Curiosity Weekly

Today, you’ll learn about the connection between chronic sinus infections and anxiety, a new way to recycle plastic by vaporizing it, and how marmosets call each other by name.      Sinuses & Mental Health     “Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Mental Health.” by Najm S. Khan, et al. 2024.    “Chronic Sinusitis.” CDC. 2022.      Vaporizing P...

Today, you’ll learn about how common table salt could help our bodies fight cancer, an ancient underwater bridge that’s changing what we know about human migration in Europe, and the hyper precise nuclear clock breakthrough.     Salt & Cancer    “Common salt activates anti-tumor cells.” by Charlotte Fuchs and Friederike Gawlik. 2024.    “Sodium chloride in th...

Today, you’ll learn about an injectable pacemaker that dissolves after 5 days, how a black hole is starving a galaxy to death, and the bats with record-high blood sugar levels.     Injectable Pacemaker    “Injectable pacemaker regulates heartbeat for 5 days then dissolves.” by Michael Irving. 2024.    “In situ assembly of an injectable cardiac stimulator.” by Umu...

Today, you’ll learn about the new air conditioner that cools without conditioning the air, how understanding our false memories can be a window into our problem solving skills, and a study examining the grieving of cats.     AC Not Conditioned      “Device provides air conditioning without conditioning air.” by Ellen Phiddian. 2024.    “A pure radiant c...

Today, you’ll learn about a new tool that maps out our incredibly complex gut microbiome to tell you if it’s healthy or… not so much, how metalworkers are taking lessons from insects to shape metal at room temperature, and the psychology behind our feelings toward unusually colored animals.     Microbiome Map    “Mayo researchers develop tool that measures health of a pers...

Today, you’ll learn about the mushrooms that are controlling the movements of robots, how horses might be a lot smarter than we thought, and what makes a strongman… strong.     Mushroom Robot    “Engineers Gave a Mushroom a Robot Body And Let It Run Wild.” by Mike Grace. 2024.    “Mushrooms as Nature’s Alchemists: Cycles, Connections, Healing, and Vision.” by Dan...

Today, you’ll learn about the massive new study that suggests cell phones don’t cause cancer as some feared, a fluffy orange fungus that could one day turn your food waste into dinner, and how scientists are helping crocodiles refine their tastes.     Phones & Brain Cancer      “Mobile phones are not linked to brain cancer, according to a major review of 28 y...

Today, you’ll learn about how to sync up clocks on Earth with clocks on the moon, a nanoparticle that could help relieve stubborn allergies, and the culture of birds.     Moon Clock     “Researchers figure out how to keep clocks on the Earth, Moon in sync.” by John Timmer. 2024.    “The Relativistic Framework to Estimate Clock Rates on the Moon.” by Neil Ash...

Today, you’ll learn about a record-breaking deep drill into the Earth’s mantle, the new science behind the ancient Chinese diagnostic practice of tongue examination, and how a new discovery at Stonehenge is opening up yet more mysteries.     Mantle Drill    “Geologists drill 1.2 km into rare rocks from Earth’s mantle.” by Michael Irving. 2024.    “Internal Struct...

Today, you’ll learn about a new groundbreaking bionic leg, the problem with first impressions, and new tech that can detect microplastics in water in milliseconds.     Bionic Leg     “Bionic leg makes walking quicker and easier for amputees, trial shows.” by Hannah Devlin. 2024.    “5.6 Million++ Americans are Living with Limb Loss and Limb Difference: New S...

Today, you’ll learn about the smart soil that gives plants a massive boost even when they’re watered less, how our love of certain odors could be more nurture than nature, and a moss that could one day fill greenhouses on Mars.    Smart Soil     “‘Smart soil’ grows 138% bigger crops using 40% less water.” by Michael Irving. 2024.    “Climate Change Indicators: Dr...

Today, you’ll learn about the first ever total larynx transplant that gave one cancer patient his voice back, a new way to conduct gold-standard sleep studies without all the wires, and how a new discovery is changing the way scientists understand the mammalian brain.     Larynx Transplant    “Mayo Clinic marks medical milestone with world’s first known successful total la...

Today, you’ll learn about the so-called super synchronizers who are super attractive to potential partners, a new quantum compass that could one day replace GPS, and how a rare seabird rides out tropical cyclones.     Super Synchronizers      “Scientists discover ‘Super Synchronizers’ with heightened romantic appeal.” by Eric W. Dolan. 2024.    “Social...

Today, you’ll learn about a new way for doctors to use neural networks - or AI - to figure out the risks of organ transplants in individual patients, a new fabric that is - literally - cool, and how serotonin affects fertility.     Rejection Prediction    “Decoding the hallmarks of allograft dysfunction with a comprehensive pan-organ transcriptomic atlas.” by Harry Roberts...

Today, you’ll learn about how an existing blood pressure drug might prevent epilepsy, the pint-sized 3D printer that can print inside your body, and why doing something kind for someone else can be a boost for your own well-being.      Epilepsy Preventer     “Epilepsy risk drops up to 30% on existing blood pressure drugs.” by Paul McClure. 2024.    “Typ...

Today, you’ll learn about the part of the brain that keeps us focused on our goals - even when it would be better to quit, a massive discovery of lost wheat genes that could help feed a crowded planet, and the new wearable technology that could diagnose disease by monitoring your sweat.     Sunk Cost Fallacy    “The neuroscience behind the sunk cost fallacy: Key brain...

Today, you’ll learn about the amazing transformative power of an out-of-body experience, how scientists want to use brain cells to do their computing, and a study that suggests eating cheese might make you live longer.     Out-Of-Body Experience     “Exploring the transformative potential of out-of-body experiences: A pathway to enhanced empathy.” by Marina Weiler, et...

Today, you’ll learn about how moms helped us evolve to live longer, the jumping leeches of Madagascar, and how cities affect bird diversity.     Maternal Bonds    “Mothers’ care is central factor in animal, human longevity.” by Caitlin Hayes. 2024.    “Why Humans Live So Long.” by Heather Pringle. 2013.    “Maternal care leads to the evolution of long,...

Today, you’ll learn about the effect of space on our kidneys, how a simple display of pride can win a fight, and bad news for artists we know bad things about.     Kidneys & Space      “Would astronauts’ kidneys survive a roundtrip to Mars?” UCL. 2024.    “Cosmic kidney disease: an integrated pan-omic, physiological and morphological study into spac...

Today, you’ll learn about a potential breakthrough in stroke detection, how AI could help put a lid on online hate speech and create safer spaces, and the delicious development of healthier chocolate.     Stroke Blood Test     “Researchers develop ‘game-changing’ blood test for stroke detection.” EurekAlert! 2024.    “Large Vessel Occlusion in Acute Stroke.”...

Today, you’ll learn about AI that can detect wildfires from space, why going to bed late might not be so great on your mental health, and a breakthrough in recycling.     Space Firefighting    “Fighting fires from space in record time: how AI could prevent a repeat of Australia’s devastating wildfires.” University of Southern Australia. 2024 .   “Fire detection f...

Today, you’ll learn about how a simple walk through nature could make you want to eat healthier foods, a new finding that T.rexes might not have been as cognitively advanced as we thought, and the sheath that keeps sawfish from doing battle in the womb.     Nature & Healthy Food      “Experiencing nature seems to have an important impact on food choices.” by...

Today, you’ll learn about a new method to cryopreserve parts of the brain for later use, the personality changes that happen after organ transplants, and how fungicides cause dangerous fungi to self-destruct.    Cryopreservation    “Effective cryopreservation of human brain tissue and neural organoids.” by Weiwei Xue, et al. 2024.    “Brain organoids: Establishment an...

Today, you’ll learn about why giving babies foods with peanuts could crack the peanut allergy problem, a wild discovery of cancer treatment 4,000 years ago, and the sneaky way cuckoos evolve to look like other birds so they can live in their nests.     Peanut Allergy     “Giving young children peanut products cuts allergy risk, study finds.” by Ian Sample. 2024. &nbsp...

Today, you’ll learn about the lifelong learning of chimps, a mysterious strange signal from space, and the possible treatment for depression that involves heating up the body.     Chimp Tools      “Chimps are lifelong learners, study on tool use shows.” by Charles Mpaka. 2024.    “Protracted development of stick tool use skills extends into adulthood in...