Curiosity Weekly

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...

Learn about how slow blinking at a cat can help you make friends with it, how temptation bundling can help you reinforce good habits, and why Moravec’s Paradox says the easy stuff is hardest for artificial intelligence. Slow blinking at a cat can help you make friends with it by Steffie Drucker Feline friendly? How to build rap-paw with your cat - new psychology study. (2020). EurekAlert! https://...

Learn about how AI could help predict which drugs won’t agree with women, and why Point Nemo is considered planet Earth’s spacecraft graveyard. But first, Ologies podcast host Alie Ward is back to tell us about her favorite ologie. Resources from Ologies host Alie Ward: Ologies Podcast: https://www.alieward.com/ologies Alie Ward's website: https://www.alieward.com/ Alie Ward on Twitter: https://tw...

Learn about why birds are the only surviving dinosaurs. Then, we’ll talk to Alie Ward of the Ologies podcast about why we should all ask smart people stupid questions. Why are birds the only surviving dinosaurs? By Grant Currin Hendry, L. (2018, June 15). Why are birds the only surviving dinosaurs? The Natural History Museum London. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/why-are-birds-the-only-surviving-d...

Learn about why remote workers need a "virtual commute," what happened when scientists tried growing prehistoric-sized insects, and how the solar system has not one, but two alignment planes. Separate work from home with a "virtual commute" by author Kelsey Donk MacLellan, L. (2020, October). Create boundaries when working from home with commute rituals. Quartz at Work; Quartz. https://qz.com/work...

Learn how fathers benefit from being involved with their newborn babies, what you can do to control your dreams with science, and why the asterisk is used for corrections. Being Involved with the Baby Early on Benefits a Father's Mental Health by Kelsey Donk Greater father involvement in infant parenting is beneficial for paternal mental health. (2020). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_r...

Learn about a simple brain-training task that may reduce motion sickness, what parasites found in medieval human remains can tell us about eradicating them today, and the two main reasons why everything takes longer than you think it will. A Simple Brain-Training Task May Reduce Motion Sickness by Kelsey Donk You can train your brain to reduce motion sickness. (2020). Warwick. Ac. Uk. https://warw...

Learn about how 5G may impair weather forecasts, and how the first confirmed exoplanet was discovered a lot more recently than you may realize. Plus, science writer John Tierney is back to explore how negativity bias affects our relationships. Curiosity Daily is a finalist in the 2020 Discover Pods Awards, and we need your vote to win! Please vote for Curiosity Daily for Best Technology & Science...

Learn about two new neuroscience studies that show why birds are so dang smart. Then science writer John Tierney will talk negativity bias and how you can use it to your own benefit. Curiosity Daily is a finalist in the 2020 Discover Pods Awards, and we need your vote to win! Please vote for Curiosity Daily for Best Technology & Science Podcast via the link below. It's free and only takes a minute...

Learn about whether it’s better to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond, a mysterious, ancient city called Cahokia that’s, weirdly, just outside St. Louis, and how AI might be able to catch heart disease with a selfie. Is It Better to Be a Big Fish in a Small Pond or a Small Fish in a Big Pond? By Kelsey Donk Even When You’re A Member Of An Elite Group, It Can Be Demoralisin...

Learn about a new theory for the uncanny valley effect and the Door to Hell, a giant fiery pit that’s been burning since 1971. We’ll also answer a listener question about how drug and alcohol tolerance works. Curiosity Daily is a finalist in the 2020 Discover Pods Awards, and we need your vote to win! Please vote for Curiosity Daily for Best Technology & Science Podcast via the link below. It's fr...

Learn how deliberate practice makes perfect, what the New England Vampire Panic is, and how baby tortoises are attracted to faces from birth. Curiosity Daily is a finalist in the 2020 Discover Pods Awards, and we need your vote to win! Please vote for Curiosity Daily for Best Technology & Science Podcast via the link below. It's free and only takes a minute. Thanks so much! https://awards.discover...

Learn why Einstein worried that science can’t explain “the now,” how high-impact exercise is actually good for your bones, and why in Haiti, zombies are more than fiction. Curiosity Daily is a finalist in the 2020 Discover Pods Awards, and we need your vote to win! Please vote for Curiosity Daily for Best Technology & Science Podcast via the link below. It's free and only takes a minute. Thanks so...

Learn about how bacteria in your gut can produce electricity. Then, performer and lecturer Thom Britton will tell us about the origins of seances and how Hollywood gets them wrong. Some Bacteria in Your Gut Produce Electricity by Cameron Duke Specktor, B. (2020, September 18). Scientists find “secret molecule” that allows bacteria to exhale electricity. Livescience. Com; Live Science. https://www....