Curiosity Weekly

Your Second Brain, Jupiter’s Hot Atmosphere, Placebo Buttons

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the “second brain” in your gut; what makes Jupiter’s atmosphere so hot; and why placebo buttons are useful.The 'second brain' in you...

Moral Outrage Online, Cuttlefish Memory, Sounds Have Shapes

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the dark side of likes and shares; how cuttlefish memory stays sharp in old age; and bouba and kiki shapes.Likes and shares push people to...

Mass Hysteria, Why You Say “Like,” Beauty’s Moral Value

24 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the harmful effects of the “mass hysteria” label; why you say “like”; and the link between beauty and moral worth.Additional resou...

Psychosomatic Illnesses and Seeing Behind a Black Hole

23 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Neurologist Suzanne O’Sullivan demystifies psychosomatic illnesses. Then, learn how scientists saw behind a black hole.Additional resources from neu...

Time Crystals, Freeze-Dried Sperm, and Batching Tasks

22 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about time crystals; why researchers freeze-dried sperm on a postcard; and batching tasks instead of multitasking.Two research teams say they've...

Monks Meditating After Death and a Marathoning Woolly Mammoth

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the mystery of how Tibetan monks seem to keep meditating after death; and a woolly mammoth that walked VERY far.Thukdam Project scientists...

Sleep Munchies, Ancient Greek Ship Found, Relationship Trick

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why you eat more when you’re tired; a legendary submerged Egyptian city; and a trick for keeping the peace.Lack Of Sleep Really Does Mak...

Nudge Theory’s Dark Side (w/ Richard Thaler), Hybrid Fruit Science, Words for “Pirate”

17 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how to avoid getting dragged down by “Sludge”; how hybrid fruit like plumcots are made; and pirate parlance.Additional resources from ...

Nobel Prize Winner Richard Thaler on How Nudge Changed the World — Plus, Squirrel-Inspired Robots

16 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nobel Prize-winning economist Richard Thaler explains how “Nudge” has changed the world. Plus: squirrel-inspired robots!Additional resources from ...

Apes Say Hello, Life on Snowball Earth, Learn Twice as Fast

15 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about non-human animals that say hello and goodbye; life on Snowball Earth; and how to learn skills twice as fast.Apes use their own form of hel...

Earth’s Core Growing Lopsided and the Science of Gut Feelings

14 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how to tap into your “gut feeling,” which knows more than you think it does; and why Earth's core is growing lopsided.You do have a "gut fee...

Backward Letters, Dogs Detect Lies, Neutron Star Mountains

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why children write letters backward; how dogs know when you’re lying to them; and mountains on neutron stars.Children write letters back...

Learning to Read Right, Risks of Trusting Science, Trivia

10 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn why phonics is the best way to teach kids to read; and how false science benefits from people who “trust science.” Plus: this month’s Curi...

Emily Oster on Parenting Decisions, A New Type of Supernova

09 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how parents can get smarter about making big decisions, with author Emily Oster; and electron-capture supernovas.Additional resources from Emily...

Why Facts Don’t Win Arguments, SETI 101, Self-Control Pitfalls

08 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn why self-control isn’t always good for you; why you can’t win an argument using facts; and what SETI is looking for.More from Dr. Steven Nov...

Mapping the Ocean, Soap-Making Cells, Crows Comprehend Zero

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how Seabed 2030 will map the ocean floor; how our cells make soap; and how crows understand the concept of zero.More than half of Earth's surfac...

Road to the 8-Hour Workday, the Liking Gap, Shocking Tomatoes

06 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how guaranteed 8-hour work days came to the US; the liking gap; and the shocking defense systems of tomato plants.It took more than 70 yea...

Fossil Prep Mistakes, 1840s Electric Cars, Tip of Your Tongue

03 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how accurate fossil preparators must be; why electric cars are an old concept; and words on the tip of your tongue.Additional information about ...

Dino Fossil Preparation and Newborns “Dream” About the World

02 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how newborn mammals “dream” about the world before entering it; and what goes into prepping dinosaurs for research.Newborn mammals "dream" a...

Diderot Effect, Animated Cave Art, Running Benefits Your Knees

01 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the Diderot Effect; how cave art becomes animated in firelight; and why running may be good for your knees.The Diderot Effect is why buyin...

Infinity in a Used Prayer Book and Vampire-Like Sea Slugs

31 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the earliest use of infinity we’ve found; and vampire-like sea slugs that absorb other organisms’ attributes.The earliest mathematical...

Talkers Are Leaders, DNA Evidence Myth, Thinking Sans Brain

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about a key trait in group leaders; why DNA evidence is overrated; and a brainless slime mold that can “think.”The "babble hypothesis" of le...

How COVID Tests Work, Making Decisions with Math, Dog Talent

27 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how COVID tests work; how math can help you with major life decisions; and how some dogs have natural talent.How COVID PCR tests work by Ashley ...

Turning the Table on Addictive Apps, Black Hole Reflections

26 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how to turn the table on addictive apps; and how black holes can make us see multiple versions of the same thing.Additional resources from David...

Alibi Memory, Denisova Cave History, Cleaning Fruit & Veggies

25 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how often people misremember alibis; new lessons from Denisova Cave; and how to remove pesticides from produce.People often misremember where th...

Pirates Plundered the Metric System, What Marsquakes Teach Us

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the time pirates stopped the US from switching to the metric system; and new learnings about Mars’ interior.The US once tried switching ...

Romanesco Fractals, Dolphin Names & Evolution vs. Mating

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about evolutionary compromises; the fractals of Romanesco cauliflower; and dolphins that learn each other’s names.Conflict traits: when evolut...

Hamster Microwave, Are Humans Still Evolving?, Art Is Better in a Museum

20 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about a microwave to revive hamsters; whether humans are still evolving; and why art is more moving in a museum.One of the earliest microwaves w...

Easter Island Mythbusting and the Universe’s Expansion Rate

19 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn why Easter Island never had a population collapse; and how scientists are measuring the expansion of our universe.Easter Island never had a popu...

Volcano Perks, Club Soda vs. Seltzer, How to Procrastinate Correctly

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the benefits of living near a volcano; different types of carbonated water; and how to procrastinate right.The stories in this episode ori...

Hygiene Hypothesis, Ancient Coronavirus, Black Hole Eats Neutron Star

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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

Cognitive Flexibility, Arctic Dinosaurs, Noctilucent Clouds

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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 sm...

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

13 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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...

History of Talking to Strangers, Dark Matter Between Galaxies

12 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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

Meat Disgust, Cosmic Rays for Medicine, Immortal Battery

11 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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 g...

New Human Species, Digital Library of Babel, Running to Music

10 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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

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

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Tool to Cure Hiccups, Corvid Childhoods, How Spacecraft Move

06 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about a scientific tool to cure hiccups; why corvids owe big brains to longer childhoods; and how spacecraft move.Finally, the first-ever scient...

An Out-of-Body Experience Without Drugs and Earth’s “Pulse”

05 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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

Your Biggest Regret, Tall Mountain Myths, The Deep Web

04 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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 origina...

Anger Looks Guilty, Quantum Microscope, Good News About Cancer

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about anger makes you look guilty; a new quantum microscope; and why the fight against cancer is going very well.Anger makes you look guilty by ...

Kids v. Sarcasm, 24,000-Year-Old Worm, Why Betelgeuse Dimmed

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why younger kids don’t understand sarcasm; a 24,000 year old living worm; and Betelgeuse’s “Great Dimming.”Kids don't get sarcasm ...

Your Brain on Music, Super-Singing Songbirds, Animal Sunburns

30 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the social neuroscience of music; songbirds’ ultra-precise song control; and how animals can get skin cancer.This is what happens in the...

Alien Dataomes, How Animals Smell Viruses, Why to Read Aloud

29 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn why aliens have a dataome; how animals sniff out viral infections; and how reading out loud can boost your memory.Additional resources from Cale...

Accent-Changing Monkeys and the Information “Dataome”

28 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why monkeys imitate other species’ accents; and the “dataome,” a new way to think about information.You can vote for Curiosity Daily...

Brain Replays Memories at 20x Speed & A Real Maxwell’s Demon

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how your brain replays the things you’ve practiced at 20 times speed; and an engine that uses information as fuel.On your practice breaks, you...

Dog Days of Summer, Magic Tricks for Birds, Planck Time

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn the “Dog Days of Summer”; why scientists did magic tricks for birds; and the smallest conceivable length of time.What are the "Dog Days of S...

Letting Wounds Breathe, Grocery App Benefits, Tardigrade Guns

23 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about when to use bandages; online shopping’s hidden health benefits; and why tardigrades were shot out of a gun.LISTENER Q: Should you let a ...

Speech-to-Song Illusion and a High-Tech Use for Tree Rings

22 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the links between language and music via the speech-to-song illusion and what we can learn from tree rings.The speech-to-song illusion dem...

Daddy Longlegs, Dyson Spheres, and Exercising with a Partner

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why daddy longlegs aren’t dangerous; the theoretical Dyson Sphere; and benefits of exercising with a partner.“Daddy Longlegs Myths, Dy...

Missions to Venus and How to Extract DNA from Strawberries

20 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about past missions to Venus — and why we’re going back; and how to extract DNA from strawberries in your kitchen.We're going back to Venus....

Revenge Bedtime Procrastination, Elephant Trunks, Pineapples Eat You Back

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how to combat revenge bedtime procrastination; the power of elephant trunks; and how pineapples eat you back.How to combat "revenge bedtim...

Why Megalodon Was So Huge, Misophonia in the Brain, Trivia

16 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how huge Megalodon was and why some people have misophonia, a severe hatred of sounds. Plus: a trivia game!Dive deeper into all your favor...

Glowing Sharks, Cities’ Unique Microbes, Milky Way Mistake

15 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the record-breaking glowing kitefin shark; cities’ unique microbiomes; and the true origin of the Milky Way.Dive deeper into all your fa...

Shark Week Tech, Crime & Birth Year, Sharks’ Near-Extinction

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about cutting-edge Shark Week tech; how birthdays impact criminal records; and the time sharks nearly went extinct.More from Joe and Lauren Rome...

Bomb-Detected Whales & What It’s Like to Film Shark Week

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how nuclear bomb detectors found a secret population of blue whales. Plus: what it takes to film sharks underwater.Dive deeper into all your fav...

Scary Shark Music, Your Brain Predicts the Future, Hydrobot

12 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about ominous music’s effect on conservation efforts; why our brains constantly predict the future; and “Hydrobot.”Dive deeper into all yo...

Does ESP Exist?

09 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about ESP; why people panicked about electricity in the 1800s; and how embryos use sound to prepare for the world.Is there such a thing as ESP? ...

Could You Adapt to Having an Extra Thumb?

08 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about a robotic “third thumb”; how measuring time increases entropy; and how to distinguish friends from foes.People's brains adapted to hav...

How to Improve Your Sense of Direction

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how to improve your sense of direction; the true story of the pied piper; and how our planets got their names.The stories in this episode ...

Weird Dreams Might be a Brain Feature, Not a Bug

06 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how weird dreams may help us in the real world; how we date dinosaurs; and why a healthy grip means a healthy body.A theory from AI says our wei...

Why Song Lyrics Are Getting Simpler

05 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how a man wrote sentences using only his mind; how popular song lyrics got simpler; and the bitterness of Bitrex.Brain-computer interface lets p...

Are Facial Expressions Universal?

02 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about common ancestors shared by every human; evolution’s multiple directions; and universal facial expressions.There's a point in the past wh...

The Phantom Torso Experiment Protected Astronauts in a Very Creepy Way

01 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why we need memorials for medicine; NASA’s Phantom Torso experiment; and why we often overestimate outliers.Additional resources from St...

How Life Expectancy Doubled in Just 150 Years (w/ Author Steven Johnson)

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how we doubled life expectancy in the last 150 years. Plus: “impossible” quasicrystals formed from nuclear bombs.Additional resources from S...

We Found the Earliest Evidence of Ancient Human Activity

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about ancient evidence of humans using fire; Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle; and your memory on social media.We just found the earliest ev...

Looking Into Space Is Looking Back in Time

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn why soccer players miss penalty kicks; how we estimate population sizes; and how space helps us look back in time.Pro soccer players miss penalt...

Mammals Can Breathe Through Their Butts

25 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how mammals breathe through their butts; how babies remember their birth language; and your reflection in a spoon.Mammals can breathe through th...

Bats Map the World By Time, Not Distance

24 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about whether you should fear AI; the science of a good selfie; and how bats map the world by time, not distance.Additional resources from Micha...

Why We Won’t Have “Robot Butlers” Any Time Soon (w/ AI Researcher Michael Wooldridge)

23 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about "iconic sounds" of language. Plus: artificial intelligence’s limitations, with AI pioneer Michael Wooldridge.Language may have started w...

We Found the First Pregnant Mummy Ever Documented

22 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about a pregnant mummy; the three body problem; and why you should take off your shoes when you enter your house.A newly discovered pregnant mum...

How to Manage Your Work-from-Home Paranoia

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn 4 tips for managing WFH paranoia; flat-pack pasta; and how eye contact is affected by the shape of a dog’s face.4 tips for managing your WFH p...

Will Future Civilizations Get Oil From Human Fossils?

18 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn the easiest way to forgive and forget; whether human fossils can produce oil; and what bees yell when surprised.The forgetting part of "forgive ...

What Does Your Digital Body Language Say?

17 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about “digital body language” guidelines and how scientists brought multiple molecules into the same quantum state.Additional resources from...

Pollen Is Not Actually Plant Sperm

16 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn why your mom calls you your sibling’s name; why pollen isn’t just plant sperm; and what really causes sore muscles.If Your Mom Calls You You...

Painless Tips to Help the Environment (w/ Paul Greenberg)

15 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn why there could be stars made of antimatter. Plus: author Paul Greenberg’s tips to reduce your carbon footprint.There could be stars made of a...

Move Over, CRISPR — New Gene Editing Tech is Here

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the RLR gene editing tool; Victorian-era emoji; and why “night shift” screen settings don’t help you sleep.RLR is a new gene editing...

A Good Reason to Resolve Your Arguments

11 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how resolving arguments can erase nearly all bad feelings, and why almost all calico cats are female. Plus: trivia!Resolving an argument can alm...

The Oldest Kids in Class Are Also the Most Popular

10 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn why older classmates are more popular; how some invasive species help their ecosystems; and keyboard cleaning tips.Don't be surprised if the old...

Why We Always Forget that Less Is More (w/ Leidy Klotz)

09 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how human hair can improve solar panels and why people tend to add, not subtract, when trying to improve something.Scientists are using human ha...

Stress During Pregnancy Might Affect the Baby’s Sex

08 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how stress during pregnancy can affect a newborn’s sex; skipping stone physics in space; and overspending.Stress can make a pregnant per...

A Robot That Talks to Itself Might Be Easier to Interact With

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about interacting with robots that talk to themselves; “mad honey,” a rare, dangerous hallucinogen; and “alief.”Robots that talk to them...

How Do Wild Animals Know What to Eat?

04 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn why helping others feels like helping ourselves, how wild animals eat healthy, and how the Sahara feeds the Amazon.We're less likely to remember...

What Rain is Like on Other Planets

03 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about rain on other planets; why Americans used to not use forks; and whether sleep or exercise is more important.What is rain like on other pla...

What Elevators Can Teach Us About Autonomous Cars (w/ Jason Feifer of Entrepreneur Magazine)

02 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn what the elevator can teach us about our past and our future. Plus: surprising discoveries from bomb-pulse dating.Additional resources from Jaso...

We’re Morbidly Curious About What “Might Have Been”

01 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about counterfactual curiosity; the first entanglement-based quantum network; and Rome’s remarkable Cloaca Maxima.We're morbidly curious to di...

Why Cavities Are So Sensitive to the Cold

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why cavities are so cold-sensitive; an ant that shrinks its brain; and why swimming makes you extra hungry.Here's why dental cavities are ...

Is Exercise for Work as Good as Exercise for Play?

28 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about dog jealousy; physical activity at work vs. at play; and why only certain parts of us get pruney when wet.Dogs act jealous of their owner'...

How a Plant Gene Ended Up in an Insect’s DNA

27 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about “brain fog” in menopause; NASA’s patent prevalence; and a plant gene found in an insect for the first time.Additional resources from...

What’s the Deal with Hot Flashes? (w/ OB-GYN Dr. Jen Gunter)

26 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about what antimatter is and how we discovered it. Then, Dr. Gen Gunter will demystify menopause.How we discovered antimatter by Briana Brownell...

The World’s Oldest Thumb Belongs to a Dinosaur

25 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the “Monkeydactyl” fossil; whether it’s safe to eat food with freezer burn; and post-death “zombie genes.”Newly discovered "Monk...

Human Screams Communicate a Rainbow of Emotions

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about 5G’s wireless power grid potential; the emotions of human screams; and the 3 categories of friendships.We could use 5G as its own wirele...

Mushrooms Are More Like Humans Than Plants

21 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how mushrooms are more like humans than plants; why your tongue isn’t a muscle; and ferret-training robot badgers.Mushrooms are more like huma...

Roses Smell Different in Space

20 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about emotions in online reviews; how flowers smell in space; and how water efficiency affected human evolution.Emotions matter more than rating...

How LEDs Work (w/ LED Pioneer George Craford)

19 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the “birthday paradox.” Then, George Craford — one of the pioneers of LED lighting — talks LED innovation.The Birthday Paradox by ...

Octopuses Have Sleep Cycles, Too

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about imaginary beams of motion coming from people’s eyes; where lost luggage ends up; and octopus sleep cycles.Following someone's gaze may i...

Introverts Fared Better Than Extroverts During the Pandemic

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about introverts’ and extroverts’ pandemic response; astronaut farts; and why violet and purple are different.Introverts fared better than e...

Using AI to Play Ancient Board Games

14 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn why learning too much can make you less passionate and how AI is resurrecting ancient board games. Plus: trivia!Learning too much about your pas...

When the Pursuit of Knowledge Goes Wrong (w/ Physicist Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein)

13 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about Mauna Kea and how the pursuit of knowledge can be harmful. Plus: the smallest measurement of gravity ever.Additional resources from Dr. Ch...

Go Ahead, Google Your Symptoms

12 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the benefits of Googling symptoms; truly random number generation; and why science is about storytelling.Googling symptoms makes patients ...