News Sidequest

Gen Z has a new “viral hack” to fix attention spans — and it’s surprisingly simple: put the phone down and do nothing.

In this episode of News Sidequest, we explore why boredom might actually be the reset our brains need.

We also look at a new survey finding that 58% of people say AI chatbots have influenced their opinions — and what that means for how we form ideas in 2026.

Plus: a hospital patient who won’t leave, a 12-year-old building a nuclear reactor, tipping culture reaching the courtroom, and why even sharks might have a social life.

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A new study suggests reading negative reviews can actually make painful experiences feel worse — because our brains tend to believe the crowd.

In this episode of News Sidequest, we look at how expectations shape the way we experience things.

We also dive into research suggesting people who rely heavily on corporate buzzwords like “circle back” and “synergy” may actually be worse at their jobs.

Plus: flying gets more expensive, a side hustle negotiating with car dealers, mice sent into space, possible UFO revelations, and a man who has spent 73 years digging graves.

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A new study suggests memory and cognitive disability rates are rising among younger people — which raises an uncomfortable question: are modern distractions making it harder for all of us to focus?

In this episode of News Sidequest, we look at what might be happening to our attention spans and share some practical ways people are trying to stay focused in a world full of notifications.

We also explore the growing scientific effort to resurrect extinct animals like the dodo — and whether bringing species back from extinction is a brilliant idea or a Jurassic Park sequel waiting to happen.

Plus: CIA spy cats, an asteroid that flew closer than the Moon, karaoke rage, a spicy salsa lawsuit, and a Florida man who claims he was abducted by dolphins.

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Only about half of Americans went to a movie theater in 2025, according to a new Pew study — and some people say they’ve never seen a movie in a theater at all. In this episode of News Sidequest, we look at what might be driving the shift away from theaters and ask listeners about their most memorable movie-going experiences.

We also explore the surprising rise in Tooth Fairy payouts, which now average nearly six dollars per tooth.

Plus: a “Google Maps” for the human body, Bigfoot sightings in Ohio, a 10-year-old college student, a possible April Fools’ moon launch from NASA, and a man accused of trying to smuggle 2,000 queen ants.

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Nearly a third of Americans say they believe the world will end in their lifetime. But what does that actually say about how we think about the future?

In this episode of News Sidequest, we take a closer look at that surprising survey and ask listeners whether they feel more optimistic or pessimistic about the future than they did 10 or 20 years ago.

We also explore the FAA’s plan to test flying “air taxis” across the United States — and whether anyone is actually ready for thousands of drone-style vehicles buzzing over our cities.

Plus: a Florida man accused of stealing $600,000 worth of onions and potatoes, a missing Russian gold coin treasure, scam losses hitting $119 billion a year, and the very unfortunate moment when police lose the password to $5 million in seized cryptocurrency.

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Teens are spending hours on their phones during the school day—and it’s raising a big question about whether schools should ban them entirely. In this episode of News Sidequest, we look at what a new study found about phone use in classrooms and ask teachers, parents, and students to weigh in.

We also explore the strange reason you can remember song lyrics from 25 years ago but forget why you walked into a room.

Plus: raccoons solving puzzles for fun, a treasure hunter who still won’t reveal where the gold is, cheating in a fishing tournament, and a little long-overdue justice for the Titanic.

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

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

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

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

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