Curiosity Weekly
Discovery
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 most exciting scientific breakthroughs affecting our world today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 26, 2024 • 12min
Sleep Spray, Insecticide Paint, UK Redwoods
Learn about a nasal spray for sleep apnea, insecticide paint to kill mosquitos, and the surprising presence of giant redwoods in the UK. Dive into the potential of a new nasal spray treatment, the effectiveness of insecticide paint, and the history of 500,000 redwoods in British forests.
Apr 25, 2024 • 13min
Palm-Less Oil, Polyglot Brain, Ayahuasca & Fear
Learn about lab-created palm oil, polyglots' brain response, and ayahuasca's fear-extinguishing effects in this intriguing podcast episode.
Apr 24, 2024 • 13min
Extinction Risk, Living Fossils, Asteroid vs Birds
Topics include extinction risk due to climate change, slowly evolving living fossils, and a new theory on how the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs affected bird evolution. The discussion sheds light on vulnerable species, genetic insights from living fossils, and the impact of mass extinctions on bird evolution.
Apr 19, 2024 • 11min
Twin Trauma, Bee Mystery, Sequence Bias
Discover the impact of childhood trauma on adult mental health outcomes through a study on twins. Uncover a 60-year-old mystery about bees solved by scientists. Learn about the negative bias in describing individuals based on the sequence of meeting them.
Apr 18, 2024 • 13min
Brewer’s Yeast, Constructed Languages, Memory Direction
Learn about using Brewer's Yeast to recycle metals from electronic waste, how constructed languages like Klingon affect perception, and how brain waves travel in different directions during memory formation and recall.
Apr 17, 2024 • 10min
Frostbite Treatment, Blood in Space, Small Classes
Explore a new drug for frostbite treatment, the challenges of studying blood in space, and a study questioning the benefits of small class sizes. Discover how Isoprast improves blood flow and prevents nerve damage, the complexities of bloodstain pattern analysis in microgravity, and the surprising findings on academic resilience in smaller classes.
Apr 12, 2024 • 12min
Printed Skin, Mammoth De-Extinction, Learning Happiness
Topics discussed include printed skin for scar-free surgeries, potential resurrection of woolly mammoth using stem cells, and the science of learning happiness through courses and practices
Apr 11, 2024 • 11min
Glacier Curtain, Good Vibrations, PFAS Water Detox
Scientists propose using a massive curtain around the Thwaites Glacier to prevent catastrophic sea level rise. Positive vibrations may help with social anxiety. New tech using electrocatalysis can remove harmful PFAS chemicals from water.
Apr 10, 2024 • 11min
Chernobyl Worms, Barnacle Proteins, Foot-Eye Coordination
Discover the radiation-proof worms of Chernobyl shedding light on cancer research. Learn how barnacle proteins can protect metals from corrosion in salt water. Dive into the fascinating topic of foot-eye coordination and how our vision syncs with our walking rhythm.
Apr 5, 2024 • 12min
Eclipse 2024, Boiling Microplastics, Self-Control
Discover the upcoming solar eclipse magic, a method to reduce microplastics in drinking water by boiling, and the link between self-control and power perception. Tune in for fascinating insights!
