Learn about how clocks and lightbulbs changed human health, with author and materials scientist Ainissa Ramirez. Plus: learn about that time a bunch of birds became milk bottle thieves and whether you should put one or two spaces after a period.
Learn about why it could be hard to communicate with humans of the future; how a potted plant can help you boost your productivity; and why coffee makes you poop.
Learn about how wildfires are powerful enough to create their own storms, how the invention of bags influenced human evolution, and how announcers with low voices can make products larger.
Learn about how your brain can trick you into changing your mind; how to set goals you can achieve to make your life better; and what to do if you’re on a diet and you start to slip up.
Learn about why it’s a good thing when you have to wait in a long line; new research that says an ancient supernova may have triggered a mass extinction on Earth; the delicious origin story of Key lime pie; and how and why we forget pain.
Learn about the risks of being vaccinated with virologist Paul Duprex. Then, learn about how to overcome the backfire effect, a cognitive bias that pits your beliefs against facts.
Learn about why using your phone during a break is a bad idea; why we roll our eyes; and how the material values scale can help you measure your materialism so you can see how much you’re influenced by consumer culture.
Learn about why magic mushrooms evolved to be “magic” and new research into when children develop “theory of mind.”
Learn about the replication crisis facing researchers in the social and life sciences from a special guest: Professor Joseph M. Reagle Jr., author of the new book “Hacking Life: Systematized Living and Its Discontents.” You’ll also learn why squinting helps you see.
Learn about when to use bandages; online shopping’s hidden health benefits; and why tardigrades were shot out of a gun.
In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes:
Learn about why flipping a coin might be your best bet when making major life decisions; why otters juggle rocks; and how you respond differently to 2 types of injustice.
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 international borders; and what might happen if you’re eating during a car accident.
View the world in correct proportions with this map.
Learn about bioprinting from Zach Weinersmith, creator of “Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal.” You’ll also learn about Derinkuyu, an ancient underground city; and, Dr. Neubronner’s miniature pigeon camera that predated drone photography.