Curiosity Weekly

Learn about how scientists measure the contagiousness and deadliness of diseases like coronavirus; the history of acedia, an emotion that is similar to (but distinct from) depression; and why it helps to do a “potty dance” when you really have to go to the bathroom.Measuring the Deadliness of Viruses (Like Coronavirus) by Ashley HamerMcCandless, D. (2018, October). The MicrobeScope – Infectious Diseases in Context — Information is Beautiful. https://informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/the-microbescope-infectious-diseases-in-context/Vanessa Bates Ramirez. (2014, October 28). What Is R0?: Gauging Contagious Infections. Healthline; Healthline Media. https://www.healthline.com/health/r-nought-reproduction-numberVogel, Gretchen (2014, September 8). How deadly is Ebola? Statistical challenges may be inflating survival rate. Science | AAAS. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2014/09/how-deadly-ebola-statistical-challenges-may-be-inflating-survival-rateHow Bad Will the Coronavirus Outbreak Get? Here Are 6 Key Factors. (2020, January 31). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/asia/china-coronavirus-contain.htmlDepression’s Cousin “Acedia” by Mae RiceYou Might Not Actually Be Struggling With Depression | HeartSupport https://blog.heartsupport.com/you-might-not-actually-be-struggling-with-depression-8ce57ab41f66Before Sloth Meant Laziness, It Was the Spiritual Sin of Acedia | Atlas Obscura https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/desert-fathers-sins-acedia-slothDo You Have Any of These 3 Signs of Acedia? | National Catholic Register http://www.ncregister.com/blog/dlittle/do-you-have-any-of-these-3-signs-of-acediaKathleen Norris battles ‘the demon of acedia’ | Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-ca-kathleen-norris21-2008sep21-story.htmlDepression And Acedia: The Mood And The Spirit | PsyWeb http://www.psyweb.com/articles/depression/depression-and-acedia-the-mood-and-the-spirit/A Need For Spiritual Connection | Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/spiritual-wisdom-secular-times/201608/need-spiritual-connectionWhy We Do the Potty Dance by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Stewart C.)Ashish. (2015, December 29). Why Do We “Dance” When We Really Need to Urinate? » Science ABC. https://www.scienceabc.com/humans/why-do-we-dance-when-we-really-need-to-urinate.htmlDisplacement activity | animal behaviour | Britannica. (2020). In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/displacement-activityFarricelli, A. (2013, May 3). Understanding Dog Displacement Behaviors. PetHelpful; PetHelpful. https://pethelpful.com/dogs/Understanding-Dog-Dispacement-BehaviorUConn Today. (2016, November 30). Mind Over Bladder: The Brain-Organ Connection. UConn Today. https://today.uconn.edu/2016/11/mind-bladder-research-explores-brain-organ-connectionAngle, S. (2016, April 21). Why Do You Have to Pee the Closer You Get to a Bathroom? Shape. https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/why-do-you-have-pee-closer-you-get-bathroomSubscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://curiosity.im/podcast-flash-briefing Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/measuring-the-deadliness-of-viruses-like-coronavirus-why-we-do-the-potty-dance-and-depressions-cousin-acedia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugo Fruehauf, one of the inventors of GPS and a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, tells the surprising story of how GPS was invented. Plus: learn about how planning cheat days could make your next goal easier to achieve.Planning Cheat Days to Achieve Your Goals by Mae RicePlanned "Cheat Days" Can Help You Achieve Your Goals, According To New Study | Bustle https://www.bustle.com/articles/155981-planned-cheat-days-can-help-you-achieve-your-goals-according-to-new-studyHow To Achieve Your New Year’s Resolutions, According To Psychology | Research Digest https://digest.bps.org.uk/2020/01/13/how-to-achieve-your-new-years-resolutions-according-to-psychology/How cheating can help you reach your goals | BBC https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20180216-yes-cheat-a-tiny-bit-on-those-goalsCoelho do Vale, R., Pieters, R. and Zeelenberg, M. (2016), The benefits of behaving badly on occasion: Successful regulation by planned hedonic deviations. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 26: 17-28. doi:10.1016/j.jcps.2015.05.001 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1016/j.jcps.2015.05.001Why 80 Percent of New Year's Resolutions Fail | U.S. News https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/2015-12-29/why-80-percent-of-new-years-resolutions-failAdditional resources from Hugo Fruehauf:The Global Positioning System. (2019). Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering. https://qeprize.org/winners/the-global-positioning-systemElizabeth, Q. (2020). The QEPrize Judges introduce GPS [YouTube Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CH_fmO-QO8&feature=youtu.beHugo Fruehauf. (2019). Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering. https://qeprize.org/winners/hugo-fruehaufCozzens, T. (2019, December 3). GPS pioneers honored with Queen’s award at Buckingham Palace - GPS World. GPS World. https://www.gpsworld.com/gps-pioneers-honored-with-queens-award-at-buckingham-palace/Hugo Fruehauf Official Website http://hugofruehauf.com/Space weather effects on Satellite Communications :: Space Weather Center. (2020). Rra.Go.Kr. https://spaceweather.rra.go.kr/effect/english/03_07Subscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://curiosity.im/podcast-flash-briefing Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/the-invention-of-gps-w-hugo-fruehauf-and-planning-cheat-days-to-achieve-your-goals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about why criminal profiling doesn’t seem to work in real life; planets with oceans of molten rock that basically eat the sky; and superhuman red blood cells that could be used to deliver life-saving drugs.Criminal Profiling Probably Doesn’t Work by Kelsey DonkMacMillan, T. (2017, October 20). Can Criminal Profilers Really Get Inside the Head of a Killer? Vulture; Vulture. https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/mindhunter-criminal-profiling-really-work-like-this.htmlMatthews, D. (2018, November 12). Criminal Minds, Mindhunter: criminal profiling doesn’t work. Vox; Vox. https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2018/11/12/18044688/criminal-profilers-mindhunter-hannibal-criminal-mindsGladwell, M. (2007, November 4). Dangerous Minds. The New Yorker; The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/11/12/dangerous-mindsSnook, B., Cullen, R. M., Bennell, C., Taylor, P. J., & Gendreau, P. (2008). The Criminal Profiling Illusion. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 35(10), 1257–1276. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854808321528Snook, B., Eastwood, J., Gendreau, P., Goggin, C., & Cullen, R. M. (2007). Taking Stock of Criminal Profiling. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34(4), 437–453. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854806296925Some Exoplanets’ Magma Oceans Eat Their Skies by Grant CurrinMission overview. (2011). NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/overview/index.htmlLerner-Chicago, L. (2019, December 27). Exoplanets with magma oceans may “eat” their own skies - Futurity. Futurity. https://www.futurity.org/exoplanets-magma-oceans-2241842/Kite, E. S., Bruce Fegley Jr., Schaefer, L., & Ford, E. B. (2019). Superabundance of Exoplanet Sub-Neptunes Explained by Fugacity Crisis. The Astrophysical Journal, 887(2), L33. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ab59d9 / https://arxiv.org/pdf/1912.02701.pdfSuperhuman Red Blood Cells for Drug Delivery by Cameron DukeSpecial delivery: McMaster physicists design ‘super-human’ red blood cells to deliver drugs to specific targets within the body. (2020). Mcmaster.Ca. https://brighterworld.mcmaster.ca/articles/special-delivery-mcmaster-physicists-design-super-human-red-blood-cells-to-deliver-drugs-to-specific-targets-within-the-body/Himbert, S., Blacker, M. J., Kihm, A., Pauli, Q., Khondker, A., Yang, K., Sinjari, S., Johnson, M., Juhasz, J., Wagner, C., Stöver, H. D. H., & Rheinstädter, M. C. (2020). Hybrid Erythrocyte Liposomes: Functionalized Red Blood Cell Membranes for Molecule Encapsulation. Advanced Biosystems, 1900185. https://doi.org/10.1002/adbi.201900185Subscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://curiosity.im/podcast-flash-briefing Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/criminal-profiling-doesnt-work-exoplanets-magma-oceans-eat-their-skies-and-superhuman-red-blood-cells-for-drug-delivery Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about the 13 categories of emotions that music makes you feel; how scientists solved the mystery of two strangely small tyrannosaurus rex fossils; and surprising things that happen to a pregnant person’s body.Research Suggests That Music Evokes 13 Key Emotions by Kelsey DonkAnwar, Y. (2020, January 6). Ooh là là! Music evokes at least 13 emotions. Scientists have mapped them. Berkeley News. https://news.berkeley.edu/2020/01/06/music-evokes-13-emotions/Noonan, D. (2020, January 6). Is a Sad Song Sad for Everyone? Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-a-sad-song-sad-for-everyone/Cowen, A. S., Fang, X., Sauter, D., & Keltner, D. (2020). What music makes us feel: At least 13 dimensions organize subjective experiences associated with music across different cultures. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(4), 1924–1934. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1910704117Two Tiny T-Rexes Turned Out to Be Teenagers by Mae RiceSecrets behind T. rex’s bone crushing bites: T. rex could crush with 8,000 pound bite forces. (2017). ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170517090520.htmResearchers learn more about teen-age T.Rex. (2020). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/osuc-rlm122019.phpWoodward, H. N., Tremaine, K., Williams, S. A., Zanno, L. E., Horner, J. R., & Myhrvold, N. (2020). Growing up Tyrannosaurus rex: Osteohistology refutes the pygmy “Nanotyrannus” and supports ontogenetic niche partitioning in juvenile Tyrannosaurus. Science Advances, 6(1), eaax6250. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aax6250Surprising Things Pregnancy Does to the Body by Kelsey DonkNierenberg, C. (2015, May 19). Body Changes During Pregnancy. Livescience.Com; Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/50877-regnancy-body-changes.htmlCatriona Harvey-Jenner. (2017, April 12). 10 weird things you didn’t realise happen to your body during pregnancy. Cosmopolitan; Cosmopolitan. https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/body/health/a9266776/weird-things-happen-to-body-during-pregnancy/Cari Wira Dineen. (2016, May 4). Crazy Ways Your Body Changes During Pregnancy. Parents; Parents. https://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/changing/crazy-ways-your-body-changes-during-pregnancy/Subscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://curiosity.im/podcast-flash-briefing Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/the-13-emotions-music-evokes-surprising-things-pregnancy-does-to-the-body-and-solving-the-tiny-t-rex-mystery Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about why your next relationship will probably be like your last one; what scientists learned by studying the oldest material on Earth; and what researchers learned when they had cuttlefish wear 3-D glasses.Why Your Next Relationship Will Probably Be Like Your Last by Kelsey DonkChanging partners doesn’t change relationship dynamics, study shows. (2019). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/uoa-cpd082719.phpJohnson, M. D., & Neyer, F. J. (2019). (Eventual) stability and change across partnerships. Journal of Family Psychology, 33(6), 711–721. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000523Scientist Discovered the Oldest Material on Earth by Grant CurrinWMAP- Life and Death of Stars. (2010). Nasa.Gov. https://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/universe/rel_stars.htmlMeteorite contains the oldest material on Earth: 7-billion-year-old stardust. (2020). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/fm-mct010820.phpThis ancient stardust is the oldest ever to be examined in a lab. (2020, January 13). Science News. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ancient-meteorite-stardust-oldest-ever-examined-lab7 billion-year-old stardust is the oldest stuff on Earth. (2020, January 13). The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2020/01/13/seven-billion-year-old-stardust-is-oldest-stuff-earth/Heck, P. R., Greer, J., Kööp, L., Trappitsch, R., Gyngard, F., Busemann, H., Maden, C., Ávila, J. N., Davis, A. M., & Wieler, R. (2020). Lifetimes of interstellar dust from cosmic ray exposure ages of presolar silicon carbide. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(4), 1884–1889. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1904573117Why Scientists Put Cuttlefish in 3-D Glasses by Grant CurrinYes, This Cuttlefish Is Wearing 3-D Glasses. (2020, January 8). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/08/science/3d-glasses-cuttlefish.htmlCuttlefish use depth perception similar to vertebrate vision when hunting prey. (2020). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/aaft-cud010620.phpFollow Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. Plus: check out Ashley's other podcast, Taboo Science — the podcast that answers the questions you're not allowed to ask — at https://www.tabooscience.show/ Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/your-romantic-relationships-are-all-similar-why-cuttlefish-wore-3-d-glasses-and-the-oldest-material-on-earth Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about why deadhead logs so rare and valuable, people actually risk their lives looking for them, from author and TV host Kevin O’Connor. Then, we’ll answer a listener question about why you feel tired after you take a long trip.Additional resources from This Old House host Kevin O’Connor:From This Old House, Clearstory is a podcast that sheds light on the surprising stories behind our homes — https://www.thisoldhouse.com/clearstoryMore about This Old House — https://www.thisoldhouse.com/Follow @KevinOConnorTOH on Twitter — https://twitter.com/KevinOConnorTOHFollow @ThisOldHouse on Twitter — https://twitter.com/ThisOldHouseThis Old House on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouseWhy Traveling Makes You Tired by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Samuel in London)University of Tsukuba. "Why do we fall asleep when bored?." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 29 September 2017. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170929093400.htmSnooze mobiles: how vibrations in cars make drivers sleepy | RMIT University https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2018/jul/vibrations-cars-drivers-sleepyLawrence E. Armstrong, Matthew S. Ganio, Douglas J. Casa, Elaine C. Lee, Brendon P. McDermott, Jennifer F. Klau, Liliana Jimenez, Laurent Le Bellego, Emmanuel Chevillotte, Harris R. Lieberman, Mild Dehydration Affects Mood in Healthy Young Women, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 142, Issue 2, February 2012, Pages 382–388, https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.111.142000Subscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://curiosity.im/podcast-flash-briefing Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/why-deadhead-logs-are-so-rare-and-valuable-w-kevin-oconnor-and-why-traveling-makes-you-tired Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about common mistakes people make in the shower. Then, learn about the history and science of the two-by-four from author Kevin O’Connor, host of the home renovation television series This Old House.5 Common Mistakes People Make In The Shower by Anna Toddhttp://www.curiosity.com/topics/5-common-mistakes-people-make-in-the-shower-curiosityAdditional resources from This Old House host Kevin O’Connor:From This Old House, Clearstory is a podcast that sheds light on the surprising stories behind our homes — https://www.thisoldhouse.com/clearstoryMore about This Old House — https://www.thisoldhouse.com/Follow @KevinOConnorTOH on Twitter — https://twitter.com/KevinOConnorTOHFollow @ThisOldHouse on Twitter — https://twitter.com/ThisOldHouseThis Old House on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouseSubscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://curiosity.im/podcast-flash-briefing Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/the-invention-of-the-two-by-four-w-kevin-oconnor-and-common-mistakes-you-make-in-the-shower Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about why an overheard phone conversation is so distracting; how big or small a black hole can get; and why you should definitely tell your anesthesiologist if you smoke marijuana.Why an Overheard Phone Conversation Is so Incredibly Distracting by Anna Toddhttps://curiosity.com/topics/why-an-overheard-phone-conversation-is-so-incredibly-distracting-curiosityHow Big (or Small) Can a Black Hole Get? by Matthew Francishttps://curiosity.com/topics/how-big-or-small-can-a-black-hole-get-curiosityWhy You Should Definitely Tell Your Anesthesiologist If You Smoke Marijuana by Ashley Hamerhttps://curiosity.com/topics/why-you-should-definitely-tell-your-anesthesiologist-if-you-smoke-marijuana-curiositySubscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://curiosity.im/podcast-flash-briefing Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/why-overheard-phone-conversations-are-so-distracting-how-big-black-holes-get-and-why-anesthesia-is-risky-on-marijuana Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about why we actually learn better from success than failure; why ravens are so smart, they’re making us re-think the way brains work; and why reaching a temperature of absolute zero is absolutely impossible.You Learn Better from Success than Failure by Kelsey DonkDo We Really Learn From Our Mistakes? | Association for Psychological Science — https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/minds-business/do-we-really-learn-from-our-mistakes.htmlEskreis-Winkler, L., & Fishbach, A. (2019). Not Learning From Failure—the Greatest Failure of All. Psychological Science, 30(12), 1733–1744. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797619881133Ravens Can Plan Ahead Just As Well As Apes Can by Ashley Hamerhttps://curiosity.com/topics/ravens-can-plan-ahead-just-as-well-as-apes-can-curiosityIt's Finally Settled: Absolute Zero Is Impossible by Joanie Falettohttps://curiosity.com/topics/its-finally-settled-absolute-zero-is-impossible-curiositySubscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://curiosity.im/podcast-flash-briefing Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/you-learn-better-from-success-than-failure-ravens-plan-ahead-and-absolute-zero-is-impossible Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about a trick for conquering sadness by thinking of it as a person; how Neanderthals may have releived their pain with a familiar drug; and the surprising science of how cows each use a unique “voice” to talk to each other.Think of Sadness as a Person by Kelsey DonkHow can you conquer ordinary, everyday sadness? Think of it as a person | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/dec/08/how-can-you-conquer-ordinary-everyday-sadness-think-of-it-as-a-personChen, F., Chen, R.P. and Yang, L. (2020), When Sadness Comes Alive, Will It Be Less Painful? The Effects of Anthropomorphic Thinking on Sadness Regulation and Consumption. J Consum Psychol. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jcpy.1137Neanderthals Treated Pain With A Form Of Aspirin by Ashley Hamer https://curiosity.com/topics/neanderthals-treated-pain-with-a-form-of-aspirin-curiosityCow Voices by Kelsey DonkStand out from the herd: How cows commoonicate through their lives | EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/uos-sof121719.phpGreen, A., Clark, C., Favaro, L. et al. Vocal individuality of Holstein-Friesian cattle is maintained across putatively positive and negative farming contexts. Sci Rep 9, 18468 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-54968-4Subscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://curiosity.im/podcast-flash-briefing Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/think-of-sadness-as-a-person-neanderthals-using-aspirin-and-cow-voices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.