Curiosity Weekly

Bats aren’t just symbols of darkness and evil, they are incredible creatures that are unique among mammals. Just ask our guest, evolutionary biologist and bat expert, Dr. Dan Riskin. This episode, he talks about why bats are some of the most fascinating animals on the planet and how they got their dark reputation. Before that, host Dr. Samantha Yammine looks into the recently-published map of a fruit fly nervous system and debunks some neurology myths surrounding its usage. Later, she explores how researchers are attempting to make a pill that gives you the benefits of exercise without any of the actual exercise. Link to Show Notes HERE Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.

Halloween is almost here! And we are leaning in. This episode, host Dr. Samantha Yammine goes all in on fear, death, and rebirth to celebrate spooky season. First, she looks into a new study that sheds light on how our brains interpret threats that lead to a fear response. Then, she speaks with the co-founder of the Institute of Human Anatomy, Jonathan Bennion. They talk about what we can learn from bodies that have been donated to science and what it’s like to run a private cadaver lab. And finally, Sam explores research on an animal that doesn’t just regenerate itself, it ages backwards while doing so. Subscribe to the Discovery YouTube channel to watch new video episodes of Curiosity Weekly. Link to Show Notes HERE Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.

According to neuroscientist Dr. Jamie Ward, everyone knows someone with synesthesia. It’s an under-discussed form of neurodiversity that blends the senses and creates a unique way of perceiving the world. This episode, Dr. Ward joins host Dr. Samantha Yammine to chat about what is going on in the brain of someone with this condition and what it teaches us about the brain in general. Before that, Sam looks into a new study that uses the smell of breath to see how well the gut breaks down medications. Later, she breaks down research showing the link between eating and memory formation.    Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply. 

English being the common language in scientific research has its pros and cons. Scientists can collaborate easier and research can become more accessible, but what do we lose in that process? And what role does AI play? To discuss the complexities of scientific translation, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by Dr. Lynn Bowker. Dr. Bowker is a Canada Research Chair in Translation, Technologies, and Society at Université Laval.   Sam also explores how a new mRNA vaccine is using AI to keep skin cancer from reccuring and a study measuring how guilty people feel when they’re relaxing.   Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply. 

Like it or not, food safety is something that people often bend the rules on. We leave leftovers on the counter too long, we use the five second rule, or maybe we don’t wash our veggies as well as we should. Today, it’s more important than ever to make sure that we can trust the food we’re eating and know how to take care of it properly so that we don’t get sick. To discuss the science of food safety, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by food scientist and content creator @hydroxide.foodscience. Before that, Sam looks into a new paper that says humans are starting to talk less and later, a study digs into an enzyme that can supposedly shred cancer cells.   Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply. 

Reproduction is the basis for life and yet, for many, it’s still a mystery. This episode, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by author and gynecologist Dr. Karen Tang to discuss the rumors, misconceptions, and realities of reproductive health. Before that, Sam explains why scientists were surprised to hear jaguars meow for the first time. Later, she’ll dig into some new research that suggests there may be a cure for paralytic shellfish poisoning in the body of a bullfrog.   Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.