s bottom line. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: Here's Why Keeping Your Bedroom Door Closed Could Save Your Life Vacation Time Isn't Just Good for Workers — It's Good for a Company's Bottom Li...

Sep 11, 201810 min

Empathy-Teaching Video Games, Chile Pepper Origins, and A Simple Word Swap to Take Control

Learn about how scientists used video games to teach children empathy; a simple word swap that can help you keep your commitments in check; and an institute in New Mexico where all your favorite chiles came from. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: LINKEDIN: Get $50 off your first job post. Terms and conditions apply. Scientists Used Video Games to Teach Children Empat...

Sep 10, 20189 min

Contagious Yawning, Conformal Cyclic Cosmology, Exercising for Mental Health, and Why Glitches Are “Bugs”

Learn about a controversial theory that says our universe is one of many previous universes; why we call computer glitches “bugs”; and the largest study ever showing how much exercise you need to boost your mental health. We’ll also answer the question: is yawning contagious? In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: This Controversial Theory Says Our Universe Is Just One of...

Sep 09, 201810 min

What Would Happen if You Stopped Time, Secret Room of Mount Rushmore, and Dialect Benefits

Learn what would happen if you could stop time; why speaking multiple dialects of the same language is good for your brain; and why there’s a secret room behind Mount Rushmore. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: There's a Secret Room Behind Mount Rushmore Meant for Future Civilizations What Would Happen If You Stopped Time? Speaking Multiple Dialects of the Same Langu...

Sep 07, 20189 min

Lost National Museum of Brazil Artifacts, Swimming After You Eat, and Weird U.S. State Laws

Learn about what we lost in the blaze that destroyed the National Museum of Brazil; the myth that it’s dangerous to go swimming right after you eat; and some of the weirdest laws in U.S. states. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: Brazil's National Museum Went Up in Flames This Weekend. Here's What's Left These Are the Strangest Laws in All 50 US States Students at the...

Sep 06, 20187 min

NASA’s Voyager Golden Records, Why Cats Love Boxes, and Bacteria Hot Spots in Your Office

Learn about the golden records NASA launched into space with their Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes; the 5 most bacteria-ridden spots in your office; and why cats love boxes, according to science. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: NASA Once Launched a Golden Record of Earth's Music Into Space The 5 Most Bacteria-Ridden Spots in Your Office Why Do Cats Love Boxes? Follow Curiosity Daily o...

Sep 05, 20189 min

Multitasking Is Impossible, How A Flat Earth Would Even Work, and Nearly Every Country’s Name Origin

Learn how a flat Earth would even work; why multitasking is impossible, and what you should do instead; and the four things that nearly every country on Earth is named after. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: How Would a Flat Earth Even Work? Multitasking Is Impossible, So Batch Tasks Instead Nearly Every Country on Earth Is Named After 1 of 4 Things Please tell us a...

Sep 04, 20188 min

What Came Before the Big Bang, Diner Designs, and The Ancient Greek Crocodile Paradox

Learn about why classic diners are shaped like train cars; what came before the Big Bang; and the crocodile paradox, an unsolvable dilemma dating back to ancient Greece. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: Classic Diners Are Shaped Like Train Cars for a Very Good Reason What Came Before the Big Bang? The Crocodile Paradox Is an Unsolvable Dilemma That Dates Back to Anc...

Sep 03, 20188 min

Infidelity Predictors, Buzz Aldrin’s Moon Mementos, Running May Be Good for Your Knees, and Hand/Eye Dominance

Learn about left and right hand and eye dominance, and how they’re related; why running might actually be good for your knees; why Buzz Aldrin claimed 33 dollars in travel expenses for his trip to the moon; and two traits that determine how whether you’re more likely to cheat on your partner. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: Running May Actually Be Good for Your Kne...

Sep 02, 201810 min

How Long to Date Before Marriage, The NSF 2026 Idea Machine, and Why Buses Cluster

Learn why late buses cluster in threes, and which one you should choose; how you could get funding from the National Science Foundation for your big idea; and how long you should date someone before getting married, according to research. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: Here's Why Late Buses Cluster in Threes — and Which One You Should Choose The National Science F...

Aug 31, 20188 min

Microvacations, Why Sand Matters and Why We’re Running Out of It (w/ Vince Beiser), and Savings Plan Tricks

Learn how to stay sane at work by taking a microvacation; an easy trick for building the best savings plan; and why sand is one of the most important materials in human civilization — and why we’re running out of it. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com — and learn about sand from author Vince Beiser — to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: To Stay Sane at Work, Try Taking Microvacations To Build the Best Sa...

Aug 30, 20188 min

Neural Networks, Why You Get Brain Freeze, and A Science-Based Trick for Learning a New Language

Learn about why you get brain freeze, just how advanced neural networks are these days, and a science-backed trick for learning a new language. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: Why Do You Get Brain Freeze While Eating Icy Treats? Neural Networks Have Advanced Beyond Our Understanding, and That's Kind of Terrifying Spaced Repetition Is an Effective, Science-Backed Way to Learn a New La...

Aug 29, 20188 min

How to Get Over Burnout, Darkness is Faster than Light, and How Much Communication is Nonverbal

How much of communication really is nonverbal? Why is darkness faster than the speed of light? How can you tell if you’re burned out — and how do you recover? In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: Burned Out? This Research-Backed Quiz Could Tell You Darkness Is Faster Than the Speed of Light Body Language Is Overrated If you love our show and you're interested in hearing...

Aug 28, 20188 min

Marilyn Monroe Murder Conspiracy, Using Monday to Achieve Your Goals, and Good and Bad Bacteria Don’t Exist

In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: It's Easier to Achieve Your Goals When You Start on a Monday There's No Such Thing as Good Bacteria and Bad Bacteria Do You Believe the Marilyn Monroe Murder Conspiracy? If you love our show and you're interested in hearing full-length interviews, then please consider supporting us on Patreon . You'll get exclusive episodes and acces...

Aug 27, 20188 min

Fantasy Stock League, Redhead Pain Tolerance (w/ Natalia Reagan), and the Darkest Town in America

Hosts Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss a story about the darkest town in America (when it’s not hosting Burning Man) , then learn about how redheads experience pain differently (with some help from Natalia Reagan ), to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes! Plus: learn about the Fantasy Stock League with special guest Patrick Chism from today’s sponsor, Quicken Loans ! Please also feel free to visit Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans to learn more about their all-ne...

Aug 26, 201810 min
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