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

From the Archives: Pi Almost Legally Changed to 3.2

This episode originally aired on 3/13/2020. New episodes coming soon. Learn about how speed listening to podcasts (or "podfasting") affects our emotions; the health differences between white and brown rice; and the time pi was once almost legally changed to 3.2. Speed listening’s effects on emotion by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from S.P.) Rousseau, S. (2020, January 24). I Tried Listening to Podcasts at 3x and Broke My Brain. Medium; OneZero. https://onezero.medium.com/i-tried-listening-to-...

Mar 11, 202214 min

From the Archives: Busting the "Only Child" Stereotype

This episode originally aired on 11/26/2019. New episodes coming soon. Learn about a new study that busts the myth of the self-centered only child; why feeding birds in the park may be more destructive than you think; and why the canonical perspective makes everyone draw a coffee cup the same way. 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: A New Study Busts the Myth of the Se...

Mar 10, 20229 min

From the Archives: Fart Humor History

This episode originally aired on 9/13/2019. New episodes coming soon. Learn about why scientists measured how hard babies kick in the womb; the difference in brain scans between people when they were reading a book versus listening to a podcast; and how long humans have thought farts were funny. 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: Scientists Have Measured How Hard Babi...

Mar 09, 20229 min

Praising Competitors, Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe, Rock Paper Scissors History

Learn about praising competitors; star stuff and gravity assists with the hosts of Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe; and the strange history rock paper scissors. Praising a competitor can lead to greater sales for brands by Steffie Drucker Praise that slays: How complimenting a competitor can drive a firm’s revenues. (2021, November 18). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/935291 ‌Zhou, L., Du, K. M., & Cutright, K. M. (2021). EXPRESS: Befriending the Enemy: The Effects...

Mar 04, 202222 min

“Like Riding a Bike,” Paradoxes, That Fresh Rain Smell

Learn about the special way riding a bike is stored in your memory; the crocodile paradox; and the smell of fresh rain. The stories in this episode originally aired on these dates: December 21, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/the-most-influential-film-ever-your-memory-on-ridi December 23, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/christmas-music-psychology-rain-smell-science-croc Today is Ashley Hamer’s last episode. Follow her podcast at https://www.tabooscience.show . And if you’re...

Mar 03, 202214 min

Glow-in-the-Dark Cities, Feeling Holes, Max Volume on Earth

Learn about glow-in-the-dark cities; why holes feel larger with a tongue than a finger; and the maximum volume on Earth. Maybe we can save the planet by making our cities glow in the dark by Briana Brownell Kleiner, K. (2021, November). Will glow-in-the-dark materials someday light our cities? Knowable Magazine | Annual Reviews. https://knowablemagazine.org/article/technology/2021/will-glow-in-the-dark-materials-someday-light-our-cities Long Persistent Luminescence: A Road Map Toward Promising F...

Mar 02, 202219 min

Remembering Gifts, Animal Diets, Amazon-Sahara Connection

Learn why helping others feels like helping ourselves, how wild animals eat healthy, and how the Sahara feeds the Amazon. We're less likely to remember the things we've given to friends than strangers by Kelsey Donk We’re Worse At Remembering Exactly What We’ve Given To Friends Than What We’ve Given To Strangers. (2021, April 12). Research Digest. https://digest.bps.org.uk/2021/04/12/were-worse-at-remembering-exactly-what-weve-given-to-friends-than-what-weve-given-to-strangers/ Uğurlar, P., Post...

Feb 25, 202213 min

The Medicinal Power of Plants, World Record Internet Speed

Learn about how plants could help us solve the superbug crisis; and how engineers set a world record for internet speed. More from leading medical ethnobotanist Dr. Cassandra Quave: Pick up “The Plant Hunter: A Scientist’s Quest for Nature’s Next Medicines” by Dr. Cassandra Leah Quave: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/612171/the-plant-hunter-by-cassandra-leah-quave/ Quave Research Group: https://etnobotanica.us/ Follow @QuaveEthnobot on Twitter: https://twitter.com/QuaveEthnobot Dr. Cass...

Feb 24, 202217 min

Butterfly Effect, How to Cry at Work, Eggcorns in Language

Learn about the butterfly effect; why language mistakes called “eggcorns” still make sense; and tips for crying at work. The stories in this episode originally aired August 8, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/the-butterfly-effect-is-why-we-can-t-predict-weath Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go t...

Feb 23, 202214 min

How Science Works (w/ Bill Nye), Noise-Canceling Lungs, Stomach Growls

Bill Nye explains why science isn’t just a body of knowledge — it’s a process. Plus: frogs with noise-canceling lungs and why your stomach growls when you’re hungry. Additional resources from Bill Nye: Official website https://billnye.com/ Bill Nye’s podcast, Science Rules! https://www.askbillnye.com/ Pick up “Bill Nye's Great Big World of Science” on Amazon https://amzn.to/3u8iKQi “Everything All at Once: How to Think Like a Science Guy, Solve Any Problem, and Make a Better World” on Amazon htt...

Feb 18, 202216 min

Tool Use and Language in the Brain, Why Black Holes Get Bigger

Learn how tool use and language work in the brain; and why black holes get bigger due to the expansion of the universe. Tool use and language ability go hand in hand by Grant Currin Using mechanical tools improves our language skills. (2021, November 11). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/934004 Thibault, S., Py, R., Gervasi, A. M., Salemme, R., Koun, E., Lövden, M., Boulenger, V., Roy, A. C., & Brozzoli, C. (2021). Tool use and language share syntactic processes and neura...

Feb 17, 202213 min

Back Pain in Space, Cats’ Mental Maps, Diamond Davemaoite

Learn about back pain from space; how cats track their owners; and what davemaoite tells us about Earth’s lower mantle. Space travel causes back pain, and doctors need to find a fix by Cameron Duke Back pain common among astronauts offers treatment insights for the earth-bound. (2021, October 21). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/932251 Penchev, R., Scheuring, R. A., Soto, A. T., Miletich, D. M., Kerstman, E., & Cohen, S. P. (2021). Back Pain in Outer Space. Anesthesiolog...

Feb 16, 202218 min

Opposites Don’t Attract, Liking What’s Nearby, Last Name History

Learn about why opposites don’t really attract; the “propinquity effect”; and when and why we started using last names. Opposites Don’t Attract by Kelsey Donk Johnson, M. D. (2018, February 12). No, opposites do not attract. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/no-opposites-do-not-attract-88839 Montoya, R. M., & Horton, R. S. (2012). A meta-analytic investigation of the processes underlying the similarity-attraction effect. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 30(1), 64–94....

Feb 11, 202211 min

Puppy Anxiety Fixes and Avoiding “Back Burner” Relationships

Dr. Courtney Campbell explains how to treat your puppy’s anxiety. Plus: why “back burner” relationships are unhealthy. More from The Happy Puppy on DOGTV and Dr. Courtney Campbell: The Happy Puppy on DOGTV: https://watch.dogtv.com/happy-puppy Use code PUPPIES22 to score a free month at https://www.dogtv.com/ Follow @dogtv on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dogtv/ Dr. Courtney Campbell’s website: https://www.drcourtneydvm.com/ Follow @drcourtneydvm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drco...

Feb 10, 202218 min

Mimetic Desires, Testing Witness Memories, Fermilab’s Ferret

Learn about why you want things just because others do too; a way to reduce wrongful convictions; and Fermilab’s ferret. "Mimetic desires" are things you want because others want them — here's how to spot them by Steffie Drucker Reese, H. (2021, November 8). Mimetic desire: How to avoid chasing things you don’t truly want. Big Think; Big Think. https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/mimetic-desire-luke-burgis/ Caprino, K. (2021, June 4). How To Identify Your True Desires And Stop Imitating Everyone Els...

Feb 09, 202218 min

Your Romantic Relationships Are All Similar, Oldest Material on Earth, Why Cuttlefish Wore 3-D Glasses

Learn about why your romantic relationships are similar; the oldest material on Earth; and cuttlefish with 3-D glasses. Why Your Next Relationship Will Probably Be Like Your Last by Kelsey Donk Changing partners doesn’t change relationship dynamics, study shows. (2019). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/uoa-cpd082719.php Johnson, M. D., & Neyer, F. J. (2019). (Eventual) stability and change across partnerships. Journal of Family Psychology, 33(6), 711–721. https://d...

Feb 04, 202211 min

Giant Cheese Race, “Morning You,” Consciousness-Altering Eye Contact

Learn about a race against a wheel of cheese; your personality throughout the day; and effects of extensive eye contact. The stories in this episode originally aired July 6, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/you-re-a-different-person-in-the-morning-eye-conta Every Year, People in this English Town Risk Life and Limb to Chase a Wheel of Cheese by Annie Hartman Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling 2021 on Coopers Hill in Gloucester. (2021). SoGlos. https://www.soglos.com/sport-outdoor/27837/Glo...

Feb 03, 202216 min

Talking to Whales, Pedestrian Patterns, Women’s Competitiveness

Learn how AI may learn to talk to whales; why pedestrians don’t follow the shortest route; and competitiveness in women. Researchers are using AI to understand whale clicks — and talk back to them by Briana Brownell Hakai Magazine. (2021). Are We on the Verge of Chatting with Whales? | Hakai Magazine. Hakai Magazine; Hakai Magazine. https://hakaimagazine.com/features/are-we-on-the-verge-of-chatting-with-whales/ ‌Scientists Are Working on an AI to Let Us Talk to Whales. (2021, October 27). Futuri...

Feb 02, 202214 min

Virtual Gathering Tips, Bilingual Pain, Largest Waterfalls

Learn about tips for hosting fantastic virtual gatherings; how language affects pain; and the world’s largest waterfalls. Additional resources from Priya Parker: Pick up "The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/38sYHUN Listen to Priya Parker's New York Times Podcast "Together Apart": https://www.nytimes.com/column/together-apart Website: https://www.priyaparker.com/ Priya Parker on Twitter: https://twitter.com/priyaparker Priya Parker on Facebook: https:/...

Jan 28, 202213 min

A Lost Roman Sauce, Earlier Puberty, Elephants Getting Tusks Back

Learn about a mysterious ancient Roman sauce; puberty happening earlier; and how elephants are getting their tusks back. Garum, an ancient Roman sauce, mysteriously vanished — and culinarians can't recreate it by Steffie Drucker Tonon, R. (2021, June 24). The Team Resurrecting Ancient Rome’s Favorite Condiment. Atlas Obscura; Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/garum-fish-sauce Grescoe, T. (2021, November). Culinary Detectives Try to Recover the Formula for a Deliciously Fishy R...

Jan 27, 202216 min

Bombing Volcanoes, Gold from Neutron Stars, Mind Wandering

Learn why the US military bombed a volcano; where heavy elements in the universe come from; and why your mind wanders. Why the U.S. Government Bombed Mauna Loa in 1935 by Cameron Duke 1935 Eruption of Mauna Loa - Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (U.S. National Park Service). (2016). Nps.gov. https://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/nature/mauna-loa-1935.htm Martín, L. (2021, October 27). La Palma volcano “should be bombed” to divert lava flow. AS.com; AS En. https://en.as.com/en/2021/10/27/latest_news/1635...

Jan 26, 202213 min

Brain Freeze, Neural Networks, Spaced Repetition for Memory

Learn about brain freeze fixes; neural networks beyond our understanding; and learning new skills with spaced repetition. The stories in this episode originally aired August 29, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/neural-networks-why-you-get-brain-freeze-and-a-sci Learn better with the Anki app that Ashley uses: https://apps.ankiweb.net/ Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer . Still curious? Get exclusive scie...

Jan 21, 202213 min

Turn Anxiety into Productivity and Grapefruit Juice vs. Meds

Dr. Wendy Suzuki explains how to use anxiety to your advantage. Plus: why grapefruit juice and some medicines don’t mix. More from Dr. Wendy Suzuki: Pick up “Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion” https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Good-Anxiety/Wendy-Suzuki/9781982170738 Dr. Suzuki’s official website: https://www.wendysuzuki.com/ Follow @wasuzuki on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wasuzuki Combat social anxiety on HiHo: Download on the App Store: https://apps.appl...

Jan 20, 202217 min

Pre-Performance Routines, Panda Camouflage, Baby Sign Language

Learn about pre-performance routines; how panda fur works as camouflage; and how babies are enriched from sign language. A pre-performance routine makes athletes like Michael Jordan and Rafael Nadal perform better, regardless of what it is by Steffie Drucker Athletes with a pre-performance routine perform better. (2021, November 11). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/934597 The effectiveness of pre-performance routines in sports: a meta-analysis. (2021). International Review o...

Jan 19, 202213 min

Why You Should Reveal Your Failures, WASP-12b, Tulip Mania

Learn about why successful people should reveal their failures; the death of planet WASP-12b; and Dutch “tulip mania.” A Reason to Reveal Your Failures by Kelsey Donk HBS Working Knowledge. (2018, December 11). Why Managers Should Reveal Their Failures. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/hbsworkingknowledge/2018/12/11/why-managers-should-reveal-their-failures/#695e82c362e2 Envy Can Be Good for You. (2019). Curiosity.com. https://curiosity.com/topics/envy-can-be-good-for-you-curiosity Brooks, A...

Jan 14, 202212 min

Linguistic Laws in Nature and Fatherless Condor Chicks from Parthenogenesis

Learn about linguistic “laws” that also show up in nature; and how two California condors were born without fathers. Linguistic "laws" like Zipf’s law of abbreviation and Menzerath’s law also show up in biology, geography, and more by Grant Currin Jonny Thomson. (2021, October 22). The unknown linguistic laws that apply to all life. Big Think; Big Think. https://bigthink.com/life/linguistic-laws-biology/ Semple, S., Ferrer-i-Cancho, R., & Gustison, M. L. (2021). Linguistic laws in biology. T...

Jan 13, 202211 min

Exercising for Body Image, Ideal Deadlines, Longer Days from Climate Change

Learn about how a 30-minute workout can boost your body image; the ideal deadline to avoid procrastination; and how climate change could make the day longer. A 30-Minute Workout Is A Surefire Way To Boost Your Body Image by Anna Todd MacMillan, A. (2017, June 16). How to Feel Thinner in 30 Minutes. Time; Time. https://time.com/4821689/exercise-feel-thin-fast/?xid=newsletter-brief Salci, L. E., & Martin Ginis, K. A. (2017). Acute effects of exercise on women with pre-existing body image conce...

Jan 12, 202213 min

Quitting Smoking, Over-Practicing, Bill Nye on Believing Science

Learn how quitting smoking helps mental health; how to avoid over-practicing; and how to get people to believe science. Quitting smoking is good for your mental health, too by Steffie Drucker Cochrane Review finds stopping smoking is linked to improved mental health. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/w-crf030921.php Taylor, G. M., Lindson, N., Farley, A., Leinberger-Jabari, A., Sawyer, K., te Water Naudé, R., Theodoulou, A., King, N., Burke, C., & Aveyard, P...

Jan 07, 202214 min

David Copperfield’s Magic on the Moon, Fish and Whale Tails, a Giant Magnetic Tunnel

Learn about where to find David Copperfield’s secrets; a magnetic tunnel surrounding the Earth; and marine mammal tails. More from David Copperfield: Pick up "David Copperfield's History of Magic": https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/David-Copperfields-History-of-Magic/David-Copperfield/9781982112912 Website: https://www.davidcopperfield.com/ Follow @D_Copperfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/D_Copperfield Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidcopperfield Earth may be surrounded by a gia...

Jan 06, 202214 min

David Copperfield Talks Technology and Magic History

World-famous magician David Copperfield explains the surprising connection between magic and technology. Plus: learn about how ducklings get a speed boost when they swim in a line behind their mother. More from David Copperfield: Pick up "David Copperfield's History of Magic": https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/David-Copperfields-History-of-Magic/David-Copperfield/9781982112912 Website: https://www.davidcopperfield.com/ Follow @D_Copperfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/D_Copperfield Face...

Jan 05, 202217 min
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