Curiosity Weekly - Discovery

Latest Episodes:

The Team Using Psychedelics to Treat Lyme Disease Nov 11, 2026

Show notes

Cases of Lyme disease have increased year by year due to climate change and expanding tick habitats. Unfortunately, this also means an increase in a condition known as post-treatment Lyme disease, where the illness persists after the initial infection is gone. Not a lot is known about post-treatment Lyme, but there is headway being made on how to treat it. To discuss his work in the field, host Dr. Samantha Yammine speaks with Dr. John Aucott, the director of the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center.

Before that, Sam looks into a study that explores a unique way of treating cancer in a hard-to-reach part of the eye. Later, she explores new research explaining why Mercury is much smaller than previously thought and why it’s still shrinking.

Link to Show Notes HERE

Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.

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Introducing It Turns Out Nov 11, 2026

Show notes

We encourage you to check out It Turns Out, a podcast hosted by award-winning journalist Kara Miller that explores surprising research and the big questions behind how our world really works. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Finding Pinocchio’s Nose: What Science Tells Us About Lying Nov 04, 2026

Show notes

For millenia, curious minds have been trying to find a universal piece of evidence that tells us someone is lying. From polygraph tests to studies examining eye contact and body language - it seems like science has come close, but decoding lies from truth remains complicated. This episode, host Dr. Samantha Yammine welcomes Dr. Leanne ten Brinke who runs the Truth and Trust Lab and specializes in research about lies and deception. Sam also responds to a listener request to explain why this years’ El Niño is set to cause intense weather across the planet and she breaks down a new study showing how neuroplasticity leads to an increased level of eyesight for those who are profoundly deaf.

Link to Show Notes HERE

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Bats Drink Blood But They Also Make Friends Oct 28, 2026

Show notes

Bats aren’t just symbols of darkness and evil, they are incredible creatures that are unique among mammals. Just ask our guest, evolutionary biologist and bat expert, Dr. Dan Riskin. This episode, he talks about why bats are some of the most fascinating animals on the planet and how they got their dark reputation.

Before that, host Dr. Samantha Yammine looks into the recently-published map of a fruit fly nervous system and debunks some neurology myths surrounding its usage. Later, she explores how researchers are attempting to make a pill that gives you the benefits of exercise without any of the actual exercise.

Link to Show Notes HERE

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Introducing It Turns Out Oct 28, 2026

Show notes

What Happens When You Donate Your Body to Science Oct 21, 2026

Show notes

Halloween is almost here! And we are leaning in. This episode, host Dr. Samantha Yammine goes all in on fear, death, and rebirth to celebrate spooky season. First, she looks into a new study that sheds light on how our brains interpret threats that lead to a fear response.

Then, she speaks with the co-founder of the Institute of Human Anatomy, Jonathan Bennion. They talk about what we can learn from bodies that have been donated to science and what it’s like to run a private cadaver lab. And finally, Sam explores research on an animal that doesn’t just regenerate itself, it ages backwards while doing so.

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Link to Show Notes HERE

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Seeing Sound & Tasting Words: Systems of Synesthesia Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

According to neuroscientist Dr. Jamie Ward, everyone knows someone with synesthesia. It’s an under-discussed form of neurodiversity that blends the senses and creates a unique way of perceiving the world. This episode, Dr. Ward joins host Dr. Samantha Yammine to chat about what is going on in the brain of someone with this condition and what it teaches us about the brain in general. Before that, Sam looks into a new study that uses the smell of breath to see how well the gut breaks down medications. Later, she breaks down research showing the link between eating and memory formation.

Link to Show Notes HERE

Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter withDr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.

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

Translating Science is More Complex Than You Think Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

English being the common language in scientific research has its pros and cons. Scientists can collaborate easier and research can become more accessible, but what do we lose in that process? And what role does AI play? To discuss the complexities of scientific translation, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by Dr. Lynn Bowker. Dr. Bowker is a Canada Research Chair in Translation, Technologies, and Society at Université Laval.

Sam also explores how a new mRNA vaccine is using AI to keep skin cancer from reccuring and a study measuring how guilty people feel when they’re relaxing.

Link to Show Notes HERE

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Can I Cut Mold Off My Cheese?: The Science of Food Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Like it or not, food safety is something that people often bend the rules on. We leave leftovers on the counter too long, we use the five second rule, or maybe we don’t wash our veggies as well as we should. Today, it’s more important than ever to make sure that we can trust the food we’re eating and know how to take care of it properly so that we don’t get sick. To discuss the science of food safety, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by food scientist and content creator @hydroxide.foodscience. Before that, Sam looks into a new paper that says humans are starting to talk less and later, a study digs into an enzyme that can supposedly shred cancer cells.

Link to Show Notes HERE

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Mythbusting Reproductive Health Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

Reproduction is the basis for life and yet, for many, it’s still a mystery. This episode, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by author and gynecologist Dr. Karen Tang to discuss the rumors, misconceptions, and realities of reproductive health. Before that, Sam explains why scientists were surprised to hear jaguars meow for the first time. Later, she’ll dig into some new research that suggests there may be a cure for paralytic shellfish poisoning in the body of a bullfrog.

Link to Show Notes HERE

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