Curiosity Weekly

Learn about the earliest use of infinity we’ve found; and vampire-like sea slugs that absorb other organisms’ attributes.The earliest mathematical use of infinity was found in a reused prayer book by Briana BrownellReviel Netz. (2021). The Diagrams as Floating Bodies by Reviel Netz of Stanford University. Archimedespalimpsest.org. http://archimedespalimpsest.org/about/scholarship/method-infinity.phpNOVA | Infinite Secrets | Working with Infinity | PBS. (2021). Pbs.org. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/archimedes/infinity.htmlLloyd, R. (2009, February 17). Idea of Infinity Stretched Back to Third Century B.C. Livescience.com; Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/3336-idea-infinity-stretched-century.htmlThe Archimedes Palimpsest Project. (2021). About the Archimedes Palimpsest. Archimedespalimpsest.org. http://archimedespalimpsest.org/about/Some species of nudibranchs can absorb other organisms' attributes like vampires by Grant CurrinJonny Thomson. (2021, July 9). Nudibranchs: psychedelic body snatchers of the deep. Big Think; Big Think. https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/nudibranchs-strange-body-snatchers-oceanGoodheart, J. (2018, May 9). How Sea Slugs Steal the Defenses of Their Prey. Si.edu. https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/how-sea-slugs-steal-defenses-their-preyNudibranchs: psychedelic thieves of the sea. (2017). Nhm.ac.uk. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/nudibranchs-psychedelic-thieves-of-the-sea.htmlNudibranchs (2016). National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/nudibranchs-1?loggedin=trueFollow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/infinity-in-a-used-prayer-book-and-vampire-like-sea-slugs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about a key trait in group leaders; why DNA evidence is overrated; and a brainless slime mold that can “think.”The "babble hypothesis" of leadership says people who talk more are seen as leaders by Steffie DruckerDolan, E. W. (2021, July 17). New study finds people who speak more are more likely to be viewed as leaders. PsyPost; PsyPost. https://www.psypost.org/2021/07/new-study-finds-people-who-speak-more-are-more-likely-to-be-viewed-as-leaders-61540MacLaren, N. G., Yammarino, F. J., Dionne, S. D., Sayama, H., Mumford, M. D., Connelly, S., Martin, R. W., Mulhearn, T. J., Todd, E. M., Kulkarni, A., Cao, Y., & Ruark, G. A. (2020). Testing the babble hypothesis: Speaking time predicts leader emergence in small groups. The Leadership Quarterly, 31(5), 101409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2020.101409Contrary To Popular Belief, DNA Evidence Is Far From Perfect by Ashley HamerShermer, M. (2015). Forensic Pseudoscience. Scientific American, 313(3), 95–95. https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican0915-95Shaer, M. (2016, May 17). The Atlantic. The Atlantic; theatlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/06/a-reasonable-doubt/480747/Dolan, M. (2019, January 29). The danger of DNA: It isn’t perfect. Chicagotribune.com; Chicago Tribune. https://www.chicagotribune.com/la-me-dna26-2008dec26-story.htmlThere's a brainless slime mold that can do things often associated with thinking by Cameron DukeGreenberg, A. (2020, September 21). Eight smart things slime molds can do without a brain. Pbs.org; Nova. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/slime-mold-smart-brainless-cognition/Murugan, N. J., Kaltman, D. H., Jin, P. H., Chien, M., Martinez, R., Nguyen, C. Q., Kane, A., Novak, R., Ingber, D. E., & Levin, M. (2021). Mechanosensation Mediates Long‐Range Spatial Decision‐Making in an Aneural Organism. Advanced Materials, 2008161. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202008161Thinking without a brain. (2021, July 15). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/762793Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/talkers-are-leaders-dna-evidence-myth-thinking-sans-brain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn how COVID tests work; how math can help you with major life decisions; and how some dogs have natural talent.How COVID PCR tests work by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Lydia)Tiner, S. (2020, March 27). The Science Behind the Test for the COVID-19 VirusDiscovery’s Edge. Https://Discoverysedge.mayo.edu/. https://discoverysedge.mayo.edu/2020/03/27/the-science-behind-the-test-for-the-covid-19-virus/Amoeba Sisters. (2020). PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5jmdh9AnS4PCR: Thirty-five years and counting. (2018, May 10). PCR: Thirty-five years and counting. Science | AAAS. https://www.sciencemag.org/features/2018/05/pcr-thirty-five-years-and-countingAsk A Scientist Staff. (2020, October 23). Why qPCR is the gold standard for COVID-19 testing. Ask a Scientist; Thermo Fisher Scientific. https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/ask-a-scientist/why-qpcr-is-the-gold-standard-for-covid-19-testing/Additional resources from David Sumpter:Pick up "The Ten Equations that Rule the World and How You Can Use Them Too" https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250246967Faculty page: https://katalog.uu.se/profile/?id=N7-525Twitter: https://twitter.com/soccermatics?lang=enDogs have talent, yes they do by Steffie DruckerNot only humans got talent, dogs got it too! (2021, July 7). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/553737Fugazza, C., Dror, S., Sommese, A., Temesi, A., & Miklósi, Á. (2021). Word learning dogs (Canis familiaris) provide an animal model for studying exceptional performance. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93581-2Genius Dog Challenge. (2021). Exceptional DOGS & what they can TEACH us [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF6ZpjdH2ScFollow Christina Hunger, Speech Pathologist, on Instagram @Hunger4Words https://www.instagram.com/hunger4words/?hl=enFollow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/how-covid-tests-work-making-decisions-with-math-dog-talent Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn how to turn the table on addictive apps; and how black holes can make us see multiple versions of the same thing.Additional resources from David Sumpter:Pick up "The Ten Equations that Rule the World and How You Can Use Them Too" https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250246967Faculty page: https://katalog.uu.se/profile/?id=N7-525Twitter: https://twitter.com/soccermatics?lang=enNew mathematical model shows why black holes can make us see multiple versions of the same thing by Briana BrownellDanish Student solves how the Universe is reflected near black holes. (2021, July 26). Nbi.ku.dk; University of Copenhagen. https://nbi.ku.dk/english/news/news21/danish-student-solves-how-the-universe-is-reflected-near-black-holes/Snepppen, A. (2021). Divergent reflections around the photon sphere of a black hole. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93595-wFollow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/turning-the-table-on-addictive-apps-black-hole-reflections Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn how often people misremember alibis; new lessons from Denisova Cave; and how to remove pesticides from produce.People often misremember where they were on a given date, which puts criminal alibis into question by Cameron DukeFaulty memories of our past whereabouts: The fallacy of an airtight alibi. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-07/afps-fmo070721.phpLaliberte, E., Yim, H., Stone, B., & Dennis, S. J. (2021). The Fallacy of an Airtight Alibi: Understanding Human Memory for “Where” Using Experience Sampling. Psychological Science, 32(6), 944–951. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797620980752Young, E. (2021, June 7). It’s Surprisingly Common To Misremember Where You Were On A Specific Time And Date. Research Digest. https://digest.bps.org.uk/2021/06/07/its-surprisingly-common-to-misremember-where-you-were-on-a-specific-time-and-date/Huge analysis of sediment DNA tells a deeper story of Denisova Cave by Cameron DukePleistocene sediment DNA from Denisova Cave: Sediment DNA tracks 300,000 years of hominin and animal presence at Denisova Cave. (2021). ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/06/210623113857.htmZavala, E. I., Jacobs, Z., Vernot, B., Shunkov, M. V., Kozlikin, M. B., Derevianko, A. P., Essel, E., de Fillipo, C., Nagel, S., Richter, J., Romagné, F., Schmidt, A., Li, B., O’Gorman, K., Slon, V., Kelso, J., Pääbo, S., Roberts, R. G., & Meyer, M. (2021). Pleistocene sediment DNA reveals hominin and faunal turnovers at Denisova Cave. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03675-0The Best Ways to Remove Pesticides From Produce was originally published June 29, 2018: https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/how-to-remove-pesticides-from-produce-the-misattriFollow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/alibi-memory-denisova-cave-history-cleaning-fruit-veggies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about the time pirates stopped the US from switching to the metric system; and new learnings about Mars’ interior.The US once tried switching to the metric system, but got stopped by pirates by Steffie DruckerHow Pirates Of The Caribbean Hijacked America’s Metric System. (2017, December 28). NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/12/28/574044232/how-pirates-of-the-caribbean-hijacked-americas-metric-systemKaplan, S. (2017). Pirates Are to Blame For Why The US Doesn’t Use The Metric System. ScienceAlert. https://www.sciencealert.com/pirates-are-to-blame-for-why-the-us-doesn-t-use-the-metric-systemEsser, M. (2017, September 19). Pirates of the Caribbean (Metric Edition). NIST. https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/pirates-caribbean-metric-editionMaterese, R. (2016, December 23). Busting Myths about the Metric System. NIST. https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/busting-myths-about-metric-systemWe just learned a ton about the interior of Mars by Briana BrownellThe anatomy of a planet. (2021, July 22). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/612165Hays, B. (2021, July 23). Insight data offers clues to Mars’ deep interior, formation in solar system. UPI; UPI. https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2021/07/23/marsquakes-insight-lander/9331627055442/NASA’s InSight Reveals the Deep Interior of Mars. (2021, July 22). Nasa.gov. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-insight-reveals-the-deep-interior-of-mars“Felt” Earthquakes = Ones That People Feel. (2018). Usgs.gov. https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/felt-earthquakesFollow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/pirates-plundered-the-metric-system-what-marsquakes-teach-us Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about evolutionary compromises; the fractals of Romanesco cauliflower; and dolphins that learn each other’s names.Conflict traits: when evolution and mating conflict with each other by Cameron DukeExperiments show natural selection opposes sexual selection. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/uoe-esn060721.phpMulder, M. B., & Rauch, K. L. (2009). Sexual conflict in humans: Variations and solutions. Evolutionary Anthropology: Issues, News, and Reviews, 18(5), 201–214. https://doi.org/10.1002/evan.20226Okada, K., Katsuki, M., Sharma, M. D., Kiyose, K., Seko, T., Okada, Y., Wilson, A. J., & Hosken, D. J. (2021). Natural selection increases female fitness by reversing the exaggeration of a male sexually selected trait. Nature Communications, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23804-7Here's why Romanesco cauliflower grows in a fractal pattern by Briana BrownellOuellette, J. (2021, July 8). What fractals, Fibonacci, and the golden ratio have to do with cauliflower. Ars Technica; Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/07/what-fractals-fibonacci-and-the-golden-ratio-have-to-do-with-cauliflower/Azpeitia, E., Tichtinsky, G., Le Masson, M., Serrano-Mislata, A., Lucas, J., Gregis, V., Gimenez, C., Prunet, N., Farcot, E., Kater, M. M., Bradley, D., Madueño, F., Godin, C., & Parcy, F. (2021). Cauliflower fractal forms arise from perturbations of floral gene networks. Science, 373(6551), 192–197. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abg5999Dolphins can learn each other's names by Grant CurrinMorell, V. (2021, April 22). Dolphins learn the “names” of their friends to form teams—a first in animal kingdom. Science | AAAS. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/04/dolphins-learn-names-their-friends-form-teams-first-animal-kingdomKing, S. L., Connor, R. C., Krützen, M., & Allen, S. J. (2021). Cooperation-based concept formation in male bottlenose dolphins. Nature Communications, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22668-1Shyr, L. (2021, May 5). Dolphins Help Those Who’ve Helped Them Before, Even When They’re Not Friends. Atlas Obscura; Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/dolphins-work-in-teamsFollow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/romanesco-fractals-dolphin-names-evolution-vs-mating Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about a microwave to revive hamsters; whether humans are still evolving; and why art is more moving in a museum.One of the earliest microwaves wasn’t for food… it was for reanimating frozen hamsters. by Cameron DukeAndjus, R. K., & Lovelock, J. E. (1955). Reanimation of rats from body temperatures between 0 and 1° C by microwave diathermy. The Journal of Physiology, 128(3), 541–546. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.1955.sp005323Felton, J. (2021, May 18). YouTuber Discovers The Bizarre Early Use Of Microwave Ovens. IFLScience; IFLScience. https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/early-microwaves-hamsters/Scott, T. (2021). I promise this story about microwaves is interesting. [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tdiKTSdE9YAre humans still evolving? by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Jonathan)Milk episode: https://www.curiositydaily.com/our-ability-to-drink-milk-evolved-way-faster-than-scientists-thought/An Evolutionary Whodunit: How Did Humans Develop Lactose Tolerance? (2012, December 28). NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/12/27/168144785/an-evolutionary-whodunit-how-did-humans-develop-lactose-toleranceHoole, J. (2018). These “Sea Nomads” Are The First Known Humans to Have a Genetic Adaptation to Diving. ScienceAlert. https://www.sciencealert.com/indonesian-bajau-genetic-changes-adapt-them-to-aquatic-lifestyle-2Winter. (2013, January 29). How to Survive a Siberian Winter. Science | AAAS. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2013/01/how-survive-siberian-winterHsu, J. (2010, July). Tibetans Underwent Fastest Evolution Seen in Humans. Livescience.com; Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/6663-tibetans-underwent-fastest-evolution-humans.htmlTED-Ed. (2020). Is human evolution speeding up or slowing down? - Laurence Hurst [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTeOhj6dxsUSciShow. (2020). 4 Ways Humans Are Still Evolving [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCjAAVk7UisArt is more moving when you see it in a museum by Cameron DukeArt affects you more powerfully when you view it in a museum. (2015, February 5). Research Digest. https://digest.bps.org.uk/2015/02/05/art-affects-you-more-powerfully-when-you-view-it-in-a-museum/Brieber, D., Nadal, M., & Leder, H. (2015). In the white cube: Museum context enhances the valuation and memory of art. Acta Psychologica, 154, 36–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2014.11.004Situated Cognition: Theory & Definition | Study.com. (2021). Study.com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/situated-cognition-theory-definition.htmlFollow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/hamster-microwave-are-humans-still-evolving-art-is-better-in-a-museum Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn why Easter Island never had a population collapse; and how scientists are measuring the expansion of our universe.Easter Island never had a population collapse, as commonly believed by Grant CurrinResilience, not collapse: What the Easter Island myth gets wrong. (2021, July 13). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/793195Johnson, S. (2021, July 16). Busting the Easter Island myth: there was no civilization collapse. Big Think; Big Think. https://bigthink.com/culture-religion/easter-islandDiNapoli, R. J., Crema, E. R., Lipo, C. P., Rieth, T. M., & Hunt, T. L. (2021). Approximate Bayesian Computation of radiocarbon and paleoenvironmental record shows population resilience on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Nature Communications, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24252-zScientists can't decide how fast the universe is expanding, but this scientist says there's no conflict at all by Briana Brownell“There may not be a conflict after all” in expanding universe debate. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/uoc-mn062921.phpFreedman, W. L. (2021). Measurements of the Hubble Constant: Tensions in Perspective. arXiv preprint https://arxiv.org/abs/2106.15656Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/easter-island-mythbusting-and-the-universes-expansion-rate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about the benefits of living near a volcano; different types of carbonated water; and how to procrastinate right.The stories in this episode originally aired May 30, 2018 “Perks of Procrastination, Volcano Dwellers, Club Soda vs Sparkling Waters” https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/perks-of-procrastination-volcano-dwellers-and-theFollow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/volcano-perks-club-soda-vs-seltzer-how-to-procrastinate-correctly Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.