Curiosity Weekly

Learn how mushrooms are more like humans than plants; why your tongue isn’t a muscle; and ferret-training robot badgers. Mushrooms are more like humans than plants by Grant Currin More from this author. (2016, January 12). How Are Mushrooms More Similar to Humans than Plants?» Science ABC. Science ABC. https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/how-are-mushrooms-more-similar-to-humans-than-plants.html Ingl...

Learn about emotions in online reviews; how flowers smell in space; and how water efficiency affected human evolution. Emotions matter more than ratings when it comes to online reviews by Kelsey Donk “Emotional” reviews predict business success, new study shows. (2021). Northwestern.edu. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2021/04/emotional-reviews-predict-business-success-new-study-shows Rockla...

Learn about the “birthday paradox.” Then, George Craford — one of the pioneers of LED lighting — talks LED innovation. The Birthday Paradox by Cameron Duke Science Buddies. (2012, March 29). Probability and the Birthday Paradox. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-probability-birthday-paradox/ TED-Ed. (2017). Check your intuition: The birthday problem...

Learn about imaginary beams of motion coming from people’s eyes; where lost luggage ends up; and octopus sleep cycles. Following someone's gaze may involve imagining a beam of motion from their eyes by Grant Currin Our Brains “See” Beams Of Motion Emanating From People’s Faces Towards The Object Of Their Attention. (2021, February 25). Research Digest; Research Digest. https://digest.bps.org.uk/20...

Learn about introverts’ and extroverts’ pandemic response; astronaut farts; and why violet and purple are different. Introverts fared better than extroverts during the pandemic by Kelsey Donk Benz, M. (2021). COVID-19 and College Students: Introverts Coped Better than Extroverts During Shutdown. Medicalresearch.com. https://medicalresearch.com/mental-health-research/covid-19-and-college-students-i...

Learn why learning too much can make you less passionate and how AI is resurrecting ancient board games. Plus: trivia! Learning too much about your passion may make you less passionate about it by Kelsey Donk Lange, A. (2021, March 28). Your passionate hobby might make you less passionate, study finds. The Academic Times. https://academictimes.com/your-passionate-hobby-might-make-you-less-passiona...

Learn about Mauna Kea and how the pursuit of knowledge can be harmful. Plus: the smallest measurement of gravity ever. Additional resources from Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein: Pick up "The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, & Dreams Deferred" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/32JjzDu Website: http://www.cprescodweinstein.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/IBJIYONGI Learn more about M...

Learn about the benefits of Googling symptoms; truly random number generation; and why science is about storytelling. Googling symptoms makes patients better at self-diagnosis by Steffie Drucker A visit to “Dr. Google” makes patients better at diagnosis. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/bawh-avt032621.php Levine, D. M., & Mehrotra, A. (2021). Assessment of Diagno...

Learn about how lightning strikes led to life on Earth; the self-control of cuttlefish; and your roommate’s feelings. Lightning strikes were vital to the origin of life on Earth by Grant Currin Lightning strikes played a vital role in life’s origins on Earth. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/uol-lsp031621.php Hess, B. L., Piazolo, S., & Harvey, J. (2021). Lightni...

Learn about how to stop Zoom fatigue; a world that may be on its second atmosphere; and koalas’ human-like fingerprints. 4 reasons you feel "Zoom fatigue" and how to get over them, according to Stanford research by Kelsey Donk: Stanford Zoom Exhaustion and Fatigue Scale survey: https://comm.stanford.edu/ZEF Ramachandran, V. (2021, February 23). Four causes for “Zoom fatigue” and their solutions |...

Learn why narcissism may come from insecurity, how lobster became a delicacy, and how astronauts clean their underwear. Narcissism may be driven by insecurity, not an oversized sense of self by Kelsey Donk Narcissism driven by insecurity, not grandiose sense of self. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/nyu-ndb032521.php Kowalchyk, M., Palmieri, H., Conte, E., & Wall...

Learn about the treadmill’s torture device origins. Then, author Melanie Peffer explains why biology is everywhere. Treadmills were originally torture devices by Steffie Drucker Protin, C., & Stuart, M. (2017, April 13). Treadmills were originally used as torture devices for prisoners. Business Insider; Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/treadmills-torture-device-prisoners-treadwhee...

Learn about a gender gap in 8-year-olds; how speaking another language can change you; and a monumental dino discovery. Learn about how kids as young as 8 show a gender gap when it comes to negotiating; how speaking another language can change your personality; and what paleontologists can learn from a momentous new discovery of fossilized dinosaur embryos. Kids as young as 8 show a gender gap whe...

Captain Sig Hansen from “Deadliest Catch” discusses the surprising ways the coronavirus pandemic made the world’s most dangerous job even harder. Then, you’ll learn about our moon’s comet-like tail that collides with Earth every month. Learn more about Deadliest Catch, Tuesdays at 8 PM ET/PT on Discovery Official website https://www.discovery.com/shows/deadliest-catch Stream Deadliest Catch on dis...

Learn about a 5-step process for finding work-life balance; photosynthetic bacteria that have never seen the sun; and why researchers build a digital model of the ancient Greek Antikythera mechanism: the first known analog computer. A 5-step process for hitting the moving target of work-life balance by Kelsey Donk Lufkin, B. (2021). Why it’s wrong to look at work-life balance as an achievement. BB...

Learn about why quitting smoking is good for your mental health, too; and why it’s possible to practice too much. We’ll also answer a listener question about how to get people to believe science, with some help from a special guest, Bill Nye. Quitting smoking is good for your mental health, too by Steffie Drucker Cochrane Review finds stopping smoking is linked to improved mental health. (2021). E...

Bestselling author and CBS news correspondent David Pogue explains why climate change is leading to more kidney stones and bar fights. Then, learn about the “doorway effect” when you forget why you walked into a room; and whether you should exercise on an empty stomach. Additional resources from David Pogue: Pick up "How to Prepare for Climate Change: A Practical Guide to Surviving the Chaos" on A...

Bestselling author and CBS news correspondent David Pogue discusses why preparing for climate change is just as important as fighting it, with. Then, you’ll learn why you can make someone less defensive by making them feel validated. Additional resources from David Pogue: Pick up "How to Prepare for Climate Change: A Practical Guide to Surviving the Chaos" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3fq65UY David...

Learn about why social egalitarians are more likely to discriminate against older adults; why throbbing pain has nothing to do with your pulse; and why naturally gluten-free food is labeled gluten-free. The biggest advocates for equality are most likely to discriminate against older adults at work by Kelsey Donk Advocates Of Equality For All Are More Likely To Show Prejudice Against Older Adults A...

Learn about how researchers built a “soft robot” that reached the depths of the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the ocean; why musicians with brain tumors serenade their surgeons; and the best way to phrase words of comfort. A "soft robot" reached the deepest part of the ocean by Grant Currin Li, G., Chen, et al. (2021). Self-powered soft robot in the Mariana Trench. Nature, 591(7848), 66–71....

Bill Nye discusses the 2 things that make “science” what it is. Then, you’ll learn about how female tree frogs have noise-canceling lungs; and why your stomach growls when you’re hungry. Additional resources from Bill Nye: Official website https://billnye.com/ Bill Nye’s podcast, Science Rules! https://www.askbillnye.com/ Pick up “Bill Nye's Great Big World of Science” on Amazon https://amzn.to/3u...

To help you celebrate Earth Day, Bill Nye discusses some unexpected ways we can save our environment, including raising the standard of living for women and girls. Then, you’ll learn about why spicy solar panels capture more sunlight — with a little help from capsaicin. Additional resources from Bill Nye: Official website https://billnye.com/ Bill Nye’s podcast, Science Rules! https://www.askbilln...

Bill Nye explains why you should be excited about the Perseverance Rover and the Mars 2020 mission. Plus: learn about why old tech is better than new tech when it comes to connecting during COVID and a 5-minute trick for falling asleep faster. When it comes to connecting during COVID, old tech outranks new tech by Kelsey Donk Call me, maybe? UNLV study probes how people connected during the pandem...

Learn about why cannabis gives people the munchies; the Bicameral Mind theory that says the ancient Greeks lacked consciousness; and the evolutionary reason why you listen to songs on repeat. Why does cannabis give you the munchies? by Grant Currin Hull, M. (2019, April 17). The science behind munchies: cannabis and your appetite. Examine.com; Examine.com. https://examine.com/nutrition/cannabis-mu...

Learn about why you can BS a BS-er; how you can get your hands on some of the world’s oldest books at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library; and a sea slug in the genus Elysia that cuts off its own head when it wants a new body. You *can* BS a BSer — but it depends on the kind of BS by Steffie Drucker It Turns Out You Can Bullshit A Bullshitter After All. (2021, March 5). Research Digest; Research D...