Curiosity Weekly - Discovery

Latest Episodes:

Stem Cell Meat, Antarctica Cavern and Ants Playing Dead Jul 14, 2023

Show notes

Today you’ll learn about lab-grown meat, a world hundreds of feet below a West Antarctic glacier, and a new discovery about the mysterious behavior of ants.

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/stem-cell-meat-antarctica-cavern-and-ants-playing-dead

Stem Cell Meat

“Cultured Meat Produced Using Immortal Stem Cells.” by Molly Campbell. 2023.
- https://www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/news/cultured-meat-produced-using-immortal-stem-cells-373195
“Meat accounts for nearly 60% of all greenhouse gases from food production, study finds.” by Oliver Milman. 2021.
- https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/13/meat-greenhouses-gases-food-production-study
“Lab-Grown Meat’s Carbon Footprint Potentially Worse Than Retail Beef.” by Amy Quinton. 2023.
- https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/lab-grown-meat-carbon-footprint-worse-beef#:~:text=Under%20that%20scenario%2C%20researchers%20found,conventional%20beef%20production%2C%20they%20calculate.
“Yes, Lab-Grown Meat Is Vegan.” by Jude Whiley. 2023.
- https://www.wired.com/story/lab-grown-meat-vegan-ethics-environment/

Antarctica Cavern

“A massive cavern beneath a West Antarctic glacier is teeming with life.” by Douglas Fox. 2023.
- https://www.sciencenews.org/article/cavern-west-antarctic-glacier-life
“Melting and Refreezing in an Ice Shelf Basal Channel at the Grounding Line of the Kamb Ice Stream, West Antarctica.” by A Whiteford, et al. 2022.
- https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2021JF006532
“The Six Moons Most Likely to Host Life in Our Solar System.” by Rebecca Boyle. 2023.
- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-six-moons-most-likely-to-host-life-in-our-solar-system/#:~:text=Life%20could%20flourish%20in%20half,dwarf%20planets%20Ceres%20and%20Pluto

Ants Play Dead

“Kangaroo Island ants 'play dead’ to avoid predators.” University of South Australia. 2023.
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230509122125.htm#:~:text=Summary%3A,is%20a%20recorded%20world%20first.

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Brain Activity Decoder, No Pain Molecules and Psych Tech Jul 13, 2023

Show notes

Today you’ll learn how AI might be able to read your mind, what we can learn from a woman who doesn’t feel any physical pain, and a new app that aims to change our approach to mental health treatment.

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/brain-activity-decoder-no-pain-molecules-and-psych-tech

Brain Activity Decoder

“Brain Activity Decoder Can Reveal Stories in People’s Minds.” n.a. 2023.
- https://news.utexas.edu/2023/05/01/brain-activity-decoder-can-reveal-stories-in-peoples-minds/
“A.I. Is Getting Better at Mind-Reading.” by Oliver Whang. 2023.
- https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/01/science/ai-speech-language.html

No Pain Molecules

“Study Reveals Unique Molecular Machinery of Woman Who Can't Feel Pain.” n.a. 2023.
- https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2023/may/study-reveals-unique-molecular-machinery-woman-who-cant-feel-pain
“Molecular basis of FAAH-OUT-associated human pain insensitivity.” by Hajar Mikaeili, et al. 2023.
- https://academic.oup.com/brain/advance-article/doi/10.1093/brain/awad098/7169317?login=false

Psychiatry Tech

“Tech Platform to Revolutionize Psychiatric Care Developed by CI MED Student and Harvard Team.” by Beth Hart. 2023
- https://medicine.illinois.edu/news/tech-platform-to-revolutionize-psychiatric-care-developed-by-ci-med-student-and-harvard-team
“The State Of Mental Health In America.” MHA. 2023.
- https://mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america
“‘Asynchronous Telemedicine’ a CI MED RISE Seminar featuring Aditya Vaidyam.” YouTube Video. 2023.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuCa74jFNCI

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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Hallucinations, Music, And Invasions Jul 12, 2023

Show notes

Today you’ll learn about the science behind near-death-experiences, why some music is made for summer, and how the lionfish is invading southern Brazil.

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/hallucinations-music-and-invasions

Death Hallucinations

“Scientists Detect Brain Activity in Dying People Linked to Dreams, Hallucinations.” by Becky Ferreira. 2023.
- https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy3p3w/scientists-detect-brain-activity-in-dying-people-linked-to-dreams-hallucinations
“Surge of neurophysiological coupling and connectivity of gamma oscillations in the dying human brain.” by Gang Xu, et al. 2023.
- https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2216268120
“Taking Psychedelics Helps People Face Mortality Like a Near-Death Experience, Study Finds.” by Beccy Ferreira. 2022.
- https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxnxxw/taking-psychedelics-helps-people-face-mortality-like-a-near-death-experience-study-finds

Music and Weather

“Here comes the sun: New study shows how UK weather conditions influence music success in the markets.” n.a. 2023.
- https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-05-04-here-comes-sun-new-study-shows-how-uk-weather-conditions-influence-music-success
“Here comes the sun: music features of popular songs reflect prevailing weather conditions.” by Manuel Anglada-Tort, et al. 2023.
- https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.221443

Lionfish Invasion

“Brazil's Invasion of Voracious Lionfish Has Reached a Worrisome Phase.” by Herton Escobar. 2023.
- https://www.science.org/content/article/brazil-s-invasion-voracious-lionfish-has-reached-worrisome-phase

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Medicine Patch, Fast Learner Myth, Mediterranean Mega Flood Jul 07, 2023

Show notes

Today you’ll learn about a new patch that uses ultrasonic waves to deliver medicine through the skin, research that debunks the myth of the ‘fast learner’, and evidence that a megaflood ended an environmental crisis in the Mediterranean more than five million years ago.

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/medicine-patch-fast-learner-myth-mediterranean-mega-flood

Medicine Patch

“Wearable Patch Can Painlessly Deliver Drugs Through the Skin.” by Anne Trafton. 2023.
- https://news.mit.edu/2023/wearable-patch-can-painlessly-deliver-drugs-through-skin-0419
“A Conformable Ultrasound Patch for Cavitation-Enhanced Transdermal Cosmeceutical Delivery.” by Chia-Chen Yu, et al. 2023.
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.202300066
“Applications of Synthetically Produced Materials in Clinical Medicine.” by Maleka P. Hashmi, et al. 2018.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/transdermal
“Ultrasonics.” by Richard E. Berg. n.d.
- https://www.britannica.com/science/ultrasonics

Fast Learner Myth

“The Myth of the Fast Learner.” by Caroline Sheedy. 2023.
- https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2023/march/the-myth-of-the-fast-learner
“An astonishing regularity in student learning rate.” by Kenneth R. Koedinger. 2023.
- https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2221311120

Mediterranean Mega Flood

“First direct proof of mega-flood in Mediterranean Sea region.” n.a. 2023.
- https://www.uu.nl/en/news/first-direct-proof-of-mega-flood-in-mediterranean-sea-region
“A terminal Messinian flooding of the Mediterranean evidenced by contouritic deposits on Sicily.” by Gijs van Dijk, et al. 2023.
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/sed.13074

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Spider Silk, Family Meals, Pregnancy Ultrasounds Jul 06, 2023

Show notes

Today you’ll learn about how spider and silkworm silk is being used to repair injured nerves, about a simple trick backed by science to get your kids to eat their vegetables, and about a new study on third trimester ultrasounds and healthier babies.

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/spider-silk-family-meals-pregnancy-ultrasounds

Spider Silk

“Silk from spiders and silkworms found to be a promising material to repair injured nerves.” n.a. 2023.
- https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-04-03-silk-spiders-and-silkworms-found-be-promising-material-repair-injured-nerves-0
“Peripheral nerve injuries.” Mayo Clinic. 2022.
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peripheral-nerve-injuries/symptoms-causes/syc-20355631

Family Meals

“Effect of Longer Family Meals on Children’s Fruit and Vegetable Intake.” by Mattea Dallacker, PhD, et al. 2023.
- https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2802987

Pregnancy Ultrasounds

“Giving Pregnant Women Routine Third Trimester Ultrasound Scans Could Reduce Rates of Undetected Breech Pregnancy by 71%, Enabling Better Care Before and During Labor and Improved Outcomes for Newborns.” n.a. 2023.
- https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/984712
“Impact of point-of-care ultrasound and routine third trimester ultrasound on undiagnosed breech presentation and perinatal outcomes: An observational multicentre cohort study.” by Samantha Knights, et al. 2023.
- https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1004192

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Lightning Material, Typing Stress, Domesticated Elephants Jul 05, 2023

Show notes

Today you’ll learn about how a bolt of lightning created a brand new, never before seen material, how researchers can tell how stressed you are by listening to you type on your keyboard, and a new study that suggests elephants are more like humans than we ever thought.

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/lightning-material-typing-stress-domesticated-elephants

Lightning Material

“USF geoscientist discovers new phosphorus material after New Port Richey lightning strike.” by Cassidy Delamarter. 2023.
- https://www.usf.edu/news/2023/usf-geoscientist-discovers-new-phosphorus-material-after-new-port-richey-lightning-strike.aspx
“Routes to reduction of phosphate by high-energy events.” by Luca Bindi, et al. 2023.
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-023-00736-2
“Lightning.” National Geographic. N.d.
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/lightning?loggedin=true&rnd=1681824031573

Typing Stress

“Detecting stress in the office from how people type and click.” by Christoph Elhardt. 2023.
- https://ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2023/04/detecting-stress-in-the-office-from-how-people-type-and-click.html
“Workplace Stress.” OSHA. N.D.
- https://www.osha.gov/workplace-stress

Domesticated Elephants

“Elephants may be domesticating themselves.” by Virginia Morell. 2023.
- https://www.science.org/content/article/elephants-may-be-domesticating-themselves
“Elephants as an animal model for self-domestication.” by Limor Raviv, et al. 2023.
- https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2208607120
“You Asked: How are pets different from wild animals?” by Katherine J. Wu. 2018.
- https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2018/asked-pets-different-wild-animals/

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Brain Language, Ancient Hallucinogens, Unreliable Memory Jun 30, 2023

Show notes

Today you’ll learn how the language we speak leaves a unique pattern in our brain’s wiring, about proof that people 3,000 years ago on an island in the Mediterranean were using hallucinogens, and how bad our memories actually are, and why.

Find episode transcripts here:https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/brain-language-ancient-hallucinogens-unreliable-memory

Brain Language

“Your brain wires itself to match your native language.” by Elise Cutts. 2023.
- https://www.sciencenews.org/article/brain-wires-native-language-neurons
“Native language differences in the structural connectome of the human brain.” By Xuehu Wei, et al. 2023.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811923001015
“Your brain wires itself to match your native language.” by Elise Cutts. 2023.
- https://www.sciencenews.org/article/brain-wires-native-language-neurons
“Native language differences in the structural connectome of the human brain.” By Xuehu Wei, et al. 2023.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811923001015

Ancient Hallucinogens

“Hair analysis reveals Europe’s oldest physical evidence of drug use.” by Bruce Bower. 2023.
- https://www.sciencenews.org/article/hair-europe-oldest-evidence-drug-use
“Bronze-age people took hallucinogenic drugs in Menorca, study reveals.” n.a. 2023.
- https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/apr/07/bronze-age-people-hallucinogenic-drugs-menorca-study
“Direct evidence of the use of multiple drugs in Bronze Age Menorca (Western Mediterranean) from human hair analysis.” by E. Guerra-Doce, et al. 2023.
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-31064-2

Unreliable Memory

“Human memory may be unreliable after just a few seconds, scientists find.” by Nicola Davis. 2023.
- https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/apr/05/short-term-memory-illusions-study

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Lying Signals, Hibernation Blood Clots, Moon Creation Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

Today you’ll learn how to detect lies, how bears can help scientists prevent blood clots, and how the moon might have been created in just a few hours.

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/lying-signals-hibernation-blood-clots-moon-creation

Lying Signals

“LieLab: the devil is in the details.” University of Amsterdam. 2023.
- https://www.uva.nl/en/content/news/press-releases/2023/03/lielab-the-devil-is-in-the-details.html?cb&cb&cb&cb&cb
“Top 10 Signs That Someone Is Lying.” by Rachel Drummond. N.d.
- https://www.forensicscolleges.com/blog/resources/10-signs-someone-is-lying
“The Use The Best Heuristic facilitates deception detection.jpg.” Graphic. 2023.
- https://figshare.com/articles/poster/The_Use_The_Best_Heuristic_facilitates_deception_detection_jpg/22128818

Hibernation Blood Clots

“Hibernating bears don’t get blood clots. Now scientists know why.” by Ole Frobert. 2023.
- https://www.sciencenews.org/article/hibernating-bears-blood-clots

Moon Creation

“Collision May Have Formed the Moon in Mere Hours, Simulations Reveal.” by Frank Tavares. 2022.
- https://www.nasa.gov/feature/ames/lunar-origins-simulations
“New Supercomputer Simulation Sheds Light on Moon’s Origin.” YouTube. 2023.
- https://youtu.be/kRlhlCWplqk

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Shark Repellant, Brain Internal Compass, Sleeping Seals Jun 28, 2023

Show notes

Today you’ll learn about a gizmo that can repel sharks and potentially bring them back from the brink of extinction, how our brains’ internal compasses work, and how scientists learn about the sleeping habits of seals.

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/shark-repellant-brain-internal-compass-sleeping-seals

Shark Repellant

“These devices use an electric field to scare sharks from fishing hooks.” by Darren Incorvaia. 2022.
- https://www.sciencenews.org/article/device-electric-field-scare-sharks-fishing-hooks

Brain Internal Compass

“How the brain's 'internal compass' works” by McGill
- https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/channels/news/how-brains-internal-compass-works-347094
“Population dynamics of head-direction neurons during drift and reorientation” by Zaki Ajabi et al.
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-05813-2

Sleeping Seals

“Seals snooze during 20-minute ‘sleeping dives’ to avoid predators.” by Jocelyn Solis-Moreira. 2023.
- https://www.popsci.com/environment/seals-sleep-swimming/

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Robotic Beehive, Oral Transmission, Cranberry Juice & UTIs Jun 23, 2023

Show notes

Today you’ll learn about a robot that can resurrect bees from near death, how oral transmission shapes the way music evolves, and the huge power of the tiny cranberry to stave off urinary tract infections.

Robotic Beehive