Curiosity Weekly - Discovery

Latest Episodes:

Dating App Data, Mass Frog Grave, Cure for Colorblind Oct 07, 2022

Show notes

Let’s talk about how dating apps stress us out, the discovery of a massive ancient frog grave, and how gene therapy can potentially cure colorblindness.

Dating App Data

“The agony of partner choice: The effect of excessive partner availability on fear of being single, self-esteem, and partner choice overload” by Marina F. Thomas, Alice Binder, and Jörg Matthes.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563221003009
“Science of Dating: How Many Times Should You Swipe on a Dating App?” by Ellen Nguyen.

https://medium.com/tinglymind/science-of-dating-how-many-times-should-you-swipe-on-a-dating-app-acb28e6e709a

Mass Frog Grave

“Ancient frogs in mass grave died from too much sex – new research” by Daniel Falk

https://theconversation.com/ancient-frogs-in-mass-grave-died-from-too-much-sex-new-research-188562
“How Frogs Benefited From The Dinosaurs' Extinction” by Merrit Kennedy
- https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/07/03/535383841/how-frogs-benefited-from-the-dinosaurs-extinction?t=1661975212547
“The skeletal taphonomy of anurans from the Eocene Geiseltal Konservat-Lagerstätte, Germany: insights into the controls on fossil anuran preservation” by Daniel Falk, Oliver Wings, and Maria E. McNamara
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/spp2.1453

Cure for Colorblind

“Gene therapy partly restores cone function in two completely colorblind children” by Science Daily
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220824102951.htm
“A demonstration of cone function plasticity after gene therapy in achromatopsia” by Mahtab Farahbakhsh, Elaine J Anderson, Roni O Maimon-Mor, Andy Rider, John A Greenwood, Nashila Hirji, Serena Zaman, Pete R Jones, D Samuel Schwarzkopf, Geraint Rees, Michel Michaelides, and Tessa M Dekker
- https://academic.oup.com/brain/advance-article/doi/10.1093/brain/awac226/6673168?login=false

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Find episode transcripts here:

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Bee Venom Kills Cancer, Giant Manatees, Monkey Masturbation Oct 06, 2022

Show notes

Our stories today discuss how bee venom can potentially help fight cancer, the history of manatees, and recent discoveries in how monkeys use tools.

Bee Venom Kills Cancer

“Honeybee venom kills aggressive breast cancer cells: Australian study” by Rachel Arthur
- https://www.biopharma-reporter.com/Article/2020/09/07/Honeybee-venom-kills-aggressive-breast-cancer-cells-study
“Honeybee venom 'kills some breast cancer cells'” by BBC
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-53994058
“Honeybee venom kills aggressive breast cancer cells” by James Kingsland
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/honeybee-venom-kills-aggressive-breast-cancer-cells#Blocking-messages

Giant Manatees

“New research tracks the history of manatees across Earth's oceans” by Karl Bates
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220825120334.htm
“History of Manatees Across World’s Oceans Tracked by New Research” by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
- https://www.ecowatch.com/manatee-history-science.html

Monkey Masturbation

“Some Monkeys Use Stone Tools for Pleasure, Study Suggests” by Emily Anthes
- https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/26/science/monkeys-sex-toys-masturbation.html
“Monkeys in Indonesia use rocks as 'sex toys'” by Patrick Pester
- https://www.livescience.com/monkey-stone-sex-toy-hypothesis

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/bee-venom-kills-cancer-giant-manatees-monkey-masturbation

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Online Learning, Alcohol Cravings, Manipulative Dogs Oct 05, 2022

Show notes

We explore how online learning affects the body, how mood affects alcohol cravings in both men and women, and how dogs have evolved to manipulate us!

Online Learning

“Online teaching triggers a different response in the body” by Meike Drießen
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220817104031.htm
“Neuroanatomy, Parasympathetic Nervous System” by Jacob Tindle & Prasanna Tadi.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553141/#:~:text=The%20parasympathetic%20nervous%20system%20predominates,digestion%20and%20urination.%5B1%5D

Alcohol Cravings

“Mood Influences Alcohol Craving Differently in Men and Women” by Neuroscience News
- https://neurosciencenews.com/mood-alcohol-cravings-21321/
“Liking, Wanting and the Incentive-Sensitization Theory of Addiction” by Kent C. Berridge and Terry E Robinson
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5171207/#:~:text=The%20incentive%2Dsensitization%20theory%20posits,an%20amplification%20of%20'liking'.
“Mood Shifts Have Opposite Impact on Alcohol Cravings in Men and Women” by Leah Kuntz
- https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/mood-shifts-have-opposite-impact-on-alcohol-cravings-in-men-and-women

Manipulative Dogs

“Our Dogs Do Manipulate Us, According to Science” by Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey
- https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/our-dogs-do-manipulate-us-according-to-science
“Dog Faces Are Faster than Wolf Faces” by Anne Burrows & Kailey Omstead.
- https://www.eventscribe.net/2022/EB2022/fsPopup.asp?PresentationID=1027886&query=burrows&mode=presinfo

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/online-learning-alcohol-cravings-manipulative-dogs

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PPE Concrete, Steroid Use and ADHD, Butterfly Chastity Sep 30, 2022

Show notes

Today we discuss how recycling used personal protective equipment can make stronger concrete, a rise in ADHD symptoms among male weightlifters who take steroids, and the battle of the sexes among male and female butterflies!

PPE Concrete

“PPE can be recycled to make stronger concrete” by Gosia Kaszubska and Will Wright
- https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2022/august/ppe-concrete
“Recycled PPE could strengthen concrete” by The Engineer
- https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/recycled-ppe-could-strengthen-concrete

Steroid Use and ADHD

“ADHD symptoms and use of anabolic androgenic steroids among male weightlifters” by Emilie Kildal, Bjørnar Hassel & Astrid Bjørnebekk
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-12977-w#:~:text=AAS%20use%20among%20weightlifters%20is,drug%20prevention%20strategies%20in%20sports.
“ADHD symptoms are more prevalent in male weightlifters who use steroids, study finds” by Patricia Y. Sanchez
- https://www.psypost.org/2022/08/adhd-symptoms-are-more-prevalent-in-male-weightlifters-who-use-steroids-study-finds-63795

Butterfly Chastity

“In butterfly battle of sexes, males deploy ‘chastity belts’ but females fight back” by Halle Marchese and Natalie van Hoose
- https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/male-butterflies-deploy-chastity-belts/
“Is Sexual Conflict a Driver of Speciation? A Case Study With a Tribe of Brush-footed Butterflies” by Ana Paula S Carvalho, Ryan A St Laurent, Emmanuel F A Toussaint, Caroline Storer, Kelly M Dexter, Kwaku Aduse-Poku, and Akito Y Kawahara
- https://academic.oup.com/sysbio/article/70/3/413/5901062?login=false
“Ruff Sex: A Chastity Belt for Dogs” by Buck Wolf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20110410200915/http://www.aolnews.com/2010/02/08/ruff-sex-a-chastity-belt-for-dogs/

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/ppe-concrete-steroid-use-and-adhd-butterfly-chastity

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DNA & Lookalikes, Extinct Lineage Found, Alzheimer’s Viruses Sep 29, 2022

Show notes

Today we learn about how doppelgangers can share similar DNA, a recent discovery of a lost lineage in Indonesia, and recent advancements in finding out what causes Alzheimer’s.

DNA & Lookalikes

“People with similar faces likely have similar DNA, study finds” by Cell Press
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220823115609.htm
“Your Doppelgänger Is Out There and You Probably Share DNA With Them” by Kate Golembiewski
- https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/23/science/doppelgangers-twins-dna.html

Extinct Lineage Found

“Ancient remains found in Indonesia belong to a vanished human lineage” by Laura Geggel
- https://www.livescience.com/mysterious-ancient-human-lineage-indonesia.html
“Genome of a middle Holocene hunter-gatherer from Wallacea” by Selina Carlhoff, Akin Duli, Kathrin Nägele, Muhammad Nur, Laurits Skov, Iwan Sumantri, Adhi Agus Oktaviana, Budianto Hakim, Basran Burhan, Fardi Ali Syahdar, David P. McGahan, David Bulbeck, Yinika L. Perston, Kim Newman, Andi Muhammad Saiful, Marlon Ririmasse, Stephen Chia, Hasanuddin, Dwia Aries Tina Pulubuhu, Suryatman, Supriadi, Choongwon Jeong, Benjamin M. Peter, Kay Prüfer, Adam Powell, Johannes Krause, Cosimo Posth & Adam Brumm.
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03823-6?utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=commission_junction&utm_campaign=CONR_PF018_ECOM_GL_PHSS_ALWYS_DEEPLINK&utm_content=textlink&utm_term=PID100052172&CJEVENT=0aa54713288c11ed800d2e440a1c0e0d

Alzheimer’s Viruses

“Common viruses may be triggering the onset of Alzheimer's disease” by Mike Silver
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/07/220729173148.htm

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/dna-lookalikes-extinct-lineage-found-alzheimers-viruses

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Anti-Hangover Pill, Perks of Whale Poop, Found Dino Tracks Sep 28, 2022

Show notes

A Swedish company has created a new anti-hangover pill that reduces the short-term effects of drinking, whale poop is helping our ocean’s ecosystems, and a recent drought in Texas revealed the footprints from a dinosaur over 100 million years ago.

Anti-Hangover Pill

“Myrkl: new anti-hangover pill said to break down up to 70% of alcohol in an hour – what you need to know“ by Ashwin Dhanda
- https://theconversation.com/myrkl-new-anti-hangover-pill-said-to-break-down-up-to-70-of-alcohol-in-an-hour-what-you-need-to-know-186357
“'Anti-Hangover' Pill Myrkl Now Available in the UK: Does It Work?” by Taylor Leamey
https://www.cnet.com/health/nutrition/anti-hangover-pill-myrkl-now-available-in-the-uk-does-it-work/

Perks of Whale Poop

“Why you should care about whale poo” by Dr. Asha de Vos
- https://www.ted.com/talks/asha_de_vos_why_you_should_care_about_whale_poo?language=en
“ALUMNI STORIES: 'A PILE OF WHALE POOP INSPIRED ME TO WORK IN CONSERVATION’” by Tabitha Whiting
- https://www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/quad/article/alumni-stories-whale-poop-inspired-me

Found Dino Tracks

“Watch How Texas Man Found Huge Dinosaur Tracks in Riverbed Dried From Drought” by Andy Corbley
- https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/watch-how-texas-man-found-huge-dinosaur-tracks-in-riverbed-dried-from-drought/
“Dinosaur tracks revealed in Texas as severe drought dries up river” by Gloria Oladipo
- https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/aug/24/dinosaur-tracks-footprints-texas-drought-river

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/anti-hangover-pill-perks-of-whale-poop-found-dino-tracks

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Undead Spiders, Dandelion Drones, Dark Energy Made Light Sep 23, 2022

Show notes

Researchers are making small claws out of dead spiders, dandelion seeds are inspiring scientists to mimic their distribution with small sensors to be able to better track ecological information, and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument is helping us create a 3D map of the universe.

Undead Spiders

“How researchers at Rice University in Texas figured out how to revive dead spiders (sort of)” by Orlando Mayorquin
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/07/28/texas-dead-spiders-necrobotic-grippers/10176634002/?utm_source=usatoday-EveryonesTalking&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=baseline&utm_term=hero&utm_content=USAT-8872UT-E-Everyones-Talking
“Necrobotics: Biotic Materials as Ready-to-Use Actuators” by Te Faye Yap, Zhen Liu,Anoop Rajappan, Trevor J. Shimokusu, and Daniel J. Preston
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/advs.202201174

Dandelion Drones

Tiny Battery-Free Devices Float in the Wind Like Dandelion Seeds by Sarah McQuate
- https://www.washington.edu/news/2022/03/16/battery-free-devices-float-in-wind-like-dandelion-seeds/
Wind Dispersal of Battery-Free Wireless Devices by Vikram Iyer, et al.
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04363-9
Biomimetic Design: 10 Examples of Nature Inspiring Technology by Gertie Goddard
- https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/biomimetic-design-10-examples-of-nature-inspiring-technology/
Scientists Took Cues From Helicopter Seeds to Invent Tiny Microchips That Float on Wind by Lindsay Clark
- https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/24/microfliers_helicopter_seeds/

Dark Energy Made Light

Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) Creates Largest 3D Map of the Cosmos by Adam Becker
- https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2022/01/13/dark-energy-spectroscopic-instrument-desi-creates-largest-3d-map-of-the-cosmos/
This Map of Distant Galaxies Could Help Untangle the Mystery of Dark Energy by Daniel Clery
- https://www.science.org/content/article/map-distant-galaxies-could-help-untangle-mystery-dark-energy/
The DESI Science Mission by Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument
- https://www.desi.lbl.gov/the-desi-science-mission/

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/undead-spiders-dandelion-drones-dark-energy-made-light

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Gates of Hell, Cancer Clues, Hidden Jungle Cities Sep 22, 2022

Show notes

Today we discuss how a fiery pit in Turkmenistan has been burning for more than 50 years, new clues to the origins of cancer, and how ancient cities are hiding beneath the cover of forest canopies!

Gates of Hell

The Quest to Extinguish the Flames of Turkmenistan’s Terrifying ‘Gates of Hell’ Firepit by Jane Recker
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-quest-to-extinguish-the-flames-of-turkmenistans-terrifying-gates-of-hell-firepit-180979458/
The 'Gates of Hell' May Finally Be Closed, Turkmenistan's President Announces by Brandon Specktor
- https://www.livescience.com/turkmenistan-gates-of-hell-finally-closed
The ‘Gates of Hell’ Could be Closed After Blazing for 50 Years by Sophia Smith Galer
- https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7v74n/turkmenistan-gates-of-hell-karakum-desert-fire
The Gates of Hell by Atlas Obscura
- https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-gates-of-hell-turkmenistan
Visiting Turkmenistan's 'Gates Of Hell' by Amos Chapple
- https://www.rferl.org/a/turkmenistan-gates-of-hell/31649260.html

Cancer Clues

“Whole-Genome Analysis of 12,000 Patients Reveals “Treasure Trove” of Cancer Insights” by Molly Campbell
- https://www.technologynetworks.com/tn/news/whole-genome-analysis-of-12000-tumors-reveals-treasure-trove-of-cancer-insights-360811
“Large study of whole genome sequencing data reveals 'treasure trove' of clues about causes of cancer” by ScienceDaily
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220421141552.htm

Hidden Jungle Cities

“Lost Cities of the Amazon Discovered From the Air” by Brian Handwerk
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/lost-cities-of-the-amazon-discovered-from-the-air-180980142/
“Lidar reveals pre-Hispanic low-density urbanism in the Bolivian Amazon” by Heiko Prümers, Carla Jaimes Betancourt, José Iriarte, Mark Robinson & Martin Schaich
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04780-4
“About Us” by The Earth Archive
- http://www.theeartharchive.com/about.html

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/gates-of-hell-cancer-clues-hidden-jungle-cities

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Mushrooming Minds, Super Plants, Plz Call Your Friends Sep 21, 2022

Show notes

Magic mushrooms are giving researchers hope in treating conditions like anxiety and depression, a new study may have found the key to increasing photosynthesis efficiency in plants, and research shows that we love being reached out to by old friends!

Mushrooming Minds

'They Broke My Mental Shackles': Could Magic Mushrooms be the Answer to Depression? by Josh Jacobs
- https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/jun/10/magic-mushrooms-treatment-depression-aztecs-psilocybin-mental-health-medicine
Psilocybin Produces Substantial and Sustained Decreases in Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Life-Threatening Cancer: A Randomized Double-Blind Trial by Roland R. Griffiths, et al.
- https://dx.doi.org/10.1177%2F0269881116675513
Rapid and Sustained Symptom Reduction Following Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Life-Threatening Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial by Stephen Ross, et al.
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116675512
Psilocybin-Induced Decrease in Amygdala Reactivity Correlates with Enhanced Positive Mood in Healthy Volunteers by Rainer Kraehenmann, et al.
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.04.010
Therapeutic Mechanisms of Psilocybin: Changes in Amygdala and Prefrontal Functional Connectivity during Emotional Processing after Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression by Lea J. Mertens, et al.
- https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0269881119895520
Limbic System: Amygdala by The University of Texas McGovern Medical School
- https://nba.uth.tmc.edu/neuroscience/m/s4/chapter06.html

Super Plants

Scientists Resurrect Ancient Enzymes To Improve Photosynthesis by Krishna Ramanujan
- https://cals.cornell.edu/news/2022/04/scientists-resurrect-ancient-enzymes-improve-photosynthesis
Improving the Efficiency of Rubisco by Resurrecting Its Ancestors in the Family Solanaceae by Myat T. Lin, et al.
- https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abm6871
Scientists Take Step to Improve Crops’ Photosynthesis, Yields by Krishna Ramanujan
- https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2021/08/scientists-take-step-improve-crops-photosynthesis-yields
Small Subunits Can Determine Enzyme Kinetics of Tobacco Rubisco Expressed in Escherichia Coli by Myat T. Lin, et al.
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-020-00761-5

Plz Call Your Friends

“Unexpectedly reaching out to a friend is more appreciated than people assume, new study shows” by Douglas Heingartner
- https://www.psychnewsdaily.com/reaching-out-more-appreciated-than-assumed/
“The Surprise of Reaching Out: Appreciated More Than We Think” by Peggy J. Liu, SoYon Rim, Lauren Min, and Kate E. Min
- https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/psp-pspi0000402.pdf

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/mushrooming-minds-super-plants-plz-call-your-friends

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Fry Flying, Gas Giants at Home, Entangled Atoms Sep 16, 2022

Show notes

Today we are discussing new sustainable fuels for airplanes, creating other worldly heat at home, and a new record for quantum entanglement.

Fry Flying

“Cooking Oil Could Be the New Jet Fuel” by Caroline Delbert
- https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a39612851/airbus-a380-flies-on-cooking-oil/
“Sustainable Aviation Fuels: Status, Challenges and Prospects of Drop-In Liquid Fuels, Hydrogen and Electrification in Aviation” by Ausilio Bauen, et al.
- https://doi.org/10.1595/205651320X15816756012040
“Global Biorenewable Development Strategies for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production” by Kok Siew Ng, et al.
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111502
“A Step Change Towards Sustainable Aviation Fuel from Sewage Sludge” by Muhammad Asif Bashir, et al.
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2022.105498

Gas Giants at Home

“Finally, a Practical Use for Nuclear Fusion” by Amit Katwala
- https://www.wired.com/story/nuclear-fusion-spacecraft-jupiter/
“Feeling the Heat: Fusion Reactors Used to Test Spacecraft Heat Shields” by The American Physical Society
- https://phys.org/news/2021-11-fusion-reactors-spacecraft-shields.html
“DIII-D National Fusion Facility” by General Atomics
- https://www.ga.com/magnetic-fusion/diii-d
“Hypervelocity Impact in Stellar Media: Spacecraft Heat Shield Study in DIII-D” by Dmitriy M. Orlov
- https://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DPP21/Session/WI02.2
“Laboratory Study of Carbon Ablation in Jupiter-Like Heating Environment” by Eva Kostadinova, et al.
- https://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DPP21/Session/TO06.7

Entangled Atoms

“Record-setting quantum entanglement connects two atoms across 20 miles” by Michael Irving
- https://newatlas.com/telecommunications/quantum-entanglement-atoms-distance-record/2022
“Entangling single atoms over 33 km telecom fibre” by Tim van Leent, Matthias Bock, Florian Fertig, Robert Garthoff, Sebastian Eppelt, Yiru Zhou, Pooja Malik, Matthias Seubert, Tobias Bauer, Wenjamin Rosenfeld, Wei Zhang, Christoph Becher & Harald Weinfurter
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04764-4
“Quantum Internet Explained” by Ahmed Banafa
- https://www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/technology/digital-world/quantum-internet-explained/#:~:text=A%20quantum%20internet%20would%20be,in%20either%20zeros%20or%20ones.
“Quantum physics: Record entanglement of quantum memories” by ScienceDaily
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/07/220707100920.htm

Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/fry-flying-gas-giants-at-home-entangled-atoms

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