Curiosity Weekly

Learn how calling loved ones builds stronger social connections than texting does, why the return of wolves improved life for every animal in Yellowstone, and how body snatchers of the 19th century contributed to modern medicine. Call, Don't Text, for a Stronger Social Connection by Kelsey Donk Kumar, A., & Epley, N. (2020). It’s surprisingly nice to hear you: Misunderstanding the impact of commun...

Learn about whether parasites can turn us into zombies, why awkward silences are so awkward, and why bubbles form in boiling water. Could parasites turn us into zombies? By Cameron Duke Ahmed, I. (2019, November). The science of zombies: Will the undead rise? Phys. Org; Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2019-11-science-zombies-undead.html Blum, J., Schmid, C., & Burri, C. (2006). Clinical aspects of...

Learn about how eclipses on Mars can tell scientists more about the planet’s interior, why we behave irrationally when our freedom is threatened, and how an ‘80s video game was at the center of a conspiracy theory. The Martian Moon Phobos Creates a Yearly Solar Eclipse — and Its Effects Could Tell Us More About the Planet by Grant Currin Surprise on Mars. (2020). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert...

Learn about how being a “Viking” was actually a career choice, not an ethnicity, why it’s easy to plant false memories, and how the pandemic has made birdsong more complex. "Viking" was a job description, not heredity by Grant Currin Helmets. (2020). National Museum of Denmark. https://en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/denmark/prehistoric-period-until-1050-ad/the-viking-age/weapons/helmets/ Curry,...

Learn about why predators don’t hunt their prey into extinction, then discover the history of crossword puzzles from author Adrienne Raphel! Why Don’t Predators Hunt Their Prey Into Extinction? By Cameron Duke Dickman, C., Nimmo, D., Ritchie, E., & Doherty, T. (2019, May 14). Invasive predators are eating the world’s animals to extinction – and the worst is close to home. The Conversation. https:/...

Learn about what it would be like to travel through a wormhole, how the pumpkin became North America’s Halloween mascot, and how social isolation can fuel conspiracy theories. What Would It Be Like to Ride Through a Wormhole? By Ashley Hamer Lindley, D. (2005). The Birth of Wormholes. Physics, 15. https://physics.aps.org/story/v15/st11 Nola Taylor Redd. (2017, October 21). What Is Wormhole Theory?...

Learn about why officials in Idaho once dropped beavers from parachutes, how your romantic partner might be influencing your goals (and vice versa), and test your podcast knowledge with this month’s Curiosity Challenge trivia game. Romantic Partners Influence Each Other's Goals by Kelsey Donk Romantic partners influence each other’s goals. (2020). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_release...

Learn about the disturbing original plots of five beloved fairy tales, how the HALT method can help control your impulses, and why our ability to drink milk evolved way faster than we thought! Here Are the Disturbing and Gory Origins of 5 Beloved Fairy Tales by Stephanie Bucklin Grimm 021: Cinderella. (2011). Pitt. Edu. https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm021.html Snow White. (2014). Vcu. Edu. https:/...

Learn how superstitions can actually reduce anxiety, why rebooting can often fix computer problems, and why the first full dinosaur skeleton ever found is finally being studied 160 years later. How Superstitions Can Actually Reduce Anxiety by Reuben Westmaas Brooks, A. W., Schroeder, J., Risen, J. L., Gino, F., Galinsky, A. D., Norton, M. I., & Schweitzer, M. E. (2016). Don’t stop believing: Ritua...

Learn about the likelihood that we all live in a computer simulation. Then, author Thomas Kostigen explains how geoengineering might help cool the planet and save the world. Two physicists calculated the likelihood that we live in a computer simulation by Grant Currin The Physics arXiv Blog. (2020, August 28). This Equation Calculates the Chances We Live in a Computer Simulation. Discover Magazine...

Learn why the concept of zero is newer than you might think, how you can worry more productively, and why the Earth’s atmosphere might be rusting the moon. The Concept of Zero Is Newer Than You'd Expect by Reuben Westmaas Matson, J. (2009, August 21). The Origin of Zero. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/history-of-zero/ What is the origin of zero? How did we indicate...

Learn about how patient O became patient zero, what it takes for a species to evolve twice, and how pesky fruit flies keep getting into your garbage. Please nominate Curiosity Daily for Best Technology & Science Podcast in the 2020 Discover Pods Awards! It's free and only takes a minute. Thanks so much! https://awards.discoverpods.com/nominate/ It's "Patient O," Not "Patient Zero" by Ashley Hamer...

Learn about how cold the last ice age was, why your body’s stress response can actually be healthy for you, and how to stop a jack-a-lantern from spoiling. Please nominate Curiosity Daily for Best Technology & Science Podcast in the 2020 Discover Pods Awards! It's free and only takes a minute. Thanks so much! https://awards.discoverpods.com/nominate/ Researchers Know How Cold the Last Ice Age Was...

Learn about why cancer is stranger than we think and how scientists have “teleported” the behavior of real fish into robot fish. Please nominate Curiosity Daily for Best Technology & Science Podcast in the 2020 Discover Pods Awards! It's free and only takes a minute. Thanks so much! https://awards.discoverpods.com/nominate/ Scientists "teleported" the real-time behavior of a real fish onto a robot...

Learn about the impressive memories of goldfish. Plus, hear from Dr. Kat Arney about why an evolutionary perspective may be the key to fighting cancer. Please nominate Curiosity Daily for Best Technology & Science Podcast in the 2020 Discover Pods Awards! It's free and only takes a minute. Thanks so much! https://awards.discoverpods.com/nominate/ Goldfish Have Great Memories, Thank You Very Much b...

Learn about three mythological creatures that were inspired by real fossils, how people prefer to root for winning individuals over teams, and how scientists have created interactive paper. Please nominate Curiosity Daily for Best Technology & Science Podcast in the 2020 Discover Pods Awards! It's free and only takes a minute. Thanks so much! https://awards.discoverpods.com/nominate/ Three Mytholo...

Learn about how your schedule might be hurting your health, why the mantis shrimp is able to punch so hard without hurting itself, and who invented the aluminum can. Your Schedule Might be Hurting Your Health — Here's What to Do About It by Reuben Westmaas Your schedule could be killing you. (2017). Popular Science. https://www.popsci.com/your-schedule-could-be-killing-you/ Johnston, J. (2017, Jun...

Learn about what your muscles go through when they get pulled, whether trees have heartbeats, and the real science behind the recovering alcoholics’ mantra “one day at a time.” What Happens When You Pull a Muscle? by Ashley Hamer Pietrangelo, A. (2019). Muscle Strains. Healthline; Healthline Media. https://www.healthline.com/health/strains#treatment4 Lee, S. (2016, February 17). What to Do When Yo...

Cody Cassidy is back to talk about how soap was invented. You’ll also learn about a bias that makes people believe poor people have thicker skin, and how good anxiety can help you get things done. Good Anxiety Can Help You Get Things Done by Reuben Westmaas Must We Suffer to Succeed? | Journal of Individual Differences | Vol 38, No 2. (2017). Journal of Individual Differences. https://econtent.hog...

Learn about why we remember things in the opposite order as we see them and how spiders use atmospheric electricity to balloon through the air. You’ll also learn who actually ate the first oyster from author Cody Cassidy.   You Remember in the Opposite Order as You See by Reuben Westmaas Human brain recalls visual features in reverse order than it detects them: Study challenges traditional hierarc...

Learn how swapping bodies with our pals can alter the way we view ourselves, why California’s redwoods have been able to survive relentless wildfires, and the real reason there are colorful bumps on the sidewalk. (If this episode sounds familiar, congratulations! You got the episode that escaped a week ago. Oops! This one is cleaned up and ready for prime-time.) A study had friends "swap bodies" a...

Scientists renamed human genes because of Microsoft Excel by Grant Currin Vincent, J. (2020, August 6). Scientists rename human genes to stop Microsoft Excel from misreading them as dates. The Verge; The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/6/21355674/human-genes-rename-microsoft-excel-misreading-dates Ziemann, M., Eren, Y., & El-Osta, A. (2016). Gene name errors are widespread in the scientific...

Learn how the mathematical mistake of exponential growth bias makes people underestimate the spread of COVID-19, how crocodiles have survived since the dinosaurs, and how puns activate both sides of the brain. "Exponential growth bias" can make people underestimate COVID-19 by Steffie Drucker Robson, D. (2020). Exponential growth bias: The numerical error behind Covid-19. BBC.Com. https://www.bbc....

Learn about how wildfires are powerful enough to create their own storms, how the invention of bags influenced human evolution, and how announcers with low voices can make products larger. Wildfires can create their own storms by Cameron Duke Specktor, B. (2017, December 12). What Are Pyrocumulus Clouds? California Fires Spawn Eerie Formations. Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/61167-what-...

Learn about how rats might not have been all to blame for the bubonic plagues and why we’re more prone to mindlessly eat while we multitask. When It Comes to the Black Death, the Rats May Have Been Framed by Ashley Hamer History.com Editors. (2010, September 17). Black Death. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages/black-death Gill, V. (2018, January 15). Black Death “spread by humans...