Curiosity Weekly

Learn about what children’s drawings over the years can tell us about society’s views on gender. Plus: Dr. Anthony St. Leger explains why researchers are beginning to study the eye microbiome. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following story from Curiosity.com about how the way children draw men and women has changed in the last 50 years: https://curiosity.im/31G6SXy Additi...

Learn about a research-backed way to make dad jokes funnier with canned laughter; how animals use principles of economics in the wild; and how quickly an AI taught itself to solve a Rubik’s cube. Please support our sponsors! Visit capterra.com/curiosity to find the best software solution for your business — for free! In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from C...

Learn about what you can do to remember more of your dreams. You’ll also learn about the difference between internet language and regular language, in the first edition of our “Hashtag Tuesdays” mini-series with internet linguist Gretchen McCulloch. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following story from Curiosity.com about how you can remember more of your dreams: https://cu...

Learn about whether bee venom therapy is safe; how people cleaned their teeth throughout history; and how you can use the Fogg Method to change your bad habits. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: Bee Venom Therapy Is a Real Thing — But Is It Safe? — https://curiosity.im...

Learn the scientific reason why it’s so hard to quietly unwrap candy; the FORD method for keeping conversations flowing; and, how the nutrients in food are calculated. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: Why It's so Hard to Quietly Unwrap Candy in a Theater — https://cur...

Learn about how we might get rid of mosquitoes in the future, with author Tim Winegard; why the Sargasso Sea has no coastline; and, the story of how Russian surgeon Leonid Rogozov removed his own appendix. Please support our sponsors! Get two months of unlimited access to over 25,000 classes on Skillshare — for free. To sign up, go to skillshare.com/curiosity In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley...

Learn about how scientists stimulated mouse neurons to make them see things that weren’t there; and, why mosquitoes are so dangerous and how they’ve shaped human history, with Dr. Timothy Winegard. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following story from Curiosity.com about how scientists stimulated mouse neurons to make them see things that weren’t there: https://curiosity.im...

Learn about why the Big Five personality traits may not be reliable in developing countries; why Brazil's Ilha da Queimada Grande island is full of outrageously venomous snakes; and why wounds in your mouth heal so quickly. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: The Big Fiv...

Learn about why the sun and moon don’t have names; why kitchen sponges are grosser than you think (and what to do about it); and how you can improve your self-control with the right feelings of guilt. Please support today’s sponsor, Skura! Visit https://skurastyle.com to get sponges delivered right to your door, and enter promo code CURIOSITY to get your first month FREE! In this podcast, Cody Gou...

Learn about why bystanders help would-be victims more often than we thought; how you should think about past failures to avoid future failures; and how crows passed an ancient test from Aesop’s Fables. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: A New Surveillance Footage Study...

Learn about the complicated history of the NATO phonetic alphabet; why we eat three meals a day; and how you can use a technique called Functional Imagery Training to achieve your goals faster. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: The Complicated History of the Alfa, Brav...

Learn about how octopus arms literally have minds of their own; and, the benefits of having plants and how to get started, with environmental scientist and author Summer Rayne Oakes. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following story from Curiosity.com about how octopus arms have minds of their own: https://curiosity.im/31ijdB4 Read more about the benefits of “forest bathing”...

Learn about flyting, the Medieval version of rap battles; the chemistry behind what causes yellow pit stains, and how to prevent them; and why it takes so long to board an airplane. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: Flyting Was the Medieval Version of a Rap Battle — ht...

Learn about how a struck match creates fire; why "the island rule" makes some animals huge and other animals tiny; and how you can melt glass at home, with some help from Netflix reality glassblowing competition “Blown Away” host Nick Uhas. Please support today’s sponsor, Skura! Visit https://skurastyle.com to get sponges delivered right to your door, and enter promo code CURIOSITY to get your fir...

Learn about the true history of penicillin; why wireless charging may be bad for your battery; and why the “alpha dog” is a canine myth. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: In the Story of Penicillin, Alexander Fleming Was a Minor Character — https://curiosity.im/2SD8bmX...

Learn about how scientists found a way to transfer data through music. Then, learn about the world of possibilities for cell-sized robots, in the final edition of our Microscale Mondays mini-series with Cornell physicists Itai Cohen and Paul McEuen. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following story from Curiosity.com about how scientists found a way to transfer data through...

Learn about a cockatoo that proves humans aren’t the only animals who can dance; mental models like Hanlon’s razor for reducing anxiety and getting along better with others, with some help from authors Gabriel Weinberg and Lauren McCann; and, what would happen if the world went vegan. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following story from Curiosity.com about a cockatoo that...

Learn about bioprinting from Zach Weinersmith, creator of “Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal.” You’ll also learn about Derinkuyu, an ancient underground city; and, Dr. Neubronner’s miniature pigeon camera that predated drone photography. Please support today’s sponsor, Skura! Visit https://skurastyle.com to get sponges delivered right to your door, and enter promo code CURIOSITY to get your first...

Learn about new research that shows why you might enjoy watching TV more if you put your phone away. Then, learn about space elevators with Zach Weinersmith, creator of the popular geek webcomic “Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal.” In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following story from Curiosity.com about why you should get off your phone while you watch TV: https://curiosit...

Learn about the truth behind harmful myths about sharks to help you celebrate Shark Week; the surprising purpose of the spiral on airplane engines; and how you can supercharge your relationships with research that shows you really do have a “type.” Please support this episode’s sponsor! Get your first month of KiwiCo FREE by visiting https://www.kiwico.com/curiosity In this podcast, Cody Gough and...

Learn about how the overview effect changes your perspective when you leave Earth; why the Calder Mercury Fountain in Barcelona pumps out pure liquid mercury; and, how researchers came up with a set of core beliefs that measure how you feel about the world. Please support our sponsors! Visit capterra.com/curiosity to find the best software solution for your business — for free! In this podcast, Co...

Learn from Cornell University physicists Paul McEuen and Itai Cohen how cell-sized robots actually communicate with each other and move around. You’ll also learn about the “uncanny valley” and how scientists figured out what part of your brain gets creeped out by human-like robots. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following story from Curiosity.com about how scientists pinp...

Learn about ploonets, which are moons that leave their planets; the unbelievable true story of D.D. Palmer, the first chiropractor; and, why humans kiss. In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes: Moons That Leave Their Planets Are Called Ploonets — https://curiosity.im/30CoK5f...

Learn about how you’ve probably eaten glass, with Netflix’s “Blown Away” host Nick Uhas . You’ll also learn about how to tap into a positive kind of stress called eustress; and, how your unique screams can identify you. Please support today’s sponsor, ButcherBox! To get FREE bacon in EVERY box for the life of your subscription, PLUS $20 off your first box, visit https://www.butcherbox.com/curiosit...

Learn about the truth behind Rosalind Franklin’s contributions to science; a mental model called “forcing functions” you can use to be more thoughtful and produce better results; and, whether dogs can smell fear. Please support today’s sponsor, Skura! Visit https://skurastyle.com to get sponges delivered right to your door, and enter promo code CURIOSITY to get your first month FREE! In this podca...