Curiosity Daily

Today, you’ll learn about the trouble hearts have in space, an ancient log that could help us hit climate targets, and how our brain divides our days into chapters.   Heart Cells in Space   “Space Travel Found To Disrupt Normal Rhythm in Heart Muscle Cells.” Technology Networks. 2024.  “Spaceflight-induced contractile and mitochondrial dysfunction in an automated heart-on-a-chip platform.” by Devin B. Mair, et al. 2024.   Ancient Log  “A thousands-year-old log demonstrates how burying wood can fight climate change.” by Jonathan Lambert. 2024.  “3775-year-old wood burial supports ‘wood vaulting’ as a durable carbon removal method.” by Ning Zeng, et al. 2024.   Day Chapters  “Our brains divide the day into chapters. New psychology research offers details on how.” EurekAlert! 2024.  “Top-down attention shifts behavioral and neural event boundaries in narratives with overlapping event scripts.” by Alexandra De Soares, et al. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, you’ll learn about a more sustainable jet fuel made from trees, how a new process allows you to 3D print glass, and why feeding coral reefs might save them from heat stress.   Plant Jet Fuel  “New continuous reaction process can help turn plant waste into sustainable aviation fuel.” by Seth Truscott. 2024.  “Lignin-based jet fuel and its blending effect with conventional jet fuel.” by Zhibin Yang, et al. 2022.  “A simultaneous depolymerization and hydrodeoxygenation process to produce lignin-based jet fuel in continuous flow.” by Adarsh Kumar, et al. 2024.   3D-Printed Glass  “How Do You 3D Print Glass?” by Rachel Berkowitz. 2024.  “Volumetric heating in digital glass forming.” by Luis Deutsch-Garcia, et al. 2024.   Feeding Coral  “Feeding coral reefs can aid their recovery from bleaching events.” by Tatyana Woodall. 2024.  “Ocean acidification does not prolong recovery of coral holobionts from natural thermal stress in two consecutive years.” by Kerri L. Dobson, et al. 2024.  “NOAA confirms 4th global coral bleaching event.” NOAA. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, you’ll learn about how nuclear weapons might one day actually save the Earth, the video game that lets you power wash your bad mood away, and a study that suggests being a picky eater might be genetic.   Asteroid Blast  “Nuclear blast could save Earth from large asteroid, scientists say.” by Ian Sample. 2024.  “Simulation of asteroid deflection with a megajoule-class X-ray pulse.” by Nathan W. Moore, et al. 2024.   Power Wash Positivity  “It’s official: You can virtually power wash your way to a better mood.” by Abhimanyu Ghoshal. 2024.  “Affective Uplift During Video Game Play: A Naturalistic Case Study.” by Matti Vuorre, et al. 2024.   Picky Eaters  “Being A Picky Eater Could Be Genetic: Study.” by Anuradha Varanasi. 2024.  “Nature and nurture in fussy eating from toddlerhood to early adolescence: findings from the Gemini twin cohort.” by Zeynep Nas, et al. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, you’ll learn about a potential cure for diabetes, how ancient extinct volcanoes might provide a boost for your cell phones, and why sharks and rays fling themselves out of the water.   Stem Cells & Diabetes  “Stem cells reverse woman’s diabetes - a world first.” by Smriti Mallapaty. 2024.  “How a pioneering diabetes drug offers hope for preventing autoimmune disorders.” by Elie Dolgin. 2023.   Rare Earth Metals   “Humanity needs more rare earth elements. Extinct volcanoes could be a rich new source.” by Michael Anenburg. 2024.  “Demand for rare-earth metals is skyrocketing, so we’re creating a safer, cleaner way to recover them from old phones and laptops.” by Cristina Pozo-Gonzalo. 2021.  “Europe’s largest deposit of rare earth metals located in Kiruna area.” LKAB. 2023.   Leaping Sharks  “A review of elasmobranch breaching behavior: why do sharks and rays propel themselves out of the water into the air?” by A. Peter Klimley, et al. 2024.  “Sharks and Rays Leap Out of the Water for Many Reasons, Including Feeding, Courtship, and Communication.” by A. Peter Klimley. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, you’ll learn about how earthquakes shake up quartz to make gold nuggets, the discovery of a new type of cell, and an effort to redefine sustainability in our oceans.   Gold Nuggets  “How do gold nuggets form? Earthquakes may be the key.” by Robin George Andrews. 2024.  “Gold nugget formation from earthquake-induced piezoelectricity in quartz.” by Christopher R. Voisey, et al. 2023.   New Cell Type  “New cell type discovered.” Scimex. 2024.  “Discovery of an embryonically derived bipotent population of endothelial-macrophage progenitor cells in postnatal aorta.” by Anna E. Williamson, et al. 2024.  “The facts about cells.” by ThoughtCo.com. 2017.   Redefining Sustainability  “Leading scientists redefine ‘sustainability’ to save the ocean and feed a hungry and warming planet.” by Alex Morrison. 2024.  “11 Overfishing Statistics and Facts You Should Know About.” by Martina Igini. 2022.  “Rethinking sustainability of marine fisheries for a fast-changing planet.” by Callum Roberts, et al. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, you’ll learn about a new way to use a defibrillator that works over 250% better, how octopuses go hunting with fish, and the keys to happiness.   Defib Placement  “New defib placement increases chance of surviving heart attack by 264%.” by Paul McClure. 2024.  “Warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest different for men and women.” by Paul McClure. 2023.  “Initial Defibrillator Pad Position and Outcomes for Shockable Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.” by Joshua R. Lupton, et al. 2024.   Octopus Hunting  “Octopuses seen hunting together with fish in rare video - and punching fish that don’t cooperate.” by Evan Bush. 2024.  “Octopuses keep surprising us - here are eight examples how.” by Lisa Hendry. N.d.   Keys to Happiness  “Could this be the key to happiness? New research suggests so.” by Eric W. Dolan. 2024.  “Who’s the Happiest and Why? The role of passion and self-regulation in psychological well-being.” by Robert J. Vallerand, et al. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, you’ll learn about the synthetic slime that might help people heal from back surgery, how cities tend to get more rain than the rural areas around them, and a new genetically engineered golden lettuce packed with vitamins.   Cow Slime   “Cow slime can help disc herniation patients after surgery.” EurekAlert! 2024.  “Preserving the Immune-Privileged Niche of the Nucleus Pulposus: Safeguarding Intervertebral Discs from Degeneration after Discectomy with Synthetic Mucin Hydrogel Injection.” by Huan Wang, et al. 2024.   City Rainfall  “Unprecedented global study shows that most cities receive more rainfall than surrounding rural areas.” EurekAlert! 2024.  “The escalating impact of global warming on atmospheric rivers.” by Saima May Sidik. 2024.   Golden Lettuce  “‘Golden Lettuce’ genetically engineered to pack 30 times more vitamins.” by Michael Irving. 2024.  “CRISPR tomatoes genetically engineered to be richer in vitamin D.” by Michael Irving. 2022.  “Scientists fine-tune iodine and potassium levels in designer veggies.” by Michael Franco. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, you’ll learn about the brain science behind choking under pressure, a newer, tougher, stronger concrete inspired by bones, and how skin cancer rates in Sweden could offer a sign of hope.  Pressure & Performance  “Choking under pressure: Brain neurons misfire when the stakes are highest.” by Bronwyn Thompson. 2024.  “Research sheds new light on decreased performance under pressure.” by Sara Vaccar. 2024.  “A neural basis of choking under pressure.” by Adam L. Smoulder, et al. 2024.   Bone Concrete  “Tougher concrete, inspired by bone.” EurekAlert! 2024.  “Tough Cortical Bone-Inspired Tubular Architected Cement-Based Material with Disorder.” by Shashank Gupta & Reza Moinin. 2024.   Cancer Decline  “Breaking the trend: Skin cancer incidence in young adults declines.” EurekAlert! 2024.  “Melanoma Incidence and Mortality Trends in Sweden.” by Hildur Helgadottir, et al. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, you’ll learn about how surgeons operated on a pig from 5,000 miles away, a population of neanderthals that were isolated for 50,000 years, and why trees could be linked to lower risks of ADHD in kids.   Remote Surgery   “Remote surgery performed on a pig 9,000 km away using a game controller.” by Michael Irving. 2024.  “Teleoperated Magnetic Endoscopy: A Case Study and Perspective.” by Alexandre Mescot, et al. 2024.   Isolated Neanderthals  “An ancient Neanderthal community was isolated for over 50,000 years.” Scimex. 2024.  “Long genetic and social isolation in Neanderthals before their extinction.” by Ludovic Slimak, et al. 2024.   Greenspace & ADHD  “Tree-covered neighborhoods linked to lower ADHD risk in children.” by Eric W. Dolan. 2024.  “Lifelong greenspace exposure and ADHD in Polish children: Role of physical activity and perceived neighbourhood [sic] characteristics.” by Dorota Buczylowska, et al. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, you’ll learn about a new device that can get inside the mind of babies, the edible protein that’s made out of carbon dioxide, and how the modern ideal of the 15-minute city might not be for everyone.   Baby Brain Device   “Wearable brain imaging device shines a light on how babies respond in real-world situations.” UCL. 2024.  “Whole-head high-density diffuse optical tomography to map infant audio-visual responses to social and non-social stimuli.” by Liam H. Collins-Jones, et al. 2024.   CO2 Protein  “Powered by renewable energy, microbes turn CO2 into potentially edible protein and vitamins.” Scimex. 2024.  “Power-to-vitamins: producing folate (vitamin B9) from renewable electric power and CO2 with a microbial protein system.” by Lisa Marie Schmitz, et al. 2024.   15-Minute Cities  “15-minute city: Why time shouldn’t be the only factor in future city planning.” EurekAlert! 2024.  “A universal framework for inclusive 15-minute cities.” by Matteo Bruno et al. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, you’ll learn about how climbing on monkey bars and other risky play could be a gift from our ancestors, the dangers of mold in space, and new evidence on how cravings take root in our brains.   Risky Play  “Risky Play Exercises an Ancestral Need to Push Limits.” by Morgan Kelly. 2024.  “Commemorating the monkey bars, catalyst of debate at the intersection of human evolutionary biology and public health.” by Luke D. Fannin, et al. 2024.   Mold in Space   “Keeping mold out of future space stations.” by Tatyana Woodall. 2024.  “Predicting how varying moisture conditions impact the microbiome of dust collected from the International Space Station.” by Nicholas Nastasi, et al. 2024.   Brain Cravings  “‘Sticky’ brain activity is linked to stronger feelings of craving.” by Mallory Locklear. 2024.  “Network state dynamics underpin basal craving in a transdiagnostic population.” by Jean Ye, et al. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, you’ll learn about a potential positive side to side effects, how mega El Niños triggered the world’s worst mass extinction event, and the antidote to pesticides that could save bees.   Positive Side Effects   “How side effects can improve treatment efficacy: a randomized trial.” by Lieven A. Schenk, et al. 2024.  “Side-effects are often a curse. Can they also be a blessing?” by Katja Wiech, et al. 2024.   Mega El Niño  “Mega El Niños kicked off the world’s worst mass extinction.” by Jake Buehler. 2024.  “Mega El Niño instigated the end-Permian mass extinction.” by Yadong Sun, et al. 2024.   Bee Protector  “Scientists hopeful antidote can help protect bumblebees from pesticides.” by Helena Horton. 2024.  “Ingestible hydrogel microparticles improve bee health after pesticide exposure.” by Julia S. Caserto, et al. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, you’ll learn about a breakthrough in our understanding of the behavior and abilities of bacteria, the queen ants that cannibalize their sick larvae and recycle it, and how tiny shards of plastic are finding their way into our brains.   Bacteria Behavior  “New discovery of how bacteria navigate their environment could change how we treat infection.” University of Sheffield. 2024.  “Individual bacterial cells can use spatial sensing of chemical gradients to direct chemotaxis on surfaces.” by James H.R. Wheeler, et al. 2024.   Ant Cannibals  “Ant queens cannibalize [sic] their sick offspring - then ‘recycle’ them.” University of Oxford. 2024.  “Ant queens cannibalize infected brood to contain disease spread and recycle nutrients.” by Flynn Bizzell & Christopher D. Pull. 2024.  “Black garden ant.” The Wildlife Trusts. N.d.   Brain Plastic  “Tiny shards of plastic are increasingly infiltrating our brains, study says.” by Sandee LaMotte. 2024.  “Bioaccumulation of Microplastics in Decedent Human Brains Assessed by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.” by Matthew Campen, et al. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, you’ll learn about the connection between chronic sinus infections and anxiety, a new way to recycle plastic by vaporizing it, and how marmosets call each other by name.    Sinuses & Mental Health   “Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Mental Health.” by Najm S. Khan, et al. 2024.  “Chronic Sinusitis.” CDC. 2022.   Vaporizing Plastic  “New process vaporizes plastic bags and bottles, yielding gases [sic] to make new, recycled plastics.” by Robert Sanders. 2024.  “Plastic Pollution.” by Hannah Ritchie, et al. 2022.   Monkey Names  “These monkeys use names to communicate with each other, study finds.” by Lianne Kolirin. 2024.  “These Monkeys Call One Another by Name.” by Emily Anthes. 2024.  “Vocal labeling of others by nonhuman primates.” by Guy Oren, et al. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, you’ll learn about how common table salt could help our bodies fight cancer, an ancient underwater bridge that’s changing what we know about human migration in Europe, and the hyper precise nuclear clock breakthrough.   Salt & Cancer  “Common salt activates anti-tumor cells.” by Charlotte Fuchs and Friederike Gawlik. 2024.  “Sodium chloride in the tumor microenvironment enhances T cell metabolic fitness and cytotoxicity.” by Dominik Soll, et all. 2024.   Ancient Bridge  “Submerged bridge constructed at least 5600 years ago indicates early human arrival in Mallorca, Spain.” by Bogdan P. Onac, et al. 2024.  “What a submerged ancient bridge discovered in a Spanish cave reveals about early human settlement.” ScienceDaily. 2024.  “Mallorca Facts.” Mallorca.com. Nd.   Nuclear Clock   “A nuclear clock prototype hints at ultraprecise timekeeping.” by Emily Conover. 2024.  “How Does the NIST-7 Atomic Clock Work?” by Bruce Morser. 2012.  “A new ultrafast laser emits pulses of light 30 billion times a second.” by Emily Conover. 2018.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.