Curiosity Weekly - Discovery

Latest Episodes:

Baby Language, AI Medicine, Human Collaboration Jan 18, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about how babies pick up language before they’re even born, an AI that takes on the busy work for doctors, and new insight into how humans collaborate.

Baby Language

“Babies’ Brains Are Primed For Their Native Language Before Birth.” by Nyla Husain. 2023.
“Prenatal experience with language shapes the brain.” by Benedetta Mariani. 2023.
“The What and When of Universal Perception: A Review of Early Speech Sound Acquisition.” by Katerina Chladkova & Nikola Paillereau. 2020.

AI Medicine

“Medical AI tool from UF, NVIDIA gets human thumbs-up in first study.” by Jim W. Harper. 2023.
“AI Training AI: GatorTronGPT at the Forefront of University of Florida’s Medical AI Innovations.” by Mona Flores. 2023.
“A study of generative large language model for medical research and healthcare.” by Cheng Peng, et al. 2023.
“Physicians, paperwork, and paying attention to patients.” by Dr. Monique Tello. 2016.

Human Collaboration

“How we play together.” n.a. 2023.
“The evolution of human cooperation.” Coren L. Apicella & Joan B. Silk. 2019.

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.

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Brain Game, Goal Paralysis, Salt Cycle Jan 17, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about a new brain interface that allows people to play games with their minds, how bad luck might make you less committed to achieving greatness, and some alarming news about how the way humans use salt is not just bad for our bodies, but the planet as well.

Brain Game

“New brain-computer interface allows people to play a game using their thoughts.” by Vladimir Hedrih. 2023.
“Combining brain-computer interfaces and multiplayer video games: an application based on c-VEPs.” by Selene Moreno-Calderon, et al. 2023.

Goal Paralysis

“Goal paralysis: How bad luck affects goal commitment.” by Cony M. Ho, et al. 2023.
“Today Is Just Not My Day: Bad Luck’s Effect on Goal Pursuit.” by Cony M. Ho, et al. 2023.

Salt Cycle

“Humans are disrupting natural ‘salt cycle’ on a global scale, new study shows.” EurekAlert! 2023.
“Cary Institute Report on Sustainable Road Salt Use.” Cary Institute. 2019.

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Brain Rewiring, Rat Imagination, Dogs & PTSD Jan 12, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about the brain’s ability - or inability - to rewire itself, the imagination of rats, and how dogs can have a positive effect on those suffering from PTSD.

Brain Rewiring

“Our brains are not able to ‘rewire’ themselves, despite what most scientists believe, new study argues.” University of Cambridge. 2023.
“Against cortical reorganisation.” by Tamar R. Makin & John W. Krakauer. 2023.

Rat Imagination

“Rats have an imagination, new research finds.” EurekAlert! 2023.
“Volitional activation of remote place representations with a hippocampal brain-machine interface.” by Chongxi Lai, et al. 2023.

Dogs & PTSD

“Contact with a service dog might help individuals with PTSD sleep better, study finds.” by Vladimir Hedrih. 2023.
“Paws for Purple Hearts - Service Dogs for our Warriors.” Website. 2023.
“Heart rate during sleep in PTSD patients: Moderation by contact with a service dog.” by Steven H. Woodward, et al. 2023.

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Lab on a Chip, Trauma Headaches, Mantle Blobs Jan 11, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about a microchip-sized laboratory, how childhood traumas can lead to a lifetime of headaches, and strange blobs in the Earth’s mantle.

Lab on a Chip

“‘Lab on a chip’ genetic test device can identify viruses within three minutes with highest accuracy.” University of Bath. 2023.
“LoCKAmp: lab-on-PCB technology for <3 minute virus genetic detection.” by Sotirios Papamatthaiou, et al. 2023.
“What’s the difference between a PCR and antigen COVID-19 test?” by Nate Hafer, PhD. 2021.

Trauma Headaches

“Adverse Childhood Experiences and Primary Headache Disorders.” by Claudia Sikorski, et al. 2023.
“The global prevalence of headache: an update, with analysis of the influences of methodological factors on prevalence estimates.” by Lars Jacob Stovner, et al. 2022.

Mantle Blobs

“Strange blobs in Earth’s mantle are relics of a massive collision.” by Anil Oza. 2023.
“Earth’s Hidden Guests: Strange Blobs in Deep Mantle Are the Remains of an Ancient Planet.” by California Institute of Technology. 2023.
“How and When the Earth and Moon Formed.” by Sasha Warren. 2021.

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Bipolar Blood Test, Music & Pain, Puffin Hybrid Jan 10, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about a new blood test that could revolutionize bipolar diagnoses, how music could help knock out pain, and how a changing climate is changing puffins.

Bipolar Blood Test

“Simple blood test can help diagnose bipolar disorder.” University of Cambridge. 2023.
“Bipolar Disorder.” NIH. n..d.
“Diagnosis and management of bipolar disorders.” by Fernando S. Goes. 2023.

Music & Pain

“Emotional responses to favorite and relaxing music predict music-induced hypoalgesia.” by Darius Valevicius, et al. 2023.
“Editorial: Perspectives on music and pain: from evidence to theory and application.” by Annabel J. Cohen, et al. 2023.

Puffin Hybrid

“Hybridization of Atlantic puffins in the Arctic coincides with 20th-century climate change.” by Oliver Kersten, et al. 2023.
“Atlantic Puffin.” n.a. N.d.
“Puffin FAQs.” Audubon. N.d.

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Healthy Tongue, Slippery Surface, Curious for Answers Jan 05, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about an ancient diagnostic tool getting an AI upgrade, the world’s slipperiest surface, and some insight into the minds of everyone who loves this show!

Healthy Tongue

“Eyes may be the window to your soul, but the tongue mirrors your health.” University of South Australia. 2023.
“Ancient tongue diagnosis for the 21st century dental hygienist.” by Kathryn Gilliam. 2023.
“Analysis of Tongue Color-Associated Features among Patients with PCR-Confirmed COVID-19 Infection in Ukraine.” by Liudmyla Horzov. 2021.

Slippery Surface

“Droplet slipperiness despite surface heterogeneity at molecular scale.” by Sakari Lepikko, et al. 2023.
“Slippery Science: Crafting the World’s Most Water-Repellent Surface.” by Aalto University. 2023.

Curious for Answers

“Curiosity evolves as information unfolds.” by Abigail Hsiung, et al. 2023.
“Unraveling Curiosity: Why We Savor the Suspense and Shun Spoilers.” Neuroscience.com. 2023.

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Speech Reconstruction, Weighted Blankets, Space Radio Burst Jan 04, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about how people who have lost the power of speech could get their voices back through AI, the cool truth about the weighted blanket fad, and an 8-billion-year-old blast from outer space.

Speech Reconstruction

“Neural Networks Help Reconstruct Speech From Brain Activity.” Technology Networks. 2023.
“How Intel Gave Stephen Hawking a Voice.” by Joao Medeiros. 2015.
“Distributed feedforward and feedback cortical processing supports human speech production.” by Ran Wang, et al. 2023.

Weighted Blankets

“Weighted blankets improve sleep in children with ADHD, study shows.” by Stacey Coleen Lubag. 2023.
“The Problem With This Year’s Most Comfortable Holiday Fad.” by Ashley Fetters. 2018.
“The Origin Of Weighted Blankets - How Did It All Start? A History Lesson.” by Larry. 2023.
“The efficacy of weighted blankets for sleep in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder—A randomized controlled crossover trial.” by Maria Lonn, et al. 2023.

Space Radio Burst

“A radio burst traveled 8 billion years to reach Earth. It’s the farthest ever detected.” by Eric Lagatta. 2023.
“A luminous fast radio burst that probes the Universe at redshift 1.” by S.D. Ryder, et al. 2023.
“Record-breaking fast radio burst offers path to weigh the Universe.” EurekAlert! 2023.

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Sixth Taste, HIV Immunity Battle, Altruistic Bees Jan 03, 2024

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about the hunt for the elusive sixth taste, a new discovery showing how HIV keeps fighting the immune system even with effective treatment, and the altruism of bees.

Sixth Taste

“And then there were 6 - kinds of taste, that is.” by Darrin S. Joy. 2023.
“How does our sense of taste work?” NIH. 2020.
“Researchers Say Ammonium Is the Sixth Basic Taste: Here’s What to Know.” by Julia Ries. 2023.

HIV Immunity Battle

“‘Dormant’ HIV has ongoing skirmishes with the body’s immune system.” by John Carey. 2023.
“10 Things to Know About HIV Suppression.” NIH. 2020.
“Spontaneous HIV expression during suppressive ART is associated with the magnitude of function of HIV-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells.” by Mathieu Dube, et al. 2023.

Altruistic Bees

“Honey bees may inherit altruistic behavior from their mothers.” by Katie Bohn. 2023.
“Beyond conflict: Kinship theory of intragenomic conflict predicts individual variation in altruistic behaviour.” by Sean T. Bresnahan, et al. 2023.

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Re-release: Young Blood, Cinnamon Memory, Microplastic Filter Dec 29, 2023

Show notes

Today you’ll learn about how scientists are using a drug meant for arthritis to mimic blood transfusions, how cinnamon could potentially be improving our brain’s health, and how a new filter is capable of removing 99% of microplastics from water.

Young Blood

“Arthritis drug mimics "young blood" transfusions to reverse aging in mice” By Michael Irving
“Stromal niche inflammation mediated by IL-1 signalling is a targetable driver of haematopoietic ageing” by Carl A. Mitchell et al.
“Will revitalizing old blood slow aging?” by COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IRVING MEDICAL CENTER

Cinnamon Memory

“Cinnamon and cognitive function: a systematic review of preclinical and clinical studies” by Samaneh Nakhaee et al.
“Cinnamon Improves Your Memory And Cognition” by GrrlScientist

Microplastic Filter

“High-efficiency water filter removes 99.9% of microplastics in 10 seconds” By Michael Irving
“Supramolecular Engineering of Amorphous Porous Polymers for Rapid Adsorption of Micropollutants and Solar-Powered Volatile Organic Compounds Management” by Wansu Cho et al.
“Meet Gilbert: The robotic fish designed to help clean plastic from our waterways” by Steven Yabionski
“What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?” by EPA
“Eco-friendly materials capable of purifying water at high speed with inexpensive raw materials” by DGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)

Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — 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.

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Re-release: Zombie Virus, Back From the Brink, Bad Cholesterol Dec 28, 2023

Show notes

Today you’ll learn about a zombie virus recovered from the arctic permafrost and brought back to life, some good news about 26 Australian animal species that have been brought back from the brink, and how a new pill could potentially limit the levels of “bad” cholesterol in the body.

Zombie Virus

“Scientists have revived a ‘zombie’ virus that spent 48,500 years frozen in permafrost.” By Katie Hunt. 2023.
“Arctic permafrost is thawing rapidly. It affects us all.” By Katie Hunt. 2022.

Back From the Brink

“Researchers find 26 Australian species recovered from the brink of extinction.” abc.net. 2023.
“Lights at the end of the tunnel: The incidence and characteristics of recovery for Australian threatened animals.” by Woinarski, et al. 2023.
“Humpback whales no longer listed as endangered after major recovery.” by Claudia Long. 2022.
“Red List: Summary Statistics.” n.a. N.d.

Bad Cholesterol

“Oral pill cuts bad cholesterol by 60% in phase 2 clinical trial” By Michael Irving
“Efficacy and safety of the oral PCSK9 inhibitor MK-0616: a phase 2b randomized controlled trial” by Christie M. Ballantyne et al.
“What Is the Difference Between Good and Bad Cholesterol?” by Keck Medicine of USC
“Coronary artery disease” by Mayo Clinic
“PCSK9 gene” by MedLine Plus

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