

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

Jan 6, 2021 • 11min
What’s the Shortest Amount of Time Ever Recorded?
Learn about how scientists just measured the quickest event ever recorded; how tiny remoras (suckerfish) stay stuck to fast-moving whales; and why being too busy could be killing your creativity.Scientists have just measured the shortest amount of time, ever. by Cameron DukeGrundmann, S., Trabert, D., Fehre, K., Strenger, N., Pier, A., Kaiser, L., Kircher, M., Weller, M., Eckart, S., Schmidt, L. P. H., Trinter, F., Jahnke, T., Schöffler, M. S., & Dörner, R. (2020). Zeptosecond birth time delay in molecular photoionization. Science, 370(6514), 339–341. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abb9318Mann, A. (2020, July 13). The universe’s clock might have bigger ticks than we imagine. Livescience.com; Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/what-are-smallest-ticks-of-time.htmlPappas, S. (2020, October 17). Meet the zeptosecond, the shortest unit of time ever measured. Livescience.com; Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/zeptosecond-shortest-time-unit-measured.htmlHow do little remoras stay stuck to fast-moving whales? Physics! by Steffie DruckerWhale-surfing remoras ride cushion of water to stay in touch with their steeds. (2020). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-10/tcob-wrr102220.phpRemora | fish | Britannica. (2020). In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/animal/remoraBoundary Layer Separation and Pressure Drag – Aerospace Engineering Blog. (2016, October 15). Aerospace Engineering Blog. https://aerospaceengineeringblog.com/boundary-layer-separation-and-pressure-drag/r/explainlikeimfive - ELI5: How do bugs manage to stay stuck to car windows whilst travelling at high speed? Are the suckers super strong? (2011). Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/579sqf/eli5_how_do_bugs_manage_to_stay_stuck_to_car/Flammang, B. E., Marras, S., Anderson, E. J., Lehmkuhl, O., Mukherjee, A., Cade, D. E., Beckert, M., Nadler, J. H., Houzeaux, G., Vázquez, M., Amplo, H. E., Calambokidis, J., Friedlaender, A. S., Goldbogen, J. A. (2020). Remoras pick where they stick on blue whales. J, Exp. Biol. 223, jeb226654. https://jeb.biologists.org/content/223/20/jeb226654Being Too Busy May Be Killing Your Creativity by Anna ToddA Genius Finds Inspiration in the Music of Another (Published 2006). (2020). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/31/science/a-genius-finds-inspiration-in-the-music-of-another.htmlThe Science of Mind Wandering: Empirically Navigating the Stream of Consciousness. (2019). Annual Reviews. https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-psych-010814-015331Baird, B., Smallwood, J., Mrazek, M. D., Kam, J. W. Y., Franklin, M. S., & Schooler, J. W. (2012). Inspired by Distraction. Psychological Science, 23(10), 1117–1122. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797612446024Lee, C. S., Therriault, D. J., & Linderholm, T. (2012). On the Cognitive Benefits of Cultural Experience: Exploring the Relationship between Studying Abroad and Creative Thinking. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 26(5), 768–778. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.2857Subscribe 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://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/whats-the-shortest-amount-of-time-ever-recorded Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 5, 2021 • 9min
Swedish Death Cleaning Can Declutter Your Life
Learn about how you can de-clutter your life with the Swedish concept of döstädning, or “death cleaning.” Then, learn about how Alfred Russel Wallace, the “other” scientist who discovered natural selection.Use Swedish Death Cleaning to Declutter Your Life by Ashley HamerGyan Yankovich. (2018, April). A Beginner’s Guide To Swedish Death Cleaning. BuzzFeed. https://www.buzzfeed.com/gyanyankovich/what-is-swedish-death-cleaningDiGiulio, S. (2017, November 2). What is “Swedish death cleaning” and should you be doing it? NBC News; NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/what-swedish-death-cleaning-should-you-be-doing-it-ncna816511Meet Alfred Russel Wallace, the other guy who discovered natural selection by Cameron DukeKuhn, A. (2019). He Helped Discover Evolution, And Then Became Extinct. NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/2013/04/30/177781424/he-helped-discover-evolution-and-then-became-extinctMcNish, J. (2018). Who was Alfred Russel Wallace? NHM.ac.uk. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/who-was-alfred-russel-wallace.htmlNatural Selection: Charles Darwin & Alfred Russel Wallace. (2020). Berkeley.edu. https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/0_0_0/history_14Subscribe 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://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/swedish-death-cleaning-can-declutter-your-life Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 4, 2021 • 10min
How “Flow” Can Help in Quarantine
Learn about how experiencing “flow” could help your mental health during quarantine; why airplane windows are round; and whether flies experience time more slowly than we do.Experiencing flow could buffer the mental-health effects of quarantine by Kelsey DonkThe mental state of flow might protect against harmful effects of quarantine. (2020). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/p-tms111020.phpSweeny, Kate, et al. "Flow in the Time of COVID-19: Findings from China." (2020). https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0242043What is Flow in Psychology? Definition and 10+ Activities to Induce Flow. (2019, January 8). PositivePsychology.com. https://positivepsychology.com/what-is-flow/This Is the Important Reason All Airplane Windows Are Round by Joanie FalettoLamb, R. (2011, May 26). How Airplanes Work. HowStuffWorks. https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/airplanes.htmRizzo, C. (2016, January 20). Why do airplanes have round windows? Mashable. https://mashable.com/2016/01/20/round-airplane-windows/#pgu6eCzQcqq3Do flies experience time more slowly than we do? by Cameron DukeBalestra, C., Machado, M.-L., Theunissen, S., Balestra, A., Cialoni, D., Clot, C., Besnard, S., Kammacher, L., Delzenne, J., Germonpré, P., & Lafère, P. (2018). Critical Flicker Fusion Frequency: A Marker of Cerebral Arousal During Modified Gravitational Conditions Related to Parabolic Flights. Frontiers in Physiology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.01403Boström, J. E., Dimitrova, M., Canton, C., Håstad, O., Qvarnström, A., & Ödeen, A. (2016). Ultra-Rapid Vision in Birds. PLOS ONE, 11(3), e0151099. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0151099R Christopher Miall. (2008, March 13). The flicker fusion frequencies of six laboratory insects, and the response of the compound eye to mains... ResearchGate; Wiley. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229600414_The_flicker_fusion_frequencies_of_six_laboratory_insects_and_the_response_of_the_compound_eye_to_mains_fluorescent_%27ripple%27Flicker fusion frequency in birds of prey (Episode from January 22, 2020): https://www.curiositydaily.com/live-longer-by-appreciating-art-betelgeuse-might-go-supernova-and-birds-freaky-fast-vision/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://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/how-flow-can-help-in-quarantine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 1, 2021 • 11min
The Right Way to Set Goals
Learn about how the coronavirus pandemic may have changed Americans’ attitudes about the poor; how you can relieve stress by learning something new; and a trick for setting goals to help you achieve what you want.COVID-19 may have changed Americans’ attitudes about the poor by Steffie DruckerDolan, E. W. (2020, November 21). Study suggests the COVID-19 pandemic has altered Americans attitudes toward inequality and the poor. PsyPost; PsyPost. https://www.psypost.org/2020/11/study-suggests-the-covid-19-pandemic-has-altered-americans-attitudes-toward-inequality-and-the-poor-58598Wiwad, D., Mercier, B., Piff, P. K., Shariff, A., & Aknin, L. B. (2021). Recognizing the Impact of COVID-19 on the Poor Alters Attitudes Towards Poverty and Inequality. Journal of experimental social psychology, 93, 104083. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2020.104083Piff, P. K., Wiwad, D., Robinson, A. R., Aknin, L. B., Mercier, B., & Shariff, A. (2020). Shifting attributions for poverty motivates opposition to inequality and enhances egalitarianism. Nature Human Behaviour, 4(5), 496-505. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-020-0835-8COVID-19, Generosity and Gender. (2020). COVID-19, Generosity and Gender. Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. https://philanthropy.iupui.edu/institutes/womens-philanthropy-institute/research/covid.htmlFundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) 2020 Q2 Fundraising Report | GivingTuesday. (2019). Givingtuesday.org. https://www.givingtuesday.org/lab/2020/10/fundraising-effectiveness-project-fep-2020-q2-fundraising-reportTo Relieve Stress, Try Taking a Learning Break by Ashley HamerPietrangelo, A. (2017, June 5). The Effects of Stress on Your Body. Healthline; Healthline Media. https://www.healthline.com/health/stress/effects-on-bodyLebowitz, S. (2015, September). 9 ways too much stress screws up your life - Business Insider. Business Insider; Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/how-stress-affects-your-behavior-2015-9To Cope with Stress, Try Learning Something New. (2018, September 4). Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2018/09/to-cope-with-stress-try-learning-something-newZhang, C., Mayer, D. M., & Hwang, E. (2018). More is less: Learning but not relaxing buffers deviance under job stressors. Journal of Applied Psychology, 103(2), 123–136. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000264Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals to Achieve the Things You Want by Joanie FalettoSMART Goals: How to Make Your Goals Achievable. (2016). Mindtools.com. https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/smart-goals.htmBJ Fogg Interviews: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://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/the-right-way-to-set-goals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 31, 2020 • 10min
When Smokers Quit, Dormant Lung Cells Wake Up
Learn about how quitting smoking may reawaken healthy cells; how researchers figured out how to tell the age of crime scene fingerprints to help investigators; and why you sometimes yawn while exercising or singing.Quitting smoking doesn’t just slow lung damage, but can also reawaken undamaged cells by Grant CurrinGallagher, J. (2020, January 29). Lungs “magically” heal damage from smoking. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51279355Pfeifer, G. P. (2020, January 29). Smoke signals in the DNA of normal lung cells. Nature, 578(7794), 224–226. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-020-00165-7Yoshida, K., Gowers, K. H. C., Lee-Six, H., Chandrasekharan, D. P., Coorens, T., Maughan, E. F., Beal, K., Menzies, A., Millar, F. R., Anderson, E., Clarke, S. E., Pennycuick, A., Thakrar, R. M., Butler, C. R., Kakiuchi, N., Hirano, T., Hynds, R. E., Stratton, M. R., Martincorena, I., … Campbell, P. J. (2020, January 29). Tobacco smoking and somatic mutations in human bronchial epithelium. Nature, 578(7794), 266–272. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-1961-1It's been impossible to tell the age of crime scene fingerprints — until now by Grant CurrinDetermining Fingerprint Age with Mass Spectrometry Imaging via Ozonolysis of Triacylglycerols. (2020, January 3). Analytical Chemistry. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.analchem.9b04765Residues in fingerprints hold clues to their age. (2020, January 22). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/acs-rif012220.phpWhy we yawn during exercise by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Kate in Pennsylvania)Provine, R. R., Tate, B. C., & Geldmacher, L. L. (1987). Yawning: No effect of 3–5% CO2, 100% O2, and exercise. Behavioral and Neural Biology, 48(3), 382–393. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0163-1047(87)90944-7Massen, J. J. M., Dusch, K., Eldakar, O. T., & Gallup, A. C. (2014). A thermal window for yawning in humans: Yawning as a brain cooling mechanism. Physiology & Behavior, 130, 145–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.03.032The science of the exercise yawn. (2017). Furthermore from Equinox. https://furthermore.equinox.com/articles/2017/09/yawningMcKinney, James C. The Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults. (2005). Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=znaCDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=singing+yawn&ots=DKpXxdwhGJ&sig=IjgkdxkqyENjWLoXJTDaYB94G30#v=onepage&q=yawn&f=falseSubscribe 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/when-smokers-quit-dormant-lung-cells-wake-up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 30, 2020 • 13min
Do People Think More in Words or Pictures?
Learn about whether people think in words or in pictures; why brussels sprouts really are tastier than they used to be; and why buying luxury items might make you feel like an impostor.Whether People Think in Words or Pictures by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Alicia)(2020). Twitter. https://twitter.com/KylePlantEmoji/status/1221713792913965061Heavey, C. L., & Hurlburt, R. T. (2008). The phenomena of inner experience. Consciousness and Cognition, 17(3), 798–810. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2007.12.006Pristine Inner Experience. (2020). Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/pristine-inner-experienceAmit, E., Hoeflin, C., Hamzah, N., & Fedorenko, E. (2017). An asymmetrical relationship between verbal and visual thinking: Converging evidence from behavior and fMRI. NeuroImage, 152, 619–627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.03.029Why Brussels Sprouts Taste Better Now by Steffie DruckerFrom Culinary Dud To Stud: How Dutch Plant Breeders Built Our Brussels Sprouts Boom. (2019, October 30). NPR.Org. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/10/30/773457637/from-culinary-dud-to-stud-how-dutch-plant-breeders-built-our-brussels-sprouts-boBeck, A. (2019, November 7). It’s Not Your Imagination, Brussels Sprouts Really Do Taste Better Now. Better Homes & Gardens; Better Homes & Gardens. https://www.bhg.com/news/brussels-sprouts-less-bitter/Pearson, H. (2006, September 18). Distaste for sprouts in the genes. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/news060918-1Perman, A. (2011, November 1). The “brussels sprouts” gene: TAS2R38 | Anna Perman’s Genetic Spaghetti. The Guardian; The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2011/nov/01/brussel-sprout-geneNeuroscience for Kids - Bitter Taste Gene. (2003, July 15). Washington.edu. http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/bitter.htmlMasur, L. (2019, December 26). The Top 10 Food Trends of the Entire Decade. Kitchn; Apartment Therapy, LLC. https://www.thekitchn.com/decade-food-trends-2010-2019-22973978Luxury Buying Makes People Feel Fake by Kelsey DonkLuxury consumption can fuel “impostor syndrome” among some buyers. (2019). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/bc-lcc122019.phpWong, K. (2020, January 30). Why Your Designer Bag Is Making You Feel Worse. The Financial Diet. https://thefinancialdiet.com/luxury-consumer-imposter-syndrome/Goor, D., Ordabayeva, N., Keinan, A., & Crener, S. (2019). The Impostor Syndrome from Luxury Consumption. Journal of Consumer Research. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcr/ucz044Subscribe 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/do-people-think-more-in-words-or-pictures Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 29, 2020 • 11min
The Stinky Science of the World’s Smelliest Fruit
Learn about the shocking prevalence of torture scenes in movies; why durian, the world’s smelliest fruit, smells so bad; and where mold comes from.Torture is prevalent and effective in movies (but not in real life) by Kelsey DonkTorture Prevalent, Effective in Popular Movies, Study Finds – University of Alabama News | The University of Alabama. (2020). Ua.Edu. https://www.ua.edu/news/2020/01/torture-prevalent-effective-in-popular-movies-study-finds/Delehanty, C., & Kearns, E. (2019). Wait, There’s Torture in Zootopia?: Examining the Prevalence of Torture in Popular Movies. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3342908Scientists discovered why durian is the world's smelliest fruit by Kelsey DonkA Love Letter to a Smelly Fruit. (2013, December 3). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/08/travel/a-love-letter-to-a-smelly-fruit.htmlDiscovering what makes durian stink. (2020). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-02/lfla-dwm022820.phpIdentification of an Important Odorant Precursor in Durian: First Evidence of Ethionine in Plants. (2019). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.9b07065Maninang, J. S., Lizada, M. C. C., & Gemma, H. (2009). Inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme by Durian (Durio zibethinus Murray) fruit extract. Food Chemistry, 117(2), 352–355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2009.03.106Ethanethiol - American Chemical Society. (2020). American Chemical Society. https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/molecule-of-the-week/archive/e/ethanethiol.htmlWhere does mold come from? by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Tim)USDA FSIS. (2013). Molds on Food: Are They Dangerous? https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/a87cdc2c-6ddd-49f0-bd1f-393086742e68/Molds_on_Food.pdf?MOD=AJPERESStradley, L. (2016, April 5). Food Molds – Are Molds Dangerous. What’s Cooking America. https://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/Mold.htmCenter for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. (2019). BAM Chapter 18. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/food/laboratory-methods-food/bam-yeasts-molds-and-mycotoxinsSubscribe 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-stinky-science-of-the-worlds-smelliest-fruit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 28, 2020 • 11min
Why Cuttlefish Wore 3-D Glasses for Science
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.phpSubscribe 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-cuttlefish-wore-3-d-glasses-for-science Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 25, 2020 • 12min
Do Opposites Really Attract?
Learn about why opposites don’t really attract; the “propinquity effect” and how physical distance affects the way we feel about other people; and the history of when and why we started using last names.Opposites Don’t Attract by Kelsey DonkJohnson, M. D. (2018, February 12). No, opposites do not attract. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/no-opposites-do-not-attract-88839Montoya, R. M., & Horton, R. S. (2012). A meta-analytic investigation of the processes underlying the similarity-attraction effect. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 30(1), 64–94. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407512452989We Like What’s Physically Close to Us by Mae RiceNew evidence for the “propinquity effect” – mere physical closeness increases our liking of desirable people and things. (2018, August). Research Digest; Research Digest. https://digest.bps.org.uk/2018/08/01/new-evidence-for-the-propinquity-effect-mere-physical-closeness-increases-our-liking-of-desirable-people-and-things/Shin, J., Suh, E. M., Li, N. P., Eo, K., Chong, S. C., & Tsai, M.-H. (2018). Darling, Get Closer to Me: Spatial Proximity Amplifies Interpersonal Liking. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 45(2), 300–309. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167218784903The History of Last Names by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Gregory)Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps. (2012). Forebears.Io. https://forebears.io/surnamesSurnames & The Norman Conquest | Heritage Family History. (2016, September 3). Heritagefamilyhistory.co.uk. https://www.heritagefamilyhistory.co.uk/blog/2016/09/surnames-the-norman-conquest/SCMP. (2016, November 17). South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/2046955/complex-origins-chinese-names-demystifiedThe Memi De-Shalit Database of Jewish Family Names at Beit Hatfutsot. (2020). Beit Hatfutsot. https://www.bh.org.il/databases/family-names/jewish-family-names-introduction/Muraskin, B. (2014, January 8). Jewish Surnames Explained. Slate Magazine; Slate. https://slate.com/human-interest/2014/01/ashkenazi-names-the-etymology-of-the-most-common-jewish-surnames.htmlSubscribe 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://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/do-opposites-really-attract Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 24, 2020 • 13min
Why Toilet Paper Is White
Learn about Starlink’s unintended consequences for astronomy from astrophysicist Vivienne Baldassare, NASA Einstein Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale University. Then, learn why toilet paper is white. More information on NEPA Implementing Regulations:CEQ’s Proposal to Update its NEPA Implementing Regulations | Council on Environmental Quality NEPA Modernization https://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/nepa-modernization/NASA: In 2018, there were ~20,000 objects in orbit, ~4,500 of which are spacecraft https://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/quarterly-news/pdfs/odqnv22i1.pdfWebsite of Vivienne Baldassare, NASA Einstein Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale University: http://viviennebaldassare.com/Vivienne Baldassare | Department of Astronomy. (2017). Yale.edu. https://astronomy.yale.edu/people/vivienne-baldassareFollow @vbaldassare on Twitter https://twitter.com/vbaldassareWhy toilet paper is white by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Gerald)Technologies for reducing dioxin in the manufacture of bleached wood pulp. (1989). Google Books. https://books.google.com/books/about/Technologies_for_reducing_dioxin_in_the.html?id=iBhRA3mNiJECTissue. (2020). American Forest & Paper Association | afandpa.org. https://www.afandpa.org/our-products/tissueChemical composition of wood (Date unknown). Mendel University in Brno | Mendelu.cz. https://is.mendelu.cz/eknihovna/opory/zobraz_cast.pl?cast=19242The Nature of Lignin. (1991, November). Conservation-us.org. https://cool.conservation-us.org/byorg/abbey/ap/ap04/ap04-4/ap04-402.htmlUnderstanding the effect of machine technology and cellulosic fibers on tissue properties – A Review :: BioResources. (2018). @bioresjournal. https://bioresources.cnr.ncsu.edu/resources/understanding-the-effect-of-machine-technology-and-cellulosic-fibers-on-tissue-properties-a-review/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/why-toilet-paper-is-white Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


