Curiosity Weekly

Learn about simple solutions for resolving human-wildlife conflict; and how exposure to sunlight can increase romance. Plus: Trivia! More from “America’s funniest science writer” Mary Roach: Pick up "Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law" at your local bookstore to learn more about the weird world of human-wildlife conflict: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781324001935 Mary Roach’s official website: h...

Learn about the science of human-wildlife conflicts; and what you risk by believing that leisure is a waste of time. More from “America’s funniest science writer” Mary Roach: Pick up "Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law" at your local bookstore: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781324001935 Mary Roach’s official website: https://maryroach.net/ Follow @mary_roach on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mary_r...

Learn about how our metabolism changes; waking up on the wrong side of the bed; and painkillers as radiation dosimeters. The metabolism changes much more gradually as we get older than we thought by Grant Currin Metabolism changes with age, just not when you might think. (2021, August 12). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/925132 Pontzer, H., et. al. (2021). Daily energy expendi...

Learn about stem cell “mini brains” that grew eyes and how the FDA prevented an epidemic of birth defects in the 1960s. Scientists grew stem cell 'mini brains' that developed mini-eyes on their own by Cameron Duke Gabriel, E., Albanna, W., Pasquini, G., Ramani, A., Josipovic, N., Mariappan, A., Schinzel, F., Karch, C. M., Bao, G., Gottardo, M., Suren, A. A., Hescheler, J., Nagel-Wolfrum, K., Persi...

Learn about what online trolls are like in real life; an auditory illusion rattlesnakes use to trick humans; and blazars. Online trolling might be due to personality rather than the anonymity of the internet by Steffie Drucker New research: The internet does not turn people into trolls – it just makes real-life trolls more visible. (2021, August 26). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-rel...

Learn about how brushing your teeth can slow aging; how blowholes start as noses; and how humans manipulate the weather. Additional resources from Andrew Steele: Pick up "Ageless: The New Science of Getting Older Without Getting Old" at your local bookstore: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780385544924 Website: https://andrewsteele.co.uk/ Follow @statto on Twitter https://twitter.com/statto YouTu...

Learn about how research into senescent cells and senolytic drugs could change aging. Plus: the Milky Way’s broken arm. Additional resources from Andrew Steele: Pick up "Ageless: The New Science of Getting Older Without Getting Old" at your local bookstore: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780385544924 Website: https://andrewsteele.co.uk/ Follow @statto on Twitter https://twitter.com/statto YouTub...

Learn about why it’s hard to save money for our future; how Babylonians knew the Pythagorean theorem; and situs inversus. It's hard to save money because we see our future selves as strangers by Steffie Drucker Johnson, S. (2021, August 10). Brain hacks for saving money. Big Think; Big Think. https://bigthink.com/personal-growth/how-to-save-money Qin, P., & Northoff, G. (2011). How is our self rel...

Learn about the “second brain” in your gut; what makes Jupiter’s atmosphere so hot; and why placebo buttons are useful. The 'second brain' in your gut might have evolved before the brain in your head by Cameron Duke Nield, D. (2021). The “Second Brain” in Your Gut Might Have Evolved Before The Brain in Your Head. ScienceAlert. https://www.sciencealert.com/we-have-a-brain-like-system-in-our-guts-an...

Learn about the dark side of likes and shares; how cuttlefish memory stays sharp in old age; and bouba and kiki shapes. Likes and shares push people to express "moral outrage" by Steffie Drucker Brady, W. J., McLoughlin, K., Doan, T. N., & Crockett, M. J. (2021). How social learning amplifies moral outrage expression in online social networks. Science Advances, 7(33), eabe5641. https://doi.org/10....

Learn about the harmful effects of the “mass hysteria” label; why you say “like”; and the link between beauty and moral worth. Additional resources from neurologist Suzanne O'Sullivan and further reading about the 2011 "mass hysteria" at LeRoy Junior-Senior High School: Pick up "The Sleeping Beauties And Other Stories of Mystery Illness" here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/606597/the-sl...

Neurologist Suzanne O’Sullivan demystifies psychosomatic illnesses. Then, learn how scientists saw behind a black hole. Additional resources from neurologist Suzanne O'Sullivan Pick up "The Sleeping Beauties And Other Stories of Mystery Illness" here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/606597/the-sleeping-beauties-by-suzanne-osullivan/ NHS page: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/our-services/find-cons...

Learn about time crystals; why researchers freeze-dried sperm on a postcard; and batching tasks instead of multitasking. Two research teams say they've created time crystals by Briana Brownell Eternal Change for No Energy: A Time Crystal Finally Made Real | Quanta Magazine. (2021, July 30). Quanta Magazine. https://www.quantamagazine.org/first-time-crystal-built-using-googles-quantum-computer-2021...

Learn about the mystery of how Tibetan monks seem to keep meditating after death; and a woolly mammoth that walked VERY far. Thukdam Project scientists still stumped over how deceased Tibetan monks continue to meditate after death by Grant Currin Berman, R. (2021, August 5). The strange case of the dead-but-not-dead Tibetan monks. Big Think; Big Think. https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/thukd...

Learn about why you eat more when you’re tired; a legendary submerged Egyptian city; and a trick for keeping the peace. Lack Of Sleep Really Does Make You Eat More by Ashley Hamer Sleep Munchies: Why It’s Harder To Resist Snacks When We’re Tired. (2016, March 2). NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/03/02/468933610/sleep-munchies-why-its-harder-to-resist-snacks-when-were-tired Circad...

Learn about how to avoid getting dragged down by “Sludge”; how hybrid fruit like plumcots are made; and pirate parlance. Additional resources from Richard Thaler: Pick up "Nudge: The Final Edition" at your local bookstore: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780143137009 Faculty page: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/faculty/directory/t/richard-h-thaler Twitter: https://twitter.com/r_thaler Nobel Prize p...

Nobel Prize-winning economist Richard Thaler explains how “Nudge” has changed the world. Plus: squirrel-inspired robots! Additional resources from Richard Thaler: Pick up "Nudge: The Final Edition" at your local bookstore: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780143137009 Faculty page: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/faculty/directory/t/richard-h-thaler  Follow @R_Thaler on Twitter: https://twitter.com/r...

Learn about non-human animals that say hello and goodbye; life on Snowball Earth; and how to learn skills twice as fast. Apes use their own form of hello and goodbye, the first time we've seen that in non-human animals by Steffie Drucker Heesen, R., Bangerter, A., Zuberbühler, K., Iglesias, K., Neumann, C., Pajot, A., Perrenoud, L., Guéry, J.-P., Rossano, F., & Genty, E. (2021). Assessing joint co...

Learn how to tap into your “gut feeling,” which knows more than you think it does; and why Earth's core is growing lopsided. You do have a "gut feeling" — and it knows more than you think by Cameron Duke Annie Murphy Paul. (2021, July 29). Interoception: how to improve your “gut feeling.” Big Think; Big Think. https://bigthink.com/personal-growth/interoception-how-to-improve-your-gut-feeling Armst...

Learn about why children write letters backward; how dogs know when you’re lying to them; and mountains on neutron stars. Children write letters backward because they haven't unlearned the rules of reality by Steffie Drucker Sigman, M. (2017, August 8). The fascinating reason that children write letters backwards. Ideas.ted.com. https://ideas.ted.com/the-fascinating-reason-that-children-write-lett...

Learn why phonics is the best way to teach kids to read; and how false science benefits from people who “trust science.” Plus: this month’s Curiosity Challenge trivia game! Additional resources from Emily Oster: Pick up "The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early Years" at your local bookstore: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781984881755?aff=penguinrandom Website...

Learn how parents can get smarter about making big decisions, with author Emily Oster; and electron-capture supernovas. Additional resources from Emily Oster: Pick up "The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early Years" at your local bookstore: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781984881755?aff=penguinrandom Website: https://emilyoster.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.co...

Learn why self-control isn’t always good for you; why you can’t win an argument using facts; and what SETI is looking for. More from Dr. Steven Novella: The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe http://www.theskepticsguide.org/ New England Skeptical Society http://www.theness.com/ NeuroLogica blog http://theness.com/neurologicablog/ Steven Novella faculty bio https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/steven_nov...

Learn how Seabed 2030 will map the ocean floor; how our cells make soap; and how crows understand the concept of zero. More than half of Earth's surface is unmapped, but Seabed 2030 aims to map it by 2030 by Grant Currin Jacobs, F. (2021, July 19). More than half the world is still unmapped — but not for long. Big Think; Big Think. https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/seabed-2030 Amos, J. (2020, June...

Learn about how guaranteed 8-hour work days came to the US; the liking gap; and the shocking defense systems of tomato plants. It took more than 70 years to guarantee 8-hour work days in the US by Steffie Drucker Lee, S. (2019, February 26). 40-hour work week: The history and evolution | Culture Amp. Culture Amp. https://www.cultureamp.com/blog/40-hour-work-week-the-history-and-evolution Ward, M.,...