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
May 3, 2024 • 12min
Grooving to Music, Horse Burial, Coffee & Cancer
Explore the science behind getting in the groove with music, a newly uncovered burial ground for elite medieval horses, and the potential health benefits of coffee in fighting cancer. From neural dynamics of music to the origins of elite horses in London, and the link between coffee consumption and lower cancer recurrence rates, this podcast covers fascinating topics that will keep you engaged.
May 2, 2024 • 11min
ChatGPT in School, Quiet Covid, Healing Contact Lens
Topics discussed include the use of ChatGPT in classrooms, how wild animals behaved during Covid lockdowns, and a new healing contact lens. They delve into the pros and cons of generative AI in education, wildlife responses to reduced human activity, and advancements in contact lens technology for treating eye wounds.
May 1, 2024 • 11min
Bigger Brains, Reef Songs, AI Speech
Discover why human brains are getting bigger and how it can benefit us, the fascinating link between reef songs and coral restoration, and the innovative AI device giving a voice to those who are unable to speak. Dive into brain expansion research, reef soundscapes attracting coral larvae, and the cutting-edge technology for speech assistance.
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
