Curiosity Theory

On this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@dr.starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) sit down with neuroscientist Lindsay Ejoh (@neuromelody) for a deep exploration into pain, gene editing, viral vectors, and the brain’s decision making machinery.They break down how pain neurons work, how viruses modify DNA, what CRISPR allows us to change inside living tissue, and how empathy and fear circuits guide human behavior. They also tackle chronic pain, probabilistic reasoning, risk-taking behavior, and the ethical implications of future neurological interventions.Visit our Merch Store:https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/merchJoin our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/CuriosityTheoryStay curious.

Are we the problematic generation?In this episode of Curiosity Theory, astrophysicist Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@dr.starkid) and STEM educator and media producer Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) unpack how fast culture is shifting, why kids see Justin as “unk,” how generational labels get created, and whether Justin’s TEDx talk helped cement the term “Gen Z.”Topics include:• How social media has created five-year “micro generations”  • Young people using AI as an operating system  • Whether an algorithm could make better decisions than human leaders  • Dolphin communication, Zipf’s Law, and overlooked animal intelligence  • How future generations might judge factory farming and eating animals  • Plant and fungal networks and whether societies behave like living systemsVisit our Merch Store:https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/merchJoin our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/CuriosityTheoryFollow the hosts:  Dr. Dakotah — @dr.starkid  Justin — @mr.fascinate  Show — @curiositytheorypod

This conversation dives into the effectiveness of social media detoxing, revealing that a break doesn't significantly change mental health. The hosts dissect the allure of detox narratives, the placebo effects involved, and tackle myths about dopamine and online behavior. They assess TikTok's complex algorithm, discuss the unique viral culture of today, and reflect on the implications for creators. Ideas around platform dependence, long-form versus short-form content, and the intriguing concept of robotheism spark a thought-provoking dialogue on our digital lives.

On this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@dr.starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) take you on a tour from ancient Mars to spiral galaxies to the trends moving through your social feeds.We start with new NASA results and the possibility of life on Mars, unpack what counts as a real biosignature, and dig into ideas like panspermia and endosymbiosis to explain how life might start and how complex cells evolved.Then we zoom out and connect the dots:Why most life in the universe is probably microbialHow MRI and quantum spin actually work in practiceHow Starlink and satellite constellations mess with astronomy and reshape low Earth orbitHow waves show up in oceans, galaxies, and even culture, as ideas move through people like physical waves move through matterIt is big picture, nerdy, practical, and philosophical all at once.Follow us on socials: @curiositytheorypod, @dr.starkid, @mr.fascinate Hosted by Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer.Stay curious

This week on Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@dr.starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) sit down with Suh the Scholar (@suhthescholar) — a PhD stem-cell scientist — for a deep, funny, and inspiring conversation about the future of human biology.They explore stem-cell breakthroughs, the ethics of replacing body parts, and whether open-sourcing scientific knowledge could accelerate discovery for everyone. They also dig into creativity in STEM, identity, and how curiosity connects science with culture.To support the show:Visit our merch store: https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/merchJoin our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CuriosityTheoryFollow on socials: @curiositytheorypodHosted by Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer

This week on Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@dr.starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) unpack the rise of anti-intellectualism and the cultural war on science. From misinformation to AI ethics, they explore why people are losing trust in experts and sci-fi stories like Foundation and Alien Earth.Join our patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/CuriosityTheoryFollow on socials: @curiositytheorypod

This week on Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer sit down with Nick Jackson (@nick.immunologist), an immunologist and PhD candidate, to explore the incredible complexity of the immune system and what it reveals about life itself.They talk about how immunity learns, adapts, and evolves; how viruses shape who we are; and what biology teaches us about chaos, order, and survival. It’s part science, part philosophy, and all curiosity.Join our patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/CuriosityTheoryFollow us on socials: @curiositytheorypod @dr.starkid @mr.fascinate @nick.immunologist

NASA is planning to land a nuclear reactor on the Moon — but what does that mean for humanity’s future in space? Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer break down nuclear fusion, stellar explosions, the origins of gold, pulsar planets, black holes, and even the first possible moments when life could have existed in the cosmos.They explore how civilizations might rise and fall over billions of years and what “galactic fossils” ancient beings could have left behind.Join our patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CuriosityTheoryVisit our merch store: https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/storeFollow us: @curiositytheorypod | @dr.starkid | @mr.fascinate

In this episode, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer dig into a wide range of topics and break in the new studio that Justin built from the ground up for Curiosity Theory!Support Curiosity Theory by:Joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/CuriosityTheoryVisiting the merch store: https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/storeFollow on socials:@dr.starkid | @mr.fascinate | @curiositytheorypod

In this episode, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer take on the timeless question: what is life? They explore infinite systems, humans as part of larger structures, the debate over artificial life, and why adaptation may be the clearest marker of being alive. This wide-ranging conversation blends science, philosophy, and curiosity to tackle one of the deepest questions of all time.Follow us on socials: @curiositytheorypod @dr.starkid @mr.fascinateJoin Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CuriosityTheoryMerch Store: https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/store