Curiosity Weekly

Today we discuss the science of delusion, how changes in the length of our days can cause changes in our behavior, and a potential new life saving drug to fight the current opioid crisis.  Delusion Science  “What is walking corpse syndrome?” by Victoria Shepherd https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/walking-corpse-syndrome/ “Glass Bones and Walking Corpses: 9 Delusions from History” by Amy I...

Today we discuss how nicknames for young boys can help them socialize better, how archaeologists in Poland have unearthed the grave of a woman people feared might return from the dead, and a new study that disproves Freud’s theory that more successful people are unhealthier than less successful people.  Boyhood Nickname  “Why You Should Ask Men About Their Boyhood Nicknames” By Jett Stone https://...

Today you’ll learn about why some people are more popular with mosquitoes than others, what tickling rats tells us about being human, and how a recent discovery of ancient statues re-writes what we believed about historical Tuscany.  Mosquito Magnets  “Why Are Some People Mosquito Magnets and Others Unbothered? A Medical Entomologist Points to Metabolism, Body Odor and Mindset” by Jonathan Day htt...

Today we discuss how watching cleaning or decluttering videos affects our mental state, the abilities of super-recognizers, and a recent discovery into how manipulating the neurons in paralysis patients might be able to improve their mobility. Decluttering the Mind  “Why Watching Decluttering Videos Feels So Good” by Abby Alten Schwartz https://www.wired.com/story/why-watching-decluttering-videos-...

Today, you’ll learn about how COVID-19 may have revamped cities for the better, astounding new technology that could one day regrow human limbs and how an agricultural fertilizer is going from feeding the world to potentially powering the world. Covid’s Bright Side  The Pandemic Might Have Redesigned Cities Forever by Adam Rogers https://www.wired.com/story/the-pandemic-might-have-redesigned-citie...

Today, you’ll learn about the benefits of shading rooftop gardens with solar panels, caffeine’s dark secrets, and how the first image from the James Webb telescope promises a great run for Hubble’s successor. Solar Salads  “Your Rooftop Garden Could Be a Solar-Powered Working Farm” by Matt Simon https://www.wired.com/story/your-rooftop-garden-could-be-a-solar-powered-working-farm/ “Exploring The P...

Today, you’ll learn about how researchers at MIT created an incredible new type of fabric that can save thousands of lives, how sleep scientists are explaining alien abductions, and how evolution is being sped up by human beings, causing ripple effects all over the place. Fabric with Ears  This fabric can hear your heartbeat by Carolyn Wilke https://www.sciencenews.org/article/fabric-hear-heartbea...

Today, you’ll learn about a super exciting space program, blasting off in a few months, that will take us back to the moon for the first time in 50 years, how the simple snap of your fingers actually involves some cool physics and the chemistry behind the skunky stank of cannabis. To the Moon Artemis Artemis-I https://www.nasa.gov/artemisprogram Artemis https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis/ Artem...

Today, you’ll learn about how your brushing routine may not be the biggest factor in whether or not you get cavities, how a new method of building pharmaceutical production facilities may bring medical access to previously underserved regions, and how the discovery of a plastic-eating bacteria could revolutionize the recycling industry. True Cavity Culprit  “Why People Who Brush Still Get Cavities...

Today, you’ll learn about an interesting way pills made from poop could help millions of people with allergies, how researchers edited the contents of a pair of donor lungs to better match the recipient, and how pain can affect a baby’s development and what parents can do about it. Peanut allergies are being treated in an…interesting new way.  "Fecal transplant pills helped some peanut allergy suf...

Today you’ll learn about how using a face in marketing makes people more likely to align themselves with social causes, how scientists in China have developed a pair of glasses that use ultrasound technology to measure our eyes blinking, and how cats can distinguish between speech directed at them and other humans.  The Power of the Face  “The Power of Putting a Human Face on Social Causes” by Ass...

Today you’ll learn about how time flies as we age, how scientists are learning more and more about the microbiome within a human body, and the potential for a new phone app that can predict when you might die. Time Flies  “Why Does 'Time Fly' As We Get Older?” by Christopher Dwyer https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/thoughts-thinking/202209/why-does-time-fly-we-get-older “Why time flies so fas...

Today we discuss how the body can physically feel emotions, how axolotls can regenerate their brains, and how pigs can play peacemakers during pig-on-pig fights.  Body Map “Where Are Emotions Felt In The Body?” by Juliana Ukiomogbe https://greatist.com/connect/emotional-body-maps-infographic#infographic “Bodily maps of emotions” by Lauri Nummenmaa, Enrico Glerean, Riitta Hari, and Jari K. Hietanen...

Today we explore how astronauts’ blood mutates when coming back from space, how our screens are aging us, and the potential extinction event of the snow crab.  Astronaut Blood   “Astronauts' blood shows signs of DNA mutations due to spaceflight” by Elizabeth Howell https://www.space.com/astronaut-spaceflight-cancer-dna-mutations-study “Researchers Find Spaceflight May Be Associated With DNA Mutati...

Today you’ll learn about how kids’ well-being can affect adult heart health, what our ears can tell us about the cosmos, and how playing music meant for oysters can help them adapt to climate change.  Happy Healthy Kids  “Protecting Children’s Psychological Well-being Could Help Strengthen Their Hearts as Adults” by Boehm, J. K. https://www.psychologicalscience.org/publications/observer/obsonline/...

Today we discuss the benefits of taking breaks during work, how milk led to death, and a new configuration of lights that might lead to a massive decrease in the amount of motorcycle accidents that happen at night.  Healthy Breaks  “Microbreaks may help to prevent workplace burnout” by Neil McKim https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/microbreaks-may-help-to-prevent-workplace-burnout/ “Microbreaks can...

Today we explore how technology is making us lonely, how a new pair of glasses may be expanding your idea of a computer screen, and how hitting the snooze button too many times could ruin your sleep hygiene.  Techno-Lonely   “Cultivate Deeper Connections Using the Science of Friendship” BY Ryan Jenkins https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-case-connection/202209/cultivate-deeper-connections-...

Let’s talk about a recent study that shows children are more likely to be honest with their emotions when talking to a robot, a revolutionary new way to make single-use coffee pods from seaweed, and, trigger warning, how deep brain stimulation might help those suffering from eating disorders.  Mental Health Robot  “Children more candid about mental health when talking to robot, study finds” by Han...

Today you’ll learn about the behaviors researchers say can make us more connected with each other, how China is building an AI-powered, 3D Printed dam, and how an over-reliance on the English language is causing problems in the field of cognitive science.  Health and Connection  “Feeling connected enhances mental and physical health – here are 4 research-backed ways to find moments of connection w...

Today we explore the science behind getting great ideas in the shower, how regular chocolate consumption can slow down cognitive decline, and how a black hole recently burped out the remnants of a star it absorbed four YEARS ago!  Shower Ideas   “The Science of Why You Have Great Ideas in The Shower” by Stacey Colino https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/the-science-of-why-you-have-great-ideas...

We discuss how scientists have developed a cancer-detecting contact lens, the behaviors of inebriated dolphins, and how listening to birds singing can help our mental health!  Smart Contacts  “Scientists Create Smart Contact Lenses That Diagnose Cancer” by Ophthalmology Breaking News https://ophthalmologybreakingnews.com/scientists-create-smart-contact-lenses-that-diagnose-cancer “A Microchambers...

Today you’ll learn about the science of cognitive bias, how scientists may have found a way to turn your body into a battery, and how the first 3D-printed school in Europe is about to be built in Ukraine.   Cognitive Bias  “Cognitive Biases and Brain Biology Help Explain Why Facts Don't Change Minds” by Keith M. Bellizzi https://theconversation.com/cognitive-biases-and-brain-biology-help-explain-w...

Today we explore whether there is a potential long-term cure for asthma based on recent studies, how shark intestines are shaped exactly like a Tesla Valve, and what happens when you transplant human brain cells in newborn rats.  Asthma Cure  “Potential Long-Term Treatment for Asthma Found” by Aston University https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220809141233.htm “A Potential Long-Term As...

Today we discuss how only four minutes of small talk with a stranger can help you predict their personality traits, an exciting biodegradable battery option on the horizon, and a new discovery into the origins of dragons!   Small Talk  “Four Minutes of Small Talk Can Reveal Key Personality Traits” by Sascha Pare https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/aug/31/four-minutes-of-small-talk-can-reveal-...

Let’s talk about a potential new high-tech mine in Minnesota, how scientists have created a synthetic mouse embryo using stem cells, and a major breakthrough in the cause of and treatment for Down Syndrome.   Remote Mines “This Remote Mine Could Foretell the Future of America’s Electric Car Industry” by Ana Swanson https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/30/business/economy/electric-cars-us-nickel-mine.ht...