Curiosity Weekly

Dr. James Kinross, associate professor of surgery at Imperial College London and author on the gut microbiome, walks through fecal microbiota transplants and how they rebuild gut ecosystems. He explains procedure steps, donor screening and the rise of freeze-dried capsules. He also covers donor matching, which diseases have solid evidence, and future precision and AI-driven microbiome therapies.

We encourage you to check out the all new Health vs Hype podcast. It's a show from the American Medical Association and helps you make smarter, more informed decisions about your health, without the fear-mongering or confusion. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Dr. Craig Anderson, psychologist and researcher on media violence, breaks down how violent video games have been studied. He discusses types of violent games and realism effects. He covers desensitization, how games can teach aggressive scripts, and evidence from longitudinal and experimental studies. Practical takeaways for parents and players are highlighted.

Artificial Intelligence has seemingly taken over every industry and headline in the past year, making it hard to keep up with advances in the technology. And things are evolving quickly, particularly in medicine. Here to help us understand where AI can help and hinder processes in the medical industry is Dr. Nina Kottler, a radiologist and AI expert. Before that, we explore a new study detailing some surprising findings in koala population genetics and later, Sam looks into research on how other people’s opinions shape our own experiences.  Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Ben Ryan, neuroscientist and author of Why Brains Need Friends, explains the neuroscience of social connection and loneliness. He explores why our brains crave company, differences between in-person and virtual interactions, how social media changes empathy, risks of AI companions, and practical ways to rebuild meaningful connection.

Scientific testing on animals has existed for hundreds of years and is considered a controversial element of how modern research is done. To discuss the past, present, and future of animal testing, host Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by veterinarian and bioethicist Dr. Lisa Moses. Sam also looks at a new study exploring an alternative treatment to sleep apnea and one that looks into how people living at high altitudes can provide inspiration for diabetes medication.   Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Natalia Khodayari, a UC Davis postdoc studying attention and digital media, explores the analog movement and its scientific roots. She talks about how screens shape attention and comparisons between digital and physical note-taking. Discussions cover analog practices, mindfulness links, drivers of the trend, and practical swaps like journals and flip phones.

 These days, discovering a new species of dinosaur looks a lot different than it does in the movies. Technology enables paleontologists to search for dino bones with care and precision. Here to discuss his recent discovery of the Spinosaurus mirabilis is Dr. Paul Sereno. Host, Dr. Samantha Yammine also looks into Humanity’s Last Exam which is a test designed for AI to fail and a study that shows how repeated exercise rewires our brains.   Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Ishrat Husain, psychiatrist and researcher specializing in psychedelic-assisted therapies, discusses clinical trials and how classic psychedelics act on serotonin receptors. Short segments cover psilocybin for depression, MDMA for PTSD, dosing and safety in medical settings. Conversation also touches on regulatory challenges, Indigenous knowledge, and separating hype from careful science.

Suzanne Simard, forest ecologist who uncovered the mycorrhizal 'wood wide web', talks about how fungal threads link plants underground. Short, vivid stories cover trees sharing resources, recognizing kin, and inspiring films like Avatar. Conversations also touch on forest cycles, logging impacts, and the Mother Tree Project studying resilience and restoration.