So Curious!

Latest Episodes:

Digital Twins, Lizard Feet, and Artificial Intelligence Jan 09, 2025

Show notes

Join us for a special bonus episode of So Curious! as we explore the intersection of science, technology, and health in celebration of The Franklin Institute’s new Body Odyssey exhibit.

Host The Bul Bey dives into thought-provoking conversations with three incredible guests. Dr. Harvey Rubin sheds light on how artificial intelligence is transforming medicine, from diagnosing rare diseases to designing digital twins of cities. Dr. Tonia Hsieh takes us into the fascinating world of biomechanics, explaining how the movements of lizards and other animals inspire breakthroughs in robotics and prosthetics. And Dr. Jayatri Das, chief bioscientist at The Franklin Institute, connects the dots, offering insights into how emerging technologies like AI are shaping the future of health and healthcare.

Packed with curiosity, big questions, and inspiring ideas, this episode is your invitation to think differently about the world around—and within—you.

Learn more about the Body Odyssey exhibit and get tickets at FI.edu.

The Curious Cosmos with Derrick Pitts (A So Curious Bonus Episode) Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

In a special bonus episode of So Curious, Bey and Kirsten are joined by Derrick Pitts, Chief Astronomer and Director of the Fels Planetarium at the Franklin Institute!

The three discuss how Derrick came to be in the field of astronomy, what being in space would actually be like, how sci-fi shapes our understanding of outer space, and so much more.

Be sure to check out Derrick's new podcast, The Curious Cosmos, for more amazing space talk! New episodes will be released every Tuesday throughout the fall.

Let's Dance! Why Music Makes Us Move Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

Hope you have your dancing shoes on, because in this final episode of So Curious' 4th season, Bey and Kirsten explore the science behind why music makes us dance!

First, they sit down with McMaster post-doctoral fellow Dr. Daniel Cameron to learn about his research into rhythm and the brain. Then, the two are joined by Dr. Jayatri Das, Chief Bioscientist of The Franklin Institute, to explore the incredible ways dance incorporates various sensory systems in our bodies. And to close out the season, Bey and Kirsten are joined by Philadelphia's DJ Phreakwency to explore the history of dance music, the experience of being a DJ, and what in his experience gets the crowd moving!

Links for Today's Episode:

Learn more about Dr. Daniel Cameron and the research he's part of at McMaster University into rhythm and the brain
Check out DJ Phreakwency and his monthly dance party, Bass Down Low, at The Dolphin in Philadelphia.

Science in Concert: How Musical Performance Works Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

This week, So Curious takes to the stage! Exploring how and why humans play and perform music.

First, Bey and Kirsten sit down with jazz educator and researcher Dr. Martin Norgaard to learn about jazz improvisation, and what happens in the brain while musicians are improvising. Then, the two are joined by Dr. Jayatri Das for another Body of Knowledge segment, this time to explore the physiology of singing and why we find songs so moving. And to round out the episode, veteran music teacher Beth Carson joins to discuss her years in the classroom, the importance of music education, what it's like to teach young children to perform.

Links for Today's episode:

Learn more about Dr. Martin Norgaard and his research into musical improvisation in the brain
Explore those singing-responsive brain cells Jayatri spoke about further
Listen to that moving performance of Creep on America's Got Talent that Kirsten referenced
Check out the composer bust of Beth Carson that one of her students made of her

Wild Voices: In Tune with the Animal Kingdom Aug 08, 2023

Show notes

This season of So Curious, we've talked plenty about the music humans make. But what about the music made by other animals?

First, Bey and Kirsten sit down with birdsong researcher Dr. Stephen Nowicki to learn the surprising science behind how and why birds sing. Then, the two are joined by Dr. Lori Marino to explore the songs and sounds of dolphins and whales. And to close the episode, inter-species musician David Rothenberg joins to speak about the music he makes in collaboration with animals, from his philosophy behind doing so to the logistics of playing music deep in the wilderness.

Links for Today's Episode:

Learn more about Dr. Stephen Nowicki and the work of his bird communication research lab
Learn more about Dr. Lori Marino and her work with The Whale Sanctuary Project
Learn more about David Rothenberg and listen to more of his music
To delve deeper into the world of inter-species musicians, check out the work of Paul Winter and R. Murray Schafer

Remember That Song? Music and Memory Aug 01, 2023

Show notes

We all have memories closely tied to music in our life - but why are those connections so strong?

In today's episode of So Curious, Bey and Kirsten look to get to the bottom of this question. First, the two sit down with memory expert Dr. Andrew Budson to learn how memory works in the brain, and the many ways music interacts with that. Then, they speak with head of Northern Illinois University's Marketing program, Dr. Vijaykumar Krishnan Palghat, to learn about sonic logos and the surprising ways music and sound is used in the world of branding. From music as treatment for Alzheimer's disease, to why we can all sing the Nokia ringtone long after the brand disapeared, we're digging deep into why music makes us remember.

Links for Today's Episode:

Learn more about Dr. Andrew Budson, and check out his new book, Why We Forget and How to Remember Better: The Science Behind Memory
Check out this CBS Sunday Morning feature on Glenn Campbell's final tour, where he was performing late into his battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Learn more about Dr. Vijay Krishnan and his sonic branding research
Check out the full clip of Indian Classical violin used in the episode.

The Music-Language Link Jul 25, 2023

Show notes

We've all heard the phrase "music is the universal language," but what if that music/language connection went deeper than we thought?

First, hosts Kirsten and Bey speak with Dr. Ani Patel, the leading expert on the link between language and music in the brain, to learn about his research and the surprising links that have been found between the two. Then, our hosts sit down with Philly-based hip hop artist A.Rob to chat about how language and music interact in the world of rap, from the concept of flow to his experience as a bilingual rapper.

Links for today's episode:

Learn more about Dr. Ani Patel
Check out the Sound Health Network's resources on music's use in healthcare
Learn more about A.Rob, and check out his music!
Further info on the ancient Arabic rap-battles A.Rob mentioned, a traditional form of poetry known as Zajal

In Tune With the Body: Music in Athletic Performance and Healthcare Jul 18, 2023

Show notes

This season, we've already looked at how music can affect our mental health, but what about our physical health?

To explore this question, Bey and Kirsten sit down with sports psychologist Professor Costas Karageorghis to learn how music can improve athletic performance, including how to build your ideal workout playlist, according to science! Then, professional musician and Curtis Institute professor Mary Javian joins to discuss how music is being used to improve the world of healthcare for both patients to doctors.

Links for Today's Episode:

Learn more about Prof. Costas Karageorghis, and check out the textbook he wrote on the topic, Applying Music in Exercise and Sport
Listen to Michael Phelps' pre-race playlist
Learn more about Mary Javian
Explore Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs further

Music of the Future: Tech Innovations and Inventions Jul 11, 2023

Show notes

In the future, how will we make and experience music?

In today's episode, Bey and Kirsten speak with some of the folks inventing that future. First, they sit down with with Dr. Jason Freeman to learn about (and hear samples from!) Georgia Tech's annual Guthman Musical Instrument Competition, an international contest showcasing newly invented instruments. Then, it's time for a field trip! So Curious goes on the road to visit Dr. Youngmoo Kim and his colleagues at Drexel University's Music and Entertainment Technology Lab. From vests that allow the deaf to experience music through their skin, to AI that can create music from noise, check out some of the incredible tech innovations being developed right here in Philadelphia!

Links for today's episode:

Learn more about Dr. Jason Freeman, and check out the Guthman Musical Instrument Competition's page to watch videos of the instruments entered in the competition! All audio of competition instruments courtesy of Georgia Tech
Check out the Musical Instrument Collection at The Met to explore the history of instrument design.
Learn more about Dr. Youngmoo Kim, his Music and Entertainment Technology Lab, and the ExCITe Center at Drexel University
Check out more about the Magnetic Resonator Piano
Learn more about Daniel Belquer and his project, Music: Not Impossible and the work they've done with Mandy Harvey, a deaf musician and finalist on The Voice
Check out Beacon Street Studios, who made the music used in the vest demonstration
Learn more about Charis Cochran and her Phd work on music AI

The Musical Mind: Synesthesia, Auditory Illusions, and Brain Function Jul 04, 2023

Show notes

The human brain is amazingly complex, and full of fun little oddities when it comes to how it interacts with music!

To explore some of these quirks, Bey and Kirsten sit down with one of the founders of the field of music cognition, Dr. Robert Zatorre from McGill University, to talk everything from perfect pitch to how we can hear songs in our head. Then, they're joined by Dr. Jayatri Das, chief bioscientist at the Franklin Institute, for another Body of Knowledge segment, this time exploring the science behind auditory illusions and misheard lyrics! And to round out the episode, Bey and Kirsten chat with Philadelphia-based composer Andrea Clearfield to learn about her experience with synesthesia, and how seeing colors when she hears music (and vice versa) affects her creative process.

Links for today's episode:

Learn more about Dr. Rober Zatorre
Check out some more examples of auditory illusion from The Franklin Institute!
The infamous dress that divided the internet, what colors do you see?
Learn more about Andrea Clearfield, and the two specific compositions she shared; Cal-3, based on the music she heard when she saw Heiner Riepl's paining, and her opera, MILA, Great Sorcerer
Have your own experiences with synesthesia, or anything else you want to share? Email us at socurious@fi.edu

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