Science unscripted: Recent Episodes
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The answer might be no. But if you say yes ... then what exactly are you picturing when you say yes?
Ever want to be taller? That might mean you're more competitive (and jealous). Also, if someone asked you which animal is the most abundant on earth... what would you say?
Ever been a victim of 'pseudo-profound bull***'? A new study hints at why. Also, why you probably shouldn't be putting tape over your mouth, and a look at people follow rules... even when they don't actually have to.
This week on Science unscripted, what event(s) led to racoons setting foot in Germany? Why do our fingers prune up after a long bath? And a study conducted in Papua has bold claims about female breasts.
The way you and your partner fall asleep says a lot about what's going on in your life. Also, a surprising new study suggests being healthy (heart-wise) isn't as beneficial as we thought for living a longer life.
When you're trying to quit an addiction... what happens in that moment or two just before you fail? Researchers in Germany are trying to solve that. Gabe took part (sort of).
Doesn't matter how old you are — learning a new instrument (or trying) has all sorts of side benefits. Also, it's about time we understand the 'most misunderstood serious illness.'
Sex is good for your mental and physical health — and now scientists know how much makes you happiest. Also, how many relationships are sexless... but both partners are OK with it?
On the day you were born, you already had the framework of your own personal morality inside you. And we know that because of a study on young children who were asked to do something really bad — because God 'told them to.'
Music can be really bad for you if it's forced on you (at work). Also, which people believe false headlines — and a study to help you spot a liar.
A “climate of fear” has taken hold as US researchers face budget cuts, mass layoffs and free-speech restrictions. Are they actually leaving, though? DW reached out to Germany’s “four pillars” of science to find out.
A DW investigative report, together with Der Spiegel, looks into troubling allegations of workplace misconduct at Germany's Max Planck Society. Also, come celebrate as we mark 5 years of Science unscripted.
The case of a French researcher denied US entry creates a jarring new crack between European scientists and their US peers. Also, if you're feeling lonely... but you're also in a relationship... well, what should you do?
New research from Germany hints at what audiobooks of the future will sound like. Also, 'woolly mice' get blown out of proportion — and why you shouldn't get surgery on a Friday.
An experiment off the coast of Corsica suggests fish can recognize specific people (sometimes). Also, put a dot in front a zebrafish and, amazingly, you'll be a step closer to understanding the concept of free will.
A new study has categorized the (wildly different) stuff that makes men and women get instantly and permanently disgusted by a romantic partner. And it's not always the 'icky' person's fault.
Why are birth rates falling? And do they ever go back up? Also, a study on eggs — and an email about two horses peeing.
With the US pulling out of the Paris Agreement... and its president chanting "Drill, baby, drill!"... it is absolutely fair to ask if your own personal climate footprint even matters anymore.
Trump, pandemic, war... more Trump. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the news (or feeling burned out) — you may be consuming it wrong.
Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X — across platforms, fact checkers are being fired and replaced with... well, promises that regular people can do the job instead. They can't.
The words 'next pandemic' are being thrown around by more and more experts watching the spread of avian influenza in North America. Why?
Just how dangerous do you think the world is? Because that changes how you'd punish a violent criminal (if you're a woman). Also, if you're frustrated with your democratically elected government... what alternatives are you open to?
You know that stab of anxious envy when you see people having a good time (without you)? You can get rid of that. Also, Gabe and Conor are back — with an unfortunate story about a random act of violence.
Nations are buying H5N1 bird flu vaccines amid the spread of the virus among livestock in the US. At least two children in North America have contracted the disease from unknown sources. How serious is the situation?
Some people seem very good at guessing what you're thinking. And some of us might find that we think very deeply about what people are thinking or feeling. The reason appears linked to special connections between some the youngest parts of the brain, evolved 300 million years ago. We explored this with lead researcher Rodrigo Braga, a clinical neurologist, from Northwestern University.
Being discriminated against — due to your ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, age or anything else — is harmful and wrong. A new study shows it also... changes the bacteria in your stool?
Women drink less... if you ask them to visualize alcohol? Also, the yucky trick gossipers use to make you think they're kind — and why iron in red meat may be causing cancer (in your bottom).
Data from the US suggests we may have passed the point of 'peak obesity.' Have we? Also, spray testosterone in men's noses... and they'll emotionally dehumanize certain women.
Quiz time: How could a full moon make roads more dangerous? (Email su@dw.com with your guess before you listen.) Also, teens (like all of us) use their phones while driving — and a jarring new study tells us how much.
Scientists in Berlin have shown you can stop the development of an embryo-like model - NO HUMAN EMBYROS WERE USED IN THE EXPERIMENT - and keep it alive to be developed later. The implications could be huge for IVF.
Fake smiles aren't just bad for Instagram. They're bad for your reputation. That's the implication of a new study — with clear consequences for LinkedIn... and maybe your life? (Also, come with us to see Europe's 'answer to ChatGPT.')
Alcohol? Bad for us. But a fascinating new study looks at what happens to the person who's watching the drinking happen. Also, college kids in Egypt saw their depression/anxiey/stress drop... by getting a crash course on 'assertiveness.'
Fresh off the birth of a brand-new conspiracy, researchers have unveiled a 'soulless' new tool to stop us from becoming victims of half-truths and full-blown lies.
An email from a miner, scary sounds in outer space, and a powerful magnet aimed at 50 human heads.
With the help of a powerful MRI, researchers in Germany have discovered where dyslexia appears to happen deep inside the human brain (in males). The peppercorn-sized structure may become the target of therapies for millions of people.
A new study suggests your appearance 'drifts' as you age — toward the name you were given at birth.
Ever take out your phone to identify a song that's playing near you? Pretty soon, you'll be able to do the same with smells. Also, fruit flies may have just given scientists the secret to happy hour.
You've lost your job, lost your home and go to sleep surrounded by strangers. You're scared. But what is it, exactly, you're scared of?
Demisexual, graysexual, pomosexual — it's hard to keep track of the (expanding) list of human sexualities. The Harvard Pleasure study just added another.
It's been a long, chaotic and somewhat dangerous summer for the hosts of Science unscripted. It's time to catch up on that — and on the beautiful emails you've sent along the way.
All sexism is bad. But the kind you're probably most familiar with is called 'hostile' in science literature. So what is 'benevolent' sexism? And how's it connected to cheating on your partner?
As mpox spreads to Europe and Asia — and the WHO declares a public health emergency — a leading German virologist explains what we know (and don't know) about the infectious disease.
The discovery of gigantic resevoirs of water deep under the surface of Mars has implications for whether life was — or might be — possible on our hideous red neighbor.
Why is it that content with the least credible information is often the most viewed and shared on social media?
With the help of an astute Australian reporter (who incidentally has joined the DW Science team), let's travel back in time to an Indonesian island and meet the smallest hominids ever.
Give kids a map, and the boys will outperform the girls in giving accurate directions — that's according to a new study on children aged 3-10. Is it nature or nurture?
When both hosts of Science unscripted see their homes burglarized within a span of weeks, they get help from a detective named Roland and come to a gut-wrenching realization.
With YouTube's commentary, who needs emails? Also, a new German study hits the rewind button on our promiscuity reporting.
Moving into a new apartment or house is pretty exciting. It's also associated with depression — especially if it happens at a certain age. Why?
Women, not men, are viewed more favorably if they've had a few recent sexual partners... even if a German study appears to suggest the opposite. Also, if you're gonna do some late-night scrolling (because who doesn't), do it right.
"Are you okay with being single?" If you were to pose that question to a young German, you would get a different answer these days compared to 10 years ago. Why?
On this week's show, we learn the first thing young people should do when they're struggling. Also, why exactly do our eyes get worse as we get older? Plus, a researcher gets in touch to thank us (DW) for teaching him German.
Headlines implying human singing came from Madagascar... just aren't true. But lemurs are worth listening to.
Ever had someone just... vanish out of your life? Or maybe you did it to them? A new study shows why people 'ghost' — and who actually suffers most from it.
The number one cause of disabiliity worldwide is lower back pain. Great news, then, that a rigorous study says we can halve its recurrence by... walking. But there's a catch.
Why is it that migrants get physically unhealthier when they lose their jobs (compared to locals)? And can anything be done to stop it?
Sadly, one of our recent episodes caused a listener to go outside and cover her jacket in human feces. Also, if you're trying to raise money for a good cause, remember the German word 'Schadenfreude.'
Does it make YOU happier to do a random act of kindness? Also, how to stop a smartphone from messing with your sleep, and a milkshake fathers can make for pregnant partners.
Why would our kidneys (possibly) fail when we're inside a spacecraft? And why do women's bodies do better in space than men's?
Got an interview coming up? A study out of Japan has potentially life-changing advice for where to focus your gaze. Also, Gabe's back — and is recovering from an operation.
Does having a big brain make you better at finding food? It's a difficult question to answer ethically. Unless you have access to an island.
In a dream you see a vending machine. Instead of coins or cash, it has a square-shaped hole. That's it. No instructions. No one who walks past can explain it. At some point you shake it violently (still nothing) and see your own hands. They're furry.
Hormonal therapies? Hair transplant? Or just go bald? When a genetic test shows a Science unscripted host is bound to lose his hair, it leads to a shocking amount of bad science and (potentially) significant side effects.
Is it OK to pee on your feet to get rid of foot and nail fungus? Also, if you say 'hi' kinda differently to your boss than you would to a friend or family member, you have something in common with the biggest land mammal on earth.
If you take drugs or drink alcohol and then write down your 'wildly creative,' chemically-inspired ravings... new research suggests you'll create a catalogue of useless garbage.
We all have microplastics inside our bodies. Until now, scientists weren't certain about the extent of the harm. Now they are.
Science Unscripted got an email this week about orgasms. What's more, someone wrote to let us know why a dying countess in a classic German novel would rather spend her final moments with a chauvinist man than with Conor or Gabe. And finally, how your doctor's credentials might just save your life.
When you applaud nurses, teachers, or member of military for being 'heroic,' you make it more OK for them to be exploited.
Are male sex organs really 'getting bigger' over time? Also, a new study suggests we don't actually learn from all our mistakes.
Gabe's voice undergoes an unexpected transformation, and why two people have been running around a 'wall of death' in Italy. Also, send your favorite SAD SONG to su@dw.com - and let us know why you listen to it?
Unhappy with your body? Deleting Instagram may help (if you're a woman). Also, forget 'cold tubs' if you want bigger muscles — and why do we consume content that makes us sad?
How concerning is the spread of H5N1 from cows to humans? Also, random people know you better than you think, new research on why people make sounds during sex, and a listener... doesn't like a song we played.
If we wanted to talk to a gigantic underwater animal, how would we do that? Also, lose weight... by making friends!
Dear elderly people, you were right. Today's music isn't what it used to be. The interesting part is why.
If you're home alone on a Friday night, you might stuff your face full of chips, chocolate or candy. (Gabe and Conor do.) A study on brain activity shows it's not entirely your fault, though — and that there may be a way to solve it.
Angry? New research shows you can 'export' it and then destroy it! Also, make yourself healthier and happier... by being touched... by something!
Are we touching each other less? Probably. Does it matter? Very much. If you're missing physical contact, new research will make you feel better.
A good song resonates inside you. But the question is... where? Well, it depends — on 'surprise' and 'uncertainty.'
There's a 30% increase in car deaths due to solar eclipses, and it's important to know why that happens.
Frozen hands, subjective aging, understanding autism — this episode has a ton of science (and some angry YouTube comments).
Human trials are underway to stop cocaine addiction using vaccines. Do they work? And if so, how?
If you're tempted to blame dog owners for their chunky animals... think twice. Also, should Gabe and Conor be perfectly informed on every study they talk about?
When new research makes women look good, we tend to like it. When it makes men look good, we don't.
A quirk in human psychology has a big impact on your chances of getting a job, a date or winning a talent show. Also, Conor puts 'social norms erosion' research to the test — twice.
Exhaustion is almost as dangerous as driving drunk. And researchers might have found a way to prove who's doing it.
Did you notice? How the curse words above jolted your brain awake? That effect is real. Don't abuse it.
You a procrastinator? (We are.) New research suggests an unexpected cause of that. Also, if you have a tough time confronting rule breakers in public (because who doesn't), a new study shows there's a way to do it right.
Ever heard someone scrolling TikTok or YouTube Shorts ? It's really annoying — and there's a way to stop it.
Yes, he's real. And he was doing it (in part) to make money. But when doctors found out, they asked him to get jabbed a few times more.
A listener email sends us deep into the lakes of Latvia — and to honor victims of genocide, it's important to talk about what it is, how it happens and who it happens to.
If a close neighbor had committed horrific murders 30 years ago and was released back into your community, could you accept that? That they'd been rehabilitated? Researchers are trying to answer that question in Rwanda.
If someone had become more empathetic... how would you know? Also, people are willing to pay more for products that look and talk like humans — but only some products.
Powerful smells may mitigate severe depression, and a new study suggests regular erections can help against ED. Also, the fascinating reason humans built a gigantic wall close to a lake roughly 10,000 years ago.
A new study using VR suggests the things that make neighborhoods safer… don't necessarily make us FEEL safer. (And for God's sake, close the garage door.)
Deep in a remote forest, a sick, elderly man got scratched by a stray cat — and likely died as a result.
Every third person thinks human-induced climate change — which is real and caused by us humans — is a fantasy. But if you think it's a psychological trick to drive SUVs or fly (guilt free), a new study suggests you're wrong.
New research suggests we should divulge our secrets more often than we do. But how you do it matters. (Send secrets to su@dw.com)
Look, we know we sound like boomers — but there really is something wrong with mass-produced music today, and it's connected to the science of how humans perceive beats.
Should Science unscripted be using AI imagery for its shows? It's a real question, and we don't know how to answer it. Will you help us?
Imagine you got rejected by a university. Except a human didn't reject you — AI did. How do you feel now?
Was Alzheimer's transferred to a handful of patients? Also, a new study shows what parking lots do to your brain.
Most of us employees only have a short time before going to bed to recover from the stress of the work day. Video games can help. But you have to be careful with how you use them.
Let's be honest: 'Gatherer-hunters' doesn't quite roll off the tongue. And a new study from up in the Andes doesn't prove we've been plant-based all along.
A new study suggests it's never a good idea to watch someone else eat raw broccoli. Also, what Job (from the Old Testament) got wrong about wind and wisdom, and the surprising side effect of phobia therapy.
By asking children whether they should stomp on another kid’s foot, researchers have answered one of the core questions of our existence.
Look, we're not trying to push a vegan lifestyle. But it’s worth figuring out why a diet that leads to better human health (and a cooler climate)… just isn't popular with men.
Chickens can communicate emotions (like exasperation), and we humans can understand it. Also, our listeners have a wild variety of new status symbols (and one of them is Science unscripted).
We all have an image of what a 'wise person' looks and sounds like. New research shows we're wrong.
A new study on mice shows there may be an easy way to prevent — and treat — the debilitating nausea and vomiting that happens in 70% of pregnancies.
Once in a while we have an episode that has nothing to do with science. This one's about how Gabe burned his hair off.
Thanks for listening to (or watching) our show this year. And please don't forget these quick tips on how to have a safe and fun party on December 31.
Sometimes we end up at social events because... it's just too awkward to say no. New research suggests you should feel better about declining (if you do it the right way).
Conor misplaces a telescope, our solar system is a ballerina, and how to protect your voice from being AI synthesized.
Across the globe, 15-year-olds are doing worse on standardized tests than five years ago. And it may have nothing to do with the pandemic lockdowns.
Does that seem like an impossible question to answer? It sure does. Because you'd have to go back in time to answer it. Or you'd need 30 hours on the planet's most powerful telescope (James Webb).
Just about every study we talk about in this episode has a pretty significant caveat. Also, an emailed warning from a poet who chopped too much firewood.
A longitudinal US study shows that having a younger sibling will tend to lower your cognitive development. But the effect vanishes after child number three.
In an unprecedented interview about a unique and novel study, an Austrian researcher explains why the first three adjectives you just read are part of a growing problem.
As you age, your body can get stuck in 'fasting mode,' leading to muscle loss and other problems. New research from Germany gives a clue at how to change that — and maybe live longer?
Once in a while there's a surfeit of positive news in the field of medicine. This week was one of 'em.
A study on eye contact suggests it isn't aggressive, but actually improves conversation. So why don't we do it more?
Sometimes, improving pollution... makes global warming worse. Also, women are more addicted to their phones than men, chimpanzees use military strategy — and one of our new listeners didn't like us at first.
One solution to unprecedented cattle die-offs: Modify cows so they can deal with record heat.
The future of weather forecasting might have little to do with atmospheric physics. Also, our listeners had some really interesting things to say about a study on tattoos.
As expected, you had things to say about our interview with a masculinity influencer. Also, when a dozen parakeets are squawking, how do they know who's speaking?
If you're honest, you probably have an opinion on people with tattoos. And that makes you a lot like the police (and judges and juries).
A large, longitudinal study has some surprising conclusions about when we're most satisfied with our lives — and it's connected to how we humans tend to fill out questionnaires.
A novel study out of Switzerland and Germany shows that human beings, under certain conditions, can end up synchronizing biologically — like a metronome.
A few episodes back we did a deep dive into the science behind a toxically masculine mind. At that point not one of the influencers we'd reached out to had agreed to be interviewed — and it seemed they never would. Then we got an unexpected email.
Conor gets an email from a German island about his accent, Gabe does his best to make his mom 'proud,' and an in-studio experiment takes all of us to India.
You probably have an opinion on which language is the 'most beautiful.' And you're probably (objectively) wrong.
As we age, we become slower at connecting words with the imagery that represents them. The interesting part is why.
A breakthrough in brain science for alcoholics (but not just them), a shoe tech revolution is underfoot, and the startling fact that living in a city means you're far more likely to suffer from depression.
By delivering a gene to the brain, scientists appear to have 'cured' alcoholic primates of their booze lust. Also, why did the woman who shattered the marathon world record kiss her shoe as soon as she finished?
Why is it that people who live in an urban environment are 30%+ more likely to suffer depression than those in rural areas? And why does that rule just... absolutely not apply in developing countries?
In the wake of natural catastrophes, the forensic work to identify the dead is critically important for loved ones' closure. But mistakes can be made.
Humility, which is great to have, is also connected to whether you trust scientists (or people like Gabe and Conor). Also, what a tooth can tell us after a tragedy, and a fun study on what people do when they get a big lump sum of money.
It sounds like a thereotical question. But for 200 lucky participants in a pretty novel study, it became very real.
You'd think that the less someone knows, the more likely it is they'll buy in to misinformation. Right? Surprisingly, a new study suggests that, up to a point, it's actually worse to know more.
Anxiety about the climate crisis actually drops as you learn more about it. Also, to avoid dying unnecessarily early, you may need to get a new job.
Want to live longer? Sure, there's exercise and nutrition. But a new study makes a convincing case that a less 'precarious' work environment is the answer.
What pops into your head when you hear the term toxic masculinity? You probably feel a strong response, but can you put it into words?
On this week's show, we invite you to ponder roundworms in the human brain, a carbon tax that actually might have a chance, and a way to inject insulin that uses music instead of a needle.
Recent data from the United States shows unequivocally that the rich are (by far) most responsible for CO2 emissions. Private jets, yachts...this is probably not new information. What might be new for you, however, is the role that investments play in all of this.
The worms that live inside pythons (and that can wriggle their way into a human brain) are a healthy reminder for all of us to — please — handle our food better.
It is possible to 'download' a song clip directly from human brains — and that's good news for 'brain-to-speech' technologies of the future. Also, SU listeners (and others) have weighed in on the debate about intimate cosmetic surgery.
Do you wear Crocs? Because that's the material Italian researchers used to see if the Prince of Walachia (aka 'Vlad the Impaler') was plagued by a rare condition called hemolacria.
A dog in Iceland, Australians in Italy, and Gabe back in studio. Once in a while we have an episode that's not about science. This is one of them.
How could a country that just put a lander on the moon's south pole decide to rob its students of fundamental science?
A small German study on scrotum aesthetics has raised big questions: Does talking about 'beauty' in the context of genitalia lead to medically unnecessary surgeries? (Like some labiaplasties.) And do attempts to even define those standards contribute to the problem?
How could a character that's supposed to make us laugh cause 50% of people to feel terror?
When a DW co-investigation uncovers a path that leads from a German physics department to the Chinese military — and it involves technologies that could change the outcome of a war — it's time to ask uncomfortable questions.
Yes, scientists really do create 'enhanced viruses' inside labs around the world. Should they?
Three people. Ever. That's how many have been cured of HIV. We visited one of them to learn about the extraordinarily rare (and risky) treatment — and to find out if it can, even indirectly, lead to a true cure for 40 million more.
Do you have a purpose in life? Would it matter if you didn't? Also, Gabe learns why it's wrong to say 'victims of sexual harassment.'
Ever wonder why, after encountering sexual harassment, so many people don't report it? There's a good reason for that. We talked to women about their encounters with harassment — and asked social psychologist Manuela Barreto, author of a new study, to explain.
The better your body is at sucking oxygen out of the atmosphere and pumping it toward your cells, the lower your risk of getting two kinds of cancer (and dying from three).
A German urologist answers a listener email about fainting after urination, and why a prominent doctor thinks taurine won't extend human lives (like it did for mice and monkeys).
Mosquito haters, rejoice: Researchers in Israel have created an insect repellant made of cellulose (plant compounds) that could save lives and make summer nights way more enjoyable.
How would it make you feel to know a virtual reality forest could make you as happy as a real one?
'Comparison is the thief of joy,' a listener reminds us — and also, a researcher explains why people are feeling younger than ever.
Forget your birth date. How old do you actually feel? That gap, or 'age bias,' is a real phenomenon — and for some reason it's getting wider.
A staggering amount data suggests our mental health goes down — not up — when we try to solve our loneliness by socializing.
We love the emails. SU@dw.com — keep them coming! But there's one more way you can help shape this show: https://surveys.dw.com/c/su?maca=en-podcast_spectrum-31485-xml-mrss
We learn this week that Conor truly is a Celtic music-making machine. All it took was a c# from some busted toilet pipes. Also, thanks for all the emails about seated urination.
Two people in the same neighborhood stub their toes. Whose hurts more? Unbelievably, it kind of depends on the size of their house.
An excellent study shows that animals live substantially longer lives after daily doses of a natural amino acid. But please don't start chugging taurine-enhanced energy drinks (like Gabe does).
Seemingly inexplicable seated urination, a wildflower meadow amidst the immaculate lawns of Cambridge University, birds singing soothing songs on the eastern bank of the River Rhine, and an oddly beautiful sound that emanates from a DW bathroom — this one's got it all.
Birdsong is apparently so good for human wellbeing all it takes is an audio recording to bring down anxiety levels — and paranoia. This show goes out to our listener Brent.
The results of a recent survey indicate that males in Germany — compared to 11 other nations involved — are leaders when it comes to seated urination. Any ideas why that could be?
Sometimes the most interesting research isn't about us, but about the creatures we share this planet with. This episode is dedicated to them — and to the fascinating (and sometimes comical) ways homo sapiens try to understand them.
You, the person reading this, say about 1,000 unique words every day. Our closest primate relatives? Far fewer. To learn more, researchers went to the Ugandan jungle — and pranked the living daylights out of them.
Do you second-guess yourself? Even when you know you've made a good decision? That might be connected to having a "good memory" — in a bad way.
The four-day workweek can work for making airplanes, and how a dusty political treatise could save your life in a hospital.
We reached out to DeepMind to find out how their experiment on tree harvesting could possibly lead to equitable AI. Lead researcher Laura Weidinger says it really is possible — but only through a "veil of ignorance."
Was your hospital birth a pleasant one? New data suggests that, despite increased risk to babies, home or "community" births are more enjoyable for mothers — especially women of color.
Most of us assume women are judged more harshly for promiscuous behavior. A study from Norway suggests the opposite is now true.
Two studies show, in different ways, how the health of our urinary/digestive systems is intertwined with our brains. (Note: This episode mentions suicidal ideations. If you have suicidal thoughts, call a suicide hotline.)
This podcast is full of practical tips. We hope it shortens your work week, improves your mood and changes the way you see the world (or think you see it).
We assume reality to be objective. But what if the way you perceive it is off — because of your imagination?
A German survey, a (huge) British study, research from Australia — all make a strong case for the four-day work week. So what's the hang-up?
It’s not usually fun to be in a room with 1,000 high schoolers, but it is if they've all made robots. Also, a counterintuitive experiment shows you can eat healthier… by sitting longer.
In a controlled experiment, researchers in Germany figured out a surprisingly easy way to get children to eat the food they're supposed to.
What would you do with an AI system that could read your thoughts — and then translate them into sentences and paragraphs for you (and others) to read?
Aliens. Demons. The afterlife. The soul. Believing in the paranormal has many root causes. One appears to be bad sleep.
Sometimes it's not 'big' science stories, but the small ones, that will actually change your life.
It might sound spooky. But is computer-generated medicine any different from the stuff we human beings come up with?
We all need time to ourselves. But a new study shows social isolation, when done incorrectly, can lead to a spiral of fatigue.
There was a bombshell study published a few years back about flying insects disappearing near German farm fields. This latest entomological work might have similar repercussions.
If you look purely at the math, a lot of human beings are going to be living a lot longer. Is that a good thing?
Siberian tigers are known as some of the fiercest predators in the animal kingdom. Less is known about their character traits — until now.
Yes, some plants really do 'scream' when you cut them — and it sounds… perplexing. Also, why is a tropical viral disease named after a German city?
Is Marburg virus the 'next pandemic'? History says not — which is also why we don't yet have a vaccine.
Your image of autism may be totally wrong, but you can reeducate (and even entertain) yourself from the comfort of your own sofa.
Turns out we have a lot of listeners who know things about rye grass, and another who had a spontaneous one-week romantic liason that started with an empty stomach.
A new experiment shows managers treat loyal workers worse than others — and forces us to wonder whether loyalty really is a virtue.
It might sound like a gimmicky new 'instant' product. (We thought so!) But there are compelling reasons to consider powdered beer.
A pre-print supports the idea of targeting microclots in long COVID patients. Also, hormonal diet drugs are the new big thing (thanks Elon and Kim Kardashian!), but a study on mice shows hormonal appetite suppressants… can have unintended sexual consequences.
You're hungry, and you're standing in front of a buffet — when an attractive person starts flirting with you. Do you flirt back? Or go for the food?
A response from Jim, an important update on a potential long COVID treatment, and the question that keeps Gabe awake at night.
Has our show gotten worse? A guy named Jim thinks so. We don't know if he's right, but his email sent us to outer space.
Trillions of pieces of plastic, trillions of pieces of metal. It's easy to think the space above our planet could become a 'tragedy of the commons' like our oceans. It doesn't have to.
According to a study on binge-drinking mice, there's a quicker way to make boozed up mammals (like us) regain their sense of balance.
For people suffering from depression and anxiety who have tried antidepressant medication without success, a study out of Amsterdam could have important information for alternative therapy.
From a purely economic perspective, should companies provide paid sick leave? Is it good for business? Turns out science the answer.
Science says couples who take on life together, as a team, using the first person plural, are closer than those who don't.
Have you heard people talking about how amazing these new AI chat bots are? About how much immaculate text they can generate in a split second? It's time to talk about what they can't do.
A libido-enhancing therapy did different things to the women and men who watched erotic videos in an fMRI machine, while a promising birth control drug for men ticks all the right boxes (and none of the scary ones).
An earlier episode helped one of our listeners realize she suffers from premenstrual dysmorphic disorder... while another calls Gabe and Conor 'Luddites.'
The perfect male contraceptive would be fast acting, 100% effective, temporary and painless — without affecting performance or libido. A new trial appears to have done that.
A massively underreported premenstrual disorder (PMDD) leads to bouts of depression — but may have a treatment. Also, why aren't rescue workers equipped with the high-tech tools they need to save (more) lives?
If the days before your period are REALLY bad – especially with mental health – you may have PMDD. The condition affects 3-8% of women worldwide, and research from Germany hints at how it can be treated.
If people can post videos from inside collapsed buildings, how do we not have more available (and advanced) technologies to locate and rescue them?
Electricity, telephones, the internet. Some technologies are so world-altering they create a 'before and after' divide. We're experiencing one of those moments right now.
The AI text & essay generator ChatGPT has altered the idea of 'becoming educated,' or even 'critical thinking,' in a way we don't fully understand yet.
Two ways to boost your mood (daily), a skill that’ll up your dating game, and a cannabis investment you shouldn't make.
A man's face literally becomes more attractive to a woman if she knows he can play an instrument. But the other way around... the effect is different. Why?
It’s a seemingly silly phrase — “wow factor.” But it conveys a real human emotion, and a new study shows you can get two doses every day.
What if a brain scan could tell your true political beliefs? And what if the whole thing was a cleverly crafted lie?
Do you remember when, or where, you learned what a 'healthy' relationship was? Neither do we.
Is it really true that uneducated people grossly overestimate their cognitive abilities? And also, if you've never thought about the sex lives of snakes... join the (not very good) club.
If a virus gets inside your nose, your nasal cells fight back — but that immune response weakens as your nose gets cooler.
New research shows women lose sexual interest in their partners if the latter don't do their share of household chores.
Hey, you. Before you listen to this, turn down the volume just a bit. And, also, the "outdoor transmission" equation just changed pretty dramatically.
On a hot August morning, a man entered a public park, jogged a few laps around a small lake — and changed our understanding of COVID-19 by infecting dozens of people.
The last day of the year is a great one to be a human. For birds and other animals, it’s hell on Earth.
We need drastic action to protect our planet — there’s no question about that. The question is whether disruptive acts of civil disobedience cause that to happen more quickly or more slowly.
How much of your character was formed by the time you were born? Also, you can make breathtaking art and literature... just by typing a few words.
Powerful AI software is now available to the public. And there are some very compelling reasons to try it out yourself.
The pandemic has permanently altered our immune systems — and some pretty fundamental aspects of who we are.
A new study suggests your personality may have 'aged' drastically during the pandemic — and in the wrong direction.
When there are no thoughts in your mind, is your brain working? And when that happens — what is actually happening?
Yes, for exactly the right reasons, researchers in the US safely created a relatively lethal form of the coronavirus inside a lab. And also, yes — scientists did answer the question of whether a goat or a sheep would win in a fight. (NOTE: No animals were harmed for that study.)
Yes, we're still 'springing forward' and 'falling back' every year. But when it comes to human health, one of those time changes is way different than the other.
As a society, we're shown a lot of images of happy older siblings welcoming their newborn sister or brother to the world. A new analysis of (ape) urine shows that isn't the whole story.
New data shows what fasting and low-carb diets actually do to you — and if you want to save your relationship, stop 'phubbing.'
We absolutely love your emails. Especially when they talk about a bizarre beverage sold in Asia.
Are you healthy? And happy? We hope so. And goal of this episode is to keep it that way.
An experimental Alzheimer's drug really may be 'historic,' and some stunning data on what COVID does to people's brains. Also, is coffee good (or bad) for your heart?
There's a chance (based on early data) that we'll be able to avoid COVID-19 infections altogether if 'mucosal vaccines' live up to their promise. Until then, though, get a good night's sleep (even if it's short).
A new study makes a compelling case that the quality - and not quantity - of sleep is more important for our immune systems to avoid respiratory infections like COVID-19.
Spraying vaccines into our noses — as opposed to injecting them — might drastically change the pandemic.
If embryos can be made without eggs or sperm... then what are they made of? And also, a really easy thing you can do to improve your health and mood.
Want to be healthier and happier? Then join us for a short walk along the Rhine and some research on... just that!
If two women were left on earth, could they manage to have a baby? Or... could two men? The (very) surprising answer takes us to the cutting edge of embryonic research.
Denying COVID was "airborne" — and later acknowledging it was — will likely go down as one of the worst mistakes ever made in the history of global health. How could it have happened?
Infidelity might actually be 'contagious,' according to a fascinating new study — but our listeners... they're mostly good people!
With Artemis about to launch, we need to ask ourselves an important question: What do we actually want for our moon?
It's one thing to land on the moon. It's another to make human life possible there. (Part 2 of our Artemis special.)
The mission that will (ultimately) return humankind to the moon, Artemis, is ready for liftoff. Are we?
What do a narcissist, a psychopath and a Machiavellian have in common? They tend to use very specific kinds of humor.
Who can judge your abilities better — your romantic partner, your friends, your acquaintances... or you?
For some people, the BA.5 situation's looking... more manageable than expected? And also, what we maybe shouldn't have said about the James Webb Telescope.
New research suggests it might be OK to drink a caffeinated beverage made with laser beams — but fresh alpine water... not so much.
There's some pretty stunning news (some of it bad) about the drugs aimed at treating depression or obesity. Also, is it actually worth going to CERN?
Should we just… ignore the (pretty solid) health data saying we shouldn't drink until middle age?
This was it. This was the week where we got to see our universe in a way we've never seen it before. There's more to this episode than just James Webb. But this moment is worth remembering for a long time.
The dramatic unveiling of the James Webb telescope's first few photos really was special. And it didn't go quite as planned here in Germany.
We now have a clearer idea of who tends to get infected by BA.5 or monkeypox. And, also, if you do one thing this week, send a message to an old friend.
A note for our listeners on podcast platforms: Conor and Gabe will be on vacation for the next week. Barring any unforeseen hindrance, they'll be back with you on July 11.
If your answer to this question is 'yes,' you are not alone — not by a long shot. So, what, exactly, makes us desire chaos?
We now have the technology to analyze any liquid on planet Earth — to verify its authenticity. Is that red wine from Bordelais or Beaujolais? This AI can tell you without slurring a word.
New information on monkeypox and COVID... isn't what we were hoping for. Also, when you really think about it, what is a nose?
We missed a COVID study, there's already a solution to the 'tire problem' & one of our listeners is bored.
If you've felt more tired over the last few years, some convincing data suggest that it's a global (warming) problem you can partially solve at home.
Big assumptions about monkeypox are changing — and you really need to listen to what a chatbot in California is saying.
A much-needed update for our COVID vaccines — and also, if it turned out tires were absolutely horrible for our health... what would we do about it?
We've been using the same batch of vaccines to deflect new variants. That's about to change — and in a way that could fundamentally alter the pandemic.
What happens if one of the most useful inventions in human history is really bad for us?
Word has spread of a therapy — only found in Germany — that can help with long COVID. What is it? And does it really work?
A look at why some people just... aren't that interesting to be around. Also, the 'infection app' that doesn't exist.
Here's a riddle that has at least three answers: How do you predict the spread of a virus... if you're looking at earth from outer space?
A fascinating new study has pinpointed the "most boring person of all" by looking at the jobs, hobbies and traits of people perceived as boring.
An unusual experiment has cats staring at cat faces, while Dutch researchers go full sci-fi and "brain scan" an image out of the heads of humans and monkeys.
Worried about another pandemic? Just listen to what top scientists in Europe are saying.
What kind of UV light is best for eradicating SARS-CoV-2? What's behind the spike in alcohol-related deaths in the United States? And if cats can remember names — how would you prove it?
By scanning someone's brain, it really is possible to know what they're seeing — with uncanny accuracy. The implications are... pretty big.
The stuff you breathe out can tell an enormous amount about your health — and intentions.
Yes, you really can tell if someone's turned on just by measuring the air they exhale. Can we sense it, too?
For about 20 euros, you can buy yourself a device that'll put a number on how much COVID (and other nasty stuff) is likely floating in the air.
Studies out of South Africa indicate that our natural immunity to Omicron might already be waning.
A study out of Norway could give you the upper hand next time you're looking to get the interest of that special someone. Also, we look at an important study on endomitreosis.
People who've already had the original omicron can also be infected by the latest mutations of the variant, B.A.4 and B.A.5.
We know now that pigs can express their happiness (or sadness) vocally. But did you know that those emotions can be manipulated - by music? Also, have you ever heard of endometriosis? And where did 'Lyme disease' get its name?
Ever met a dog that's anti-vax? Probably not. And that's why they can be protected from dangerous tick bites, but we can't (yet).
An estimated 200 million women around the world suffer from an intense form of menstrual & abdominal pain called endometriosis. A new tool could improve their chances of diagnosis and treatment.
A less healthy Gabe returns to talk long COVID, new variants & the best corona metric we still have.
Is it fair to say a potentially dangerous new variant of the coronavirus, a 'killer variant,' is on its way?
Want your surgeon to do better, faster work? A new study suggests The Beatles and AC/DC can help.
It's bad enough being sick and quarantined with three young kids. It's worse when one breaks her hand.
There are things we talk about. And things we don't. If you're into the "don't," you'd love sex research journals.
It's important for us to know what animals are "saying." And new technology lets us do just that. Also, a select few of your emails.
If pigs could talk, what would they say? Researchers in Europe are beginning to find out.
How could a diabetes medicine be connected with a '40% increase' in birth defects? And with stealth omicron now dominating... shouldn't we know a little more about it?
Plenty of news stories happened this week. But there was only one that everyone talked about. Why?
The coronavirus is spreading in Germany like never before. And restrictions are vanishing as if the pandemic didn't exist. Huh?
For anyone who knows anyone with muscular dystrophy, there's a ray of hope in Berlin, Germany. Scientists there are using stem cells to try and cure the incurable (and debilitating) genetic disease.
When war footage lands in your feed, does watching it "sensitize" you to the conflict? Or is it just needless trauma?
Figuring out how to prevent COVID infections in Ukrainian refugees is a lot more important than you might think. Also, do you, or someone you know, suffer from "drunkorexia"?
Just as a pandemic 'ends,' a (potentially cataclysmic) war of aggression begins — with no end in sight.
We spoke to a theoretical physicist on the ground in Ukraine about his life, his work during war — and the nuclear threat.
We're not sure if there's a meaningful way to discuss the upheaval of the last few weeks on this show. But it seemed wrong not to try.
Hi everyone! Conor's back after a bout with COVID, and this episode really is just about that.
When a child asks you about war and impending death, what exactly should you say? In other news, the Black Death may not have been all that bad.
It's virtually impossible to avoid the topic these days. So what should you do when kids ask questions about war?
If you haven't had enough morbid news out of Europe lately, this one might be for you. The Black Death wasn't as bad as we think (at least according to careful analysis of 14th century pollen levels).
There is more than one kind of omicron. And data has just come out on whether you might get infected twice. Also, be careful with your phone. You might be jeopardizing your friendships.
You meet a stranger, chat it up, walk away — and die inside. New research suggests you're being too hard on yourself.
Phubbing is when people look at their phone instead of their conversation partner. And new research confirms that it's pretty damn rude.
As support drops for COVID-19 measures, the people who are violently opposed to them are gaining strength.
What would make the trucker protests spread throughout Canadian society? And when your home starts on fire, who would you save first?
Just how much of Canada's political crisis is directly connected to COVID—and how much isn't?
We received so many messages this past week about the lopsided male COVID-19 mortality rate. Maybe you wrote one of them?
We got a lot of emails accusing men of wearing masks less often than women. Is that actually true?
Your house is burning. So who do you save — your sibling, or your spouse? Surprisingly, new research suggests women and men have different answers.
Getting COVID-19 had an impact on getting pregnant — and also, what actually causes two people to stay together?
At least twice as many men have died from COVID-19 than women. Why didn't vaccination campaigns reflect that?
Your sexuality may be connected to your birth order, and staying with a partner has surprisingly little to do with love.
New studies show how a COVID-19 infection changes the timeline and likelihood of getting pregnant.
Some virologists are already considering stealth omicron a variant of concern. Should we be worried?
What if, instead of causing "more side effects" than reported, COVID-19 vaccines actually caused fewer?
Is COVID causing diabetes in kids? Can omicron infect you outside now? And are 10% of people really infectious 10 days later?
Around the world, the data's clear: Omicron's rise (and fall) follow a very predictable path.
Take a look around — because this is the wildest part of the pandemic anyone's ever seen. And we've started to normalize a few things we shouldn't.
Alpha, beta, delta — they were all more severe than the original. So why, after omicron, should the next variant be different?
Yes. They do. But since there's a chance they're less sensitive, how many tests do you need before you can say it's definitely COVID — or just a common cold?
Hospitals, animals and miniature human organoids are showing us how omicron causes disease. And the news is mostly good.
The omicron numbers are already awful. Yet there's a case for cautious optimism based on what we've seen so far.
Omicron won't be a wave, it'll be a wall, says Germany's top virologist. And the best response is to lock things down — again. Can people tolerate that?
If you're on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, then surely you've seen some… less-than-truthful posts. But who's deceiving whom, exactly? And just what is it that they're lying about?
Omicron will mean tougher restrictions for a lot of countries around the world. How should we be dealing with that news?
Honest answer: It's too early to say. But a handful of small-scale, pre-print studies seem to be pointing in one direction.
Several months behind schedule, the Novavax protein subunit vaccine has been approved for use in Europe. This is potentially very important news for the fight against COVID-19. Why?
How do I keep the holidays focused on mistletoe instead of misinformation? And how will the pandemic play out in 2022?
New models from the UK have given us a clear picture (almost to the day) of when the omicron curve will peak and flatten. The news is good and bad. Also, where do "natural immunity" and Novavax fit in?