Curiosity Weekly

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...

Learn about the social neuroscience of music; songbirds’ ultra-precise song control; and how animals can get skin cancer. This is what happens in the brain when people make music together by Kelsey Donk What happens in the brain when people make music together? (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/bu-whi060921.php Greenberg, D. M., Decety, J., & Gordon, I. (2021). Th...

Learn why aliens have a dataome; how animals sniff out viral infections; and how reading out loud can boost your memory. Additional resources from Caleb Scharf: Pick up "The Ascent of Information: Books, Bits, Genes, Machines, and Life's Unending Algorithm" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ascent-Information-Machines-Unending-Algorithm/dp/0593087240 Website: http://www.calebscharf.com/ Twitter: h...

Learn about why monkeys imitate other species’ accents; and the “dataome,” a new way to think about information. You can vote for Curiosity Daily in the 2021 People's Choice Podcast Awards! Register at https://podcastawards.com , select Curiosity Daily in the categories of Education and Science & Medicine , and then click/tap "save nominations" at the bottom of the page. Voting in other categories...

Learn how your brain replays the things you’ve practiced at 20 times speed; and an engine that uses information as fuel. On your practice breaks, your brain replays memories of your practice session at 20x speed by Kelsey Donk Human brain replays new memories at 20 times the speed during waking rest. (2021). EurekAlert! https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/cp-hbr060321.php Buch, E. R., Clau...

Learn the “Dog Days of Summer”; why scientists did magic tricks for birds; and the smallest conceivable length of time. What are the "Dog Days of Summer"? by Steffie Drucker Farmers' Almanac Staff. (2015, June 29). What Are the Dog Days of Summer? Farmers’ Almanac. https://www.farmersalmanac.com/why-are-they-called-dog-days-of-summer-21705 Little, B. (2015, July 10). Why Do We Call Them the “Dog D...

Learn about when to use bandages; online shopping’s hidden health benefits; and why tardigrades were shot out of a gun. LISTENER Q: Should you let a wound breathe or keep it covered? by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Brian) Bishop, S.M.; Walker, M.; Rogers, A.A.; Chen, W.Y.J. (2003). Importance of moisture balance at the wound-dressing interface. Journal of Wound Care, 12(4), 125–128. https:...

Learn about the links between language and music via the speech-to-song illusion and what we can learn from tree rings. The speech-to-song illusion demonstrates the tight links between language and music by Steffie Drucker The Speech-to-Song Illusion. (2020). Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/illusions-and-curiosities/202002/the-speech-song-illusion Diana Deutsch - Speech-t...

Learn about why daddy longlegs aren’t dangerous; the theoretical Dyson Sphere; and benefits of exercising with a partner. “Daddy Longlegs Myths, Dyson Spheres, Benefits of Exercising with a Partner” originally aired May 15, 2018: https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/daddy-longlegs-myths-dyson-spheres-and-benefits-of Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every...

Learn about past missions to Venus — and why we’re going back; and how to extract DNA from strawberries in your kitchen. We're going back to Venus. Here are the missions to look forward to by Briana Brownell NASA Selects 2 Missions to Study “Lost Habitable” World of Venus. (2018). NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-2-missions-to-study-lost-habitable-world-of-venus ESA selects re...

Learn about how to combat revenge bedtime procrastination; the power of elephant trunks; and how pineapples eat you back. How to combat "revenge bedtime procrastination" by Kelsey Donk Cohut, M. (2021, March 19). Revenge bedtime procrastination: A plight of our times? Medicalnewstoday.com; Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/revenge-bedtime-procrastination-a-plight-of-our...

Learn about how huge Megalodon was and why some people have misophonia, a severe hatred of sounds. Plus: a trivia game! Dive deeper into all your favorite Shark Week shows with Shark Week’s Daily Bite Podcast hosted by Luke Tipple: Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shark-weeks-daily-bite/id1527053422 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dfzM1ktSB1mSKD5z4Q...

Learn about the record-breaking glowing kitefin shark; cities’ unique microbiomes; and the true origin of the Milky Way. Dive deeper into all your favorite Shark Week shows with Shark Week’s Daily Bite Podcast hosted by Luke Tipple: Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shark-weeks-daily-bite/id1527053422 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dfzM1ktSB1mSKD5z4...

Learn about cutting-edge Shark Week tech; how birthdays impact criminal records; and the time sharks nearly went extinct. More from Joe and Lauren Romeiro and Shark Week 2021: Start your 7-day free trial of discovery+ https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity Shark Week 2021 Full Schedule https://corporate.discovery.com/discovery-newsroom/discovery-channels-shark-week-2021-swims-off-with-jawsome-lineup-...