Curiosity Weekly - Discovery

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Artificial Reef, Glasses & Income, AC DNA May 15, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about an artificial reef that could save the shore from storms, how simply owning a pair of glasses can make you earn more income, and how air conditioners could help CSI detectives solve crimes.

Artificial Reef

“Artificial reef designed by MIT engineers could protect marine life, reduce storm damage.” by Jennifer Chu. 2024.
“Coastal Protection.” Coral Reef Alliance. 2024.
“Architected materials for artificial reefs to increase storm energy dissipation.” by Edvard Ronglan, et al. 2024.

Glasses & Income

“Having the right glasses could boost earning power by a third, Bangladesh study shows.” by Sarah Johnson. 2024.
“The effect on income of providing near vision correction to workers in Bangladesh: The THRIVE (Tradespeople and Hand-workers Rural Initiative for a Vision-enhanced Economy) randomized controlled trial.” by Farzana Sehrin, et al. 2024.
“Presbyopia.” Mayo Clinic. 2021.
“The Global Burden of Potential Productivity Loss from Uncorrected Presbyopia.” by Kevin D. Frick, et al. 2015.

AC DNA

“Cold case: DNA in airconditioners to place suspects at the scene of a crime.” by Ben Coxworth. 2024.
“Up in the air: Presence and collection of DNA from air and air conditioner units.” by Mariya Goray, et al. 2024.

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Solar Drinking Water, Forgetting Memories, Super-Earth May 10, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about a revolutionary new system that can turn saltwater into drinking water with the help of the sun, how your brain chooses what memories to keep, and a super-Earth with a really dark side.

Solar Drinking Water

“Solar-powered technology converts saltwater into drinking water emission-free.” King’s College London. 2024.
“Flexible batch electrodialysis for low-cost solar-powered brackish water desalination.” by Wei He, et al. 2024.
“Valuing Water.” United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. 2021.

Forgetting Memories

“How the brain chooses which memories are important enough to save and which to let fade away.” by Linda Carroll. 2024.
“Relax! It’ll boost your memory, study shows.” by Kate Kelland. 2010.
“Normal and Abnormal Sharp Wave Ripples in the Hippocampal-Entohinal Cortex System: Implications for Memory Consolidation, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.” by Zhi-Hang Zhen, et al. 2021.

Super-Earth

“This super-Earth is the first planet confirmed to have a permanent dark side.” by Joseph Howlett. 2024.
“LHS 3844 b.” NASA Exoplanet Catalog. N.d.
“Tidal Locking.” NASA. 2024.

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New Marine Species, Teen Drivers, Animal Microchips May 09, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about a massive discovery of new species from the depths of the ocean, why you shouldn’t buy your brand new driver their own car, and a possible breakthrough in microchip data collection from animals.

New Marine Species

“Scientists Discover 100 New Marine Species in New Zealand.” by Rebecca Carballo. 2024.
“Expedition to Uncover Secrets of New Zealand’s Unexplored Bounty Trough.” Ocean Census. 2024.
“Our Mission: Enhancing Ocean Life Discovery Worldwide.” Ocean Census. 2024.
“This metal marvel collects time capsules of life from the abyss.” Marine Biodiversity Hub. 2017.

Teen Drivers

“‘Don’t buy your kids a car’: young drivers with own cars in more crashes.” by Lachlan Gilbert. 2024.
“Young drivers’ early access to their own car and crash risk into early adulthood: Findings from DRIVE study.” by Huei-Yang Chen, et al. 2024.
“Teen Drivers.” Injury Facts. 2024.
“Young Drivers.” NHTSA. 2022.
“Teen Driver Statistics.” Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute. 2024.

Animal Microchips

“Injectable Microchip Tracks Animal Health.” by Julianne Pepitone. 2024.
“Microchips Result In Higher Rate Of Return Of Shelter Animals To Owners.” by Linda Lord. 2009.
“A Subcutaneously Injectable Implant for Multimodal Physiological Monitoring in Animals.” by Parvez Ahmmed, et al. 2024.

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Gossip, Zooplankton, School Bus Science May 08, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about the potential positive power of gossip, how climate change is making zooplankton in Lake Erie confused, and a surprising connection between new school buses and student performance in school.

Gossip

“Can’t Stand Gossip? Let’s Talk, New Research Suggests.” by Emily C. Nunez. 2024.
“Explaining the evolution of gossip.” by Xinyue Pan, et al. 2024.
“Who Gossips and How in Everyday Life?” by Megan L. Robbins, et al. 2019.

Zooplankton

“In Lake Erie, climate change scrambles zooplankton seasonal presence.” by Tatyana Woodall. 2024.
“Zooplankton Facts.” n.a. 2024.
“Biotic and thermal drivers alter zooplankton phenology in western Lake Erie.” by Jenna Bailey & James M. Hood. 2024.

School Bus Science

“Could riding older school buses hinder student performance?” University of Michigan. 2024.
“EPA Clean School Bus Rebate Program Offers $500 Million in Funding.” n.a. 2023.
“School Bus Rebate Program and Student Educational Performance Test Scores.” by Meredith Pedde, PhD, et al. 2024.

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Grooving to Music, Horse Burial, Coffee & Cancer May 03, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about the science of getting in the groove, a newly discovered burial ground for elite medieval horses, and more evidence that coffee could help you fight off cancer.

Grooving to Music

“Neural dynamics of predictive timing and motor engagement in music listening.” by Arnaud Zalta, et al. 2024.
“Two Concepts of Groove: Musical Nuances, Rhythm, and Genre.” by Evan Malone. 2022.
“An expanded role for the dorsal auditory pathway in sensorimotor control and integration.” by Josef P Rauschecker. 2011.

Horse Burial

“Tudor era horse cemetery in Westminster revealed as likely resting place of elite imported animals.” by Andrew Merrington. 2024.
“Horse cemetery in Westminster revealed as likely resting place for elite imported animals.” n.a. 2024.

Coffee & Cancer

“Coffee drinkers have much lower risk of bowel cancer recurrence, study finds.” by Denis Campbell. 2024.
“Sixty seconds on…Coffee and cancer.” by Nigel Hawkes. 2016.
“Coffee consumption is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer recurrence and all-cause mortality.” by Abisola M. Oyelere, et al. 2024.
“Colorectal Cancer: Facts & Figures 2020-2022.” American Cancer Society. 2020.

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ChatGPT in School, Quiet Covid, Healing Contact Lens May 02, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about the pros and mostly cons of using ChatGPT in the classroom, how wild animals responded to the sudden peace and quiet of Covid, and a new contact lens that can help heal eye wounds.

ChatGPT in School

“Is it harmful or helpful? Examining the causes and consequences of generative AI usage among university students.” by Muhammad Abbas, et al. 2024.
“Uses and Misuses of ChatGPT by Academic Community: An Overview and Guidelines.” by Muhammad Abbas. 2023.

Quiet Covid

“Hundreds of photos show animal behaviour during COVID-19 lockdowns.” by Andrew Kurjata. 2024.
“Mammal responses to global changes in human activity vary by trophic group and landscape.” by A. Cole Burton, et al. 2024.
“Scientists say new epoch marked by human impact - the Anthropocene - began in 1950s.” Associate Press. 2023.
“When COVID rules kept humans home, wildlife roamed more freely, international study shows.” by Wallis Snowdon. 2023.

Healing Contact Lens

“Fabrication and Characterization of an Enzyme-Triggered, Therapeutic-Releasing Hydrogel Bandage Contact Lens Material.” by Susmita Bose, et al. 2024.
“Corneal Injury.” NIH. 2023.

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Bigger Brains, Reef Songs, AI Speech May 01, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about why our brains are getting bigger and why that’s a good thing, how the sweet songs of the reef could help save it, and an AI device that gives a voice to the voiceless.

Bigger Brains

“Human brains are getting larger. That may be good news for dementia risk.” UC David Health. 2024.
“Trends in Intracranial and Cerebral Volumes of Framingham Heart Study Participants Born 1930 to 1970.” by Charles DeCarli, MD, et al. 2024.
“Framingham Heart Study.” Framingham Heart Study. N.d.
“Study examines factors behind decline in dementia incidence.” NIH. 2016.

Reef Songs

“Sounds appealing - reef recordings entice coral larvae to start building.” by Ben Coxworth. 2024.
“Life Below Water.” UN. n.d.
“Status of Coral Reefs.” Reef Resilience Network. N.d.
“Soundscape enrichment increases larval settlement rates for the brooding coral Porites astreoides.” by Nadege Aoki, et al. 2024.

AI Speech

“Speaking without vocal cords, thanks to a new AI-assisted wearable device.” by Christine Wei-li Lee. 2024.
“Speaking without vocal folds using a machine-learning-assisted wearable sensing-actuation system.” by Ziyuan Che, et al. 2024.

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Sleep Spray, Insecticide Paint, UK Redwoods Apr 26, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about a nasal spray that could one day let those with sleep apnea toss out their CPAP machines, house paint that kills mosquitos, and the incredible giant redwoods… of England.

Sleep Spray

“A novel TASK channel antagonist nasal spray reduces sleep apnea severity in physiological responders: a randomized, blinded, trial.” by Amal M. Osman, et al. 2024.
“Obstructive Sleep Apnea.” by Rob Newsom & Dr. Abhinav Singh. 2024.

Insecticide Paint

“Insecticide paint controls mosquito population up to 1 year, experiment shows.” by Stephanie Soucheray, MA. 2024.
“Mosquito-Borne Human Viral Diseases: Why Aedes aegypti?” by Jeffrey R. Powell. 2018.
“Insecticide paints: a new community strategy for controlling dengue and zika mosquito vectors in Cabo Verde.” by Lara Ferrero Gomez, et al. 2024.
“Special insecticide paint may help curb zika and dengue fever outbreaks.” EurekAlert! 2024.

UK Redwoods

“Hidden giants: how the UK’s 500,000 redwoods put California in the shade.” by James Tapper. 2024.
“11 FActs About Coast Redwoods, the Tallest Trees in the World.” by Melissa Breyer. 2020.
“California: visitors to world’s tallest tree face $5,000 fine and possible jail time.” Associated Press. 2022.

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Palm-Less Oil, Polyglot Brain, Ayahuasca & Fear Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about an effort to create palm oil without burning down millions of acres of forest, the surprising way polyglots’ brains approach their own native language, and new research on how the powerful psychedelic drug ayahuasca extinguishes fear.

Palm-Less Oil

“They Want to Make Palm Oil in a Lab. Without Palm Trees.” by Dionne Searcey. 2024.
“Things To Know About Palm Oil.” WWF. n.d.

Polyglot Brain

“For people who speak many languages, there’s something special about their native tongue.” by Anne Trafton. 2024.
“Functional characterization of the language network of polyglots and hyperpolyglots with precision fMRI.” by Saima Malik-Moraleda, et al. 2024.

Ayahuasca & Fear

“Ayahuasca accelerates fear extinction via its effect on serotonin receptors.” by Eric. W. Dolan. 2024.
“Ayahuasca-enhanced extinction of fear behaviour: Role of infralimbic cortex 5-HT2a and 5-HT1a receptors.” by Isabel Werle, et al. 2024.
“The Therapeutic Potentials of Ayahuasca: Possible Effects against Various Diseases of Civilization.” by Ede Frecska, et al. 2016.

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Extinction Risk, Living Fossils, Asteroid vs Birds Apr 24, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about a new study shedding light on what species are most vulnerable to extinction from climate change, why species of living fossils take their time evolving, and a new theory about how the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs also impacted birds.

Extinction Risk

“New study reveals insight into which animals are most vulnerable to extinction due to climate change.” University of Oxford. 2024.
“What is mass extinction and are we facing a sixth one?” by Tammana Begum. 2021. Updated 2023.
“Mass extinctions, their causes and consequences: an interview with Douglas H. Erwin and Shuzhong Shen.” by Shucheng Xie. 2023.
“Species and climate change.” IUCN. 2021.
“Humanity’s Fitting Place on the List of Mass Extinction Events.” by Sam Baker. 2018.

Living Fossils

“Study of slowly evolving ‘living fossils’ reveals key genetic insights.” by Mike Cummings. 2024.
“A New Discovery Reveals Why Darwin’s ‘Living Fossil’ Keeps Defying Evolution.” by Tim Newcomb. 2024.
“Giraffe Evolution.” by Adam Atwood. 2024.

Asteroid vs Birds

“An Asteroid Wiped Out Dinosaurs. Did It Help Birds Flourish?” by Carl Zimmer. 2024.
“Dust Might Have Snuffed Out the Dinosaurs.” by Miriam Fauzia. 2023.
“How Did Birds First Take Off?” by Carl Zimmer. 2023.
“Genomes, fossils, and the concurrent rise of modern birds and flowering plants in the Late Cretaceous.” by Shaoyuan Wu, et al. 2024.

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