Curiosity Weekly

You Can Totally BS a BSer

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why you can BS a BS-er; how you can get your hands on some of the world’s oldest books at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library; and a sea...

Has the Earth Lost Weight?

16 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about a new computer model that may have gotten us closer to figuring out how we choose our mates; why Meno’s paradox says you can’t ever le...

Some Viruses Do You Good

15 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how blind and low-vision gamers have an edge when it comes to certain games, with Cornell University Professor Andrew Campana. Then, learn...

Blind Gamers Take the “Video” Out of Video Games

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how blind and low-vision gamers are taking the “video” out of video games, with Cornell University Professor Andrew Campana. Then, lea...

Vampire Bats Adopt Babies Too

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why engineers tested a temporary “smart tattoo” that emits light via OLEDs; a female vampire bat that adopted her best friend’s baby...

If Life Existed on Mars, How Would We Know?

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how atheists and believers have different moral compasses; how scientists will know if life ever existed on Mars; and how to persuade peop...

We Can Use DNA for Data Storage

09 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how we could use DNA to store all of human knowledge for thousands of years. Then, test your podcast knowledge with the Curiosity Challeng...

The Known Solar System Just Got Bigger

08 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how mice seem to feel each other’s pain; why our known solar system just got a little bigger thanks to “Farfarout” 2018 AG37; and th...

An Outsider’s Guide to Humans (w/ Scientist Camilla Pang)

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Scientist and award-winning author Camilla Pang explains why she wanted to write a manual for humans. You’ll also learn about the planetary chaos th...

Post-Traumatic Growth Is a Pandemic Silver Lining

06 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how caregivers may experience “post-traumatic growth” from the pandemic; why the UK has one of the world’s most memorable postcode s...

Most Conversations Go On Longer Than We Want Them To

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why most conversations go on for a lot longer than we want them to; a genetic mutation that makes some people resilient to the cold; and h...

Bad News About Your Wearable Sleep Tracker

02 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about which sleep trackers are actually accurate; how important closure is for a life transition; and why mirrors flip horizontally, but not ver...

Why April Fool’s Day Exists

01 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about what the “frenemy effect” can teach us about bullying; the surprising ability of marmosets to eavesdrop on each others’ conversation...

Aleutian Island Secrets and Electrical Ear Activity

31 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Award-winning photographer, filmmaker, and environmentalist Ian Shive gives the inside scoop on a research expedition to the Aleutian Islands. Then, l...

There’s No Such Thing as a Hypoallergenic Dog

30 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why there’s no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog; why you should praise kids for their work ethic, not their smarts; and why you should...

Having a Bad Boss Can Make You a Great Boss

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why it’s a big deal that researchers found animal life underneath the Antarctic ice shelf; how scientists measured blinks to figure out ...

Why Are There Bubbles in my Day-Old Water?

26 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why bubbles appear in your water overnight; the “other-contingent extravert,” a new type of extravert that’s only outgoing in certai...

This Language Shift Could Signal an Impending Breakup

25 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about a change in language use that could mean a breakup is on the way; why ogre-faced spiders are basically ninja assassins, with help from Cor...

What Your Ears and Spider Fuzz Have In Common

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn why Cygnus X-1, the first black hole ever discovered, is bigger than we thought. Then, learn about spider hearing with help from Ron Hoy, a prof...

Local Honey Won’t Cure Your Allergies

23 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why changing out of your pajamas while you work could improve your mental health; why local honey doesn’t stop seasonal allergies; and s...

Gaining Weight With Age Might Be Healthier Than Staying Slim

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why it might actually be healthy to gain weight as you get older; the alkaloids responsible for why our pets can’t eat chocolate; and ho...

How Loud Is the Sun?

19 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about a simple way to reduce your internet carbon footprint; how brain images can make you more likely to believe fake science; and how loud the...

Why That Thing You Just Learned Is Suddenly Everywhere

18 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Writer, producer, and “Flash Forward” podcast host Rose Eveleth explains why so many technology breakthroughs never pan out. Then, learn about rea...

Why Futurists Don’t Need to Know the Future (w/ “Flash Forward” Host Rose Eveleth)

17 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Rose Eveleth — writer, producer, and “Flash Forward” podcast host — explains why futurists don’t need to know the future. Then, you’ll lea...

Liars May Imitate Your Body Language

16 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why liars may mimic your body language; why “tend and befriend” is an alternative response to “fight or flight”; and why lakes fre...

Time Management Can Make You Happier

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why time management can make you happier; how catnip can protect your cat from mosquitoes; and 3 ways your identity could be stolen withou...

Identical Twins Aren’t as Identical as We Thought

12 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the science of sourdough starters; and why identical twins aren’t so identical after all. Then, play along at home as we test your podca...

What a 95% Effective Vaccine Actually Means

11 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Award-winning journalist Tim Harford explains what it means when you hear that a COVID vaccine is 95% effective. Then, learn about Sentinel Island, ho...

Did Your Microbiome Come from Dirt?

10 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Award-winning journalist and economist Tim Harford explains three simple rules for understanding statistics and evaluating truth in the news. Then, yo...

The Duck-Billed Platypus Is Weirder Than You Thought

09 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about what researchers found when they sequenced the bizarre duck-billed platypus genome; a trick for unlocking your creativity; and the strange...

Yeah, About That Phosphine on Venus...

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the surprising memory skills of infants; why that whole “phosphine on Venus” discovery may not be as exciting as we thought; and how m...

Why Can’t You Hold Your Breath to Death?

05 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why you can’t suffocate by holding your breath; how being angry makes you more likely to believe misinformation; and that time scholars ...

Quadruple-Helix DNA Is a Thing

04 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how quadruple-helix DNA could help us fight cancer; how diversity improves technology, with materials scientist Ainissa Ramirez; and how c...

Scientists Finally Know How Sandcastles Work

03 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why we still don’t know how eels reproduce and how scientists solved a 150-year-old question about how sandcastles hold together.We stil...

How to Know You’re Running Low on Vitamins

02 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how to tell when your body is running low on key vitamins; how Neanderthals mourned their dead; and why you should NOT pre-rinse your dish...

What Getting Chills from Music Says About Your Brain

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about a surprising benefit of adding humor to the news; what getting chills from music says about your brain; and how Volta’s electric eels th...

The Sun 2.0, “Fresh” Food Fallacies, and Is Math Universal?

26 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about an artificial sun from KSTAR that’s hotter than our actual sun; whether math really is a universal language; and what words like “fres...

What Science Says About Putting 2 Spaces After a Period

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how clocks and lightbulbs changed human health, with author and materials scientist Ainissa Ramirez. Plus: learn about that time a bunch o...

What Would Happen If You Stopped Time?

24 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how sleep may have evolved before the brain; why airports keep birds of prey on staff; and what would happen if you stopped time.Sleep mig...

When to Worry About COVID-19 Variants

23 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about what's going on with the new COVID-19 variants — and whether you should worry about them — with Dr. Syra Madad, nationally recognized ...

Introducing If/Then

23 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What gets you curious? Virtual experiences, celestial bodies, water worlds or maybe just the tiniest mysteries inside your brain? The endlessly curiou...

“Popular Opinion” Isn’t What You Think

22 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why popular opinion might not be as popular as you thought; a new analysis that’s debunked the blood type diet; and a pool of water in K...

Why Do I Cough When I Clean My Ears?

19 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how Arnold’s ear-cough reflex can make you cough when you clean your ears; why it’s important to teach your kids about giving when the...

How Copper Changed Our Language (w/ Materials Scientist Ainissa Ramirez)

18 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Award-winning scientist and science communicator Ainissa Ramirez explains how copper changed our language. Then, learn about the surprising health ben...

‘Wanting’ and ‘Liking’ Are Different to Your Brain

17 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why just because you want something doesn’t mean you like it; why Esperanto is the world’s most successful universal language; and a g...

What Came Before the Big Bang?

16 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how hoarders’ brains see their belongings; why dolphins consciously lower their heart rates; and what scientists think happened before t...

The Dark Ages Weren’t Really Dark

15 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the “smellicopter,” a drone that can smell via a live moth antenna; why the “Dark Ages” weren’t as dark as you might think; and ...

This Trait Could Be Key to Lasting Romance

12 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about whether reading computer code is the same to your brain as reading another language; and a personality trait that could be key to lasting ...

Your Dog’s Personality Can Change Over Time

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how having hope for the future could protect you from risky behaviors like drinking and gambling; how your dog’s personality can change ...

Biological Race Is a Myth (w/ Agustín Fuentes)

10 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Princeton University Anthropology Professor Agustín Fuentes explains why race is a social construct — as in, biological race isn’t real. Then, le...

How Does Fever Help You Get Better?

09 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how a fever helps you get better; why the first reliable and widely available pregnancy test was the African clawed frog; and a potential ...

Why Scientists Made Ants Walk on Stilts

08 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why people have illusions of control; that time scientists made desert ants walk on stilts to test the pedometer hypothesis; and how to re...

The Safest Way to Ride in a Car During the Pandemic

05 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the safest way to ride in a car with someone during a pandemic; the science of the "home team advantage" and the surprising impact time zo...

Was Farming Really a Step Up for Hunter-Gatherers?

04 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Science journalist and author James Nestor explains how you can breathe better. Then, learn about the secret identity of Bitcoin creator “Satoshi Na...

You’re Probably Breathing Wrong (w/ James Nestor)

03 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

James Nestor, science journalist and author of the book "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art,” explains how you might be breathing wrong. Plus: le...

This Ring May Detect COVID-19 Before You Feel It

02 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how the Oura smart ring could detect fever before you feel it; why there are no stars in moon landing photos; and why it “stinks” that...

Why Does February have 28 Days?

01 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why February only has 28 days; why early birds and night owls aren’t the only two chronotypes; and why the anchoring effect says you sho...

Why Do Wombats Poop Cubes?

29 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about a newly discovered way to cut down on intrusive thoughts; why wombats poop cubes; and why UPS trucks almost never make left turns.Cut down...

The Big Mistakes We Make in Virtual Gatherings (w/ Priya Parker)

28 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Author Priya Parker explains how to fix the biggest mistakes you’re making in your virtual gatherings. Plus: learn about how language can affect the...

How to Make Gatherings More Meaningful (w/ Priya Parker)

27 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Author Priya Parker explains how you can make your next gathering more meaningful. But first, you’ll learn about TRPC1, a molecule that promotes mus...

A Trick for Making Vaccinations Less Painful

26 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about an easy trick for making needles less painful; how ancient Mayans used zeolite to filter water more than 2,000 years ago; and the story be...

Small Talk Is Important, and Remote Workers Aren’t Getting Enough

25 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why small talk is important for coworkers during the workday; why gossip is actually pretty good for you; and how some frogs survive the w...

Why Is Static Worse in Winter?

22 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why sensitive questions won’t make conversations as uncomfortable as you think; why static is worse in winter than in summer; and the “...

A Distant Galaxy Is Warping the Milky Way

21 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Author Jen Sincero explains why it’s important to form and maintain habits. You’ll also learn about why phantom limb sensations are way more commo...

What Most People Miss When Building Habits (w/ Jen Sincero)

20 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Author Jen Sincero explains how changing your thoughts, beliefs, and words can help you stick to your goals and successfully form new habits. Plus, le...

We Still Don’t Know How Ice Skating Works

19 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how social connection may be as basic of a human need as hunger; the ongoing scientific debate around how ice skating actually works; and ...

Why Your Dog’s Paws Smell Like Corn Chips

18 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why you shouldn’t add oil to your pasta water; a simple way to help kids think better; and why your dog’s paws smell like corn chips.H...

Disgusting Sights Literally Turn Your Stomach

15 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how disgusting sights literally turn your stomach; and why tattoos are permanent. Then, play along at home as we test your podcast knowled...

A New Discovery About That Weird “Aurora” Named STEVE

14 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about a new discovery about STEVE, the weird streak of color in the Canadian skies; how a “wind phone” in Otsuchi, Japan, helped thousands c...

Beat Stress with Laughter Yoga (w/ Madan Kataria, MD)

13 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the benefits of laughter yoga with the founder of the laughter club movement, Dr. Madan Kataria. You’ll also learn about a major breakth...

Why Are the COVID-19 Vaccines Kept So Cold?

12 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how the Faroe Islands created their own Google Street View using sheep; why some vaccines (like Pfizer’s and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccin...

People Respond to Music Even When They Can’t Hear It

11 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why you can have an emotional reaction to music even when it’s not being played; how people have been performing brain surgery for thous...

Your Brain Treats Human Beauty Differently from Artistic Beauty

08 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how your brain treats beautiful faces differently from beautiful objects; why the town of Baarle sits on one of the world’s most complex...

Why We Call Computer Glitches “Bugs”

07 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why Wolf-Rayet stars are the brightest stars in the sky; why immune cells in your brain may have started out in your gut; and the history ...

What’s the Shortest Amount of Time Ever Recorded?

06 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how scientists just measured the quickest event ever recorded; how tiny remoras (suckerfish) stay stuck to fast-moving whales; and why bei...

Swedish Death Cleaning Can Declutter Your Life

05 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how you can de-clutter your life with the Swedish concept of döstädning, or “death cleaning.” Then, learn about how Alfred Russel Wa...

How “Flow” Can Help in Quarantine

04 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how experiencing “flow” could help your mental health during quarantine; why airplane windows are round; and whether flies experience ...

The Right Way to Set Goals

01 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how the coronavirus pandemic may have changed Americans’ attitudes about the poor; how you can relieve stress by learning something new;...

When Smokers Quit, Dormant Lung Cells Wake Up

31 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how quitting smoking may reawaken healthy cells; how researchers figured out how to tell the age of crime scene fingerprints to help inves...

Do People Think More in Words or Pictures?

30 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about whether people think in words or in pictures; why brussels sprouts really are tastier than they used to be; and why buying luxury items mi...

The Stinky Science of the World’s Smelliest Fruit

29 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the shocking prevalence of torture scenes in movies; why durian, the world’s smelliest fruit, smells so bad; and where mold comes from.T...

Why Cuttlefish Wore 3-D Glasses for Science

28 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why your next relationship will probably be like your last one; what scientists learned by studying the oldest material on Earth; and what...

Do Opposites Really Attract?

25 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why opposites don’t really attract; the “propinquity effect” and how physical distance affects the way we feel about other people; a...

Why Toilet Paper Is White

24 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about Starlink’s unintended consequences for astronomy from astrophysicist Vivienne Baldassare, NASA Einstein Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale Univ...

The Time Pi Was Almost Legally Changed to 3.2

23 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how speed listening to podcasts (or "podfasting") affects our emotions; the health differences between white and brown rice; and the time ...

Why Do Bats Cause So Many Virus Outbreaks?

22 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why bats are the source of so many deadly virus outbreaks; and the surprisingly strong influence older siblings can have on their brothers...

Why It's Good to Reveal Your Failures

21 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why successful people should reveal their failures; the extreme story of the death of planet WASP-12b; and why tulips used to cost more th...

Do Single-A Batteries Exist?

18 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about whether there’s such a thing as “single A” batteries; 5 surprising ways volunteering improves your physical health; and how duckbill...

Early Female Hunters Were More Common Than We Thought

17 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why ants are better farmers than we'll ever be; how female big-game hunters were likely common in the early Americas; and why presenting t...

How Psilocybin Therapy Can Ease Depression

16 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Infectious disease doctor and researcher Dr. Lawrence Purpura discusses herd immunity and the coronavirus pandemic. Then, learn about how psilocybin t...

What Are Monoclonal Antibodies? (w/ Dr. Lawrence Purpura)

15 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Lawrence Purpura explains monoclonal antibodies and the different types of treatments that could help us fight the coronavirus. Plus: learn about ...

Why Birds Wore Funny Hats for Science

14 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how curiosity gives your memory a boost; what happened when researchers put feathered hats on birds to see if other birds found them sexy;...

Are Sleep-Deprived Men More Masculine?

11 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why men who sleep more are seen as less masculine and what exactly makes radiation harmful. Then, test your podcast knowledge with this mo...

Insecure People Use More Jargon

10 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how naked mole-rats invade neighboring colonies and steal babies, the average person is hiding 13 secrets, and people use more jargon when...

Why Don’t We Have Battery-Powered Airplanes?

09 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how a planet-friendly diet also tends to be healthier and why we don’t have battery-powered airplanes. But first, social psychologist an...

Laziness Isn’t What You Think (w/ Dr. Devon Price)

08 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about how we know that an asteroid killed the dinosaurs. We’ll also talk to social psychologist and author Devon Price about how laziness migh...

Why You Need Self-Compassion for Self-Improvement

07 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why adding cold cream to your coffee keeps it hotter longer, why social identity can make people distrust the scientific consensus, and wh...

Why It’s Relaxing to Breathe in Through Your Nose

04 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why it’s relaxing to breathe in through your nose and the first woman who’s ever been struck by a meteor. We’ll also answer a listen...

Why Animals Keep Evolving Into Crabs

03 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why animals keep evolving into crabs in a principle called “carcinization,” whether water is actually wet, and if there’s any truth ...

The Smells That Existed Before Earth (w/ Harold McGee)

02 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about why your dog might be lying about its size and how physicists just achieved room-temperature superconductivity for the first time. But fir...