Curiosity Weekly

Discover the shocking origins of treadmills as 19th-century torture devices before their transformation into our favorite gym equipment. Explore the surprising links between biology and everyday topics like cooking bacon and the influence of music on dopamine. Melanie Peffer connects complex biological concepts with relatable experiences, making science accessible and fun. Plus, enjoy a creative analogy that likens protein folding to crafting a paper boat, sparking curiosity about the wonders of life around us.

Learn about a gender gap in 8-year-olds; how speaking another language can change you; and a monumental dino discovery.Learn about how kids as young as 8 show a gender gap when it comes to negotiating; how speaking another language can change your personality; and what paleontologists can learn from a momentous new discovery of fossilized dinosaur embryos.Kids as young as 8 show a gender gap when it comes to negotiating by Kelsey DonkChildren As Young As Eight Show A Gender Gap In Negotiation. (2021, March 11). Research Digest; Research Digest. https://digest.bps.org.uk/2021/03/11/children-as-young-as-8-show-a-gender-gap-in-negotiation/Arnold, S. H., & McAuliffe, K. (2021). Children Show a Gender Gap in Negotiation. Psychological Science, 32(2), 153–158. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797620965544How Speaking Another Language Can Change Your Personality by Ashley HamerPrentis, N. (2017, March 8). Speaking a foreign language can change your personality. Quartz; Quartz. https://qz.com/925630/feel-more-fun-in-french-your-personality-can-change-depending-on-the-language-you-speak/Ramírez-Esparza, Nairán, and Adrián García-Sierra. "The bilingual brain: language, culture and identity." The Oxford handbook of multicultural identity (2014): 35-56. https://labclab.psychology.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1167/2015/04/Language3.pdfRamírez-Esparza, N., Gosling, S. D., Benet-Martínez, V., Potter, J. P., & Pennebaker, J. W. (2006). Do bilinguals have two personalities? A special case of cultural frame switching. Journal of Research in Personality, 40(2), 99–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2004.09.001Multilinguals Have Multiple Personalities. (2014, April 23). The New Republic. https://newrepublic.com/article/117485/multilinguals-have-multiple-personalitiesScientists just found a fossilized dino incubating its eggs by Grant CurrinCassella, C. (2021). Jaw-Dropping Fossil Find Contains a Dinosaur Sitting on an Entire Clutch of Eggs. ScienceAlert. https://www.sciencealert.com/fossilized-dinosaur-found-brooding-on-a-nest-of-preserved-eggs-with-actual-embryos-insideBi, S., Amiot, R., Peyre de Fabrègues, C., Pittman, M., Lamanna, M. C., Yu, Y., Yu, C., Yang, T., Zhang, S., Zhao, Q., & Xu, X. (2020). An oviraptorid preserved atop an embryo-bearing egg clutch sheds light on the reproductive biology of non-avialan theropod dinosaurs. Science Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2020.12.018Gamillo, E. (2021, March 18). For the First Time, Paleontologists Unearth Fossil of Non-Avian Dinosaur Incubating a Nest of Eggs. Smithsonian Magazine; Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smartnews-science/unearthed-dinosaur-fossil-found-incubating-nest-eggs-180977264/Geggel, L. (2021, March 16). “Rarest of the rare” dinosaur fossil found brooding on its eggs. Livescience.com; Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/dinosaur-sitting-on-eggs-with-embryos.htmlFollow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! You can also listen to our show 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/this-dino-was-fossilized-incubating-its-eggs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Captain Sig Hansen from “Deadliest Catch” discusses the surprising ways the coronavirus pandemic made the world’s most dangerous job even harder. Then, you’ll learn about our moon’s comet-like tail that collides with Earth every month.Learn more about Deadliest Catch, Tuesdays at 8 PM ET/PT on DiscoveryOfficial website https://www.discovery.com/shows/deadliest-catchStream Deadliest Catch on discovery+ https://www.discoveryplus.com/show/deadliest-catchSign up for your 7-day free trial of discovery+ https://discoveryplus.com/curiosityFollow @DeadliestCatch on Twitter https://twitter.com/DeadliestCatchThe moon has a comet-like tail and it collides with the Earth each month by Grant CurrinThe Moon Has a Comet-Like Tail. Every Month It Shoots a Beam Around Earth. (2021). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/04/science/moon-tail-beam.htmlBaumgardner, J., Luettgen, S., Schmidt, C., Mayyasi, M., Smith, S., Martinis, C., Wroten, J., Moore, L., & Mendillo, M. (2021). Long‐Term Observations and Physical Processes in the Moon’s Extended Sodium Tail. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 126(3). https://doi.org/10.1029/2020je006671Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! You can also listen to our show 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-deadliest-catch-navigates-a-deadly-pandemic-w-captain-sig-hansen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about a 5-step process for finding work-life balance; photosynthetic bacteria that have never seen the sun; and why researchers build a digital model of the ancient Greek Antikythera mechanism: the first known analog computer.A 5-step process for hitting the moving target of work-life balance by Kelsey DonkLufkin, B. (2021). Why it’s wrong to look at work-life balance as an achievement. BBC.com. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210302-why-work-life-balance-is-not-an-achievementWork-Life Balance Is a Cycle, Not an Achievement. (2021, January 29). Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2021/01/work-life-balance-is-a-cycle-not-an-achievementLupu, I., Ruiz-Castro, M., & Leca, B. (2020). Role Distancing and the Persistence of Long Work Hours in Professional Service Firms. Organization Studies, 017084062093406. https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840620934064There are photosynthetic bacteria that have never seen the sun by Cameron DukeBeatty, J. T., Overmann, J., Lince, M. T., Manske, A. K., Lang, A. S., Blankenship, R. E., Van Dover, C. L., Martinson, T. A., & Plumley, F. G. (2005). An obligately photosynthetic bacterial anaerobe from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 102(26), 9306–9310. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0503674102Researchers find photosynthesis deep within ocean. (2005). ASU.edu. https://www.asu.edu/feature/includes/summer05/readmore/photosyn.htmlThey Find Light in the Darkness (Published 2005). (2021). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/21/science/they-find-light-in-the-darkness.htmlResearchers just built the most accurate and complete model of the first known analog computer by Cameron DukeFreeth, T., Higgon, D., Dacanalis, A., MacDonald, L., Georgakopoulou, M., & Wojcik, A. (2021). A Model of the Cosmos in the ancient Greek Antikythera Mechanism. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84310-wFreeth, T., & Jones, A. (2012, February). Tony Freeth and Alexander Jones. “The Cosmos in the Antikythera Mechanism.” ISAW Papers 4 (February, 2012). Nyu.edu. http://dlib.nyu.edu/awdl/isaw/isaw-papers/4/Sample, I. (2006, November 30). Mysteries of computer from 65BC are solved. The Guardian; The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2006/nov/30/uknewsFollow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! You can also listen to our show 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/B07CP17DJYFind episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/5-steps-to-hitting-work-life-balance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about why quitting smoking is good for your mental health, too; and why it’s possible to practice too much. We’ll also answer a listener question about how to get people to believe science, with some help from a special guest, Bill Nye.Quitting smoking is good for your mental health, too by Steffie DruckerCochrane Review finds stopping smoking is linked to improved mental health. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/w-crf030921.phpTaylor, G. M., Lindson, N., Farley, A., Leinberger-Jabari, A., Sawyer, K., te Water Naudé, R., Theodoulou, A., King, N., Burke, C., & Aveyard, P. (2021). Smoking cessation for improving mental health. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd013522.pub2University of Birmingham. (2021, March 10). Quitting smoking is linked to improved mental health, research finds. University of Birmingham; University of Birmingham. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2021/03/quit-smoking-mental-health-vaping.aspxAlltucker, K. (2021, March 12). Cigarette sales increased during pandemic as fewer smokers sought help quitting. USA TODAY; USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/03/12/cigarette-sales-increase-and-fewer-sought-help-to-quit-smoking-amid-covid-19-anxiety-and-isolation/4664323001/Smoking and mental health. (2015, August 7). Mental Health Foundation. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/s/smoking-and-mental-healthIt's Possible to Practice Too Much by Mae RiceTraining beyond exhaustion can prevent learning. (2019). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-03/e-tbe030519.phpMeret Branscheidt, Panagiotis Kassavetis, Anaya, M., Rogers, D., Han Debra Huang, Lindquist, M. A., & Celnik, P. (2019, March 5). Fatigue induces long-lasting detrimental changes in motor-skill learning. ELife; eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd. https://elifesciences.org/articles/40578How to get people to believe science, with special guest Bill Nye (listener question from Michelle via HiHo):Official website https://billnye.com/Bill Nye’s podcast, Science Rules! https://www.askbillnye.com/Pick up “Bill Nye's Great Big World of Science” on Amazon https://amzn.to/3u8iKQi“Everything All at Once: How to Think Like a Science Guy, Solve Any Problem, and Make a Better World” on Amazon https://amzn.to/3whsk5jFollow @BillNye on Twitter https://twitter.com/BillNyeFollow Curiosity Daily 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-change-minds-w-bill-nye Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling author and CBS news correspondent David Pogue explains why climate change is leading to more kidney stones and bar fights. Then, learn about the “doorway effect” when you forget why you walked into a room; and whether you should exercise on an empty stomach.Additional resources from David Pogue:Pick up "How to Prepare for Climate Change: A Practical Guide to Surviving the Chaos" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3fq65UYDavid Pogue's website: https://davidpogue.comDavid Pogue on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PogueDavid Pogue on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePoguemanA new study dives into the 'doorway effect,' or the tendency to forget things when you walk in a room by Cameron DukeMcFadyen, J., Nolan, C., Pinocy, E., Buteri, D., & Baumann, O. (2021). Doorways do not always cause forgetting: a multimodal investigation. BMC Psychology, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-021-00536-3Nield, D. (2021). What Did I Come in Here For? New Study Explains The Weird “Doorway Effect.” ScienceAlert. https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-find-the-doorway-effect-could-be-real-but-only-in-overloaded-brainsShould You Exercise on an Empty Stomach? originally aired November 29, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/exercising-on-an-empty-stomach-how-to-measure-curiFollow Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! 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/should-you-exercise-on-an-empty-stomach Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling author and CBS news correspondent David Pogue discusses why preparing for climate change is just as important as fighting it, with. Then, you’ll learn why you can make someone less defensive by making them feel validated.Additional resources from David Pogue:Pick up "How to Prepare for Climate Change: A Practical Guide to Surviving the Chaos" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3fq65UYDavid Pogue's website: https://davidpogue.comDavid Pogue on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PogueDavid Pogue on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePoguemanPeople are less defensive when they feel validated by Kelsey DonkIf We Don’t Feel Socially Accepted, We Get More Defensive When We’ve Done Something Wrong. (2021, March 9). Research Digest; Research Digest. https://digest.bps.org.uk/2021/03/09/if-we-dont-feel-socially-accepted-we-get-more-defensive-when-weve-done-something-wrong/Wenzel, M., Woodyatt, L., & McLean, B. (2020). The effects of moral/social identity threats and affirmations on psychological defensiveness following wrongdoing. British Journal of Social Psychology, 59(4), 1062–1081. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12378Follow Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! 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-to-prepare-for-a-warmer-future-w-david-pogue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about why social egalitarians are more likely to discriminate against older adults; why throbbing pain has nothing to do with your pulse; and why naturally gluten-free food is labeled gluten-free.The biggest advocates for equality are most likely to discriminate against older adults at work by Kelsey DonkAdvocates Of Equality For All Are More Likely To Show Prejudice Against Older Adults At Work. (2021, March 4). Research Digest; Research Digest. https://digest.bps.org.uk/2021/03/04/advocates-of-equality-for-all-are-more-likely-to-show-prejudice-against-older-adults-at-work/Martin, A. E., & North, M. S. (2021). Equality for (almost) all: Egalitarian advocacy predicts lower endorsement of sexism and racism, but not ageism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000262Throbbing pain has nothing to do with your pulse by Cameron DukeAhn, A. H. (2010). On the temporal relationship between throbbing migraine pain and arterial pulse. Headache, 50(9), 1507–1510. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2965597/Mirza, A. F., Mo, J., Holt, J. L., Kairalla, J. A., Heft, M. W., Ding, M., & Ahn, A. H. (2012). Is There a Relationship between Throbbing Pain and Arterial Pulsations? Journal of Neuroscience, 32(22), 7572–7576. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.0193-12.2012Mo, J., Maizels, M., Ding, M., & Ahn, A. H. (2013). Does throbbing pain have a brain signature? Pain, 154(7), 1150–1155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2013.02.013Why Does Food That Already Doesn't Contain Gluten Say Gluten-Free? originally aired June 5, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/gluten-free-labels-the-fbi-s-most-viewed-file-andFollow Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! 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/throbbing-pain-has-nothing-to-do-with-your-pulse Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn about how researchers built a “soft robot” that reached the depths of the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the ocean; why musicians with brain tumors serenade their surgeons; and the best way to phrase words of comfort.A "soft robot" reached the deepest part of the ocean by Grant CurrinLi, G., Chen, et al. (2021). Self-powered soft robot in the Mariana Trench. Nature, 591(7848), 66–71. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-03153-zLaschi, C., & Calisti, M. (2021). Soft robot reaches the deepest part of the ocean. Nature, 591(7848), 35–36. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-00489-yMusicians with Brain Tumors Serenade Their Surgeons by Ashley HamerHaun, S. (2011, June 9). Roger Frisch Follow-Up Talk. String Visions | from Ovation Press. http://stringvisions.ovationpress.com/2011/06/roger-frisch-follow-up-talk/Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). (2019). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21088-deep-brain-stimulationPatient plays saxophone while surgeons remove brain tumor. (2017, August 30). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-08/uorm-pps083017.phpGarcea, F. E., Chernoff, B. L., Diamond, B., Lewis, W., Sims, M. H., Tomlinson, S. B., Teghipco, A., Belkhir, R., Gannon, S. B., Erickson, S., Smith, S. O., Stone, J., Liu, L., Tollefson, T., Langfitt, J., Marvin, E., Pilcher, W. H., & Mahon, B. Z. (2017). Direct Electrical Stimulation in the Human Brain Disrupts Melody Processing. Current Biology, 27(17), 2684-2691.e7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2017.07.051Here's the best way to phrase words of comfort by Kelsey DonkValidation may be best way to support stressed out friends and family | Penn State University. (2020). Psu.edu. https://news.psu.edu/story/612979/2020/03/25/research/validation-may-be-best-way-support-stressed-out-friends-and-familyTian, X., Solomon, D. H., & Brisini, K. St. Cyr. (2020). How the Comforting Process Fails: Psychological Reactance to Support Messages. Journal of Communication, 70(1), 13–34. https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqz040Follow Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! 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-best-way-to-phrase-words-of-comfort-according-to-science Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bill Nye discusses the 2 things that make “science” what it is. Then, you’ll learn about how female tree frogs have noise-canceling lungs; and why your stomach growls when you’re hungry.Additional resources from Bill Nye:Official website https://billnye.com/Bill Nye’s podcast, Science Rules! https://www.askbillnye.com/Pick up “Bill Nye's Great Big World of Science” on Amazon https://amzn.to/3u8iKQi“Everything All at Once: How to Think Like a Science Guy, Solve Any Problem, and Make a Better World” on Amazon https://amzn.to/3whsk5jFollow @BillNye on Twitter https://twitter.com/BillNyeThis frog has noise-canceling lungs by Cameron DukeLee, N., Christensen-Dalsgaard, J., White, L. A., Schrode, K. M., & Bee, M. A. (2021). Lung Mediated Auditory Contrast Enhancement Improves the Signal-to-Noise Ratio for Communication in Frogs. Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.048This frog has lungs that act like noise-canceling headphones. (2021). ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210304145430.htmWhy your stomach growls when you're hungry by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Safin in Lisbon, Portugal)Why does your stomach growl when you are hungry? (2002, January 21). Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-does-your-stomach-gro/What Makes Your Stomach Growl? (2020, February 12). Wonderopolis.org. https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-makes-your-stomach-growlFollow Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! 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/science-is-a-process-and-bill-nye-explains-why Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.