Curiosity Daily

Today, you’ll learn about a new transparent solar cell that could replace your windows to power your home, the discovery of hundreds of new mysterious Nazca Glyphs, and how singing in a choir might be good for your brain.   Solar Cell Charging  “All-back-contact neutral-colored transparent crystalline silicon solar cells enabling seamless modularization.” by Jeonghwan Park, et al. 2024.  “A smartphone that can charge itself from sunlight - scientists have created transparent solar cells that can be embedded in glass.” by Wayne Williams. 2024.   Nazca Glyphs  “Hundreds of Mysterious Nazca Glyphs Have Just Been Revealed.” by Michelle Starr. 2024.  “Over 140 New Nazca Lines Have Been Discovered, And We Finally Have Clues to Their Use.” by Peter Dockrill. 2019.  “See Newly Discovered Nazca Drawings That Depict Llamas, Human Sacrifices and More.” by Sonja Anderson. 2024.   Singing & Brain Health  “Choir singing associated with improved brain structure, especially in older adults.” by Bianca Setionago. 2024.  “Choir singing is associated with enhanced structural connectivity across the adult lifespan.” by Nella Moisseinen, et al. 2024.  “Playing an instrument, singing may help preserve brain health.” by Robby Berman. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — 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.

Today, you’ll learn about a more sustainable jet fuel made from trees, how a new process allows you to 3D print glass, and why feeding coral reefs might save them from heat stress.   Plant Jet Fuel  “New continuous reaction process can help turn plant waste into sustainable aviation fuel.” by Seth Truscott. 2024.  “Lignin-based jet fuel and its blending effect with conventional jet fuel.” by Zhibin Yang, et al. 2022.  “A simultaneous depolymerization and hydrodeoxygenation process to produce lignin-based jet fuel in continuous flow.” by Adarsh Kumar, et al. 2024.   3D-Printed Glass  “How Do You 3D Print Glass?” by Rachel Berkowitz. 2024.  “Volumetric heating in digital glass forming.” by Luis Deutsch-Garcia, et al. 2024.   Feeding Coral  “Feeding coral reefs can aid their recovery from bleaching events.” by Tatyana Woodall. 2024.  “Ocean acidification does not prolong recovery of coral holobionts from natural thermal stress in two consecutive years.” by Kerri L. Dobson, et al. 2024.  “NOAA confirms 4th global coral bleaching event.” NOAA. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — 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.

Today, you’ll learn about how nuclear weapons might one day actually save the Earth, the video game that lets you power wash your bad mood away, and a study that suggests being a picky eater might be genetic.   Asteroid Blast  “Nuclear blast could save Earth from large asteroid, scientists say.” by Ian Sample. 2024.  “Simulation of asteroid deflection with a megajoule-class X-ray pulse.” by Nathan W. Moore, et al. 2024.   Power Wash Positivity  “It’s official: You can virtually power wash your way to a better mood.” by Abhimanyu Ghoshal. 2024.  “Affective Uplift During Video Game Play: A Naturalistic Case Study.” by Matti Vuorre, et al. 2024.   Picky Eaters  “Being A Picky Eater Could Be Genetic: Study.” by Anuradha Varanasi. 2024.  “Nature and nurture in fussy eating from toddlerhood to early adolescence: findings from the Gemini twin cohort.” by Zeynep Nas, et al. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — 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.

Today, you’ll learn about a potential cure for diabetes, how ancient extinct volcanoes might provide a boost for your cell phones, and why sharks and rays fling themselves out of the water.   Stem Cells & Diabetes  “Stem cells reverse woman’s diabetes - a world first.” by Smriti Mallapaty. 2024.  “How a pioneering diabetes drug offers hope for preventing autoimmune disorders.” by Elie Dolgin. 2023.   Rare Earth Metals   “Humanity needs more rare earth elements. Extinct volcanoes could be a rich new source.” by Michael Anenburg. 2024.  “Demand for rare-earth metals is skyrocketing, so we’re creating a safer, cleaner way to recover them from old phones and laptops.” by Cristina Pozo-Gonzalo. 2021.  “Europe’s largest deposit of rare earth metals located in Kiruna area.” LKAB. 2023.   Leaping Sharks  “A review of elasmobranch breaching behavior: why do sharks and rays propel themselves out of the water into the air?” by A. Peter Klimley, et al. 2024.  “Sharks and Rays Leap Out of the Water for Many Reasons, Including Feeding, Courtship, and Communication.” by A. Peter Klimley. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — 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. 

Today, you’ll learn about how earthquakes shake up quartz to make gold nuggets, the discovery of a new type of cell, and an effort to redefine sustainability in our oceans.   Gold Nuggets  “How do gold nuggets form? Earthquakes may be the key.” by Robin George Andrews. 2024.  “Gold nugget formation from earthquake-induced piezoelectricity in quartz.” by Christopher R. Voisey, et al. 2023.   New Cell Type  “New cell type discovered.” Scimex. 2024.  “Discovery of an embryonically derived bipotent population of endothelial-macrophage progenitor cells in postnatal aorta.” by Anna E. Williamson, et al. 2024.  “The facts about cells.” by ThoughtCo.com. 2017.   Redefining Sustainability  “Leading scientists redefine ‘sustainability’ to save the ocean and feed a hungry and warming planet.” by Alex Morrison. 2024.  “11 Overfishing Statistics and Facts You Should Know About.” by Martina Igini. 2022.  “Rethinking sustainability of marine fisheries for a fast-changing planet.” by Callum Roberts, et al. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — 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. 

Today, you’ll learn about a new way to use a defibrillator that works over 250% better, how octopuses go hunting with fish, and the keys to happiness.   Defib Placement  “New defib placement increases chance of surviving heart attack by 264%.” by Paul McClure. 2024.  “Warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest different for men and women.” by Paul McClure. 2023.  “Initial Defibrillator Pad Position and Outcomes for Shockable Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.” by Joshua R. Lupton, et al. 2024.   Octopus Hunting  “Octopuses seen hunting together with fish in rare video - and punching fish that don’t cooperate.” by Evan Bush. 2024.  “Octopuses keep surprising us - here are eight examples how.” by Lisa Hendry. N.d.   Keys to Happiness  “Could this be the key to happiness? New research suggests so.” by Eric W. Dolan. 2024.  “Who’s the Happiest and Why? The role of passion and self-regulation in psychological well-being.” by Robert J. Vallerand, et al. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — 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.

Today, you’ll learn about the synthetic slime that might help people heal from back surgery, how cities tend to get more rain than the rural areas around them, and a new genetically engineered golden lettuce packed with vitamins.   Cow Slime   “Cow slime can help disc herniation patients after surgery.” EurekAlert! 2024.  “Preserving the Immune-Privileged Niche of the Nucleus Pulposus: Safeguarding Intervertebral Discs from Degeneration after Discectomy with Synthetic Mucin Hydrogel Injection.” by Huan Wang, et al. 2024.   City Rainfall  “Unprecedented global study shows that most cities receive more rainfall than surrounding rural areas.” EurekAlert! 2024.  “The escalating impact of global warming on atmospheric rivers.” by Saima May Sidik. 2024.   Golden Lettuce  “‘Golden Lettuce’ genetically engineered to pack 30 times more vitamins.” by Michael Irving. 2024.  “CRISPR tomatoes genetically engineered to be richer in vitamin D.” by Michael Irving. 2022.  “Scientists fine-tune iodine and potassium levels in designer veggies.” by Michael Franco. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — 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. 

Today, you’ll learn about the brain science behind choking under pressure, a newer, tougher, stronger concrete inspired by bones, and how skin cancer rates in Sweden could offer a sign of hope.  Pressure & Performance  “Choking under pressure: Brain neurons misfire when the stakes are highest.” by Bronwyn Thompson. 2024.  “Research sheds new light on decreased performance under pressure.” by Sara Vaccar. 2024.  “A neural basis of choking under pressure.” by Adam L. Smoulder, et al. 2024.   Bone Concrete  “Tougher concrete, inspired by bone.” EurekAlert! 2024.  “Tough Cortical Bone-Inspired Tubular Architected Cement-Based Material with Disorder.” by Shashank Gupta & Reza Moinin. 2024.   Cancer Decline  “Breaking the trend: Skin cancer incidence in young adults declines.” EurekAlert! 2024.  “Melanoma Incidence and Mortality Trends in Sweden.” by Hildur Helgadottir, et al. 2024.   Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — 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.