Curiosity Weekly - Discovery

Latest Episodes:

Pain of Uncertainty, Nearsightedness, Doctors Join Forces Aug 31, 2023

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about the pain people will endure to avoid uncertainty, a possible link between nearsightedness and education, and a social media app that is helping improve the accuracy of doctors’ diagnosis decisions.

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/pain-of-uncertainty-nearsightedness-doctors-join-forces

Pain of Uncertainty

“Humans will trade pain for useless information.” by Phie Jacobs. 2023.
- https://www.science.org/content/article/humans-will-trade-pain-useless-informatin
“Monkeys are curious about counterfactual outcomes.” by Maya Zhe Wang and Benjamin Hayden. 2019.
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332082380_Monkeys_are_curious_about_counterfactual_outcomes

Nearsightedness

“The Causal Effect of Education on Myopia: Evidence That More Exposure to Schooling, Rather Than Increased Age, Causes the Onset of Myopia.” by Xiaohu Ding, et al. 2023.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10132316/
“Myopia: A close look at efforts to turn back a growing problem.” NIH. 2017, ‘
- https://www.nei.nih.gov/about/news-and-events/news/myopia-close-look-efforts-turn-back-growing-problem

Doctors Join Forces

“Experimental evidence for structured information-sharing networks reducing medical errors.” by Damon Centola, et al. 2023.
- https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2108290120
“One way to reduce medical errors? Connect doctors with other doctors.” University of Pennsylvania. 2023.
- https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/996099

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Locked-in Syndrome, Anxiety & Nostalgia, Continental Shift Aug 30, 2023

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about Locked-in Syndrome, the connection between social anxiety and nostalgia, and how continental shift is knocking GPS out of whack.

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/locked-in-syndrome-anxiety-nostalgia-continental-shift

Locked-in Syndrome

“Demographic, Medical, and Clinical Characteristics of a Population Based Sample of Patients With Long-lastic Locked-in Syndrome.” by Helle Walseth Nilsen, et al. 2023.
- https://n.neurology.org/content/early/2023/07/13/WNL.0000000000207577
“Locked-In Syndrome.” by Joe M Das, et al. 2022.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559026/
“Voicing Inner Thoughts Matters Kate Allatt TEDxSheffieldHallamUniversity.” YouTube. 2015.
- https://youtu.be/SptlyNYjtIU

Anxiety & Nostalgia

“Nostalgia Counteracts Social Anxiety and Enhances Interpersonal Competence.” by Yuwan Dai, et al. 2023
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/19485506231187680?journalCode=sppa
“Social anxiety in young people: A prevalence study in seven countries.” by Philip Jefferies and Michael Ungar. 2020.
- https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0239133
“Social Anxiety Disorder: More Than Just Shyness.” NIH. n.d.
- https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/social-anxiety-disorder-more-than-just-shyness

Continental Shift

“Australia on the move: how GPS keeps up with a continent in constant motion.” by Chris Rizos & Donald Grant. 2017.
- https://theconversation.com/australia-on-the-move-how-gps-keeps-up-with-a-continent-in-constant-motion-71883
“Australia Is Drifting So Fast GPS Can’t Keep Up.” by Brian Clark Howard. 2016.
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/australia-moves-gps-coordinates-adjusted-continental-drift?loggedin=true&rnd=1690986363340
“GPS Accuracy.” GPS.gov. 2022.
- https://www.gps.gov/systems/gps/performance/accuracy/

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Healing Metals, Sensitive Teeth, Sports Supplements Aug 25, 2023

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about how metal was discovered to be able to heal itself, a potential cure for sensitive teeth, and the truth about sports supplements.

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/healing-metals-sensitive-teeth-sports-supplements

Healing Metals

“Metals Have the Intrinsic Ability to Heal Themselves, New Research Finds.” by Alexander Beadle. 2023.
- https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/metals-have-the-intrinsic-ability-to-heal-themselves-new-research-finds-376457
“Autonomous healing of fatigue cracks via cold welding.” by Christopher M. Barr, et al. 2023.
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06223-0

Sensitive Teeth

“Mineral-Building Lozenge Offers Long-Term Fix for Tooth Sensitivity.” by Paul McClure. 2023.
- https://newatlas.com/science/dental-lozenge-rebuilds-lost-tooth-minerals/
“Biomimetic Dentin Repair: Amelogenin-Derived Peptide Guides Occlusion and Peritubular Mineralization of Human Teeth.” by Deniz T. Yucesoy, et al. 2023.
- https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c01039

Sports Supplements

“Presence and Quantity of Botanical Ingredients With Purported Performance-Enhancing Properties in Sports Supplements.” by Pieter A. Cohen, MD. 2023.
- https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2807343
“Nearly 90% of herbal sports supplements are mislabeled. One in ten contain prohibited substances.” by Tibi Puiu. 2023.
- https://www.zmescience.com/medicine/nearly-90-of-herbal-sports-supplements-are-mislabeled-one-in-ten-contain-prohibited-substances/
“What’s In Those Supplements Again?” by Derek Lowe. 2023.
- https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/what-s-those-supplements-again

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Time Perception, Heart in a Box, Flying Ticks Aug 24, 2023

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about a new study on our perception of time, a breakthrough in the tech behind heart transplants, and about the crazy way ticks fly.

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/time-perception-heart-in-a-box-flying-ticks

Time Perception

“The Timekeeper Within: New Discovery on How the Brain Judges Time.” by Hedi Young. 2023.
- https://www.fchampalimaud.org/news/timekeeper-within-new-discovery-how-brain-judges-time
“Using temperature to analyze the neural basis of a time-based decision.” by Tiago Monteiro, et al. 2023.
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-023-01378-5

Heart in a Box

“Multicenter Trial Finds Using Circulatory Death Donors is Safe and Effective for Heart Transplantation.” n.a. 2023.
- https://news.feinberg.northwestern.edu/2023/06/14/multicenter-trial-finds-using-circulatory-death-donors-is-safe-and-effective-for-heart-transplantation/
“Transplantation Outcomes with Donor Hearts after Circulatory Death.” by Jacob N. Schroder, M.D. 2023.
- https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2212438
“Establishing the new standard of care for organ transplantation.” TransMedics Website. N.d.
- https://www.transmedics.com/

Flying Ticks

“Ticks Fly Through the Air Via the Power of Static Electricity.” by Christie Wilcox. 2023.
- https://www.science.org/content/article/watch-ticks-fly-through-air-power-static-electricity
“Static electricity passively attracts ticks onto hosts.” by Sam J. England, et al. 2023.
- https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(23)00772-8?_returnURL=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0960982223007728?showall%3Dtrue
“Tick-borne Diseases.” Washington State Department of Health. N.d.
- https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/illness-and-disease-z/tick-borne-diseases
“Economic Burden of Reported Lyme Disease in High-Incidence Areas, United States, 2014-2016.” CDC. 2022.
- https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/28/6/21-1335_article
“Guide to Tick-Borne Diseases.” Nayana Ambardekar, MD. 2021.
- https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/ss/tick-borne-diseases

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Partner Look-alikes, CRISPR Wood, Aggressive Self-Control Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about a new study that gives us a hint at who we might be attracted to, scientists growing new trees from the genes up, and how aggressive people might actually have more self-control than you’d think.

Find episode transcripts here:https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/partner-look-alikes-crispr-wood-aggressive-self-control

Partner Look-alikes

“UQ Research Could Explain Why Some People Look Similar to Their Partner.” N.A. 2023.
- https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2023/07/uq-research-could-explain-why-some-people-look-similar-their-partner
“Speed Dating is Making a Comeback.” by Carly Mallenbaum. 2023.
- https://www.axios.com/2023/06/25/speed-dating-app-fatigue-social

CRISPR Wood

“Genetically Edited Wood Could Make Paper More Sustainable.” by Robert F. Service. 2023.
- https://www.science.org/content/article/genetically-edited-wood-could-make-paper-more-sustainable
“History of Papermaking Around the World.” Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking. N.d.
- https://paper.gatech.edu/sites/default/files/2021-04/History%20of%20Papermaking%20Around%20the%20World.pdf
“What Is CRISPR?” The Jackson Laboratory. 2023.
- https://www.jax.org/personalized-medicine/precision-medicine-and-you/what-is-crispr

Aggressive Self-Control

“Aggression As Successful Self-Control.” by David S. Chester. 2023.
- https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/spc3.12832
“Controlled cruelty: New study finds aggression can arise from successful self-control.” n.a. 2023.
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230713141930.htm#

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Mars Organics, Cognitive Flexibility, Copper Age Leadership Aug 18, 2023

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about some tantalizing molecules found on Mars, a new study that shows how cognitive flexibility can help teachers keep their cool, and how a new scientific method revealed an unexpected truth about women in the Copper Age.

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/mars-organics-cognitive-flexibility-copper-age-leadership

Mars Organics

“Diverse Organic-Mineral Associations in Jezero Crater, Mars.” by Sunanda Sharma, et al. 2023.
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06143-z
“NASA’S Perseverance Rover Finds Preserved Organic Molecules on Mars.” by Isaac Schultz. 2023.
- https://gizmodo.com/nasa-perseverance-rover-preserved-organic-matter-mars-1850630956
“Fly over Perseverance rover’s Mars stomping grounds in new video.” by Robert Lea. 2023.
- https://www.space.com/jezero-crater-perseverance-rover-mars-express-video
“Distinguish between organic and inorganic molecules?” by Nam D. 2018.
- https://socratic.org/questions/distinguish-between-organic-and-inorganic-molecules

Cognitive Flexibility

“The Role of Cognitive Flexibility in Moderating the Effect of School-Related Stress Exposure.” by Orly Harel, et al. 2023.
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-31743-0
“Study Finds That Cognitive Flexibility Helps Teachers Deal With Stress.” Staff Writer. 2023.
- https://www.mentaldaily.com/article/2023/07/study-finds-that-cognitive-flexibility-helps-teachers-deal-with-stress
“Demystifying cognitive flexibility: Implications for clinical and developmental neuroscience.” by Dina R. Dajani & Lucina Q. Uddin. 2015.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5414037/
“7 Ways to Develop Cognitive Flexibility.” by Marianne Stenger. 2017.
- https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/7-ways-develop-cognitive-flexibility/

Copper Age Leadership

“New Scientific Method Reveals Female Leadership in Copper Age Iberia.” News Staff. 2023.
- https://www.sci.news/archaeology/ivory-lady-12075.html
“Amelogenin peptide analyses reveal female leadership in Copper Age Iberia (c.2900 - 2650 BC). by Marta Cintas-Peña, et al. 2023.
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-36368-x

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Pine Tree Painkiller, Cell Spitting Creature, Manifestation Aug 17, 2023

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about painkillers made from pine trees, a creature that spits out its old cells, and how the power of positive thinking might not be all that powerful.

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/pine-tree-painkiller-cell-spitting-creature-manifestation

Pine Tree Painkiller

“Scientists Make Common Pain Killers From Pine Trees Instead of Crude Oil.” n.a. 2023.
- https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/scientists-make-common-pain-killers-from-pine-trees-instead-of-crude-oil/
“Turpentine.” n.a. 2013.
- https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/files/turpentfaq.pdf
“Why Does a Pine Tree Produce Turpentine?” by Whit Gibbons. 2009.
- http://archive-srel.uga.edu/outreach/ecoviews/ecoview090222.htm

Cell Spitting Creature

“Scientists Discover Clues to Aging and Healing from a Squishy Sea Creature.” by Ann Rogers, M.A. 2023.
- https://www.genome.gov/news/news-release/scientists-discover-clues-to-aging-and-healing-from-a-squishy-sea-creature
“Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus.” Wikipedia. N.d.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydractinia_symbiolongicarpus
“Ode To Joy | Muppet Music Video | The Muppets.” YouTube. 2009.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnT7pT6zCcA

Manifestation

“‘The Secret’ to Success? The Psychology of Belief in Manifestation.” by Lucas J. Dixon, et al. 2023.
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/01461672231181162?s=03
“Is Manifestation Bad for Mental Health?” Newport Institute. 2023.
- https://www.newportinstitute.com/resources/mental-health/manifesting-change/

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Smart Drugs, Frozen Organ Transplant, Curly Hair Cool Aug 16, 2023

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about a new study that shows drugs like Ritalin aren’t so smart after all, how frozen rat kidneys could lead to a medical revolution, and a new study that shows how people with curly hair are extra cool.

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/smart-drugs-frozen-organ-transplant-curly-hair-cool

Smart Drugs

“'Smart Drugs' Make You Worse at Solving Complex Problems, New Study Finds.” by Elizabeth Bowman, et al. 2023.
- https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.add4165
“People who use ‘smart drugs’ worse at complex tasks, study finds.” by Melissa Davey. 2023.
- https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jun/15/people-who-use-smart-drugs-worse-at-complex-tasks-study-finds

Frozen Organ Transplant

“Scientists Successfully Unfroze Rat Organs and Transplanted Them - a 'Historic' Step that Could Someday Transform Transplant Medicine.” by Marion Renault. 2023.
- https://www.statnews.com/2023/06/21/cryogenic-organ-preservation-transplants/
“Organ Donation Statistics.” HRSA. 2023.
- https://www.organdonor.gov/learn/organ-donation-statistics
“Vitrification.” Wikipedia. N.d.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitrification

Curly Hair Cool

“Life Before Air Conditioning: Curly Hair Kept Early Humans Cool.” by Francisco Tutella. 2023.
- https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/life-air-conditioning-curly-hair-kept-early-humans-cool/
“Human scalp hair as a thermoregulatory adaptation.” by Tina Lasisi, et al. 2023.
- https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2301760120

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High Voice Gene, Egyptian Art X-Ray, Finding Fresh Water Aug 11, 2023

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about a newly discovered genetic link between high voices and high blood pressure, a mysterious new discovery behind some ancient Egyptian art, and about freshwater lying underneath the ocean floor.

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/high-voice-gene-egyptian-art-x-ray-finding-fresh-water

High Voice Gene

“Have a High-Pitched Voice? It Might Be In Your Genes.”
- https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01901-5
“Do you have high-pitched voice? Note, it's in your genes.” by IANS. 2023.
- https://www.onmanorama.com/lifestyle/health/2023/06/13/you-have-high-pitched-voice-it-is-in-genes.amp.html

Egyptian Art X-Ray

“Paint Like an Egyptian: X-Rays Reveal Creative Process Behind Ancient Tomb Art.” by Tanvi Dutta Gupta. 2023.
- https://www.science.org/content/article/paint-egyptian-xray-egyptian-tomb-art
“Hidden mysteries in ancient Egyptian paintings from the Theban Necropolis observed by in-situ XRF mapping.” by Philippe Martinez, et al. 2023.
- https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0287647

Finding Fresh Water

“Found: Giant Freshwater Deposits Hiding Under the Sea.”
- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/found-giant-freshwater-deposits-hiding-under-the-sea/
“5 Billion People Will Face Water Shortages by 2050, U.N. Says.” by Daniel Cusick. 2022.
- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/5-billion-people-will-face-water-shortages-by-2050-u-n-says/
“Earth’s Underground Water Quantified.” by Jonathan Amos. 2015.
- https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34837461

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Octopus Death Frenzy, Wildlife Tracking, Fungi to the Rescue Aug 10, 2023

Show notes

Today, you’ll learn about a new discovery that explains what causes octopuses to go into a death frenzy when they have kids, how air pollution sensors could help track invasive species, and how fungi could save entire ecosystems.

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/octopus-death-frenzy-wildlife-tracking-fungi-to-the-rescue

Octopus Torture

“Octopuses Torture and Eat Themselves After Mating, Science Finally Knows Why.” by Stephanie Pappas. 2022.
- https://www.livescience.com/why-octopus-moms-self-destruct
“Octopus Moms Enter Death Spiral Before Eight-Armed Bundles Are Born.” by Jeanna Bryner. 2018.
- https://www.livescience.com/63911-octopus-moms-death-spiral.html

Wildlife Tracking