Curiosity Weekly

Learn about why we need memorials for medicine; NASA’s Phantom Torso experiment; and why we often overestimate outliers.Additional resources from Steven Johnson:Pick up "Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer": https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/594501/extra-life-by-steven-johnson/Website: https://stevenberlinjohnson.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevenbjohnsonThe Phantom Torso Experiment Protected Future Astronauts In The Creepiest Way Possible by Ashley HamerExperiment Details. (2021). Nasa.gov. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=994We overestimate the outliers we see, which may hamper diversity efforts by Kelsey DonkFocus on outliers creates flawed snap judgments. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-05/du-foo051121.phpKhaw, M. W., Kranton, R., & Huettel, S. (2021). Oversampling of minority categories drives misperceptions of group compositions. Cognition, 214, 104756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2021.104756Shandwick, W. (2015). The female CEO reputation premium? Differences and Similarities. https://www.webershandwick.com/uploads/news/files/female-ceo-reputation-premium-executive-summary.pdfLayton, J. (2016, June 16). How 17 Equals 49.6: The Amazing Multiplying Women. HowStuffWorks. https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/perception/how-17-equals-496-the-amazing-multiplying-women.htmhttps://www.asc.upenn.edu/news-events/news/correcting-misperceptions-about-and-increasing-empathy-migrantsFollow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/the-phantom-torso-experiment-protected-astronauts-in-a-very-creepy-way Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn how we doubled life expectancy in the last 150 years. Plus: “impossible” quasicrystals formed from nuclear bombs.Additional resources from Steven Johnson:Pick up "Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer": https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/594501/extra-life-by-steven-johnson/Website: https://stevenberlinjohnson.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevenbjohnsonThe first nuclear detonation created "impossible" quasicrystals shaped like 20-sided dice by Briana BrownellCastelvecchi, D. (2021). First nuclear detonation created “impossible” quasicrystals. Nature, 593(7860), 487–487. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-01332-0Bindi, L., Kolb, W., Eby, G. N., Asimow, P. D., Wallace, T. C., & Steinhardt, P. J. (2021). Accidental synthesis of a previously unknown quasicrystal in the first atomic bomb test. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(22), e2101350118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2101350118Università degli Studi di Firenze. (2021). Quasicrystals in the first nuclear explosion [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkuLjTlUO7AFollow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/how-life-expectancy-doubled-in-just-150-years-w-author-steven-johnson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about ancient evidence of humans using fire; Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle; and your memory on social media.We just found the earliest evidence of humans changing their ecosystems with fire by Grant CurrinNield, D. (2021). Scientists Find Oldest Evidence of Ancient Human Activity Deep Inside a Desert Cave. ScienceAlert. https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-find-the-oldest-evidence-of-indoor-human-activity-deep-inside-a-desert-caveRatner, P. (2021, May 3). From 1.8 million years ago, earliest evidence of human activity found. Big Think; Big Think. https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/earliest-evidence-human-activityShaar, R., Matmon, A., Horwitz, L. K., Ebert, Y., Chazan, M., Arnold, M., Aumaître, G., Bourlès, D., & Keddadouche, K. (2021). Magnetostratigraphy and cosmogenic dating of Wonderwerk Cave: New constraints for the chronology of the South African Earlier Stone Age. Quaternary Science Reviews, 259, 106907. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2021.106907Scientists may have overcome Heisenberg's uncertainty principle by Briana BrownellMercier de Lépinay, L., Ockeloen-Korppi, C. F., Woolley, M. J., & Sillanpää, M. A. (2021). Quantum mechanics–free subsystem with mechanical oscillators. Science, 372(6542), 625–629. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abf5389Evading the uncertainty principle in quantum physics. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-05/au-etu050521.phpRatner, P. (2021, May 15). Physicists push limits of Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. Big Think; Big Think. https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/breakthrough-quantum-entanglement-heisenbergTurner, B. (2021, May 15). Scientist find a loophole in Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. MSN. com. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/news/scientist-find-a-loophole-in-heisenbergs-uncertainty-principle/ar-BB1gLlgPIs Social Media Hurting Your Memory? first aired June 7, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/your-memory-on-social-media-best-workouts-and-whyFollow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/we-found-the-earliest-evidence-of-ancient-human-activity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn why soccer players miss penalty kicks; how we estimate population sizes; and how space helps us look back in time.Pro soccer players miss penalty kicks because pressure makes them overthink by Kelsey DonkJohnson, S. (2021, May 12). Why professional soccer players choke during penalty kicks. Big Think; Big Think. https://bigthink.com/mind-brain/choking-under-pressureSlutter, M. W. J., Thammasan, N., & Poel, M. (2021). Exploring the Brain Activity Related to Missing Penalty Kicks: An fNIRS Study. Frontiers in Computer Science, 3. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomp.2021.661466Guo, Z., Li, A., & Yu, L. (2017). “Neural Efficiency” of Athletes’ Brain during Visuo-Spatial Task: An fMRI Study on Table Tennis Players. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00072How do we know the population sizes of species when there are too many to count? by Cameron DukeAllen, S. T., O’Rourke, A., White, R. H., Schneider, K. E., Kilkenny, M., & Sherman, S. G. (2019). Estimating the Number of People Who Inject Drugs in A Rural County in Appalachia. American Journal of Public Health, 109(3), 445–450. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2018.304873Hammond, P. S. (2009). Mark–Recapture. Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, 705–709. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-373553-9.00163-2Krebs, C. J. (1999). Ecological methodology. Benjamin/Cummings.Mark-Recapture. (2021). Nau.edu. https://www2.nau.edu/lrm22/lessons/mark_recapture/mark_recapture.htmlLooking Into Space Is Looking Back In Time by Reuben WestmaasMost distant object in the universe spotted by Hubble Space Telescope, shattering record for the farthest known galaxy. (2016, March 4). The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/most-distant-object-in-the-universe-spotted-by-hubble-space-telescope-shattering-record-for-the-farthest-known-galaxy-a6911096.htmlCain, F. (2014, August 7). Are All the Stars Really Dead? - Universe Today. https://www.universetoday.com/113709/are-all-the-stars-really-dead/Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/looking-into-space-is-looking-back-in-time Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn how mammals breathe through their butts; how babies remember their birth language; and your reflection in a spoon.Mammals can breathe through their butts, and this could help humans with respiratory failure by Grant CurrinBreathing Through the Rectum Saves Oxygen-Starved Mice and Pigs. (2021). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/science/rectum-breathing-oxygen.htmlOkabe, R., Chen-Yoshikawa, T. F., Yoneyama, Y., Yokoyama, Y., Tanaka, S., Yoshizawa, A., Thompson, W. L., Kannan, G., Kobayashi, E., Date, H., & Takebe, T. (2021). Mammalian enteral ventilation ameliorates respiratory failure. Med. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medj.2021.04.004Even If They Don’t Use It, Babies Remember Their Birth Language by Ashley HamerAdoptees advantaged by birth language memory. (2017). ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170118082828.htmEarly development of abstract language knowledge: evidence from perception–production transfer of birth-language memory | Royal Society Open Science. (2017). Royal Society Open Science. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsos.160660Why is your reflection upside down in a spoon? by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Bella in Austin, Texas)Matthews, R. (2019). Why is your reflection upside-down in a spoon? BBC Science Focus Magazine; BBC Science Focus Magazine. https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/why-is-your-reflection-upside-down-in-a-spoon/Physics Tutorial: Reflection and Image Formation for Convex Mirrors. (2021). Physicsclassroom.com. https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/refln/Lesson-4/Reflection-and-Image-Formation-for-Convex-MirrorsQ & A: Why is your reflection upside down in a spoon? | Department of Physics | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (2021). Illinois.edu. https://van.physics.illinois.edu/QA/listing.php?id=1985&t=why-is-your-reflection-upside-down-in-a-spoonIt's AumSum Time. (2017). Concave Mirror - Why is your reflection upside down on a spoon? | #aumsum #kids #science [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6n0FAZ_6N8Why mirrors flip horizontally but not vertically (Curiosity Daily listener question): https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/bad-news-about-your-wearable-sleep-trackerFollow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/mammals-can-breathe-through-their-butts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about whether you should fear AI; the science of a good selfie; and how bats map the world by time, not distance.Additional resources from Michael Wooldridge:Pick up "A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence: What It Is, Where We Are, and Where We Are Going" at your local bookstore: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250770745Twitter: https://twitter.com/wooldridgemikeOxford faculty page: https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/people/michael.wooldridge/Selfies Really Do Make Your Nose Look Big originally aired April 24, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/hubble-telescope-history-selfie-science-and-exerciBats map the world by time, not distance by Briana BrownellA surprising discovery: Bats know the speed of sound from birth. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-05/tu-asd050521.phpAmichai, E., & Yovel, Y. (2021). Echolocating bats rely on an innate speed-of-sound reference. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(19), e2024352118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2024352118How do bats echolocate and how are they adapted to this activity? (1998, December 21). Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-bats-echolocate-an/Thaler, L. (2015). Using Sound to Get Around. APS Observer, 28(10). https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/using-sound-to-get-aroundFollow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/bats-map-the-world-by-time-not-distance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about "iconic sounds" of language. Plus: artificial intelligence’s limitations, with AI pioneer Michael Wooldridge.Language may have started with "iconic sounds" rather than hand gestures by Grant CurrinĆwiek, A., Fuchs, S., Draxler, C., Asu, E. L., Dediu, D., Hiovain, K., Kawahara, S., Koutalidis, S., Krifka, M., Lippus, P., Lupyan, G., Oh, G. E., Paul, J., Petrone, C., Ridouane, R., Reiter, S., Schümchen, N., Szalontai, Á., Ünal-Logacev, Ö., & Zeller, J. (2021). Novel vocalizations are understood across cultures. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89445-4Ancestors may have created “iconic” sounds as bridge to first languages. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-05/uob-amh051021.phpNo shared language? No problem! People across cultures understand clues from ‘vocal charades. (2021, May 14). No shared language? No problem! People across cultures understand clues from “vocal charades.” Science | AAAS. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/05/no-shared-language-no-problem-people-across-cultures-understand-clues-vocal-charadesAdditional resources from Michael Wooldridge:Pick up "A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence: What It Is, Where We Are, and Where We Are Going" at your local bookstore: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250770745Twitter: https://twitter.com/wooldridgemikeOxford faculty page: https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/people/michael.wooldridge/Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/why-we-wont-have-robot-butlers-any-time-soon-w-ai-researcher-michael-wooldridge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about a pregnant mummy; the three body problem; and why you should take off your shoes when you enter your house.A newly discovered pregnant mummy is raising questions about ancient Egyptian beliefs by Grant CurrinJohnson, S. (2021, May 5). First-ever pregnant Egyptian mummy discovered. Big Think; Big Think. https://bigthink.com/culture-religion/pregnant-mummyIn a First, Researchers Discover a Pregnant Egyptian Mummy. (2021). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/02/world/europe/egyptian-mummy-pregnant-warsaw.htmlEjsmond, W., Ożarek-Szilke, M., Jaworski, M., & Szilke, S. (2021). A pregnant ancient egyptian mummy from the 1st century BC. Journal of Archaeological Science, 105371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2021.105371New development in solving the three body problem by Briana BrownellKervella, P., Thévenin, F., & Lovis, C. (2017). Proxima’s orbit around α Centauri. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 598, L7. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201629930Alpha Centauri System | Facts, Information, History & Definition. (2019, December 6). The Nine Planets. https://nineplanets.org/alpha-centauri-system/Wood,LiveScience, C. (2021, May 7). Physicists Edge Closer to Taming the Three-Body Problem. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/physicists-edge-closer-to-taming-the-three-body-problem/How Important Is It to Take Your Shoes Off as Soon as You Get in the House? originally aired May 7, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/aliens-studying-humans-an-ai-fairy-tale-and-the-imFollow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/we-found-the-first-pregnant-mummy-ever-documented Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn 4 tips for managing WFH paranoia; flat-pack pasta; and how eye contact is affected by the shape of a dog’s face.4 tips for managing your WFH paranoia by Kelsey DonkManaging Your WFH Paranoia. (2021, April 28). Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2021/04/managing-your-wfh-paranoiaIs Remote Work Making Us Paranoid? (2021). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/style/is-remote-work-making-us-paranoid.htmlJacobs, E. (2020, June 18). Paranoia creeps into homeworking. @FinancialTimes; Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/e50ce245-09fd-4831-a90b-953ef51a2281Scientists have created flat-pack pasta that curls into shape in water by Steffie DruckerExecutive Summary: Environmental Footprint Literature Review — Food Transportation. (2016). State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. https://www.oregon.gov/deq/FilterDocs/PEF-FoodTransportation-ExecutiveSummary.pdfTao, Y., Lee, Y.-C., Liu, H., Zhang, X., Cui, J., Mondoa, C., Babaei, M., Santillan, J., Wang, G., Luo, D., Liu, D., Yang, H., Do, Y., Sun, L., Wang, W., Zhang, T., & Yao, L. (2021). Morphing pasta and beyond. Science Advances, 7(19), eabf4098. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abf4098CMU lab leads development of pasta that morphs into shape when cooked. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-05/cmu-cll043021.phpGael Fashingbauer Cooper. (2021, May 6). This strange, flat pasta transforms into 3D shapes as you cook. CNET; CNET. https://www.cnet.com/news/this-strange-flat-pasta-transforms-into-3d-shapes-as-you-cook/Flat Pasta That Turns Into 3-D Shapes — Just Add Boiling Water. (2021). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/05/science/pasta-3d-flat.htmlVideo: https://vimeo.com/543657466Your dog’s face shape determines how easily it makes eye contact with you by Cameron DukeBognár, Z., Iotchev, I. B., & Kubinyi, E. (2018). Sex, skull length, breed, and age predict how dogs look at faces of humans and conspecifics. Animal Cognition, 21(4), 447–456. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-018-1180-4Bognár, Z., Szabó, D., Deés, A., & Kubinyi, E. (2021). Shorter headed dogs, visually cooperative breeds, younger and playful dogs form eye contact faster with an unfamiliar human. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88702-wEötvös Loránd University. (2021, April 29). Researchers determine which dogs more often establish eye contact with humans. Phys.org; Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2021-04-dogs-eye-contact-humans.htmlGácsi, M., McGreevy, P., Kara, E., & Miklósi, Á. (2009). Effects of selection for cooperation and attention in dogs. Behavioral and Brain Functions, 5(1), 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-9081-5-31Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/how-to-manage-your-work-from-home-paranoia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn the easiest way to forgive and forget; whether human fossils can produce oil; and what bees yell when surprised.The forgetting part of "forgive and forget" is easier when you forgive emotionally by Kelsey DonkHere’s The Best Way To Forgive And Forget. (2021, May 4). Research Digest. https://digest.bps.org.uk/2021/05/04/heres-the-best-way-to-forgive-and-forget/Noreen, S., & MacLeod, M. D. (2021). Moving on or deciding to let go? A pathway exploring the relationship between emotional and decisional forgiveness and intentional forgetting. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 47(2), 295–315. https://doi.org/10.1037/xlm0000948If we get oil from dinosaur fossils, will future civilizations get oil from human fossils? by Steffie Drucker (Listener question from Hunter in Chicago)Hunter’s tweet: https://twitter.com/whuntah/status/1390766688354902019Do Fossil Fuels Really Come from Fossils? | Britannica. (2021). In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/story/do-fossil-fuels-really-come-from-fossilsWestreich, S. (2021, March 29). Does Gasoline Really Come From Dinosaurs? - Sharing Science - Medium. Medium; Sharing Science. https://medium.com/a-microbiome-scientist-at-large/does-gasoline-really-come-from-dinosaurs-3d2d4e70c6d8What Are Fossil Fuels? | Smithsonian Ocean. (2020, March 26). Si.edu. https://ocean.si.edu/conservation/gulf-oil-spill/what-are-fossil-fuelsExplainer: Where fossil fuels come from. (2018, September 20). Science News for Students. https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/explainer-where-fossil-fuels-comeDINO History | Sinclair Oil Corporation. (2015). Sinclairoil.com. https://www.sinclairoil.com/dino-historyBees Yell “Whoop” When They're Surprised by Anna ToddWong, S. (2020). Honeybees let out a “whoop” when they bump into each other. New Scientist. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2121275-honeybees-let-out-a-whoop-when-they-bump-into-each-other/Ramsey, M., Bencsik, M., & Newton, M. I. (2017). Long-term trends in the honeybee “whooping signal” revealed by automated detection. PLOS ONE, 12(2), e0171162. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0171162Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/will-future-civilizations-get-oil-from-human-fossils Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.