Curiosity Weekly

Welcome to Curiosity Weekly from Discovery! This week, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by Dr. Anastasia Buyalskaya, a behavioral scientist, to unravel habit formation and debunk the 21-day myth. We also learn about a newly discovered link between musical training and left-handedness. Plus, hear about some space station bacteria that are flexing their superpowers!     Habit Formation&...

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...

Today, you’ll learn about the link between body temperature and depression, how taking the the Polar Bear Plunge could soothe symptoms of menopause, and a new sticker that can detect organ failure.   Depression Temp  •“Are Body Temperature and Depression Linked? Science Says, Yes.” by Jess Berthold. 2024.   •“Surprising Link Discovered Between Body Temperature and Depressi...

Today, you’ll learn about a new blood test that could revolutionize bipolar diagnoses, how music could help knock out pain, and how a changing climate is changing puffins.   Bipolar Blood Test  •“Simple blood test can help diagnose bipolar disorder.” University of Cambridge. 2023.   •“Bipolar Disorder.” NIH. n..d.  •“Diagnosis and management of bipolar disorders.” by...

Today, you’ll learn about mind-reading machines, the brightest object in the known universe, and the potential power punch of cinnamon.  Mind-Reading  •“Mind-reading devices are revealing the brain’s secrets.” by Miryam Naddaf. 2024.   •“The brain-reading devices helping paralysed people to move, talk and touch.” by Liam Drew. 2022.   •“The rise of brain-reading techn...

Today, you’ll learn about a supervitamin you might already be taking some good news about the health of the world’s forests, and a new study that mapped ketamine’s effects on the brain.   B12  •“Vitamin B12 emerges as key player during cellular reprogramming.” by Alba Vilchez-Acosta. 2023.   •“Vitamin B12: A key player in cellular reprogramming and tissue regeneration.” Sc...

Today, you’ll learn about the possible dangers of growing leafy greens in microgravity, a study that let AI tag along with a toddler to learn language the human way, and research on stabilizing elephant populations on the African savannah.   Microgravity Gardening  •“Simulated microgravity facilitates stomatal ingression by Salmonella in lettuce and suppresses a biocontrol agent.” b...

Today, you’ll learn about a bacteria that turns plastic into spider webs, a massive deep-sea discovery right in our own backyard, and how CRISPR could reshape agriculture for an entire continent.  Silk-Making Bacteria  •“Researchers Engineer Bacteria That Eat Plastic, Make Multipurpose Spider Silk.” Technology Networks. 2024.   •“Two-step conversion of polyethylene into recombi...

Today, you’ll learn about a new polymer that could battle antibiotic resistant infections, a possible new way to detect life on other planets from afar, and what to expect when you’re expecting to adopt a furry friend. Powerful Polymer  •“Texas A&M Team Develops Polymers That Can Kill Bacteria.” by Shana K. Hutchins. 2023.   •“The global threat of antibiotic resistance.” ReAct....

Today, you’ll learn about why you may want to consider letting yourself daydream, how a sense of humor might protect you from depression and anxiety, and the effects of caffeine on the performance of soccer players.   Daydream Brain   •“What Happens in the Brain While Daydreaming?” by Catherine Caruso. 2023.   •“Is the role of sleep in memory consolidation overrated?”...

Today, you’ll learn about how babies pick up language before they’re even born, an AI that takes on the busy work for doctors, and new insight into how humans collaborate.   Baby Language  •“Babies’ Brains Are Primed For Their Native Language Before Birth.” by Nyla Husain. 2023.   •“Prenatal experience with language shapes the brain.” by Benedetta Mariani. 2023. &nbsp...

oday, you’ll learn about a new test that can show how well each of your organs are aging, some interesting links between comfort food and stress, and a surprising finding about certain snails.  Organ Age  •“Are your organs ageing well? The blood holds clues.” by Max Kozlov. 2023.   •“Blood test shows if organs are ageing fast or slowly.” by Michelle Roberts. 2023.   C...

Today, you’ll learn about a new ink that can 3D print inside your body using soundwaves, why saying no to invitations isn’t as bad as you might think, and some new drugs that could potentially make your dog live longer.   3D Ink  •“Soundwaves Harden 3D-Printed Treatments in Deep Tissues.” by Michaela Martinez. 2023.   •“Dental curing light.” Wikipedia.   •“Self-e...

Today, you’ll learn about an ancient diagnostic tool getting an AI upgrade, the world’s slipperiest surface, and some insight into the minds of everyone who loves this show!   Healthy Tongue •“Eyes may be the window to your soul, but the tongue mirrors your health.” University of South Australia. 2023.   •“Ancient tongue diagnosis for the 21st century dental hygienist.” by Kath...

Today, you’ll learn about the brain’s ability - or inability - to rewire itself, the imagination of rats, and how dogs can have a positive effect on those suffering from PTSD.   Brain Rewiring   •“Our brains are not able to ‘rewire’ themselves, despite what most scientists believe, new study argues.” University of Cambridge. 2023.   •“Against cortical reorganisation.”...

Today, you’ll learn about how the bilingual brain might be better at multitasking, good news for women who are at risk for morning sickness, and the strangely complex science behind cat purring.  Bilingual Brain  •“The bilingual brain may be better at ignoring irrelevant information.” EurekAlert!. 2023.   •“Bilingual attentional control: Evidence from the Partial Repetition Cos...

Today, you’ll learn about a bacterial discovery that challenges our understanding of how and when life formed on Earth, the importance difference between self control and willpower, and the truth about whether or not your dog really loves you.   Origin of Life  •“Scientists Just Made a 1.75 Billion-Year-Old Discovery About the Origin of Life.” by Mirjam Guesgen. 2024.   •“...

Today, we’re bringing you three new stories that cover a few topics we’re really passionate about. You’ll learn about how cats become like liquid to fit through small spaces and why that’s a big deal, the new super sticky strong silk inspired by Spiderman, and a new method of 3D-printing that uses sound. Be sure to stick around until the end of the episode to hear a special message from Calli and...

Today, you’ll learn about a new bacteria-busting polymer inspired by barnacles, how the things you do today will affect your brain in two weeks, and the memories elephants keep of their favorite people from long ago.     Barnacle Polymers    “Barnacle-inspired polymers could present new way to design antibiofilm materials, researchers say.” by Cynthia McCormick Hibbdrt. 20...

Today, you’ll learn about the tiny tractor beam that could change how certain diseases are diagnosed, how a screw allowed an iconic historical building to go up faster than anyone thought possible, and why scientists are worried about the 33 dark spots with thousands of unknown plants.    Tractor Beam    “MIT engineers create a chip-based tractor beam for biological particles.”...

Today, you’ll learn about how whales could be carrying on conversations from over 60 miles away, the struggles of foster moms in the 1600s, and why your blood pressure reading might be way off.     Whale Talk    “Whales May Be Communicating Across Vast Distances.” by Joanna Thompson. 2024.    “Alaska’s Population of Bowhead Whales Rebounding.” by Riley Woodford....

Today, you’ll learn about the entire neuron-for-neuron model of a fly brain, jellyfish that can merge together seamlessly, and how talking to our dogs in that way-too-cutesy voice might actually have a purpose.     Fly Brains    “Researchers simulate an entire fly brain on a laptop. Is a human brain next?” by Robert Sanders. 2024.    “A Drosophila computational b...

Today, you’ll learn about the cause of static electricity, how a new headband could help you stop a stroke before it happens, and why the ground in Siberia is exploding.     Static Electricity    “We Finally Know What Creates Static Electricity, After Thousands of Years.” by Michelle Starr. 2024.    “Why petting your cat leads to static electricity.” Northwestern...

Today, you’ll learn about how scientists were able to witness water form at the molecular level and what that could mean for life on Mars, why Mount Everest is still growing, and why scientists are putting tiny backpacks on sea turtle hatchlings.      Water Molecules    “Researchers Watch Water Form at the Molecular Scale for the First Time.” Technology Networks. 2024...

Today, you’ll learn about a new transparent solar cell that could replace your windows to power your home, the discovery of hundreds of new mysterious Nazca Glyphs, and how singing in a choir might be good for your brain.     Solar Cell Charging    “All-back-contact neutral-colored transparent crystalline silicon solar cells enabling seamless modularization.” by Jeonghwan...