Science unscripted

Compared to chimps or gorillas, human males are unusually well endowed. A new study suggests it's partly because men 'size each other up' before a fight.

You really do benefit from 'friends with benefits,' a new study suggests. Also, a forgotten birthday can tank employee morale and a look at how the Autobahn lead to more support for the Nazi party.

When it feels like society's breaking down right before your eyes, it's called anomie. And it can lead to an even a darker place.

It's an interesting question. Even more intriguing is why you believe what you do — and whether you live near a city.

Cannibalism happened among the Neanderthals. That much we knew. Now, a paleoanthropological discovery has possibly uncovered an ugly truth about our distant cousins. Conor and Gabe head to a cave in Belgium to check it out.

Thanks to everybody who listened during this year. Most of all, thank you to those who wrote to us and — in the process — became part of our show.

Want to like someone more? It just takes eight seconds. Also, mice that smelled bacon... had more obese children?

$1,000 is put in your hand. With one condition: You have to donate it. What do you do next?

A pregnant woman enters a tram. Nearly 40% of the time, she's offered a seat. Unless someone else enters. Dressed as batman.

If you feel overwhelmed... and you don't know why... new research suggests you may be experiencing something called 'mismatch.'

We're on our way to having a new housepet, a study suggests. Also, mountain gorillas join humans as part of the (exclusive) 'grandmother hypothesis.'

An alarming number of young people are using two very unhelpful drugs to help them sleep. Also, what's behind the sharp decline in youth crime?

Dehumanizing a group of people is step 4 on the 10-step path to genocide. We should pay attention when politically powerful people start saying it.

Is a hair-loss product causing men (primarily) to become depressed and suicidal? Also, can you pass our AI voice test?

Women will die at disproportionately higher rates as the US rolls back access to public insurance programs (like medicaid). Also, AI tools like ChatGPT change how honest we are... and not in a good way.

Five years. That's the (significant) difference between male/female life expectancies in human beings. If we'd like to change that (and shouldn't we try?), a new study suggests we look at the animals that reverse this rule, and how they do it.

If you're keeping a mental list of what your partner 'owes' you, a new study suggests... maybe don't?

On this week’s Science unscripted, a quantitative and qualitative glimpse into how harmful politics can be for relationships, a glimpse into the future of pregnancy, and an unabashed analysis of what marriage does for our feeling of satisfaction.

On Science unscripted this week, we dissect the latest research on political violence. Also, we look into what scientists are calling a breakthrough for an incurable neurodegenerative disease.

Think you're getting a fair review of a teacher from a rating site? Think again. Also, two studies shed light on who wakes up more when a baby cries... and the connection between 'stereotypes' and condoning political violence.

A metastudy on pregnant women taking the painkiller acetaminophen is at odds with the leaked 'autism report' commissioned by US Health Secretary RFK Jr. Also, why so many people avoid information about their own health, and a beautiful obituary.

If you read enough obituaries, you might unearth what people (and society) find important about existence. What do you want yours to say?

If a coworker coughs or your partner pukes... you know you're gonna get sick. Unless an antiviral does the same thing to humans that it did to mice (and hamsters).

We're back! (And a bit jetlagged.) Join us as we discuss a foul smell at Frankfurt airport and a potentially false "report" about a president's bathroom habits.

A large-scale, global study has determined the characteristics that make people cool. Be warned: Trying to be cool is not one of them.