On this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@dr.starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) take you on a tour from ancient Mars to spiral galaxies to the trends moving through your social feeds. We start with new NASA results and the possibility of life on Mars, unpack what counts as a real biosignature, and dig into ideas like panspermia and endosymbiosis to explain how life might start and how complex cells evolved. Then we zoom out and connect the dots: Why most life in the un...
This week on Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@dr.starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) sit down with Suh the Scholar (@suhthescholar) — a PhD stem-cell scientist — for a deep, funny, and inspiring conversation about the future of human biology. They explore stem-cell breakthroughs, the ethics of replacing body parts, and whether open-sourcing scientific knowledge could accelerate discovery for everyone. They also dig into creativity in STEM, identity, and how curiosity connects sci...
This week on Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@dr.starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) unpack the rise of anti-intellectualism and the cultural war on science. From misinformation to AI ethics, they explore why people are losing trust in experts and sci-fi stories like Foundation and Alien Earth. Join our patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/CuriosityTheory Follow on socials: @curiositytheorypod
This week on Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer sit down with Nick Jackson (@nick.immunologist), an immunologist and PhD candidate, to explore the incredible complexity of the immune system and what it reveals about life itself. They talk about how immunity learns, adapts, and evolves; how viruses shape who we are; and what biology teaches us about chaos, order, and survival. It’s part science, part philosophy, and all curiosity. Join our patreon community: https://www.pat...
NASA is planning to land a nuclear reactor on the Moon — but what does that mean for humanity’s future in space? Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer break down nuclear fusion, stellar explosions, the origins of gold, pulsar planets, black holes, and even the first possible moments when life could have existed in the cosmos. They explore how civilizations might rise and fall over billions of years and what “galactic fossils” ancient beings could have left behind. Join our patreon: https://www...
In this episode, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer dig into a wide range of topics and break in the new studio that Justin built from the ground up for Curiosity Theory! Support Curiosity Theory by: Joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/CuriosityTheory Visiting the merch store: https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/store Follow on socials: @dr.starkid | @mr.fascinate | @curiositytheorypod
In this episode, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer take on the timeless question: what is life? They explore infinite systems, humans as part of larger structures, the debate over artificial life, and why adaptation may be the clearest marker of being alive. This wide-ranging conversation blends science, philosophy, and curiosity to tackle one of the deepest questions of all time. Follow us on socials: @curiositytheorypod @dr.starkid @mr.fascinate Join Our Patreon: https:...
Audience Q&A: Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer go deep on cosmic questions. They explore theories about whether the universe already died, cycles of cosmic birth and death, the future of life, astrobiology and evolution, the search for exoplanet biosignatures, and how AI and technology shape the way we learn. It’s a wide-ranging, curiosity-driven conversation about life, the universe, and everything in between. Follow us on socials: @curiositytheorypod @dr.starkid @m...
In this episode, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer unpack the tricky process of career transitions. They talk about how to recognize misalignment, the importance of transferable skills, the power dynamics that hold people back, and how to find the courage to make a change. This conversation is part strategy, part therapy session, and full of practical insight for anyone thinking about their next move. Curiosity Theory Merch Store: https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/store Join our Patreon: ...
This episode of Curiosity Theory with Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@dr.starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) first covers the science of finding life: alien communication strategies, the idea of a galactic Goldilocks zone where intelligent life may arise, biosignature searches in small exoplanet atmospheres, and what scientists are learning from the interstellar comet 3I/Atlas currently in our solar system. Then we switch gears to talk about Meta and the ethics of AI after their disturbing inter...
This week on Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer open up about pressure, family, and resilience. Dakotah talks about his own mental health journey and how curiosity became a lifeline From personal stories to practical tools, to a mind-bending thought experiment about being a smaller species, this episode blends lived experience with curiosity and imagination. Follow us on socials: @curiositytheorypod @dr.starkid @mr.fascinate
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer ask what happens when AI meets Dr. Doolittle. Could we actually talk to dolphins and other animals with machine learning? From animal communication to OpenAI’s for-profit turn, billion-dollar projects like Stargate, and the strange power games of modern oligarchs, we explore how technology, money, and ambition collide in shaping the future. Show your support - join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/Cu...
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer take on your questions. From exoplanets to the far future of humanity, to which sci-fi ideas are actually realistic, this conversation bounces across science, imagination, and curiosity at its best. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CuriosityTheory Follow us on socials: @curiositytheorypod @dr.starkid @mr.fascinate
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@Dr.Starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@Mr.Fascinate) put Justin’s original sci-fi ideas under the microscope. They walk through first contact, gaseous life, hive minds, solar system sized parties, atmosphere engineering, uploaded ancestors, and the economics of a cloud afterlife. From physics to biology to society, we ask: what works, what doesn’t, and what could maybe happen one day? 🎙 Hosted by Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@Dr.Starkid) ...
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer talk openly about the challenges men face when it comes to mental health. A lot of conversations about men’s mental health swing between two extremes. One says toughness is all you need. The other says toughness is the problem. The truth is more complex than that, because men are more complex than that. In this episode we explore building a real toolkit: discipline, vulnerability, purpose, movement, philosophy, an...
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer sit down with Maynard Okereke (aka @hiphopmd) to talk about what it means to lead with curiosity in a world full of noise and how to leverage ambition and drive without burning out. From fighting misinformation to raising curious kids, this episode explores how science, skepticism, and storytelling come together. 🎙 Hosted by: Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@Dr.Starkid) Justin Shaifer (@Mr.Fascinate) Subscribe to o...
Why does astrology still hold so much power in the age of science? In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@Dr.Starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@Mr.Fascinate) break down the surprising psychological and cultural forces behind astrology’s popularity. They unpack how it differs from astronomy, how belief systems spread through algorithms, and what science communicators can do to meet people where they are without compromising truth. Also featuring a conversation about Justin & D...
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer open up about what happens when your curiosity fades — and how to get it back. They reflect on burnout, rediscovery, and why staying curious is more than a mindset. It’s a survival strategy. From childhood documentaries to academic setbacks, this episode is packed with real talk, personal stories, and unexpected laughs. If you’ve ever felt lost, uninspired, or stuck in the algorithm, this one's for you. 🎙 Hosted by: &nb...
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer go deep into the science (and speculation) of alien life. They break down how we search for exoplanets, what biosignatures NASA is actually looking for, and why life doesn’t need to look anything like what we expect. From Venus to Alpha Centauri to unknown surprises, this episode is for anyone who’s ever looked up and wondered: are we the only ones out here? 🎙 Hosted by: Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@Dr.Starkid) Justi...
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer break down the science of thinking clearly — especially in an online world full of misinformation, pseudoscience, and expert denialism. They talk about how to spot bad logic, why expertise is under attack, and how to stay grounded when even basic truths are constantly questioned. 🎙 Hosted by: Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@Dr.Starkid) Justin Shaifer (@Mr.Fascinate) 📺 Watch full episodes + video extras: YouTube.com/@Cur...