Today you’ll learn about a new blood test that’s been developed to assess anxiety, what’s really happening neurologically that causes “mommy brain”, and how a spy may be trying to contact you on Linkedin. Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/anxiety-blood-test-mommy-brain-linkedin-spy Anxiety Blood Test “New Blood Test Developed for Anxiety.” by Molly Campbell. 2023. https://www.technologynetworks.com/diagnostics/news/new-blood-test-developed-fo...
May 03, 2023•15 min
Today you’ll learn about how our genes can predict how many kids we’ll have, how scientists have created a new method of sucking up CO2 from the atmosphere, and how a baby mouse was born from two biologically male mice! Genetic Fertility “Genetic variants influencing human fertility identified - new research.” n.a. 2023. https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-03-02-genetic-variants-influencing-human-fertility-identified-new-research “Genome-wide analysis identifies genetic effects on reproductive succes...
Apr 28, 2023•15 min
Today you’ll learn about how fruit flies are inspiring new forms of gameplay in basketball, how IQ levels are falling around the country, and a potential solution to difficult-to-recycle plastics! Basketball Positions “Physics model could optimize basketball player positioning” by Kathy Hovis https://phys.org/news/2023-03-physics-optimize-basketball-player-positioning.html “Fruit flies and electrons: Researchers use physics to predict crowd behavior” by Linda B. Glaser https://phys.org/news/2018...
Apr 27, 2023•14 min
Today you’ll learn about controversial research by NASA suggesting that extinction-level asteroids may have hit Earth more often than we thought, how scientists are working to create electricity out of thin air, and the effects of using exclusively male mice in scientific research. Species-Ending Asteroids “Species-Ending Asteroids Hit Earth More Often Than We Realized, NASA Research Suggests.” by Sarah Wells. 2023. https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kxpag/species-ending-asteroids-hit-earth-more-o...
Apr 26, 2023•14 min
Today you’ll learn about a zombie virus recovered from the arctic permafrost and brought back to life, some good news about 26 Australian animal species that have been brought back from the brink, and how a new pill could potentially limit the levels of “bad” cholesterol in the body. Zombie Virus “Scientists have revived a ‘zombie’ virus that spent 48,500 years frozen in permafrost.” By Katie Hunt. 2023. https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/08/world/permafrost-virus-risk-climate-scn/index.html “Arcti...
Apr 21, 2023•15 min
Today you’ll learn about how scientists are working on developing an injection to treat endometriosis, how bees solve puzzles, and how lemon juice is able to block the formation of kidney stones. Endometriosis Shot “An antibody injection could one day help people with endometriosis.” By Meghan Rosen. 2023. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/antibody-injection-help-endometriosis “Endometriosis.” World Health Organization. 2021. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis#:~:te...
Apr 20, 2023•13 min
Today you’ll learn about how remote work is resulting in people having more children than before the pandemic, how scientists are searching for new treatments for acne, and how indigenous groups in South America have a genetic resistance to Chagas disease. Remote Work Baby Boom “The Surprising Effects of Remote Work” by Derek Thompson https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2023/03/us-remote-work-impact-fertility-rate-babies/673301/ “Early Remote Work Impacts on Family Formation” by Lyma...
Apr 19, 2023•14 min
Today you’ll learn about how foreign accent syndrome works, how an AI algorithm can create a physical copy of a mental picture, and how invasive marsh grass is taking over China’s coastline. Foreign Accent Syndrome “Scientists reveal why American man with prostate cancer developed ‘uncontrolled’ Irish accent” by Vishwam Shankaran https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/american-man-irish-brogue-prostate-cancer-b2292537.html?utm_source=reddit.com “Foreign accent syndrome as a heralding manifes...
Apr 14, 2023•18 min
Today you’ll learn about how men with physically strenuous jobs have higher testosterone levels and, ahem, sperm counts, about how a researcher studying whales figured out an ancient mystery, and how providing women with more opportunities actually increases men’s life expectancy. Men At Work “Physically Demanding Work Tied to Male Fertility.” By Miles Martin. 2023. https://hms.harvard.edu/news/physically-demanding-work-tied-male-fertility “Secular trends in semen parameters among men attending ...
Apr 13, 2023•13 min
Today you’ll learn about whether or not birth order affects how rebellious you are, how researchers are working to turn a human brain into a machine, and what Zimbabwe is doing to try and solve their energy crisis. Birth Order “New study disputes the birth order theory that later-born are “born to rebel”” by Laura Staloch https://www.psypost.org/2023/02/new-study-disputes-the-birth-order-theory-that-later-born-are-born-to-rebel-68636 “Birth order, personality, and tattoos: A pre-registered empir...
Apr 12, 2023•20 min
Today you’ll learn about neighborhood 3D-printed by a robot, a 4,500 year-old secret chamber recently discovered in the Great Pyramid of Giza, and about research that shows a genetic link between blood sugar and migraines. 3D-Printed Community “The World’s Largest 3D-Printed Neighborhood Is Here” by Todd Woody, 2023. https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2023-3d-printed-houses-austin-texas/?cmpid=BBD030323_GREENDAILY&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=230303&utm_campaig...
Apr 07, 2023•15 min
Today we discuss the link between gastrointestinal disorders and mental health, how the path you take walking through a crowd can be predicted by mathematics, and how we’ve now witnessed an example of super propulsion in nature for the first time! GERD Anxiety “The causal role of gastroesophageal reflux disease in anxiety disorders and depression: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study” by Youjie Zeng, Si Cao, and Heng Yang https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1135923/f...
Apr 06, 2023•17 min
Today you’ll learn about how children raised by same sex couples are just as psychologically healthy as other kids, how face blindness might be way more common than we think, and how paid sick leave is now scientifically proven to benefit both businesses and employees. Same Sex Same Kids “Children of same-sex couples fare at least as well as in other families - study.” By Nicola Davis. 2023 https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/mar/06/children-of-same-sex-couples-fare-at-least-as-well-as-in-o...
Apr 05, 2023•14 min
Today you’ll learn about how archaeologists have found evidence of brain surgery from the Bronze era in the Middle East, how 3D-printed hearts are becoming closer to a reality than ever before, and the recent discovery of how a black hole is eating a dust cloud in space. Ancient Brain Surgery “Archaeologists uncover early evidence of brain surgery in Ancient Near East” by Brown University https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230222141115.htm “Cranial trephination and infectious disease ...
Mar 31, 2023•18 min
Today we discuss how infants beat out AI when it comes to common sense, how fruit flies’ use of magnetoreceptors can teach about humans, and what depression has to do with your posture. Infant Common Sense “Commonsense psychology in human infants and machines” by Gala Stojnić et al. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010027723000409 “Infants Outperform AI in “Commonsense Psychology”” by James Devitt https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2023/february/infants-outperfor...
Mar 30, 2023•21 min
Today you’ll learn about a robot with the ability to pick up a single drop of water, how scientists have created a computer algorithm that can predict Malaria hotspots, and what naked mole rats have to teach us about human fertility. One Drop Robot “New robot can pick up a single drop of liquid” by Stephen Ornes https://www.snexplores.org/article/innovation-2023-robot-can-pick-up-drop-of-liquid “On-demand, remote and lossless manipulation of biofluid droplets” by Wei Wang et al. (PAYWALL) https:...
Mar 29, 2023•17 min
Today you’ll learn about how scientists are using AI to talk to animals, the discovery of new, very big, very old candidate galaxies, and how there just may be an extra layer in the earth’s inner core. AI Animal Translator “How Scientists Are Using AI to Talk to Animals” by Sophie Bushwick https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-scientists-are-using-ai-to-talk-to-animals/ “Bat Chatter Is More Than a Cry in the Dark” By Christopher Intagliata https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/epis...
Mar 24, 2023•17 min
Today we discuss how early morning classes at universities could be leading to poor academic performance, how scientists uncovered the world’s oldest runestone, and a new breakthrough treatment in postpartum depression. School Sleep “Early morning university classes are associated with impaired sleep and academic performance” by Sing Chen Yeo et al. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01531-x “Study: Early Classes Connected to Poor Academic Performance” by Safia Abdulahi https://www.insid...
Mar 23, 2023•15 min
Today you’ll learn about how scientists are developing a form of birth control for men, why humans need more sleep during the winter, and how whales are giving up singing their love songs in favor of fighting for mates. Male Contraceptive “Sperm-Slowing Male Contraceptive Reversibly Inhibits Mouse Fertility” by Ruairi J Mackenzie https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/sperm-slowing-male-contraceptive-reversibly-inhibits-mouse-fertility-370207 “On-demand male contraception via acu...
Mar 22, 2023•15 min
Today we discuss how the lost temple of Poseidon may have been discovered, how our circadian rhythms show what time of day is best to exercise, and how researchers decoded a stack of letters written by Mary Queen of Scots during her imprisonment. WATCH SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS ONLY IN THEATERS MARCH 17. (Rated PG-13) Poseidon Temple “A lost temple for Poseidon may have finally been rediscovered” by Sara Kiley Watson https://www.popsci.com/science/poseidon-temple-tsunami-greece/ “Strabo” by Duane...
Mar 17, 2023•18 min
Today we discuss whether or not firing a gun filled with moon dust into space could cool down the planet, how animals that live in social groups usually live longer than solitary creatures, and a saucy discovery from ancient Rome. To Re-Caf Choose Decaf “A solution to the climate crisis: mining the moon, researchers say” by Oliver Milman https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/feb/08/moon-dust-moonshot-geoengineering-climate-crisis “Dust as a solar shield” by Benjamin C. Bromley ,Sameer H. Khan...
Mar 16, 2023•18 min
Today you’ll learn about how fingerprints form, how quickly you can determine whether or not you like a song, and how ancient ancestors to homo sapiens were using tools way earlier than we thought! Fingerprint Formation “How fingerprints form was a mystery — until now” by McKenzie Prillaman https://www.sciencenews.org/article/fingerprints-form-mystery “The developmental basis of fingerprint pattern formation and variation” by James D. Glover et al. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(2...
Mar 15, 2023•17 min
Today you’ll learn about how a cure for peanut allergies could be on the way to being a reality, how scientists are looking into treatments for an unreachable itch, and how a new study reports that talking about your financial debt makes you more likely to pay it off. Peanut Allergy Blocker “Researchers Block Allergic Reactions to Peanuts in Mice” by Sarah Wheelan https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/researchers-block-allergic-reactions-to-peanuts-in-mice-370063 “Peanut allerge...
Mar 10, 2023•15 min
Today we discuss how decaf coffee can curb symptoms of caffeine withdrawal, how a recent study revealed that those who are rich in money aren’t necessarily rich in intelligence, and a study that looked into cheap and effective preventative cavity treatment. To Re-Caf Choose Decaf “Decaf coffee reduces caffeine withdrawal – even when you know it’s decaf” by Matthew Warren https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/decaf-coffee-reduces-caffeine-withdrawal-even-when-you-know-its-decaf “Reduction in caf...
Mar 09, 2023•17 min
Today you’ll learn about how rockets are preventing the ozone layer from healing properly, how researchers are figuring out the smells of the ancient world, and how mother orca whales take care of their sons to ensure the survival of their species. Rockets Ruin Ozone “A rapidly growing rocket industry could undo decades of work to save the ozone layer – unless we act now” by Laura Revell, Michele Bannister, and Tyler Brown https://theconversation.com/a-rapidly-growing-rocket-industry-could-undo-...
Mar 08, 2023•16 min
Today you’ll learn about how scientists are using a drug meant for arthritis to mimic blood transfusions, how cinnamon could potentially be improving our brain’s health, and how a new filter is capable of removing 99% of microplastics from water. Young Blood “Arthritis drug mimics "young blood" transfusions to reverse aging in mice” By Michael Irving https://newatlas.com/medical/arthritis-drug-young-blood-reverses-aging-mice/ “Stromal niche inflammation mediated by IL-1 signalling is a targetabl...
Mar 03, 2023•17 min
Today we discuss what causes a sense of social media fatigue, how scientists are tuning into our brainwaves to make us learn new tasks faster, and how a researcher invented a self-cooling tent that only needs sunshine and water to work. Social Media Fatigue “Too much overload and concerns: Antecedents of social media fatigue and the mediating role of emotional exhaustion” by Nan Sheng et al. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S074756322200320X “New research sheds light on the ...
Mar 02, 2023•17 min
Today you’ll learn about how a groundbreaking new study explores the nature of singlehood across the globe, how a new drug might be able to treat alcohol addiction, and how scientists have created a new type of ice that has never been seen on Earth before! Global Singlehood “Large-scale cross-cultural study provides insights into mating performance and singlehood” by Mane Kara-Yakoubian https://www.psypost.org/2023/01/large-scale-cross-cultural-study-provides-insights-into-mating-performance-and...
Mar 01, 2023•19 min
Today you’ll learn about how we are able to measure depression through speech patterns, a recent study that explores whether or not eating at a certain time of day affects weight, and how researchers used paintings to assess pollution levels during the industrial revolution. Speech Signals of Depression “New research indicates signs of depression can be detected in speech patterns” by Laura Staloch https://www.psypost.org/2023/01/new-research-indicates-signs-of-depression-can-be-detected-in-spee...
Feb 24, 2023•16 min
Today we discuss how the pandemic has caused physical changes in the brains of teenagers, how geomagnetic disturbances can cause bird migration to go haywire, and why pregnancies in the US are a week and a half shorter on average than they are elsewhere. Pandemic Brain “Brain scans suggest the pandemic prematurely aged teens’ brains” by Freda Kreier https://www.sciencenews.org/article/covid-pandemic-prematurely-aged-teens-brains “Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Brain Matura...
Feb 23, 2023•16 min
