Curiosity Weekly - Discovery

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Hygiene Hypothesis, Ancient Coronavirus, Black Hole Eats Neutron Star Aug 17, 2021

Show notes

Learn about whether being too clean makes kids sick; an ancient coronavirus epidemic; and a black hole-neutron star merger.

Is being too hygienic making kids sick? These researchers say the public has it all wrong by Grant Currin

Being clean and hygienic need not impair childhood immunity. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-07/ucl-bca070221.php
Rook, G. A. W., & Bloomfield, S. F. (2021). Microbial exposures that establish immunoregulation are compatible with targeted hygiene. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 148(1), 33–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2021.05.008
Cara, E. (2021, July 6). Being Clean Doesn’t Have to Be Bad for Our Immune System, Scientists Say. Gizmodo; Gizmodo. https://gizmodo.com/being-clean-doesnt-have-to-be-bad-for-our-immune-system-1847238686

Genome study reveals East Asian coronavirus epidemic 20,000 years ago by Cameron Duke

Souilmi, Y., Lauterbur, M. E., Tobler, R., Huber, C. D., Johar, A. S., Moradi, S. V., Johnston, W. A., Krogan, N. J., Alexandrov, K., & Enard, D. (2021). An ancient viral epidemic involving host coronavirus interacting genes more than 20,000 years ago in East Asia. Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.05.067
Queensland University of Technology (2021, June 24). Genome study reveals East Asian coronavirus epidemic 20,000 years ago. Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2021-06-genome-reveals-east-asian-coronavirus.html

We got the first ever detection of a black hole gobbling up a neutron star by Briana Brownell

Black holes swallow neutron stars like “Pac Man.” (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/anu-bh062521.php
Astrophysicists detect first black hole-neutron star mergers. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/nu-adf062821.php
Abbott, R., Abbott, T. D., Abraham, S., Acernese, F., Ackley, K., Adams, A., ... & Boudart, V. (2021). Observation of gravitational waves from two neutron star–black hole coalescences. The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 915(1), L5. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ac082e/pdf
Betz, E. (2020). How Big Are Neutron Stars? Discover Magazine; Discover Magazine. https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/how-big-is-a-neutron-star
By Pallab Ghosh. (2021, June 29). Rare black hole and neutron star collisions sighted twice in 10 days. BBC News; BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57639520
What Is a Black Hole? (2015). NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/what-is-a-black-hole-k4.html

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/hygiene-hypothesis-ancient-coronavirus-black-hole-eats-neutron-star

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Cognitive Flexibility, Arctic Dinosaurs, Noctilucent Clouds Aug 16, 2021

Show notes

Learn about how cognitive flexibility helps you learn; why dinosaurs may have been warm-blooded; and noctilucent clouds.

A high IQ might mean you're smart, but high "cognitive flexibility" means you can learn by Grant Currin

Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian, Christelle Langley, & Leong, V. (2021, June 23). IQ tests can’t measure it, but “cognitive flexibility” is key to learning and creativity. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/iq-tests-cant-measure-it-but-cognitive-flexibility-is-key-to-learning-and-creativity-163284
3 Ways to Improve Your Cognitive Flexibility. (2019). Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/wild-connections/201912/3-ways-improve-your-cognitive-flexibility
Dajani, D. R., & Uddin, L. Q. (2015). Demystifying cognitive flexibility: Implications for clinical and developmental neuroscience. Trends in Neurosciences, 38(9), 571–578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2015.07.003

At least 7 species of dinosaur lived and nested in the Arctic, which suggests the existence of warm-blooded dinosaurs by Cameron Duke

Druckenmiller, P. S., Erickson, G. M., Brinkman, D., Brown, C. M., & Eberle, J. J. (2021). Nesting at extreme polar latitudes by non-avian dinosaurs. Current Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.05.041
Multiple dinosaur species not only lived in the Arctic, they also nested there. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/cp-mds061721.php

Rare, glowing noctilucent clouds are appearing more frequently by Briana Brownell

Q13 FOX. (2021, June 17). Night shining “noctilucent” clouds make mesmerizing appearance over Seattle. Q13 FOX; Q13 FOX. https://www.q13fox.com/weather/night-shining-noctilucent-clouds-make-mesmerizing-appearance-over-seattle
Mortillaro, N. (2021, June 19). Keep an eye out for rare electric-blue noctilucent clouds in the northern sky. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/noctilucent-clouds-northern-sky-1.6069959
Rare glowing cloud phenomenon captured in timelapse ok UK’s night sky. (2021, June 17). Msn.com. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/rare-glowing-cloud-phenomenon-captured-in-timelapse-ok-uks-night-sky/vi-AAL8F2Q
Spaceweather.com Time Machine. (2021). Spaceweather.com. https://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=17&month=06&year=2021
Umair Irfan. (2021, May 19). Why eerie, glowing noctilucent clouds are showing up more often. Vox; Vox. https://www.vox.com/22420935/glowing-cloud-noctilucent-mystery-unexplainable-podcast-climate

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/cognitive-flexibility-arctic-dinosaurs-noctilucent-clouds

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How to Talk to Strangers, Red Dead Redemption 2 Naturalists, July Curiosity Challenge Aug 13, 2021

Show notes

Learn how to get better at talking to strangers; and how Red Dead Redemption 2 turns gamers into naturalists. Trivia too!

Additional resources from Joe Keohane:

Pick up "The Power Of Strangers" at your local bookstore: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781984855770?aff=penguinrandom
Website: https://joekeohane.net/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeKeohane

Red Dead Redemption 2 accidentally turns gamers into amateur naturalists without them even knowing by Cameron Duke

Parker, R. (2018, October 30). “Red Dead Redemption 2” Breaks Records With $725 Million Opening Weekend. The Hollywood Reporter; The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/red-dead-redemption-2-breaks-records-725-million-opening-weekend-1156235/
Crowley, E. J., Silk, M. J., & Crowley, S. L. (2021). The educational value of virtual ecologies in Red Dead Redemption 2. People and Nature. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10242
Red Dead Redemption 2 teaches players about wildlife. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-07/uoe-rdr070721.php

Episodes referenced in the Curiosity Challenge trivia game:

Brain-computer interface: https://www.curiositydaily.com/why-song-lyrics-are-getting-simpler/
Dinosaur age: https://www.curiositydaily.com/weird-dreams-might-be-a-brain-feature-not-a-bug/
Megalodon: https://www.curiositydaily.com/why-megalodon-was-so-huge-misophonia-in-the-brain-trivia/

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/how-to-talk-to-strangers-red-dead-redemption-2-naturalists-july-curiosity-challenge

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History of Talking to Strangers, Dark Matter Between Galaxies Aug 12, 2021

Show notes

Learn why talking to strangers shouldn’t be scary; and a new map revealing hidden dark matter “bridges” between galaxies.

Additional resources from Joe Keohane:

Pick up "The Power Of Strangers" at your local bookstore: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781984855770?aff=penguinrandom
Website: https://joekeohane.net/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeKeohane

A new AI-generated map revealed hidden dark matter "bridges" that connect galaxies by Briana Brownell

Pappas, S. (2021, May 28). Dark matter map reveals new filaments connecting galaxies. Livescience.com; Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/map-local-universe-dark-matter.html
Ratner, P. (2021, May 27). Scientists find dark matter “bridges” that may reveal future of our galaxy. Big Think; Big Think. https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/dark-matter-bridges-future-galaxy
Mapping the local cosmic web: Dark matter map reveals hidden bridges between galaxies. (2021, May 25). Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2021-05-local-cosmic-web-dark-reveals.html
Hong, S. E., Jeong, D., Seong Hwang, H., & Kim, J. (2021). Revealing the Local Cosmic Web from Galaxies by Deep Learning. The Astrophysical Journal, 913(1), 76. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/abf040

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/history-of-talking-to-strangers-dark-matter-between-galaxies

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Meat Disgust, Cosmic Rays for Medicine, Immortal Battery Aug 11, 2021

Show notes

Learn about how meat-eaters really feel; using cosmic rays in medical diagnoses; and the Oxford Electric Bell mystery.

People who eat meat think it's gross, which suggests new ideas for cutting consumption by Kelsey Donk

Even Some Meat-Eaters Are Disgusted By Meat — And Encouraging Those Feelings Could Help Reduce Consumption. (2021, June 3). Research Digest. https://digest.bps.org.uk/2021/06/03/even-some-meat-eaters-are-disgusted-by-meat-and-encouraging-those-feelings-could-help-reduce-consumption/
Becker, E., & Lawrence, N. S. (2021). Meat disgust is negatively associated with meat intake – Evidence from a cross-sectional and longitudinal study. Appetite, 164, 105299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2021.105299

Doctors can use cosmic rays in medical diagnosis by Grant Currin

Gough, E. (2021, June 8). The Universe is Constantly Bathing you in Radiation. Incredibly, This Could be Used for Medical Diagnosis - Universe Today. Universe Today. https://www.universetoday.com/151419/the-universe-is-constantly-bathing-you-in-radiation-incredibly-this-could-be-used-for-medical-diagnosis/#more-151419
Morris, C., Perry, J., & Merrill, F. E. (2021). Cosmic ray radiography of a human phantom. https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/2106/2106.01542.pdf

The Mysterious Battery That Has Lasted More Than 175 Years by Mae Rice originally aired May 28, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/personality-predicting-eye-movements-a-mysterious

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/meat-disgust-cosmic-rays-for-medicine-immortal-battery

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New Human Species, Digital Library of Babel, Running to Music Aug 10, 2021

Show notes

Learn about two newly discovered ancient human species; the Digital Library of Babel; and benefits of running to music.

Two new species of ancient human were just discovered by Grant Currin

A new type of Homo unknown to science. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/tu-ant062321.php
Hershkovitz, I., et. al. (2021). A Middle Pleistocene Homo from Nesher Ramla, Israel. Science, 372(6549), 1424–1428. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abh3169
TAUVOD. (2021). Dramatic discovery in Israeli excavation: A new type of Homo unknown to science [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGPKRuyd-5M
“Dragon man” fossil may replace Neanderthals as our closest relative. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/cp-mf061721.php
Discovery of “Dragon Man” Skull in China May Add Species to Human Family Tree. (2021). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/25/science/dragon-man-skull-china.html
Xijun Ni, Ji, Q., et. al. (2021). Massive cranium from Harbin in northeastern China establishes a new Middle Pleistocene human lineage. The Innovation, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2021.100130

The Digital Library Of Babel Could Contain Every Book Ever Written by Ashley Hamer

Introduction paragraph: https://libraryofbabel.info/bookmark.cgi?uu.pkr_ujhmd75
Basile, J. (2021). About the Library. Libraryofbabel.info. http://libraryofbabel.info/About.html
Adler, J. (2015, September 22). This Digital Library Contains Every Phrase That Could Ever Be Uttered. Smithsonian Magazine; Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/digital-library-contains-every-phrase-that-could-ever-be-uttered-180956623/
Sturgeon, J. (2015, April 23). Brooklyn Author Recreates Borges’ Library of Babel as Infinite Website. Flavorwire; Flavorwire. https://www.flavorwire.com/515783/brooklyn-author-recreates-borges-library-of-babel-as-infinite-website

Running to music can counteract mental fatigue by Steffie Drucker

Running to music combats mental fatigue a study suggests. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/uoe-rtm062221.php
Lam, H.K.N., Middleton, H., & Phillips, S.H. (2021). The effect of self-selected music on endurance running capacity and performance in a mentally fatigued state. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, in press. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2022.174.16

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/new-human-species-digital-library-of-babel-running-to-music

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Earworms Aid Memory, How Auroras Happen, Don’t Give Cats Milk Aug 09, 2021

Show notes

Learn how earworms could be helping your memory; how auroras are created; and what your cat should drink instead of milk.

Maybe that song stuck in your head is helping your long-term memory by Cameron Duke

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose. (2021, June 15). That Song Is Stuck in Your Head, but It’s Helping You to Remember. UC Davis. https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/song-stuck-in-head-helps-remember
Kubit, B. M., & Janata, P. (2021). Spontaneous mental replay of music improves memory for incidentally associated event knowledge. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0001050

We have the first experimental evidence for how auroras are created by Briana Brownell

Physicists report definitive evidence how auroras are created. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/uoi-prd060321.php
Auroral Electron Acceleration. (2021). Uiowa.edu. https://homepage.physics.uiowa.edu/~ghowes/research/aurora.html
Schroeder, J. W. R., Howes, G. G., Kletzing, C. A., Skiff, F., Carter, T. A., Vincena, S., & Dorfman, S. (2021). Laboratory measurements of the physics of auroral electron acceleration by Alfvén waves. Nature communications, 12(1), 1-9. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-23377-5.epdf

A Feline Myth Debunked: Don't Give Your Cat Milk by Anna Todd

Fries, W. C. (2009, July 17). Cats and Dairy: Get the Facts. WebMD; WebMD. https://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/cats-and-dairy-get-the-facts#1
Bradshaw, J. (2019, May 20). Why can’t cats drink milk? Plus 6 other feline myths. BBC Science Focus Magazine; BBC Science Focus Magazine. https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/why-cant-cats-drink-milk-plus-6-other-feline-myths/
Causes and diagnosis of lactose intolerance. (2018, November 29). Nih.gov; Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310263/

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/earworms-aid-memory-how-auroras-happen-dont-give-cats-milk

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Tool to Cure Hiccups, Corvid Childhoods, How Spacecraft Move Aug 06, 2021

Show notes

Learn about a scientific tool to cure hiccups; why corvids owe big brains to longer childhoods; and how spacecraft move.

Finally, the first-ever scientific tool to cure hiccups by Grant Currin

Team describes science-based hiccups intervention. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/uoth-tds061821.php
Alvarez, J., Anderson, J. M., Snyder, P. L., Mirahmadizadeh, A., Godoy, D. A., Fox, M., & Seifi, A. (2021). Evaluation of the Forced Inspiratory Suction and Swallow Tool to Stop Hiccups. JAMA Network Open, 4(6), e2113933. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.13933
https://newatlas.com/author/ben-coxworth. (2021, June 21). Drinking device claimed to help halt hiccups. New Atlas. https://newatlas.com/health-wellbeing/fisst-hiccaway-hiccups/
Herndon, J. (2018, May 29). Why Do We Hiccup? Healthline; Healthline Media. https://www.healthline.com/health/why-do-we-hiccup#Why-we-get-hiccups

Corvids owe big brains to parenting/long childhoods by Steffie Drucker

Extended parenting helps young birds grow smarter. (2020). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-05/mpif-eph052920.php
Heidt, A. (2020, June 8). Like humans, these big-brained birds may owe their smarts to long childhoods. Science | AAAS. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/06/humans-these-big-brained-birds-may-owe-their-smarts-long-childhoods
Extended parenting and the evolution of cognition | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. (2020). Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1098/rstb.2019.0495

If space is full of nothing, how can spacecraft move? by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Nathan in Clive, Iowa)

How does a rocket work in space where there is no air to push against? | Science Guys | Union University, a Christian College in Tennessee. (2014). Uu.edu. https://www.uu.edu/dept/physics/scienceguys/2002Sept.cfm
Howell, E. (2013, April 9). How Do Space Rockets Work Without Air? Livescience.com; Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/34475-how-do-space-rockets-work-without-air.html

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/tool-to-cure-hiccups-corvid-childhoods-how-spacecraft-move

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An Out-of-Body Experience Without Drugs and Earth’s “Pulse” Aug 05, 2021

Show notes

Learn how scientists induced an out-of-body experience in a human without using drugs; and Earth’s geological “pulse.”

Scientists induced an out-of-body experience in mice and a human without using drugs by Grant Currin

Scientists Say A Mind-Bending Rhythm In The Brain Can Act Like Ketamine. (2020, September 16). NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/09/16/913565163/scientists-discover-way-to-induce-altered-state-of-mind-without-drugs
Wells, S. (2020, October 3). Scientists Can Induce Out-Of-Body Experiences Without Drugs. Freethink. https://www.freethink.com/articles/uncovering-the-cause-of-dissociative-states-in-the-mind
Stanford team pinpoints brain circuitry underlying dissociative experiences. (2020). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-09/sm-stp091520.php
Vesuna, S., Kauvar, I. V., Richman, E., Gore, F., Oskotsky, T., Sava-Segal, C., Luo, L., Malenka, R. C., Henderson, J. M., Nuyujukian, P., Parvizi, J., & Deisseroth, K. (2020). Deep posteromedial cortical rhythm in dissociation. Nature, 586(7827), 87–94. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2731-9

The Earth has a geological "pulse" 27.5 million years long by Briana Brownell

Masters, K. (2016). How often does the Sun pass through a spiral arm in the Milky Way? (Intermediate) - Curious About Astronomy? Ask an Astronomer. Cornell.edu. http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/our-solar-system/55-our-solar-system/the-sun/the-sun-in-the-milky-way/207-how-often-does-the-sun-pass-through-a-spiral-arm-in-the-milky-way-intermediate
The Earth has a pulse -- a 27.5-million-year cycle of geological activity. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/nyu-teh061821.php
Rampino, M. R., Caldeira, K., & Zhu, Y. (2021). A pulse of the Earth: A 27.5-Myr underlying cycle in coordinated geological events over the last 260 Myr. Geoscience Frontiers, 12(6), 101245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2021.101245

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/an-out-of-body-experience-without-drugs-and-earths-pulse

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Your Biggest Regret, Tall Mountain Myths, The Deep Web Aug 04, 2021

Show notes

Learn about why your biggest regret is the thing you didn’t do; the tallest mountains on Earth; and the Deep Web.

The stories in this episode originally aired May 29, 2018 “The Deep Web, Biggest Regrets, and a Mount Everest Misconception” https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/the-deep-web-biggest-regrets-and-a-mount-everest-misconception

Additional information about the Dark Web:

The Tor Project | Privacy & Freedom Online. (2021). Torproject.org. https://www.torproject.org/download/
The Guardian SecureDrop. (2019). Theguardian.com. https://www.theguardian.com/securedrop
The brighter side of darknet drug dealing | Dr James Martin | TEDxMelbourne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv-E7naLBq8

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/your-biggest-regret-tall-mountain-myths-the-deep-web

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