Learn about how to tell whether a life hack is worth trying 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 there’s no such thing as a “reverse microwave” for cooling.

In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories from Curiosity.com — and learn about the science of stretching from Get-Fit Guy of Quick and Dirty Tips — to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes:

A good night's rest may all be down to the way you sleep.

Learn how the 2019 State of Science Index suggests we talk about science differently, with a special guest: 3M Corporate Scientist and Chief Science Advocate Jayshree Seth. Plus: learn a simple strategy for getting out of a creative rut.

Learn about why you want things just because others do too; a way to reduce wrongful convictions; and Fermilab’s ferret.

Dr. Courtney Campbell explains how to treat your puppy’s anxiety. Plus: why “back burner” relationships are unhealthy.

Learn why the camera adds 10 pounds (and what you can do about it); why asteroids called Trojans could change what we know about the origins of our solar system; and a technique to help you avoid stress and stay calm.

Learn about the woman who discovered pulsars and why they matter; and, why learning styles don’t exist. You’ll also learn about cell-sized robots, in the the first edition of our Microscale Mondays mini-series with Cornell physicists Itai Cohen and Paul McEuen.

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

Learn about why political parties may arrive at their positions by pure chance, with some help from opinion cascades; why the Great Oxygenation Event led to a bigger die-off than the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs; and, whether infrared and ultraviolet light show up in rainbows.

Learn about why “beauty sleep” has real benefits for your skin; how plants learn the chemical language of pests to use for self-defense; and a new algorithm that’s fighting deepfakes by looking at heart rates.

Learn about how the mysterious Hypatia stone could change what we know about our solar system; what wind chill actually means; and how you can learn skills faster with a 15-minute workout.

Environmental cardiology researcher Dr. Aruni Bhatnagar explains why experts are looking at our environment to improve our health. Then, learn how Polynesians and Native Americans connected across more than 2,000 miles of ocean — all the way back in the 12th century.

You can recreate your own version of this famous experiment.

Learn why NASA compared a new scientific discovery to a game of “Where’s Waldo?”; why cats stick their butts in your face; and the surprising reason why your throat burns when you take a shot of hard liquor.