Curiosity Weekly

Why is the solar eclipse on August 21, 2017, going to be such a huge deal? Michelle Nichols, educator and astronomer at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, joins us on a special episode of the Curiosity Podcast to explain everything from the science to the community surrounding this astronomical event.

As Director of Public Observing, Michelle leads the Adler Planetarium’s various telescope and sky observing efforts, including the ‘Scopes in the City telescope outreach program, free nighttime observing in the Doane Observatory via Doane at Dusk, Adler’s telescope volunteer program, and much more.

More eclipse resources:

• Your Total Solar Eclipse Instruction Manual
• The 2017 Eclipse at the Adler Planetarium
• Safe Solar Viewing Guidelines
• Main NASA Site For This Eclipse

Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — 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.

Full episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/why-the-2017-solar-eclipse-is-such-a-huge-deal

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Executive coach and happiness expert Stella Grizont explains exactly how happiness works, why it matters, and the steps a person can take to find it. Grizont was one of the first graduate students in the world to receive a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

From speaking to consulting to coaching, Grizont designs immersive learning experiences for organizations like Google, Johnson & Johnson, and Columbia University. She has also coached more than 1,300 high performers in 17 countries, with a focus on working with executives to achieve greater impact, meaning, and satisfaction at work.

Links we discussed:

• The Vision Generator (free from Stella Grizont)
• David Cooperrider, one of Stella Grizont's former professors
• Barbara Frederickson, leading researcher on positive emotion
• Stella Grizont's TEDx Talk: The play instinct

Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — 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.

Full episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/the-psychology-of-happiness

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The competitive landscape of eSports hasn't only spread to colleges and universities – it's now an activity that can land you a scholarship! Robert Morris University's Executive Director of eSports Kurt Melcher explains why his school was the first to offer a scholarship to League of Legends players, and why other schools are following suit.

Having worked in both traditional athletics and in eSports, Kurt brings a unique point of view on why eSports athletes aren't so different from what a person might think of as a "regular" athlete. Plus: what separates a professional eSports player from other competitive gamers.

Links we discussed:

• 2017 Collegiate eSports Report via The Next Level
• 25 Video Game Violence Studies, Summarized (via Kotaku)
• eSports to be a medal event at 2022 Asian Games

More on Robert Morris University and other eSports:

• Robert Morris University League of Legends Team Page
• University League of Legends College Championship
• North America League of Legends Championship Series
• Europe League of Legends Championship Series
• The International (Dota 2)
• ELEAGUE (professional Counter-Strike: Global Offensive league)
• ESPN eSports Hub
• Kurt Melcher's TEDx Talk "Gamers: The rising stars of collegiate athletics"

Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — 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.

Full episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/get-a-college-scholarship-for-esports

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mind reading tricks can be unnerving, but they don't have to be as scary as some people think they are. Mentalist Jonathan Pritchard explains how he convinces people he can read minds by using the same psychological techniques employed by sales, marketing, and other business leaders.

Jonathan has appeared on America's Got Talent, entertained United States troops stationed overseas, and performed on main stages in Las Vegas. He discusses his 25 years of experience as a mentalist, what it's taught him about interacting with other people, and how you too can communicate like a mind reader.

Mentalism and psychology links:

• Illusion Chasers blog on Scientific American
• James Randi Educational Foundation
• James Randi on The One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge
• "Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals about Our Everyday Deceptions"
• "The War Magician"

More from Jonathan Pritchard:

• "Learn Like A Mind Reader: Strategies for learning anything at the speed of thought"
• "Perfect Recall: Increase your confidence, learn faster, be more productive, and be memorable"
• [ ______ ] Like A Mind Reader (Website)
• Like A Mind Reader on Facebook
• More books from Jonathan

Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — 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.

Full episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/communicate-like-a-mind-reader

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What gives a collectible item its value? Certified sports memorabilia expert Michael Osacky has been the official appraiser for athletes from the Chicago Bulls, New York Yankees, and other professional teams, and he sheds some light into the world of collecting.

Lots of people own old books, ticket stubs, or baseball cards, but some of those items are valued at tens of thousands of dollars, while others aren't worth a penny. Michael digs into why there's such a discrepancy by getting into what collectors find valuable, along with a little history lesson on the hobby itself.

Michael Osacky, certified sports memorabilia expert, discussed:

• The importance of personal stories and history when curating a collection.
• The history of autographs and why they have value.
• Why collectible memorabilia produced after the 1970s rarely has much monetary value.
• How collectors use look, feel, and even smell to determine the authenticity of an item.
• Why the monetary value of collectible items can vary wildly over time.
• Similarities across different collectible items, like sports, coins, stamps, and other collections.
• How errors or misprints can affect the value of a collectible item.
• The value of a "phantom ticket" for a concert or sporting event that ended up not happening.
• How an athlete or celebrity's infamy can affect the value of associated memorabilia.
• The best way to use the internet to research the potential value of your items, and how many people use eBay for research the wrong way.
• Is an item labeled "collector's edition" worth any value to collectors, or is it just a marketing tactic?
• International interest in sport memorabilia and why they're looking into collectible items as an asset class for their portfolios.

Related links:

• The Forbes Pigment Collection Keeps Art Authentic
• Baseball In The Attic (Website)
• @BaseballAttic on Twitter

Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — 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.

Full episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/why-do-humans-collect-things-confessions-of-a-sports-collectible-expert

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Your sense of smell is like a superpower. Dr. Alan Hirsch of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation explains how you can make the most of it.

Your nose is always working, even when you're asleep. It can affect your mood, your ability to concentrate, and even your sense of time and space. The kicker? A lot of the time, you may not even know you're being affected!

To learn more about smell, we sat down with Dr. Alan Hirsch, a neurologist and psychiatrist who specializes in the treatment of smell and taste loss. Dr. Hirsch is Neurological Director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, where he conducts in-depth studies of the chemosensory system and its impact on virtually all aspects of life: behavior, emotions, mood and human interaction, and even learning speed. He has also written numerous books including "Scentsational Weight Loss", "Scentsational Sex", and "What Flavor Is Your Personality?"

Studies discussed:

• Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
• Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI)
• Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
• Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS)

Further materials from Dr. Hirsch:

• Smell & Taste Treatment And Research Foundation, Ltd.
• Dr. Hirsch's Amazon Author Page
• "What Flavor is Your Personality? Discover Who You Are by Looking at What You Eat"
• "Scentsational Weight Loss: At Last a New Easy Natural Way To Control Your Appetite"
• "Scentsational Sex: The Secret to Using Aroma for Arousal"
   

Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — 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.

Full episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/how-your-sense-of-smell-is-like-a-superpower

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.