Curiosity Weekly

Learn about why ants are better farmers than we'll ever be; how female big-game hunters were likely common in the early Americas; and why presenting too much evidence could actually make you lose an argument, thanks to the overkill backfire effect. Ants Are Better Farmers Than We'll Ever Be by Steffie Drucker Ants are skilled farmers: They have solved a problem that we humans have yet to. (2020)....

Infectious disease doctor and researcher Dr. Lawrence Purpura discusses herd immunity and the coronavirus pandemic. Then, learn about how psilocybin therapy may be able to treat depression, and why credit card chips are safer than magnetic strips. Additional resources from Dr. Lawrence Purpura: Lawrence Purpura's publications on ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/L...

Dr. Lawrence Purpura explains monoclonal antibodies and the different types of treatments that could help us fight the coronavirus. Plus: learn about the Oddo-Harkins rule and why the universe seems to hate odd numbers. Why the Universe Seems to Hate Odd Numbers by Cameron Duke Inglis-Arkell, E. (2013a, January 24). One physical phenomenon that orders our entire universe. Io9; io9. https://io9.giz...

Learn about how curiosity gives your memory a boost; what happened when researchers put feathered hats on birds to see if other birds found them sexy; and how we trick bacteria into making insulin for us. How Curiosity Gives Your Memory A Boost by Cody Gough Gruber, M. J., Gelman, B. D., & Ranganath, C. (2014). States of Curiosity Modulate Hippocampus-Dependent Learning via the Dopaminergic Circui...

Learn about why men who sleep more are seen as less masculine and what exactly makes radiation harmful. Then, test your podcast knowledge with this month’s Curiosity Challenge trivia game. Men who sleep less are seen as more masculine by Kelsey Donk Men Who Sleep Less Are Seen As More Masculine: A Stereotype With Potentially Damaging Consequences. (2020, October 29). Research Digest; Research Dige...

Learn about how naked mole-rats invade neighboring colonies and steal babies, the average person is hiding 13 secrets, and people use more jargon when they're insecure about their status. Naked mole-rats invade neighboring colonies and steal babies by Grant Currin Naked mole-rat. (2016, April 25). Smithsonian’s National Zoo. https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/naked-mole-rat Naked mole-rats invade...

Learn about how a planet-friendly diet also tends to be healthier and why we don’t have battery-powered airplanes. But first, social psychologist and author Devon Price is back to explain how we can all avoid burnout. Additional resources from Dr. Devon Price: Preorder "Laziness Does Not Exist" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/393WHTM Dr. Devon Price on Twitter: https://twitter.com/drdevonprice Dr. Devo...

Learn about how we know that an asteroid killed the dinosaurs. We’ll also talk to social psychologist and author Devon Price about how laziness might actually benefit us. The Epic Tale of the 5th Mass Extinction (Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary) by Natalia Reagan Alvarez, L. W., Alvarez, W., Asaro, F., & Michel, H. V. (1980). Extraterrestrial Cause for the Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinction. Science, 208...

Learn about why adding cold cream to your coffee keeps it hotter longer, why social identity can make people distrust the scientific consensus, and why you need self-compassion for self-improvement. Why Adding Cold Cream to Your Coffee Keeps it Hotter Longer by Ashley Hamer The Physics of Coffee & Cream - Modernist Cuisine. (2012, December 12). Modernist Cuisine. https://modernistcuisine.com/mc/th...

Learn about why it’s relaxing to breathe in through your nose and the first woman who’s ever been struck by a meteor. We’ll also answer a listener question about why smacking electronics helps to make them work again. Why do relaxation exercises have you breathe in through your nose? Two words: nitric oxide by Grant Currin Hirschlag, A. (2020, July 14). Breathing Through Your Nose Is Healthier for...

Learn about why animals keep evolving into crabs in a principle called “carcinization,” whether water is actually wet, and if there’s any truth behind the old adage "feed a cold, starve a fever." Animals keep evolving into crabs by Grant Currin Delbert, C. (2020, October 19). Animals Keep Evolving Into Crabs, Which Is Somewhat Disturbing. Popular Mechanics; Popular Mechanics. https://www.popularme...

Learn about why your dog might be lying about its size and how physicists just achieved room-temperature superconductivity for the first time. But first, food science expert Harold McGee is back to talk about the smells that existed before Earth did. Additional resources from food science expert and author Harold McGee: Pick up "Nose Dive: A Field Guide to the World's Smells" on Amazon: https://am...

Learn about why we now know what a dinosaur's cloaca looks like. You’ll also learn why smells change with context from food science expert Harold McGee. We now know what a dinosaur's cloaca looks like by Grant Currin See the photo here: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2258023-dinosaur-fossil-with-preserved-genital-orifice-hints-how-they-mated/ Black, R. (2020, October 21). We Finally Know Wha...

Learn about how a ghosted email causes different stress than a rude response does, the 15-year grudge match between rival dino hunters known as The Bone Wars, and crown shyness, the forest’s version of social distancing. Ignoring someone's email and drafting a rude response stress people out in similar but different ways by Kelsey Donk What new research reveals about rude workplace emails. (2020)....

Learn about how to avoid the too-familiar trap of mental accounting, the story of when a glitchy instrument led to evidence for the Big Bang, and the real science behind how to make cut flowers last longer. Is That Real Money Or Fun Money? The Familiar Trap Of Mental Accounting by Ashley Hamer Thaler, R. H. (1999). Mental accounting matters. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 12(3), 183–206. h...

Learn about a nearly mile-long trackway of fossilized human footprints is the longest ever found, a trick to keep experiences feeling fresh and new, and the more you wish for self-control, the less of It you have. This nearly mile-long trackway of fossilized human footprints is the longest ever found by Steffie Drucker Wei-Haas, M.(2020, October 15). Incredible details of 10,000-year-old trek reve...

Neil Shubin is back to talk about the viruses lurking in your DNA. You’ll also learn about whether it’s true that turkeys are so dumb that they drown in rainstorms, and why domineering people don't rise through the ranks any faster. Additional resources from biologist and author Neil Shubin: Pick up "Some Assembly Required: Decoding Four Billion Years of Life, from Ancient Fossils to DNA" on Amazo...

Learn about the “superhabitable” planets that may have conditions better for life than Earth. Then, biologist and best-selling author Neil Shubin will explain a common misconception about how animals evolve. Two dozen planets have been identified that may have conditions better for life than Earth by Grant Currin Some planets may be better for life than Earth. (2020). EurekAlert! https://www.eurek...

Learn about how scientists discovered that Venus flytraps can store short-term “memories,” why you shouldn't use real-time updates when waiting for the bus, and how epigenetics can make your DNA change within your lifetime. Venus flytraps store short-term ‘memories’ in their hairs by Grant Currin Segarra, C. (2020, October 14). How Venus flytraps store short-term ‘memories’ of prey. Science News....

Learn about how saying no to kids makes them more resourceful and why humans aren’t the only animals capable of deception. We’ll also answer a listener question about whether rocket stages ever hit ships in the ocean, with a little help from Cody Chambers at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Saying no to kids makes them more resourceful by Anna Todd To Raise Better Kids, Say No (Published 2017). (2017,...

Learn about why life is based on carbon and not silicon, whether you should be using plastic or wood cutting boards, and how jealous feelings can help maintain friendships. Why is life based on carbon and not silicon? by Cameron Duke Cosmic Evolution - Future. (2020). Harvard. Edu. https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~ejchaisson/cosmic_evolution/docs/fr_1/fr_1_future5.html Could silicon be the basis for a...

First, Annie Duke will explain what to do when you make the wrong decision. Then you’ll learn why we may want to think about recycling our poop, and about misophonia, a true hatred for certain sounds. Additional resources from decision strategist Annie Duke: Pick up "How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices" from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3kO1qvK Pick up "Thinking in Bets: Making Smarte...

Learn about why gynandromorphs are born half male and half female. Then, we’ll talk to poker champion turned decision strategist Annie Duke about when it’s best to go with your gut. Gynandromorphs are animals born half male and half female by Grant Currin Robson, D. (2015). These animals are male on one side and female on the other. Bbc. Com. http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150916-these-animals-a...

Learn about how babies' random choices become their preferences, why modern agriculture requires “migratory beekeeping” — basically, taking honeybees on road trips, and four of the world’s weirdest weather phenomena. Just like adults, babies' random choices become their preferences by Kelsey Donk Babies’ random choices become their preferences. (2020). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_re...

Learn why spacesuits are white, and how to avoid drama by breaking the Karpman Drama Triangle. Then, test your podcast knowledge with this month’s Curiosity Challenge trivia game. Why are spacesuits white? By Cameron Duke Harry Jones. (2009, July 12). Spacesuit heat rejection loads on the moon and Mars, W. ResearchGate; ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Spacesuit-heat-rejection-loa...