Spectrum: Recent Episodes
Deutsche Welle
From advances that will change our lives to offbeat oddities, Spectrum keeps you abreast of developments in the realm of European science and technology news.
Alcohol? Bad for us. But a fascinating new study looks at what happens to 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 — back 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?
Most women who delete Instagram see a boost in self-esteem and body image. Also, forget 'cold tubs' if you want bigger muscles — and why do we like to make ourselves sad sometimes?
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.
An expensive car, a shiny watch, a hot body, video game skins, a vegan diet — regardless of how different they can be, status symbols will always be a part of the human experience. Why do we need them so deeply?
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.
Pain might rob your Christmas cheer -
And drag you through depressing muck -
But don't you worry, and don't you fear -
For you, my friend are in grand old luck -
Ho! There lies a simple remedy -
The balls of ho-me-o-pathy.
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.
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?
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.'
A disease with a mortality rate of 50% is spreading — with no clinically proven vaccine to mitigate it. How did we get here (again), and what can we do to stop the spread of 'Sudan Ebolavirus'?
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 does 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?
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. In case you were wondering, they're called B.A.4 and B.A.5.
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.
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?
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 why is 'Lyme disease' called that?
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, exactly, does the trucker convoy 'movement' represent? This episode is dedicated to your answers.
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 romantic partner, or your sibling — only one can be saved. So who do you choose? 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 2x more 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, belta, delta — they were all more severe than the original. So why should the next variant be any 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?
Be honest: Do you find it harder to care about omicron than the variants before it? Also, how much info can be learned from your voice?
If a free-floating brain could feel pain or 'wake up,' would we know? That question was important enough for us to travel to a lab in Düsseldorf, Germany.
At this point we should know that our phones are listening to us. But it's not just our words that are giving our private data away. It's how we say them.
We all need a dose of positive pandemic news. But what if that makes us miss the far more alarming (and substantiated) data we have about this variant?
There was a LOT of news about the omicron variant last week. But which of it was actually important? Also, why are scientists in Germany growing thousands of miniature human brains with eyeballs on them?
How the tables turn. Today we look at 2 new omicron developments that feel... a bit too euphoric?
A look at 3 widely shared omicron developments that aren't as scary when you dig a little deeper.
Forcing people to vaccinate is not an appealing option — at all. It might happen anyway.
Should the German government force citizens to vaccinate against the coronavirus? You can learn a lot by asking people on the streets.
How do you explain the concept of time to a bird? And why would they ever need to delay gratification?
What would it be like if birds just... didn't sing as much? Step outside and find out. Also, if you haven't met many atheists out there, maybe it's because they're scared to tell you?
With the 'pandemic of the unvaccinated' overwhelming European hospitals and forcing lockdowns, there's a difficult question in the air: Does your right to make a personal medical choice allow you to directly take away other people's freedoms?
It's a callous question to ask. But with new evidence showing a stark decline in bird numbers, it's worth trying to answer.
Yes, there really are two different pills you'll be able to take soon if you catch the coronavirus. Also, a new study shows that science deniers in various countries tend to have something in common.
We really do live in a world where a decent amount of people just... don't believe in facts. Who — and where — are they? And what could have possibly 'made' them into that kind of person?
50,000+ new daily infections — an incidence of 250 — and a holiday season just kicking off. What is going on in Germany?