Curiosity Weekly

Learn how accurate fossil preparators must be; why electric cars are an old concept; and words on the tip of your tongue. Additional information about fossil preparators and other resources from Caitlyn Wylie: Pick up the open-access book "Preparing Dinosaurs: The Work Behind the Scenes": https://direct.mit.edu/books/monograph/5180/Preparing-DinosaursThe-Work-behind-the-Scenes Faculty page https:/...

Learn how newborn mammals “dream” about the world before entering it; and what goes into prepping dinosaurs for research. Newborn mammals "dream" about the world they're about to experience before they open their eyes by Grant Currin Eyes wide shut: How newborn mammals dream the world they’re entering. (2021, July 22). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/561171 Ge, X., Zhang, K.,...

Learn about the Diderot Effect; how cave art becomes animated in firelight; and why running may be good for your knees. The Diderot Effect is why buying one new thing makes you want to buy more new things by Steffie Drucker Clear, J. (2015, October 6). The Diderot Effect: Why We Want Things We Don’t Need. James Clear. https://jamesclear.com/diderot-effect Hendricks, S. (2018, July 16). How the Did...

Learn about the earliest use of infinity we’ve found; and vampire-like sea slugs that absorb other organisms’ attributes. The earliest mathematical use of infinity was found in a reused prayer book by Briana Brownell Reviel Netz. (2021). The Diagrams as Floating Bodies by Reviel Netz of Stanford University. Archimedespalimpsest.org. http://archimedespalimpsest.org/about/scholarship/method-infinity...

Learn about a key trait in group leaders; why DNA evidence is overrated; and a brainless slime mold that can “think.” The "babble hypothesis" of leadership says people who talk more are seen as leaders by Steffie Drucker Dolan, E. W. (2021, July 17). New study finds people who speak more are more likely to be viewed as leaders. PsyPost; PsyPost. https://www.psypost.org/2021/07/new-study-finds-peop...

Learn how COVID tests work; how math can help you with major life decisions; and how some dogs have natural talent. How COVID PCR tests work by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Lydia) Tiner, S. (2020, March 27). The Science Behind the Test for the COVID-19 VirusDiscovery’s Edge. Https://Discoverysedge.mayo.edu/. https://discoverysedge.mayo.edu/2020/03/27/the-science-behind-the-test-for-the-cov...

Learn how to turn the table on addictive apps; and how black holes can make us see multiple versions of the same thing. Additional resources from David Sumpter: Pick up "The Ten Equations that Rule the World and How You Can Use Them Too" https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250246967 Faculty page: https://katalog.uu.se/profile/?id=N7-525 Twitter: https://twitter.com/soccermatics?lang=en New mathemat...

Learn how often people misremember alibis; new lessons from Denisova Cave; and how to remove pesticides from produce. People often misremember where they were on a given date, which puts criminal alibis into question by Cameron Duke Faulty memories of our past whereabouts: The fallacy of an airtight alibi. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-07/afps-fmo070721.php Lalib...

Learn about the time pirates stopped the US from switching to the metric system; and new learnings about Mars’ interior. The US once tried switching to the metric system, but got stopped by pirates by Steffie Drucker How Pirates Of The Caribbean Hijacked America’s Metric System. (2017, December 28). NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/12/28/574044232/how-pirates-of-the-caribbean-...

Learn about evolutionary compromises; the fractals of Romanesco cauliflower; and dolphins that learn each other’s names. Conflict traits: when evolution and mating conflict with each other by Cameron Duke Experiments show natural selection opposes sexual selection. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/uoe-esn060721.php Mulder, M. B., & Rauch, K. L. (2009). Sexual con...

Learn about a microwave to revive hamsters; whether humans are still evolving; and why art is more moving in a museum. One of the earliest microwaves wasn’t for food… it was for reanimating frozen hamsters. by Cameron Duke Andjus, R. K., & Lovelock, J. E. (1955). Reanimation of rats from body temperatures between 0 and 1° C by microwave diathermy. The Journal of Physiology, 128(3), 541–546. https:...

Learn why Easter Island never had a population collapse; and how scientists are measuring the expansion of our universe. Easter Island never had a population collapse, as commonly believed by Grant Currin Resilience, not collapse: What the Easter Island myth gets wrong. (2021, July 13). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/793195 Johnson, S. (2021, July 16). Busting the Easter Isla...

Learn about the benefits of living near a volcano; different types of carbonated water; and how to procrastinate right. The stories in this episode originally aired May 30, 2018 “Perks of Procrastination, Volcano Dwellers, Club Soda vs Sparkling Waters” https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/perks-of-procrastination-volcano-dwellers-and-the Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to lea...

Learn about whether being too clean makes kids sick; an ancient coronavirus epidemic; and a black hole-neutron star merger. Is being too hygienic making kids sick? These researchers say the public has it all wrong by Grant Currin Being clean and hygienic need not impair childhood immunity. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-07/ucl-bca070221.php Rook, G. A. W., & Bloom...

Learn about how cognitive flexibility helps you learn; why dinosaurs may have been warm-blooded; and noctilucent clouds. A high IQ might mean you're smart, but high "cognitive flexibility" means you can learn by Grant Currin Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian, Christelle Langley, & Leong, V. (2021, June 23). IQ tests can’t measure it, but “cognitive flexibility” is key to learning and creativity. The Conv...

Learn how to get better at talking to strangers; and how Red Dead Redemption 2 turns gamers into naturalists. Trivia too! Additional resources from Joe Keohane: Pick up "The Power Of Strangers" at your local bookstore: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781984855770?aff=penguinrandom Website: https://joekeohane.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeKeohane Red Dead Redemption 2 accidentally turns gam...

Learn why talking to strangers shouldn’t be scary; and a new map revealing hidden dark matter “bridges” between galaxies. Additional resources from Joe Keohane: Pick up "The Power Of Strangers" at your local bookstore: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781984855770?aff=penguinrandom Website: https://joekeohane.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeKeohane A new AI-generated map revealed hidden dark...

Learn about how meat-eaters really feel; using cosmic rays in medical diagnoses; and the Oxford Electric Bell mystery. People who eat meat think it's gross, which suggests new ideas for cutting consumption by Kelsey Donk Even Some Meat-Eaters Are Disgusted By Meat — And Encouraging Those Feelings Could Help Reduce Consumption. (2021, June 3). Research Digest. https://digest.bps.org.uk/2021/06/03/e...

Learn about two newly discovered ancient human species; the Digital Library of Babel; and benefits of running to music. Two new species of ancient human were just discovered by Grant Currin A new type of Homo unknown to science. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/tu-ant062321.php Hershkovitz, I., et. al. (2021). A Middle Pleistocene Homo from Nesher Ramla, Israel....

Learn how earworms could be helping your memory; how auroras are created; and what your cat should drink instead of milk. Maybe that song stuck in your head is helping your long-term memory by Cameron Duke Karen Michele Nikos-Rose. (2021, June 15). That Song Is Stuck in Your Head, but It’s Helping You to Remember. UC Davis. https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/song-stuck-in-head-helps-remember Kubit, B. M...

Learn about a scientific tool to cure hiccups; why corvids owe big brains to longer childhoods; and how spacecraft move. Finally, the first-ever scientific tool to cure hiccups by Grant Currin Team describes science-based hiccups intervention. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/uoth-tds061821.php Alvarez, J., Anderson, J. M., Snyder, P. L., Mirahmadizadeh, A., Godo...

Learn how scientists induced an out-of-body experience in a human without using drugs; and Earth’s geological “pulse.” Scientists induced an out-of-body experience in mice and a human without using drugs by Grant Currin Scientists Say A Mind-Bending Rhythm In The Brain Can Act Like Ketamine. (2020, September 16). NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/09/16/913565163/scientists-di...

Learn about why your biggest regret is the thing you didn’t do; the tallest mountains on Earth; and the Deep Web. The stories in this episode originally aired May 29, 2018 “The Deep Web, Biggest Regrets, and a Mount Everest Misconception” https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/the-deep-web-biggest-regrets-and-a-mount-everest-misconception Additional information about the Dark Web: The Tor Project |...

Learn about anger makes you look guilty; a new quantum microscope; and why the fight against cancer is going very well. Anger makes you look guilty by Kelsey Donk Johnson, S. (2021, June). Falsely accused? Stay calm, because anger makes you look guilty. Big Think; Big Think. https://bigthink.com/mind-brain/signs-of-guilt DeCelles, Katherine, Gabrielle Adams, Holly S. Howe, and Leslie K. John. "Ang...

Learn about why younger kids don’t understand sarcasm; a 24,000 year old living worm; and Betelgeuse’s “Great Dimming.” Kids don't get sarcasm until around age 7 because of the kind of thinking it requires by Kelsey Donk Pexman, P. (2021, June 8). Why it’s difficult for children to understand sarcasm. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/why-its-difficult-for-children-to-understand-sarcas...