Curiosity Weekly

Learn about why you eat differently when you’re stressed; how humpback whales use “bubble nets” to catch fish; and the surprising genetic reason why females outlive males. Why do we eat differently when stressed? by Steffie Drucker How to Manage Stress Eating (or Not Eating). (2020, March 25). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/25/well/how-to-manage-stress-eating-or-not-eating.htm...

Learn about the perception-adoption model, which says that most parents don’t pass their political ideology to their kids; how researchers found the source of peanut allergies in the human gut; and Olbers’ Paradox, which asks why the night sky is so dark if stars are so bright. Most parents don't successfully transmit their political ideology to their kids by Kelsey Donk Dolan, E. W. (2020, March...

Learn about why signaling your status makes it harder to make new friends; the evolutionary reason why humans have so much back pain; and how pretending to understand babies can make them smarter. Signaling your status makes it harder to make new friends by Steffie Drucker Forget the bling: High status-signaling deters new friendships. (2018, August). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_rel...

Learn about when you’re most likely to feel hangry (and how to avoid it); what scientists can learn from watching the human brain jiggle; and how resonant frequencies helped a fitness class shake an entire skyscraper — with help from stand-up mathematician Matt Parker. Scientists Determined When Hanger Is Most Likely to Strike by Annie Hartman https://curiosity.com/topics/scientists-determined-whe...

Learn about why bats are the source of so many deadly virus outbreaks; and the surprisingly strong influence older siblings can have on their brothers and sisters — just in time for Siblings Day . Then, test your knowledge from this podcast with a Curiosity Challenge trivia game. Why bats are the source of so many deadly virus outbreaks by Andrea Michelson Coronavirus outbreak raises question: Why...

Learn about how to cope with “anticipatory grief” you’re probably feeling during the coronavirus pandemic; the controversy around Oculudentavis khaungraae, which may be the smallest dinosaur ever discovered; and how researchers discovered that music and speech are encoded in separate brain hemispheres. When you mourn something before you've lost it, that's anticipatory grief by Kelsey Donk That Di...

Beth Pratt, leader of the Save LA Cougars campaign, explains how wildlife crossings work and the unique engineering behind the Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing. Plus: learn how doing one creative thing every day can boost your happiness. Additional resources from Beth Pratt, California Regional Executive Director for the National Wildlife Federation and leader of the #SaveLACougars Campaign: The #...

Beth Pratt, leader of the Save LA Cougars campaign, tells the story of mountain lion P-22 and how he inspired a campaign to build the world’s largest wildlife crossing. Plus: learn about the health benefits of the helper’s high you get when you volunteer. Ever Experienced A "Helper's High"? There's A Reason For That by Anna Todd https://curiosity.com/topics/ever-experienced-a-helpers-high-theres-a...

Learn about why things taste bad after you brush your teeth; a new discovery about how fast the Earth formed that may mean good things about life in the universe; and why women may experience more pain than men. Why does toothpaste make food taste bad? by Andrea Michelson Schultz, C. (2014, October 13). The Science of Why Toothpaste Makes Food Taste Funny. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithso...

Learn about the shocking prevalence of torture scenes in movies; why durian, the world’s smelliest fruit, smells so bad; and where mold comes from. Torture is prevalent and effective in movies (but not in real life) by Kelsey Donk Torture Prevalent, Effective in Popular Movies, Study Finds – University of Alabama News | The University of Alabama. (2020). Ua. Edu. https://www.ua.edu/news/2020/01/to...

Learn about how your lover’s clothing could improve your sleep; how astronauts grew vegetables in space for the first time; and ancient animals that were connected by a crude version of the internet. Smelling your lover’s shirt could improve your sleep by Kelsey Donk 3 Reasons to Give Your Valentine a Smelly, Unwashed T-Shirt. (2020). Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-a...

Learn about why hundreds of ducks are employees at a wine vineyard; a musical invention that was the Spotify of the Victorian era; and a delicious mathematical principle known as the ham sandwich theorem. Hundreds of Ducks Are Employees at a Vineyard by Joanie Faletto https://curiosity.com/topics/hundreds-of-ducks-are-employees-at-a-vineyard-curiosity The Telharmonium was the Victorian version of...

Learn about the invisible harms of thirdhand smoke; massive viruses that blur the line between the living and non-living; and why whales get lost during solar storms. Moviegoers contaminate nonsmoking movie theater with 'thirdhand' cigarette smoke by Kelsey Donk Moviegoers contaminate nonsmoking movie theater with “thirdhand” cigarette smoke. (2020). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_rele...

Learn about how your romantic attachment style affects your finances; the surprising reason why some amphibians glow; and why laughter might really be the best medicine. How Your Romantic Style Affects Your Finances by Kelsey Donk How your romantic attachment style affects your finances, well-being. (2020). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-02/uoa-hyr022520.php Li, X., Curra...

Dr. Julia Schaletzky explains what it takes to develop vaccines for viruses like COVID-19. Dr. Schaletzky is the Executive Director of the Center for Emerging and Neglected Diseases, the Drug Discovery Center, and the Immunotherapy and Vaccine Research Institute at UC Berkeley. In this special coronavirus coverage from Curiosity Daily, Dr. Schaletzky discusses: What science needs to be done in ord...

Dr. Julia Schaletzky explains why the U.S. is having a hard time testing everyone for the coronavirus. Plus: learn about how ketamine can help with depression and anxiety; and how an anonymous Anime fan on 4chan helped solve a 25-year-old math puzzle. Additional resources from Dr. Julia Schaletzky, Executive Director of the Henry Wheeler Center for Emerging and Neglected Diseases at University of...

Learn about how we make vaccines to fight viruses like the coronavirus, with help from Julia Schaletzky, Executive Director of the Center for Emerging and Neglected Diseases at UC Berkeley. You’ll also learn about the weird history behind why we call steak “beef” and not “cow.” Additional resources from Dr. Julia Schaletzky, Executive Director of the Henry Wheeler Center for Emerging and Neglected...

Learn about new research into how social anxiety works in the brain; how scientists developed the first synthetic self-replicating genome; and the adorable sounds penguins make underwater. It's harder for people with social anxiety to remember encounters that ended positively by Kelsey Donk Dolan, E. W. (2020, February 13). Social anxiety is linked to impaired memory for positive social events. Ps...

Learn about a medical mystery involving blindness and schizophrenia; a new bacteria scientists developed to help protect honeybees; and the surprising strength of helmets used in World War I. No person who was born blind has ever been diagnosed with schizophrenia by Andrea Michelson Love, S. (2020, February 11). People Born Blind Are Mysteriously Protected From Schizophrenia. Vice; vice. https://w...

Learn about the first animal scientists have ever discovered that doesn’t breathe oxygen; how we might be able to hijack the brain’s immune system to improve memory; and the biggest explosion in the history of the universe. Scientists discover first animal that doesn't breathe oxygen by Cameron Duke Specktor, B. (2020, February 24). Scientists discover first known animal that doesn’t breathe. Live...

Learn about how to choose the best music for your workout playlist; why learning more about a new disease like coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) won’t comfort you; and how to clean your phone. For the best workout playlist, go for deep bass and fast tempos by Mae Rice Tunes for training: High-tempo music may make exercise easier and more beneficial. (2020). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org...

Learn about why a rising robot workforce may make humans less prejudiced towards other people; how studying a salamander that can regrow lost limbs could help us figure out how to help humans heal faster; and hormonal changes that happen in dads-to-be. A rising robot workforce may make humans less prejudiced by Kelsey Donk Conrad, J. (2020). Opinion: Robot co-workers could reduce prejudice among h...

Author David Owen discusses what happens once you’ve lost your hearing — and how much technology can actually help. Then, learn about the psychology behind our reactions to a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional resources from David Owen: Pick up “Volume Control: Hearing in a Deafening World” on Amazon https://amazon.com Part 1 of our interview (why it’s never too early to protect your he...

Epidemiologist Amesh Adalja answers frequently asked questions about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in this special bonus episode. Dr. Adalja is a Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, and will help you understand what we know and what we don’t know as of this week. In this episode, Dr. Amesh Amalja answers these frequently asked questions about COVID-19:...

Dr. Amesh Adalja, Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, explains how today’s unprecedented closures can help save lives from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Plus: learn how birds avoid spreading fake news and how astronomers are using auroras to find distant exoplanets. Birds alter the spread of information based on its trustworthiness by Kelsey Donk Unive...