Curiosity Weekly - Discovery

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**Curiosity Weekly – Discovery**

Welcome to Curiosity Weekly from Discovery, hosted by Dr. Samantha Yammine. Once a week, we’ll bring you the latest and greatest in scientific discoveries and break down the details so that you don’t need a PhD to understand it. From neuroscience to climate tech to AI and genetics, no subject is off-limits. Join Sam as she interviews expert guests and investigates the research guiding some of the most exciting scientific breakthroughs affecting our world today.

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

Latest Episodes:

Muscles Remember Training and a Black Hole Made a Star Explode Oct 12, 2021

Show notes

Learn how quickly previously trained muscles bounce back after inactivity; and how a black hole made a star explode.

Previously trained muscles bounce back after inactivity by Grant Currin

Seaborne, R. A., Strauss, J., Cocks, M., Shepherd, S., O’Brien, T. D., van Someren, K. A., Bell, P. G., Murgatroyd, C., Morton, J. P., Stewart, C. E., & Sharples, A. P. (2018). Human Skeletal Muscle Possesses an Epigenetic Memory of Hypertrophy. Scientific Reports, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-20287-3
Prior training can accelerate muscle growth even after extended idleness. (2021, August 18). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/925769
Wen, Y., Dungan, C. M., Mobley, C. B., Valentino, T., von Walden, F., & Murach, K. A. (2021). Nucleus Type-Specific DNA Methylomics Reveals Epigenetic “Memory” of Prior Adaptation in Skeletal Muscle. Function, 2(5). https://doi.org/10.1093/function/zqab038
Episode about previous research: https://www.curiositydaily.com/individuals-really-can-slow-climate-change-muscle-memory-is-real-and-penguin-waddles/

A black hole collided with a star and made it explode in a merger-triggered supernova by Briana Brownell

Dong, D. Z., Hallinan, G., Nakar, E., Ho, A. Y. Q., Hughes, A. K., Hotokezaka, K., Myers, S. T., De, K., Mooley, K. P., Ravi, V., Horesh, A., Kasliwal, M. M., & Kulkarni, S. R. (2021). A transient radio source consistent with a merger-triggered core collapse supernova. Science, 373(6559), 1125–1129. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abg6037
Stellar collision triggers supernova explosion. (2021, September 2). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/927166
A Black Hole Triggers a Premature Supernova – First Observation of a Brand-New Kind of Supernova. (2021, September 5). A Black Hole Triggers a Premature Supernova – First Observation of a Brand-New Kind of Supernova. SciTechDaily. https://scitechdaily.com/a-black-hole-triggers-a-premature-supernova-first-observation-of-a-brand-new-kind-of-supernova/
Plait, P. (2021, September 6). So, a star may have eaten a black hole and exploded. SYFY WIRE; SYFY WIRE. https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/so-a-star-may-have-eaten-a-black-hole-and-exploded

Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. 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.

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/muscles-remember-training-and-a-black-hole-made-a-star-explode

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School Should Start Later, Daydreaming Perks, Hycean Planets Oct 11, 2021

Show notes

Learn about why high school starts too early; why daydreaming might be a good sign; and finding life on Hycean planets.

High school starts too early in all but 3 US states — but things are changing by Steffie Drucker

Roy, S. (2014, August 26). AAP Recommends Delaying School Start Times to Combat Teen Sleep... Sleep Review. https://www.sleepreviewmag.com/sleep-health/demographics/age/aap-recommends-delaying-school-start-times-combat-teen-sleep-deprivation/
CDC. (2020, May 29). Schools Start Too Early. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/features/schools-start-too-early.html
National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS). (2017). Ed.gov; National Center for Education Statistics. https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/ntps/tables/ntps1718_table_05_s1s.asp
Jacobs, F. (2021, August 27). Here’s how early school begins – and why it is bad for students. Big Think; Big Think. https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/heres-how-early-school-begins-and-why-it-is-bad-for-students
Sleep for Teenagers | Sleep Foundation. (2009, April 17). Sleep Foundation. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/teens-and-sleep

Daydreaming Might Be a Sign of an Efficient Brain by Reuben Westmaas

Daydreaming is Good. It Means You’re Smart | News Center. (2017). Gatech.edu. https://www.news.gatech.edu/news/2017/10/24/daydreaming-good-it-means-youre-smart
Godwin, C. A., Hunter, M. A., Bezdek, M. A., Lieberman, G., Elkin-Frankston, S., Romero, V. L., Witkiewitz, K., Clark, V. P., & Schumacher, E. H. (2017). Functional connectivity within and between intrinsic brain networks correlates with trait mind wandering. Neuropsychologia, 103, 140–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2017.07.006
A wandering mind reveals mental processes and priorities. (2012). Wisc.edu. https://news.wisc.edu/a-wandering-mind-reveals-mental-processes-and-priorities/
Levinson, D. B., Smallwood, J., & Davidson, R. J. (2012). The Persistence of Thought. Psychological Science, 23(4), 375–380. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611431465

Forget Earth-like planets — it's time to look for alien life on Hycean planets by Briana Brownell

New class of habitable exoplanets are “a big step forward” in the search for life. (2021, August 26). University of Cambridge. https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/new-class-of-habitable-exoplanets-are-a-big-step-forward-in-the-search-for-life
Madhusudhan, N., Piette, A. A. A., & Constantinou, S. (2021). Habitability and Biosignatures of Hycean Worlds. The Astrophysical Journal, 918(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/abfd9c

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/school-should-start-later-daydreaming-perks-hycean-planets

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Simple Wildlife Solutions, Sunlight’s Sexy Hormones, Trivia Oct 08, 2021

Show notes

Learn about simple solutions for resolving human-wildlife conflict; and how exposure to sunlight can increase romance. Plus: Trivia!

More from “America’s funniest science writer” Mary Roach:

Pick up "Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law" at your local bookstore to learn more about the weird world of human-wildlife conflict: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781324001935
Mary Roach’s official website: https://maryroach.net/
Follow @mary_roach on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mary_roach

Exposure to sunlight releases sexy hormones, leading to more romantic passion by Grant Currin

Exposure to sunlight enhances romantic passion in humans. (2021, August 25). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/926348
Parikh, R., Sorek, E., Parikh, S., Michael, K., Bikovski, L., Tshori, S., Shefer, G., Mingelgreen, S., Zornitzki, T., Knobler, H., Chodick, G., Mardamshina, M., Boonman, A., Kronfeld-Schor, N., Bar-Joseph, H., Ben-Yosef, D., Amir, H., Pavlovsky, M., Matz, H., & Ben-Dov, T. (2021). Skin exposure to UVB light induces a skin-brain-gonad axis and sexual behavior. Cell Reports, 36(8), 109579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109579

Episodes referenced in Curiosity Challenge Trivia game:

One purchase leads to more: https://www.curiositydaily.com/diderot-effect-animated-cave-art-running-benefits-your-knees/
Cells kill bacteria: https://www.curiositydaily.com/mapping-the-ocean-soap-making-cells-crows-comprehend-zero/
Mountains on neutron stars: https://www.curiositydaily.com/backward-letters-dogs-detect-lies-neutron-star-mountains/

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/simple-wildlife-solutions-sunlights-sexy-hormones-trivia

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Human-Wildlife Conflict and Believing Leisure Is a Waste of Time Oct 07, 2021

Show notes

Learn about the science of human-wildlife conflicts; and what you risk by believing that leisure is a waste of time.

More from “America’s funniest science writer” Mary Roach:

Pick up "Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law" at your local bookstore: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781324001935
Mary Roach’s official website: https://maryroach.net/
Follow @mary_roach on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mary_roach

Believing leisure is a waste of time makes you less happy by Steffie Drucker

Believing leisure is wasteful reduces happiness. (2021, August 24). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/926261
Selin Malkoc. (2021, August 25). I studied people who think leisure is a waste of time – here’s what I found. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/i-studied-people-who-think-leisure-is-a-waste-of-time-heres-what-i-found-165929
Tonietto, G. N., Malkoc, S. A., Reczek, R. W., & Norton, M. I. (2021). Viewing leisure as wasteful undermines enjoyment. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 97, 104198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2021.104198

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/human-wildlife-conflict-and-believing-leisure-is-a-waste-of-time

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Pills Can Detect Radiation, Metabolism Myth, Waking Up on the Wrong Side of the Bed Oct 06, 2021

Show notes

Learn about how our metabolism changes; waking up on the wrong side of the bed; and painkillers as radiation dosimeters.

The metabolism changes much more gradually as we get older than we thought by Grant Currin

Metabolism changes with age, just not when you might think. (2021, August 12). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/925132
Pontzer, H., et. al. (2021). Daily energy expenditure through the human life course. Science, 373(6556), 808–812. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abe5017
Mazhukhina, K. (2021). When does metabolism start to drop? It’s much later than you might think, study shows. The Sacramento Bee; The Sacramento Bee. https://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/national/article253549369.html

Waking Up on the Wrong Side of the Bed Is Totally Real by Reuben Westmaas originally aired July 23, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/nasa-s-sun-probe-waking-up-on-the-wrong-side-of-th

If you're exposed to radiation, pop some painkillers into your pocket by Briana Brownell

Remember: A personal dosimeter is waiting in your first aid kit! (2021, August 12). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/925145
Mrozik, A., & Bilski, P. (2021). Popular Medicines as Radiation Sensors. IEEE Sensors Journal, 21(15), 16637–16643. https://doi.org/10.1109/jsen.2021.3082285
Radiation sickness - Symptoms and causes. (2020). Mayo Clinic; https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/radiation-sickness/symptoms-causes/syc-20377058

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/pills-can-detect-radiation-metabolism-myth-waking-up-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-bed

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“Mini Brains” That Grew Eyes and How the FDA Saved Babies Oct 05, 2021

Show notes

Learn about stem cell “mini brains” that grew eyes and how the FDA prevented an epidemic of birth defects in the 1960s.

Scientists grew stem cell 'mini brains' that developed mini-eyes on their own by Cameron Duke

Gabriel, E., Albanna, W., Pasquini, G., Ramani, A., Josipovic, N., Mariappan, A., Schinzel, F., Karch, C. M., Bao, G., Gottardo, M., Suren, A. A., Hescheler, J., Nagel-Wolfrum, K., Persico, V., Rizzoli, S. O., Altmüller, J., Riparbelli, M. G., Callaini, G., Goureau, O., & Papantonis, A. (2021). Human brain organoids assemble functionally integrated bilateral optic vesicles. Cell Stem Cell. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2021.07.010
Starr, M. (2021). Scientists Grew Stem Cell “Mini Brains”. Then, The Brains Sort-of Developed Eyes. ScienceAlert. https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-used-stem-cells-to-make-mini-brains-they-grew-rudimentary-eyes

The FDA never approved thalidomide, and that saved American babies by Briana Brownell

James, A. J. (2021, August 17). How a “stubborn” Canadian saved thousands of American babies from birth defects. Nationalpost; National Post. https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/how-a-stubborn-canadian-saved-thousands-of-american-babies-from-birth-defects
Phillips, S. (2020, March 9). How a courageous physician-scientist saved the U.S. from a birth-defects catastrophe. Uchicagomedicine.org; UChicago Medicine. https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/biological-sciences-articles/courageous-physician-scientist-saved-the-us-from-a-birth-defects-catastrophe
Office of the Commissioner. (2019). Frances O. Kelsey. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-history-exhibits/frances-oldham-kelsey-medical-reviewer-famous-averting-public-health-tragedy
McNeill, L. (2017, May 8). The Woman Who Stood Between America and a Generation of “Thalidomide Babies.” Smithsonian Magazine; Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/woman-who-stood-between-america-and-epidemic-birth-defects-180963165/

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/mini-brains-that-grew-eyes-and-how-the-fda-saved-babies

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Psychology of Online Trolls, Rattlesnake Illusions, Blazars Oct 04, 2021

Show notes

Learn about what online trolls are like in real life; an auditory illusion rattlesnakes use to trick humans; and blazars.

Online trolling might be due to personality rather than the anonymity of the internet by Steffie Drucker

New research: The internet does not turn people into trolls – it just makes real-life trolls more visible. (2021, August 26). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/926582
BOR, A., & PETERSEN, M. B. (2021). The Psychology of Online Political Hostility: A Comprehensive, Cross-National Test of the Mismatch Hypothesis. American Political Science Review, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0003055421000885

Rattlesnake rattles use auditory illusion to trick human brains by Cameron Duke

Forsthofer, M., Schutte, M., Luksch, H., Kohl, T., Wiegrebe, L., & Chagnaud, B. P. (2021). Frequency modulation of rattlesnake acoustic display affects acoustic distance perception in humans. Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.07.018
Turner, B. (2021, August 19). Rattlesnake rattles use auditory illusion to trick human brains. Livescience.com; Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/rattlesnakes-trick-brains-auditory-illusion.html

Introducing The Universe’s Most Epic Object: The Blazar by Ashley Hamer

Atkinson, Nancy. (2009, March 19). Astronomers Observe Bizarre Blazar with Battery of Telescopes. Universe Today. https://www.universetoday.com/27518/astronomers-observe-bizarre-blazar-with-battery-of-telescopes/
Carlson, E. K. (2018, July 12). Blazars explained. Astronomy.com. https://astronomy.com/news/2018/07/what-is-a-blazar

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/psychology-of-online-trolls-rattlesnake-illusions-blazars

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Blowhole Origins, Weather Manipulation, How to Slow Aging Oct 01, 2021

Show notes

Learn about how brushing your teeth can slow aging; how blowholes start as noses; and how humans manipulate the weather.

Additional resources from Andrew Steele:

Pick up "Ageless: The New Science of Getting Older Without Getting Old" at your local bookstore: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780385544924
Website: https://andrewsteele.co.uk/
Follow @statto on Twitter https://twitter.com/statto
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrAndrewSteele

Whales and dolphins in the womb start with nostrils on the tip of their noses by Grant Currin

Urton, J. (2021). Now how did that get up there? New study sheds light on development and evolution of dolphin, whale blowholes. UW News. https://www.washington.edu/news/2021/08/05/dolphin-whale-blowholes/
Roston, R. A., & Roth, V. L. (2021). Different transformations underlie blowhole and nasal passage development in a toothed whale (Odontoceti: Stenella attenuata ) and a baleen whale (Mysticeti: Balaenoptera physalus ). Journal of Anatomy. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13492

How weather manipulation works by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Joseph in Peoria, Illinois)

Is weather control a dream or nightmare? (2017, October 19). Science News for Students. https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/weather-control-dream-or-nightmare
Eoin O'Carroll, & Paulson, A. (2018, October 15). Unintended consequences: Climate-hacking poses big ethical questions. The Christian Science Monitor; The Christian Science Monitor. https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2018/1015/Unintended-consequences-Climate-hacking-poses-big-ethical-questions
Our Mission Modification ? (2013). Noaa.gov. https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hrd_sub/modification.html
Cool Science: How Kurt Vonnegut’s Brother Tried To Break Up Hurricanes | GE News. (2020). Ge.com. https://www.ge.com/news/reports/cool-science-vonnegut-ge-research

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/blowhole-origins-weather-manipulation-how-to-slow-aging

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Could Science Stop Aging? And the Milky Way’s “Broken Arm” Sep 30, 2021

Show notes

Learn about how research into senescent cells and senolytic drugs could change aging. Plus: the Milky Way’s broken arm.

Additional resources from Andrew Steele:

Pick up "Ageless: The New Science of Getting Older Without Getting Old" at your local bookstore: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780385544924
Website: https://andrewsteele.co.uk/
Follow @statto on Twitter https://twitter.com/statto
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrAndrewSteele

The Milky Way has a 3,000-light-year-long "break" in its arm, and we don’t know why by Briana Brownell

Specktor, B. (2021, August 19). Milky Way has a 3,000-light-year-long splinter in its arm, and astronomers don’t know why. Livescience.com; Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/milky-way-sagittarius-arm-break
Astronomers Find a “Break” in One of the Milky Way’s Spiral Arms. (2018). NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/astronomers-find-a-break-in-one-of-the-milky-way-s-spiral-arms
The Milky Way Galaxy | NASA Solar System Exploration. (2017). NASA Solar System Exploration. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/285/the-milky-way-galaxy/
Kuhn, M. A., Benjamin, R. A., Zucker, C., Krone-Martins, A., de Souza, R. S., Castro-Ginard, A., Ishida, E. E. O., Povich, M. S., & Hillenbrand, L. A. (2021). A high pitch angle structure in the Sagittarius Arm. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 651, L10. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202141198

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/could-science-stop-aging-and-the-milky-ways-broken-arm

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Future You Is a Stranger, Babylonian Trig, Reversed Organs Sep 29, 2021

Show notes

Learn about why it’s hard to save money for our future; how Babylonians knew the Pythagorean theorem; and situs inversus.

It's hard to save money because we see our future selves as strangers by Steffie Drucker

Johnson, S. (2021, August 10). Brain hacks for saving money. Big Think; Big Think. https://bigthink.com/personal-growth/how-to-save-money
Qin, P., & Northoff, G. (2011). How is our self related to midline regions and the default-mode network? NeuroImage, 57(3), 1221–1233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.05.028

Did the ancient Babylonians discover the Pythagorean theorem before Pythagoras did? by Briana Brownell