Curiosity Weekly - Discovery

Latest Episodes:

Aging & Colors, First Continents, Phones & Infant Health Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about how we experience colors differently as we age, a discovery from the time of the very first continents on Earth, and the impact of mobile phones on infant health - it’s not what you might expect.

Aging & Colors

“Colours fade as people age.” UCL. 2024.
“Pupil responses to colorfulness are selectively reduced in healthy older adults.” By Janneke E. P. van Leeuwen, et al. 2023.

First Continents

“Researchers uncover source rocks of the first real continents.” The University of British Columbia. 2024.
“Tonalite-Trondhjemite-Granodiorite.” by Herve Martin & Nicholas Arndt. Reference work entry. N.d.
“What was it like when life first sprang forth on Earth?” by Ethan Siegel. 2024.
“Archaean continental crust formed from mafic cumulates.” by Matthijs A. Smit, et al. 2024.

Phones & Infant Health

“How does owning a mobile phone impact infant health?” McGill University. 2024.
“Mobile phones and infant health at birth.” by Luca Maria Pesando & Komin Qiyomiddin. 2023.
“Prevalence of low birth weight and its associated factors: Hospital based cross sectional study in Nepal.” by Pratibha Thapa, et al. 2022.
“National, regional, and worldwide estimates of low birthweight in 2015, with trends from 2000: a systematic analysis.” by Hannah Blencowe, et al. 2019.
“Low birth weight.” World Health Organization. N.d.

Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter withCalli andNate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Microgravity Gardening, AI Learns Language, Elephant Numbers Mar 01, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about the possible dangers of growing leafy greens in microgravity, a study that let AI tag along with a toddler to learn language the human way, and research on stabilizing elephant populations on the African savannah.

Microgravity Gardening

“Simulated microgravity facilitates stomatal ingression by Salmonella in lettuce and suppresses a biocontrol agent.” by Noah Totsline, et al. 2024.
“The Future.” NASA. N.D.
“What will astronauts eat during long missions in space?” Leidos. 2023.

AI Learns Language

“AI learns language through the experience of a single child in groundbreaking study.” by Eric W. Dolan. 2024.
“Grounded language acquisition through the eyes and ears of a single child.” by Wai Keen Vong, et al. 2024.

Elephant Numbers

“Protecting and connecting landscapes stabilizes populations of the Endangered savannah elephant.” by Ryan M. Huang, et al. 2024.
“The African Savanna.” by Michael Swiderek. 2021.
“Africa’s great savannahs may be more endangered than the world’s rainforests.” by Jeremy Hance. 2012.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leap Year, Tailored Microgreens, Teenage Advice Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about the reason and the history of leap year, how scientists could tailor microgreens to your own personal dietary needs, and a lesson in getting teens to listen to your advice.

Leap Year

“Why do we have leap years? And how did they come about?” by Harry Baker. 2024.
“Which years are leap years?” Royal Museums Greenwich. N.d.

Tailored Microgreens

“Microgreens made to order: Italian scientists have tailored iodine and potassium content of radishes, peas, rocket and chard.” EurekAlert! 2024.
“Soilless cultivation systems to produce tailored microgreens for specific nutritional needs.” by Massimiliano D’Imperio, et al. 2023.
“Why You Should Eat Microgreens.” Cleveland Clinic. 2023.

Teenage Advice

“Got advice? Here’s how to get teens to listen.” by J.D. Warren. 2024.
“Relations Between Daily Activities and Adolescent Mood: The Role of Autonomy.” by Sally M. Weinstein & Robin Mermelstein. 2008.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Racism & The Brain, Rhino Embryos, Handwriting Feb 28, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about how feeling the effects of racism might actually change the victim’s brain chemistry, how scientists have successfully completed the first embryo transfer in an endangered rhino, and how handwriting increases brain connectivity.

Racism & The Brain

“Experiencing racism may physically change your brain.” by Jon Hamilton, Rachel Carlson, & Rebecca Ramirez. 2024.
“Association of Racial Discrimination With Neural Response to Threat in Black Women in the US Exposed to Trauma.” by Negar Fani, PhD. et al. 2021.

Rhino Embryos

“World's first successful embryo transfer in rhinos paves the way for saving the northern white rhinos from extinction.” ScienceDaily. 2024.
“Southern white rhinoceros.” National Geographic. N.d.
“Northern white rhino.” Fauna & Flora. N.d.

Handwriting

“Writing by hand may increase brain connectivity more than typing on a keyboard.” by Deborah Pirchner. 2024.
“Handwriting but not typewriting leads to widespread brain connectivity: a high-density EEG study with implications for the classroom.” by F.R. (Ruud) Van der Weel & Audrey L.H. Van der Meer. 2024.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Silk-Making Bacteria, Deep Coral, CRISPR Agriculture Feb 23, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about a bacteria that turns plastic into spider webs, a massive deep-sea discovery right in our own backyard, and how CRISPR could reshape agriculture for an entire continent.

Silk-Making Bacteria

“Researchers Engineer Bacteria That Eat Plastic, Make Multipurpose Spider Silk.” Technology Networks. 2024.
“Two-step conversion of polyethylene into recombinant proteins using a microbial platform.” by Alexander Connor, et al. 2023.
“Our planet is choking on plastic.” UNEP. n.d.
“In Images: Plastic is Forever.” UN. n.d.

Deep Coral

“World’s largest deep-sea coral reef found lurking beneath the Gulf Stream ‘right on the doorstep’ of US coast.” by Harry Baker. 2024.
“Status of Coral Reefs.” Reef Resilience Network. N.d.
“Life Below Water.” UN. 2020.

CRISPR Agriculture

“CRISPR-edited crops break new ground in Africa.” by Heidi Ledford. 2024.
“Witchweed.” USDA. n.d.
“Africa’s agricultural revolution: From self-sufficiency to global food powerhouse.” By Gareth Hodder & Brenda Migwalla. 2023.
“GMOs or non-GMOs? The CRISPR Conundrum.” By Aftab Ahmad, et al. 2023.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hunter-Gatherer Diets, Self-Checkouts, Penguin Colonies Feb 22, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about a new discovery that turns our understanding of hunter-gatherer diets on its head, the effect of self-checkout on our sense of loyalty to grocery stores, and some good news about the majestic emperor penguin.

Hunter-Gatherer Diets

“Hunter-gatherers were mostly gatherers, says archaeologist.” by Hannah Devlin. 2024.
“Paleo diet: What is it and why is it so popular?” by Mayo Clinic Staff. 2022.
“What Paleo diets get wrong: We’re not evolved for meat, and our ancestors ate carbs.” by Julia Belluz. 2015.

Self-Checkouts

“Does Self-Checkout Impact Grocery Store Loyalty?” Drexel News. 2024.
“Must-Know Self Checkout Statistics [Latest Report].” by Lorena Castillo. 2023.
“Self-checkout now comprises nearly 40% of grocery checkout options, study says.” by Catherine Douglas Moran. 2022.
“Feeling rewarded and entitled to be served: Understanding the influence of self- versus regular checkout on customer loyalty.” by Farhana Nusrat & Yanliu Huang. 2024.

Penguin Colonies

“Scientists Discover Four New Emperor Penguin Colonies From Satellite Images of Antarctica.” by Sarah Kuta. 2024.
“Top 10 Facts About Emperor Penguins.” WWF. 2023.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Insect Robots, Bigfoot & Bears, Chronic Stress Feb 21, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about the fastest mini robots ever created, how Bigfoot sightings may help scientists study bear populations, and the link between financial stress and poor health.

Insect Robots

Mini-robots modeled on insects may be smallest, lightest, fastest ever developed.” Washington State University. 2024.
“A New 1-mg Fast Unimorph SMA-Based Actuator for Microrobotics.” by Conor K. Trygstad, et al. 2023.

Bigfoot & Bears

“Bigfoot: If it’s there, could it be a bear?” by Floe Foxon. 2024.
“Study finds bigfoot sightings correlate with black bear populations.” by John Timmer. 2024.
“All 3,313 Sasquatch sightings, mapped.” PBS. 2013.

Chronic Stress

“Financial stress linked to worse biological health.” UCL. 2024.
“Stress symptoms: Effects on your body and behavior.” Mayo Clinic Staff. 2023.
“How stress affects your health.” APA. Updated 2022.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Organ Age, Comfort Food, Speedy Snails Feb 16, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about a new test that can show how well each of your organs are aging, some interesting links between comfort food and stress, and a surprising finding about certain snails.

Organ Age

“Are your organs ageing well? The blood holds clues.” by Max Kozlov. 2023.
“Blood test shows if organs are ageing fast or slowly.” by Michelle Roberts. 2023.

Comfort Food

“Comfort eating can impair body’s recovery from stress, study shows..” by Rachel Hall. 2023.
“Stress and Eating Behaviors.” by Yvonne H. C. Yau & Marc N. Potenza. 2013.
“Fatty foods can impair the body’s response to everyday stress - study.” by Jet Veldhuijzen van Zanten. 2023.

Speedy Snails

“Japanese snail adaptation and speciation in anti-predation escape behavior.” by Yuta Morii. 2023.
“The divergence of mobility and activity associated with anti-predator adaptation in land snails.” by Yuta Morii, et al. 2023.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ant Doctors, Sequestered Carbon, Menstrual Brain Feb 15, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about ants that play doctor to their fellow ants after going into battle, a possible game-changing way to sequester carbon at the bottom of the ocean, and the changes that can happen in the female mind during menstruation.

Ant Doctors

“Ants Recognize Infected Wounds and Treat Them.” Universitat Wurzburg. 2024.
“Innovative drugs, chemicals, and enzymes within the animal production chain.” by Yousef I. Hassan, et al. 2018.
“Targeted treatment of injured nestmates with antimicrobial compounds in ant society.” by Erik. T. Frank, et al. 2023.
Ant Video. N.d.

Sequestered Carbon

“To combat climate change, companies bury plant waste at sea.” by Saima Sidik. 2023.
“Biomass Storage in Anoxic Marine Basins: Initial estimates of geochemical impacts and CO2 sequestration capacity.” by Morgan Reed Raven, et al. 2023.
“2023 Global Carbon Budget Report Emphasizes Urgent Need to Reduce Global Emissions.” by Laura Chaibongsai. 2023.

Menstrual Brain

“The menstrual rhythm of the brain.” Max Planck Gesellschaft. 2023.
“Ultra-high-field 7T MRI reveals changes in human medial temporal lobe volume in female adults during menstrual cycle.” by Rachel G. Zsido, et al. 2023.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Long-Term Memories, Ear Infections, Mercury Salt Feb 14, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about a breakthrough in our understanding of how the brain creates long-term memories, the effect of chronic childhood ear infections on the development of language, and how salt may have helped shape the planet Mercury.

Long-Term Memories

“Neurons aren’t the only cells that make memories in the brain, rodent study reveals.” by Emily Cooke. 2023.
“Brain Microvascular Pericytes in Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia.” by Maiko T. Uemura, et al. 2020.
“All you need to know about neurons.” by Tim Newman. 2023.

Ear Infections

“Chronic childhood ear infections delay language development.” by Eric Hamilton. 2024.
“Ear Infections in Children.” NIH. 2022.
“Early otitis media puts children at risk for later auditory and language deficits.” by Susan Nittrouer & Joanna H. Lowenstein. 2024.

Mercury Salt

“Salt may have carved out Mercury’s terrains, including glacierlike features.” by Shi En Kim. 2024.
“The Chaotic Terrains of Mercury Reveal a History of Planetary Volatile Retention and Loss in the Innermost Solar System.” by J. Alexis P. Rodrigues, et al. 2020.
“Mercury’s stunning landscape mapped.” by Christopher Crockett. 2016.
“Mercury Facts.” NASA. n.d.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Curiosity Weekly – Discovery

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected