Curiosity Weekly

Learn about an island “geomyth” that helped researchers solve an ancient mystery; and whether truth serum really works. An indigenous "geomyth" helped scientists figure out where 3 huge boulders came from by Grant Currin Hakai Magazine. (2021). Rounding Out the Story of Three Legendary Boulders | Hakai Magazine. Hakai Magazine; Hakai Magazine. https://www.hakaimagazine.com/news/rounding-out-the-st...

Learn about how socializing too much can be bad for your health; rogue planets without a home star; and ancient bâdgirs. Socializing too much can be bad for your health by Steffie Drucker Research Shows Too Much Socializing Can Harm You. (2021). Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/finding-new-home/202110/research-shows-too-much-socializing-can-harm-you Stavrova, O., & Ren, D....

Learn about psychological ownership; why cats love boxes; and how researchers—and AI—finished Beethoven’s 10th symphony. "Psychological ownership" is why holiday shopping can get so hostile by Steffie Drucker Kirk, C. P. (2018, November 20). Why do Black Friday shoppers throw punches over bargains? A marketing expert explains “psychological ownership.” The Conversation. https://theconversation.com...

Learn about how rival sports fans see games differently; waking up hungry after overeating; and “some assembly required.” Today’s stories originally ran in the following episodes of Curiosity Daily: Rival Sports Fans Experience the Same Game Completely Differently by Reuben Westmaas originally published November 22, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/rival-sports-fans-experience-games-comp...

Learn about how to avoid conflict at family meals; what causes food comas; and how to be a great host or guest. Today’s stories originally ran in the following episodes of Curiosity Daily: How to Avoid Conflict at Family Meals by Ashley Hamer originally published November 21, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/be-the-best-host-or-guest-w-jihan-murray-smith-avo Food Coma? Here's Why You Get...

Learn about a mysterious new archaeological discovery around Stonehenge; and why females feel colder in many species. More from world-renowned Stonehenge archeologist Susan Greaney: STONEHENGE: LAND OF THE DEAD’ Premieres Sunday, November 28 at 8 PM ET/PT on Science Channel: https://press.discovery.com/us/sci/programs/stonehenge-land-dead/ Start your free trial of discovery+ at https://discoverypl...

Learn about psychedelics research in the 1950s; cold shower benefits; and an inaccurate stereotype about the only child. Thousands of patients were treated with psychedelics in the 1950s by Cameron Duke Fuentes, J. J., Fonseca, F., Elices, M., Farré, M., & Torrens, M. (2020). Therapeutic Use of LSD in Psychiatry: A Systematic Review of Randomized-Controlled Clinical Trials. Frontiers in Psychiatry...

Learn about the link between birthdays and COVID-19; “psychological richness” for a good life; and satellites vs. stars. More from Dr. Bapu Jena: Listen to Freakonomics, M.D.: https://freakonomics.com/freakonomics-md/ Covid and the “Birthday Effect” (Freakonomics, M.D. Ep. 1) - Freakonomics. (2021, August 4). Freakonomics. https://freakonomics.com/podcast/covid-and-the-birthday-effect-freakonomics...

Learn about how “left digit bias” affects your decisions and why researchers caught birds in caves with their bare hands. More from Dr. Bapu Jena: Listen to Freakonomics, M.D.: https://freakonomics.com/freakonomics-md/ What Do Grocery Store Prices and Heart Surgery Have in Common? (Freakonomics, M.D. Ep. 4) - Freakonomics. (2021, August 27). Freakonomics. https://freakonomics.com/podcast/fmd-left-...

Learn about research into how you should clean your teeth; the world’s loneliest whale; and how to argue with a partner. When it comes to cleaning your teeth, here's what the evidence supports — and what it doesn't by Cameron Duke Dental care: The best, worst and unproven tools to care for your teeth, according to a UB study. (2021, September 29). Buffalo.edu. http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/...

Learn about why magic mushrooms evolved to be “magic” and new research into when children develop “theory of mind.” Magic mushrooms evolved to scramble insect brains by Cameron Duke Hallucinogenic mushrooms drug profile. (2020). Europa.eu. https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/drug-profiles/hallucinogenic-mushrooms_en Lee, N., & Benji Jones. (2021, April 27). How psychoactive psilocybin in mag...

Learn about a planet orbiting three stars at once; useless architectural relics; and deep conversations with strangers. We found a planet orbiting three stars at once by Briana Brownell This May Be the First Planet Found Orbiting 3 Stars at Once. (2021). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/28/science/triple-sun-planet.html Siegel, E. (2021, September 30). Planet found orbiting thre...

Learn about how someone can change their identity (and their mind); and “mushballs” on Uranus and Neptune. Plus: trivia! More from Lee McIntyre: Pick up "How to Talk to a Science Denier: Conversations with Flat Earthers, Climate Deniers, and Others Who Defy Reason": https://www.amazon.com/How-Talk-Science-Denier-Conversations/dp/0262046105 Website: https://leemcintyrebooks.com/ Follow @leemcintyre...

Learn about how to talk to someone who denies a scientific reality; and “raining sulfur” in the Biblical city of Sodom. More from author Lee McIntyre: Pick up "How to Talk to a Science Denier: Conversations with Flat Earthers, Climate Deniers, and Others Who Defy Reason": https://www.amazon.com/How-Talk-Science-Denier-Conversations/dp/0262046105 Website: https://leemcintyrebooks.com/ Follow @leemc...

Learn about how we may have found dark energy; a prehistoric coelacanth return; and a trick for getting what you want. A dark-matter hunting experiment may have just found dark energy by Briana Brownell Schultz, I. (2021, September 17). Dark Energy Could Be Responsible for Mysterious Experiment Signals, Researchers Say. Gizmodo; Gizmodo. https://gizmodo.com/dark-energy-could-be-responsible-for-mys...

Learn about a heroic experiment that helps explain asthma getting worse at night; and the largest living thing on earth. A heroic experiment has shed light on the centuries-old mystery of why asthma gets worse at night by Grant Currin Harrison, S. (2021, September 21). Why Does Asthma Get Worse at Night? Wired; WIRED. https://www.wired.com/story/why-does-asthma-get-worse-at-night/ Study explores w...

Learn about the smallest flying structure ever made; Myers-Briggs’ big problem; and why the biggest nuts end up on top. Flying microstructure the size of a grain of sand is the smallest humans have ever made by Briana Brownell Neuman, S. (2021, September 23). Flying Microchips The Size Of A Sand Grain Could Be Used For Population Surveillance. NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/2021/09/23/1040035430/fly...

Learn about how quickly certain people adjust to time changes; how you can help slow jungle loss; and why ice cubes grow spikes. Early birds adjust to time changes faster than night owls by Grant Currin “Springing forward” affects early birds less than night owls, study finds. (2021, July 20). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/472466 Nield, D. (2021). Your Genes Could Affect How...

Learn about the link between music download trends and epidemics; and how losing jungles contributes to climate change. Music download patterns found to resemble infectious disease epidemic curves by Cameron Duke Rosati, D., Woolhouse, M., Bolker, B., & Earn, D. (2021). Modelling song popularity as a contagious process | Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sc...

Learn about saving something for an occasion that never comes; and how much you’ve changed in the past vs. the future. Plus: Cody and Ashley celebrate Curiosity Daily’s 1,000th episode! Join Cody and Ashley for a special live stream celebrating Curiosity Daily’s 1,000th episode on Wednesday, November 3! Register for free here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/curiosity-dailys-1000th-episode-celebratio...

Learn about why mRNA vaccines are older than you think; and the scientific theories about why animals have white bellies. mRNA vaccines are older than you think by Grant Currin Dolgin, E. (2021). The tangled history of mRNA vaccines. Nature, 597(7876), 318–324. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-02483-w Lewis, T. (2021, September 15). An mRNA Pioneer Discusses How Her Work Led to the COVID Vaccine...

Learn about crowdsourced fact checking; why humans and monkeys choke under pressure; and a mantis shrimp punching robot. Join Cody and Ashley for a special live stream celebrating Curiosity Daily’s 1,000th episode! Leave us a voicemail at 312-596-5208 or email a voice recording to curiosity@discovery.com and share your favorite fact you've learned from the podcast, and you may hear your message on...

Learn about “carbon neutral” policies; a new twist on the legend of Merlin; and the giraffe’s bizarre circulatory system. You’re invited to join Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer for a special live stream celebration to commemorate the release of Curiosity Daily’s 1,000th episode next week! Register for free here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/curiosity-dailys-1000th-episode-celebration-tickets-191163133...

Learn about the medical history of using leeches; potty training cows to help the environment; and the math behind eggs. More from zoologist Bill Schutt: Pick up "Pump: A Natural History of the Heart" https://www.workman.com/products/pump Website: https://billschutt.com/ Follow @BillSchuttBooks on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillSchuttBooks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillSchutt1/ Potty tr...

Learn about misokinesia, an intense hatred of movements; why fear of blood makes you faint; and why your “ghost problem” might be caused by infrasound. A third of people may have misokinesia, an intense hatred of certain movements like fidgeting by Steffie Drucker Do you hate seeing people fidget? New UBC research says you’re not alone. (2021, August 31). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/new...