Curiosity Weekly

Fungal parasites like the ones shown in The Last of Us might not be starting up a zombie apocalypse anytime soon but that doesn’t mean they’re not causing trouble in other ways. Host Dr. Samantha Yammine speaks with Dr. Carolyn Elya, a mycologist specializing in fungi’s unique ability to take over the brains of insects. They discuss how that compares with the fungal zombies in the show and whether...

We’re all about answering questions here at Curiosity Weekly. Questions like: where do baby sea turtles actually go when they waddle from their cozy beach nest into the ocean? Host Dr. Samantha Yammine explores the mysteries of adolescent sea turtles before bringing on our special guest, Jessica Malaty Rivera, to answer even more questions, this time about the recent uptick in measles cases in the...

 Spring has officially sprung! The birds are chirping, the bees are buzzing and flowers are blooming. But, have you ever wondered the journey that flowers take from the soil to your vase at home? Today on Curiosity Weekly, author Amy Stewart joins Dr. Samantha Yammine to chat about the global flower trade. Sam is also joined by producer Teresa Carey for a climate tech showdown, where Teresa t...

It’s Women’s History Month and to celebrate we have Katie Hafner on Curiosity Weekly to discuss the history of women in STEM and ways we can highlight their contributions today. Then, Sam looks into the Wooly Devil, aka the first new plant genus found in a national park in almost 50 years. Finally, Sam and producer Teresa Carey talk about what to know regarding male contraception.   Link to S...

Cells may be the building blocks of life (and highschool biology), but who knew they were so complicated? Dr. Samantha Yammine digs into different types of cells and their functions with editorial correspondent Teresa Carey as they discuss the difficulties in defining what a cell even is. Then, Sam speaks with Dr. Sébastien Calvignac-Spencer, a pathogen evolutionary biologist about his work invest...

The new season of Naked and Afraid premieres Sunday, March 9, 2025 at 8pm EST on Discovery.     To celebrate, host Dr. Samantha Yammine talks to legendary survivalist Rob Nelson about his experiences thriving in some of the most extreme conditions on the planet. Rob also gets into some of the facts and myths behind common survival techniques. Then, Sam is joined by Naked and Afraid...

Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by Dr. Tiara Moore who is a marine ecologist and the founder of Black in Marine Science to talk about her research as well as her advocacy work to ensure equitable systems are in place for Black scientists within the scientific community. Sam digs into a deep sea sponge that has inspired researchers to create a filter that can protect our oceans from a future oil spi...

The White Lotus is about to be back on our screens on Max so today, we’re diving into the latest trend among elite travelers: longevity tourism. Then, our host Sam speaks to Dr. Jodi Halpern about the mental health effects that come along with the rise of AI technology. And finally, we explore the ins and outs of fracking. Link to all sources here Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast a...

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, today our host Dr. Samantha Yammine digs into the science behind what really causes butterflies in your stomach when you’re experiencing infatuation. Then, astrobiologist Dr. Lynn Rothschild joins us to discuss extremophiles and what they can tell us about potential life on other planets. And finally, we discuss the ins and outs of the FDA’s recent ban of Re...

Today, we dive into the science around man’s best friend to celebrate the Puppy Bowl airing on Animal Planet, February 9th. Sam explores what’s really going on with the recent phenomenon of people teaching their dogs to communicate through word buttons. Dr. Janet Hoy-Gerlach joins the show to discuss her research into the mental health benefits of emotional support animals. Finally, we tackle the...

On today’s episode, we dive into the tech helping us respond to the growing risk of wildfires, including the use of AI systems and smoke detectors. Then, Sam speaks to Dr. Linda Charmaraman from the Youth, Media & Wellbeing Research Lab about a recent study that looks into misinformation on TikTok when it comes to diagnosing ADHD. Finally, we talk about how both blind and sighted humans are en...

Electro-Agriculture  “Scientists Grow Crops in Near-Total Darkness Thanks to New ‘Electro-Agriculture’ Technique.” by Adam Kovac. 2024   “Electro-agriculture: Revolutionizing farming for a sustainable future.” by Bradie S. Crandall, Marcus Harland-Dunaway, Robert E. Jinkerson, et al. 2024     Space Exploration with Dr. Robert Lillis “An ESCAPADE to Mars, on the cheap.” The Plan...

Welcome to Curiosity Weekly from Discovery! This week, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by Dr. Anastasia Buyalskaya, a behavioral scientist, to unravel habit formation and debunk the 21-day myth. We also learn about a newly discovered link between musical training and left-handedness. Plus, hear about some space station bacteria that are flexing their superpowers!     Habit Formation&...

Welcome to Curiosity Weekly from Discovery, hosted by Dr. Samantha Yammine. Once a week, we’ll bring you the latest and greatest in scientific discoveries and break down the details so that you don’t need a PhD to understand it. From neuroscience to climate tech to AI and genetics, no subject is off-limits. Join Sam as she interviews expert guests and investigates the research guiding some of the...

Today, you’ll learn about the link between body temperature and depression, how taking the the Polar Bear Plunge could soothe symptoms of menopause, and a new sticker that can detect organ failure.   Depression Temp  •“Are Body Temperature and Depression Linked? Science Says, Yes.” by Jess Berthold. 2024.   •“Surprising Link Discovered Between Body Temperature and Depressi...

Today, you’ll learn about a new blood test that could revolutionize bipolar diagnoses, how music could help knock out pain, and how a changing climate is changing puffins.   Bipolar Blood Test  •“Simple blood test can help diagnose bipolar disorder.” University of Cambridge. 2023.   •“Bipolar Disorder.” NIH. n..d.  •“Diagnosis and management of bipolar disorders.” by...

Today, you’ll learn about mind-reading machines, the brightest object in the known universe, and the potential power punch of cinnamon.  Mind-Reading  •“Mind-reading devices are revealing the brain’s secrets.” by Miryam Naddaf. 2024.   •“The brain-reading devices helping paralysed people to move, talk and touch.” by Liam Drew. 2022.   •“The rise of brain-reading techn...

Today, you’ll learn about a supervitamin you might already be taking some good news about the health of the world’s forests, and a new study that mapped ketamine’s effects on the brain.   B12  •“Vitamin B12 emerges as key player during cellular reprogramming.” by Alba Vilchez-Acosta. 2023.   •“Vitamin B12: A key player in cellular reprogramming and tissue regeneration.” Sc...

Today, you’ll learn about the possible dangers of growing leafy greens in microgravity, a study that let AI tag along with a toddler to learn language the human way, and research on stabilizing elephant populations on the African savannah.   Microgravity Gardening  •“Simulated microgravity facilitates stomatal ingression by Salmonella in lettuce and suppresses a biocontrol agent.” b...

Today, you’ll learn about a bacteria that turns plastic into spider webs, a massive deep-sea discovery right in our own backyard, and how CRISPR could reshape agriculture for an entire continent.  Silk-Making Bacteria  •“Researchers Engineer Bacteria That Eat Plastic, Make Multipurpose Spider Silk.” Technology Networks. 2024.   •“Two-step conversion of polyethylene into recombi...

Today, you’ll learn about a new polymer that could battle antibiotic resistant infections, a possible new way to detect life on other planets from afar, and what to expect when you’re expecting to adopt a furry friend. Powerful Polymer  •“Texas A&M Team Develops Polymers That Can Kill Bacteria.” by Shana K. Hutchins. 2023.   •“The global threat of antibiotic resistance.” ReAct....

Today, you’ll learn about why you may want to consider letting yourself daydream, how a sense of humor might protect you from depression and anxiety, and the effects of caffeine on the performance of soccer players.   Daydream Brain   •“What Happens in the Brain While Daydreaming?” by Catherine Caruso. 2023.   •“Is the role of sleep in memory consolidation overrated?”...

Today, you’ll learn about how babies pick up language before they’re even born, an AI that takes on the busy work for doctors, and new insight into how humans collaborate.   Baby Language  •“Babies’ Brains Are Primed For Their Native Language Before Birth.” by Nyla Husain. 2023.   •“Prenatal experience with language shapes the brain.” by Benedetta Mariani. 2023. &nbsp...

oday, you’ll learn about a new test that can show how well each of your organs are aging, some interesting links between comfort food and stress, and a surprising finding about certain snails.  Organ Age  •“Are your organs ageing well? The blood holds clues.” by Max Kozlov. 2023.   •“Blood test shows if organs are ageing fast or slowly.” by Michelle Roberts. 2023.   C...

Today, you’ll learn about a new ink that can 3D print inside your body using soundwaves, why saying no to invitations isn’t as bad as you might think, and some new drugs that could potentially make your dog live longer.   3D Ink  •“Soundwaves Harden 3D-Printed Treatments in Deep Tissues.” by Michaela Martinez. 2023.   •“Dental curing light.” Wikipedia.   •“Self-e...