Curiosity Weekly

Learn about why you can BS a BS-er; how you can get your hands on some of the world’s oldest books at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library; and a sea slug in the genus Elysia that cuts off its own head when it wants a new body.

You *can* BS a BSer — but it depends on the kind of BS by Steffie Drucker

• It Turns Out You Can Bullshit A Bullshitter After All. (2021, March 5). Research Digest; Research Digest. https://digest.bps.org.uk/2021/03/05/it-turns-out-you-can-bullshit-a-bullshitter-after-all/
• Littrell, S., Risko, E. F., & Fugelsang, J. A. (2021). “You can’t bullshit a bullshitter” (or can you?): Bullshitting frequency predicts receptivity to various types of misleading information. British Journal of Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12447
• Research shows that BSers are more likely to fall for BS. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/uow-rst030821.php

You Can Encounter Some of the World's Oldest Books at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library by Reuben Westmaas

• Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library. (2020). Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library. https://fisher.library.utoronto.ca/
• Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library. (2015, June 8). Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/thomas-fisher-rare-books-library
• Monstorum historia (1642). Pinterest. https://www.pinterest.com/poppadoug/monstrorum-historia-1642-ulyssis-aldrovandi/

There's a slug that cuts off its own head when it wants a new body by Cameron Duke

• Meet the Sea Slugs That Chop Off Their Heads and Grow New Bodies. (2021). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/08/science/decapitated-sea-slugs.html
• Mitoh, S., & Yusa, Y. (2021). Extreme autotomy and whole-body regeneration in photosynthetic sea slugs. Current Biology, 31(5), R233–R234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.014

Follow Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/you-can-totally-bs-a-bser

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Learn about a new computer model that may have gotten us closer to figuring out how we choose our mates; why Meno’s paradox says you can’t ever learn anything new; and whether the Earth weighs the same as it did billions of years ago.

How do we choose our mates? A new computer model may have gotten us closer to the answer by Cameron Duke

• Computer love. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-02/uoc--cl021221.php
• Conroy-Beam, D. (2021). Couple Simulation: A Novel Approach for Evaluating Models of Human Mate Choice. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 108886832097125. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868320971258

Meno's Paradox Says You Can't Ever Learn Anything New by Reuben Westmaas

• S. Marc Cohen (2006). Meno’s Paradox. Washington.edu. https://faculty.washington.edu/smcohen/320/menopar.htm 
• False equivalence and false balance – logical fallacies. (2017, December 17). Skeptical Raptor. https://www.skepticalraptor.com/skepticalraptorblog.php/logical-fallacies/false-equivalence-logical-fallacies/

LISTENER Q: Does the Earth weigh the same as it did billions of years ago? by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Rob in Cedar Falls)

• Is Earth Getting Bigger Over Time? (Published 2019). (2021). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/science/earth-size-mass.html
• McDonald, C. (2012, January 31). Who, What, Why: Is the Earth getting lighter? BBC News; BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16787636
• Is Earth getting heavier or lighter? (2018, August 31). CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/sept-1-2018-gene-editing-in-dogs-wildfire-prediction-zika-fizzles-and-more-1.4804892/is-earth-getting-heavier-or-lighter-1.4804900

Follow Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/has-the-earth-lost-weight

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Learn about how blind and low-vision gamers have an edge when it comes to certain games, with Cornell University Professor Andrew Campana. Then, learn how some viruses actually protect their hosts; and the shocking solution to the Monty Hall Problem, an infamous brain teaser that may leave you questioning your math skills.

Additional resources from Andrew Campana:

• Andrew Campana's faculty page: https://asianstudies.cornell.edu/andrew-campana
• Andrew Campana, Cornell University – Taking the Video out of Video Games, Cornell Academic Minute: https://academicminute.org/2020/12/andrew-campana-cornell-university-taking-the-video-out-of-video-games/
• A Blind Legend: http://www.ablindlegend.com/

Believe it or not, some viruses protect their hosts and even have therapeutic uses by Cameron Duke

• Cassella, C. (2021). Scientists Find a Virus That’s Evolved to Protect Its Host - Depending on The Weather. ScienceAlert. https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-discover-a-virus-that-harms-or-protects-plants-depending-on-the-weather
• González, R., Butković, A., Escaray, F. J., Martínez-Latorre, J., Melero, Í., Pérez-Parets, E., Gómez-Cadenas, A., Carrasco, P., & Elena, S. F. (2021). Plant virus evolution under strong drought conditions results in a transition from parasitism to mutualism. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(6), e2020990118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2020990118
• Mathew, C. (2019, August 7). Viruses aren’t all nasty – some can actually protect our health. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/viruses-arent-all-nasty-some-can-actually-protect-our-health-117678

The Monty Hall Problem Is the Probability Puzzle That Enraged 10,000 Readers originally aired December 4, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/see-if-you-re-a-covert-narcissist-michelson-morley

• Monty Hall Problem - Numberphile [Video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lb-6rxZxx0

Follow Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/some-viruses-do-you-good

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Learn about how blind and low-vision gamers are taking the “video” out of video games, with Cornell University Professor Andrew Campana. Then, learn about a newly discovered mammoth fossil that shatters the record for the oldest DNA we’ve ever found.

Additional resources from Andrew Campana:

• Andrew Campana's faculty page: https://asianstudies.cornell.edu/andrew-campana
• Andrew Campana, Cornell University – Taking the Video out of Video Games, Cornell Academic Minute: https://academicminute.org/2020/12/andrew-campana-cornell-university-taking-the-video-out-of-video-games/
• A Blind Legend: http://www.ablindlegend.com/

New kind of mammoth fossil shatters the record for oldest DNA by Grant Currin

• van der Valk, T., Pečnerová, P., Díez-del-Molino, D., Bergström, A., Oppenheimer, J., Hartmann, S., Xenikoudakis, G., Thomas, J. A., Dehasque, M., Sağlıcan, E., Fidan, F. R., Barnes, I., Liu, S., Somel, M., Heintzman, P. D., Nikolskiy, P., Shapiro, B., Skoglund, P., Hofreiter, M., & Lister, A. M. (2021). Million-year-old DNA sheds light on the genomic history of mammoths. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03224-9
• Callaway, E. (2021). Million-year-old mammoth genomes shatter record for oldest ancient DNA. Nature, 590(7847), 537–538. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-00436-x

Follow Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/blind-gamers-take-the-video-out-of-video-games

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Learn about why engineers tested a temporary “smart tattoo” that emits light via OLEDs; a female vampire bat that adopted her best friend’s baby after the friend’s death; and how you can sharpen your mind with device-free quiet time.

Engineers tested a temporary "smart tattoo" that emits light by Steffie Drucker

• Light-emitting tattoo engineered for the first time. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-02/ucl-lte022621.php
• Barsotti, J., Rapidis, A. G., Hirata, I., Greco, F., Cacialli, F., & Mattoli, V. (2021). Ultrathin, Ultra‐Conformable, and Free‐Standing Tattooable Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes. Advanced Electronic Materials, 2001145. https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202001145
• Getting Photodynamic Therapy. (2018). Cancer.org. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/radiation/photodynamic-therapy.html

A female vampire bat adopted her best friend's baby after the friend's death by Kelsey Donk

• Baby vampire bat adopted by mom’s best friend. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-02/stri-bvb020921.php
• Non-kin adoption in the common vampire bat | Royal Society Open Science. (2021). Royal Society Open Science. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.201927

To Sharpen Your Mind, Try Taking Some Device-Free Quiet Time originally aired August 5, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/the-healthiest-diet-w-michael-greger-space-volcano

Follow Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer — for free! You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/vampire-bats-adopt-babies-too

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Learn about how atheists and believers have different moral compasses; how scientists will know if life ever existed on Mars; and how to persuade people to do what you want using the foot-in-the-door technique.

Atheists and believers both have moral compasses -- they're just different by Kelsey Donk

• Ståhl, T. (2021). The amoral atheist? A cross-national examination of cultural, motivational, and cognitive antecedents of disbelief, and their implications for morality. PLOS ONE, 16(2), e0246593. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246593
• The Local. (2015, April 13). Sweden “least religious” nation in Western world. The Local Sweden; The Local. https://www.thelocal.se/20150413/swedes-least-religious-in-western-world/

How will scientists know if life ever existed on Mars? by Cameron Duke

• Fossil Record of the Cyanobacteria. (2021). Berkeley.edu. https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/bacteria/cyanofr.html
• NASA’s Mars 2020 Will Hunt for Microscopic Fossils. (2019, November 12). NASA. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-mars-2020-will-hunt-for-microscopic-fossils
• Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL). (2020). Nasa.gov. https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/spacecraft/instruments/pixl/
• Stromatolites and other early life. (2020). Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/Stromatolites-and-other-evidence-1666.aspx

The Foot-in-the-Door Technique Can Persuade People to Do What You Want by Annie Hartman

• Freedman, J. L., & Fraser, S. C. (1966). Compliance without pressure: The foot-in-the-door technique. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 4(2), 195–202. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0023552
• Patel, N. (2014, October 13). Foot-In-The-Door Technique: How To Get People To Seamlessly Take Action. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilpatel/2014/10/13/foot-in-the-door-technique-how-to-get-people-to-take-seamlessly-take-action/?sh=704615917d9e
• Zuckerman, M., Iazzaro, M. M., & Waldgeir, D. (1979). Undermining Effects of the Foot-in-the-Door Technique with Extrinsic Rewards. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 9(3), 292–296. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.1979.tb02712.x

Subscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY

Find episode transcript: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/if-life-existed-on-mars-how-would-we-know

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

Learn about how we could use DNA to store all of human knowledge for thousands of years. Then, test your podcast knowledge with the Curiosity Challenge trivia game. You’ll also learn about why becoming a parent may help you live longer.

DNA data storage could store all human knowledge in a small space for thousands of years by Grant Currin

• TED-Ed. (2017). Is DNA the future of data storage? - Leo Bear-McGuinness [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8qWc9X4f6k
• Yong, E. (2014). DNA storage: The code that could save civilisation. Bbc.com. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20130724-saving-civilisation-in-one-room
• Shankland, S. (2019, June 29). Startup packs all 16GB of Wikipedia onto DNA strands to demonstrate new storage tech. CNET; CNET. https://www.cnet.com/news/startup-packs-all-16gb-wikipedia-onto-dna-strands-demonstrate-new-storage-tech/
• Netflix. (2020). Biohackers | First Original Series stored in DNA | Netflix [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMYgjOHgHxc
• Armstrong, S. (2019, March 15). With AI and DNA, Massive Attack are hacking a new kind of music. WIRED UK. https://www.wired.co.uk/article/massive-attack-mezzanine-dna
• Adi Robertson. (2016, July 7). Microsoft stored an OK Go music video in strings of DNA. The Verge; The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2016/7/7/12114480/dna-storage-ok-go-microsoft-university-washington-twist-bioscience

Episodes referenced in Curiosity Challenge Trivia game:

• Neanderthals: https://www.curiositydaily.com/how-to-know-youre-running-low-on-vitamins/
• Catnip: https://www.curiositydaily.com/time-management-can-make-you-happier/
• Holding your breath: https://www.curiositydaily.com/why-cant-you-hold-your-breath-to-death/

If You Want to Live Longer, Become a Parent by Ashley Hamer

• Davis, N. (2017, March 14). Parenthood can help you live longer in older age, research suggests. The Guardian; The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/mar/14/parenthood-can-help-you-live-longer-in-older-age-research-suggests
• Modig, K., Talbäck, M., Torssander, J., & Ahlbom, A. (2017). Payback time? Influence of having children on mortality in old age. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 71(5), 424–430. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2016-207857

Subscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/we-can-use-dna-for-data-storage

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

Learn about how mice seem to feel each other’s pain; why our known solar system just got a little bigger thanks to “Farfarout” 2018 AG37; and the history of quinine, the malaria cure that eventually led to the gin and tonic.

Mice seem to feel each other's pain by Steffie Drucker

• Mice feel for each other. (2021, January 15). Mice feel for each other. Science | AAAS. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/mice-feel-each-other
• Mice may “catch” each other’s pain — and pain relief. (2021, January 12). Science News. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/neuroscience-mice-may-catch-each-others-pain-relief-contagious
• Smith, M. L., Naoyuki Asada, & Malenka, R. C. (2021). Anterior cingulate inputs to nucleus accumbens control the social transfer of pain and analgesia. Science, 371(6525), 153–159. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abe3040
• Mouse facial expression episode: https://www.curiositydaily.com/world-of-warcraft-could-help-fight-covid-19-social-rejection-can-fuel-creativity-and-what-mouse-facial-expressions-teach-us-about-emotion/

Our known solar system just got a little bigger by Cameron Duke

• Howell, E. (2021, February 11). “Farfarout” is officially the most distant object in our solar system. Space.com. https://www.space.com/farfarout-most-distant-solar-system-object-confirmed
• MPEC 2021-C187 : 2018 AG37. (2021). Minorplanetcenter.net. https://minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K21/K21CI7.html
• University of Hawaii at Manoa. (2021). “Farfarout”! Solar system’s most distant planetoid confirmed. EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-02/uoha-ss021021.php

Here's How a Malaria Cure Turned Into Your Gin and Tonic originally aired December 18, 2018 https://omny.fm/shows/curiosity-daily/voice-changes-when-you-re-charmed-work-motivation

Subscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/the-known-solar-system-just-got-bigger

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Scientist and award-winning author Camilla Pang explains why she wanted to write a manual for humans. You’ll also learn about the planetary chaos that resulted when the Earth’s magnetic poles reversed.

Additional resources from Camilla Pang:

• Pick up "An Outsider's Guide to Humans: What Science Taught Me About What We Do and Who We Are" from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vXzmMD
• Camilla Pang's website: https://www.camillapang.com/
• Camilla Pang on Twitter: https://twitter.com/millzymai

Reversal of Earth's magnetic poles 42,000 years ago led to planetary chaos by Grant Currin

• Ancient relic points to a turning point in Earth’s history 42,000 years ago. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-02/uons-arp021821.php
• Cooper, A., Turney, C. S. M., et. al. (2021). A global environmental crisis 42,000 years ago. Science, 371(6531), 811–818. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abb8677

Subscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/an-outsiders-guide-to-humans-w-scientist-camilla-pang

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Learn about how caregivers may experience “post-traumatic growth” from the pandemic; why the UK has one of the world’s most memorable postcode systems; and how researchers witnessed the birth and development of a completely new language: Idioma de Señas de Nicaragua.

Survey suggests most caregivers have experienced "post-traumatic growth" from the pandemic by Kelsey Donk

• Study identifies “post-traumatic growth” emerging from COVID-19 lockdowns. (2021). EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-02/uob-si020821.php
• Collier, L. (2016). Growth after trauma. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/11/growth-trauma
• Stallard, P., Pereira, A. I., & Barros, L. (2021). Post-traumatic growth during the COVID-19 pandemic in carers of children in Portugal and the UK: cross-sectional online survey. BJPsych Open, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2021.1

Cognitive psychologists are why the UK has one of the most memorable postcode systems by Steffie Drucker

• Postcodes are easier to remember than wedding anniversaries, birthdays, phone numbers and bank account details, Royal Mail reveals. (2016). Poweredbypaf.com. https://www.poweredbypaf.com/postcodes-are-easier-to-remember-than-wedding-anniversaries-birthdays-phone-numbers-and-bank-account-details-royal-mail-reveals/
• Postcodes | The Postal Museum. (2020, February 12). The Postal Museum. https://web.archive.org/web/20210212050240/https://www.postalmuseum.org/collections/postcodes/#
• Quality and longevity | The Psychologist. (2016). Bps.org.uk. https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-29/july/quality-and-longevity
• Smith, M. (2021, February 10). Why are UK postcodes so memorable? - Marc Smith - Medium. Medium; Medium. https://psychologymarc.medium.com/why-are-uk-postcodes-so-memorable-b0457e2e8a0d

Researchers Have Witnessed the Birth and Development of a Completely New Language by Arika Okrent

• Shoshi Parks. (2018, July 13). How Deaf Children in Nicaragua Created a New Language. Atlas Obscura; Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-nicaraguan-sign-language
• The origin of Nicaraguan Sign Language tells us a lot about language creation. (2020). The World from PRX. https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-09-29/origin-nicaraguan-sign-language-tells-us-lot-about-language-creation
• In Nicaragua, a Language Is Born. (2004, September 17). Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/in-nicaragua-a-language-i/

Subscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY

Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/post-traumatic-growth-is-a-pandemic-silver-lining

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