Learn about what happens after your life is "fully optimized" 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 white holes could explain some of the universe’s most unexplainable characteristics — at least, if they exist.

Learn about “tin whiskers,” the mysterious reason why your gadgets suddenly stop working; threat simulation theory and how your nightmares might be helping you survive; and why every map is lying to you.

Learn about how a mutation that evolved to protect us against malaria actually makes us more prone to other diseases; and why astronauts are using old sailing technology (sextants) to navigate through space. Plus: a special update from Cody!

Forrest Galante, host of “Extinct or Alive” on Animal Planet, helps us celebrate Shark Week by explaining how we search for — and find! — lost species in the open ocean. Then, you’ll learn about the two types of nostalgia (reflective nostalgia and restorative nostalgia) and how they can influence your well-being.

Author David Owen discusses what happens once you’ve lost your hearing — and how much technology can actually help. Then, learn about the psychology behind our reactions to a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn why scientists are worried about roommate drama in space and why your most important sense depends on the language you speak. Plus, Adler Planetarium’s Aubrey Henretty and Chris Bresky discuss The Aquarius Project, a teen-driven underwater ROV meteorite hunt led by experts from the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum, and NASA.

Learn about how octopus arms literally have minds of their own; and, the benefits of having plants and how to get started, with environmental scientist and author Summer Rayne Oakes.

This liquid chemical is so corrosive that it can virtually burn through anything.

Learn about how brushing your teeth can slow aging; how blowholes start as noses; and how humans manipulate the weather.

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 bats are the source of so many deadly virus outbreaks; and the surprisingly strong influence older siblings can have on their brothers and sisters — just in time for Siblings Day. Then, test your knowledge from this podcast with a Curiosity Challenge trivia game.

Learn about how cold the last ice age was, why your body’s stress response can actually be healthy for you, and how to stop a jack-a-lantern from spoiling.

Learn about how certain fonts can send political messages; why the “first instinct fallacy” says you shouldn’t always go with your first instinct; and why DNA and RNA are just two of millions of possible genetic molecules.

It's easy to believe that a picture of the Milky Way exists—but it doesn't.

Dr. Lawrence Purpura explains monoclonal antibodies and the different types of treatments that could help us fight the coronavirus. Plus: learn about the Oddo-Harkins rule and why the universe seems to hate odd numbers.