Curiosity Weekly
by Discovery
Welcome to Curiosity Weekly from Discovery, hosted by Dr. Samantha Yammine. Once a week, we’ll bring you the latest and greatest in scientific discoveries and break down the details so that you don’t need a PhD to understand it. From neuroscience to climate tech to AI and genetics, no subject is off-limits. Join Sam as she interviews expert guests and investigates the research guiding some of the most exciting scientific breakthroughs affecting our world today.
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Episodes
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What Happens When You Donate Your Body to Science
Halloween is almost here! And we are leaning in. This episode, host Dr. Samantha Yammine goes all in on fear, death, and rebirth to celebrate spooky season. First, she looks into a new study that sheds light on how our brains interpret threats that lead to a fear response. Then, she speaks with…
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Seeing Sound & Tasting Words: Systems of Synesthesia
According to neuroscientist Dr. Jamie Ward, everyone knows someone with synesthesia. It’s an under-discussed form of neurodiversity that blends the senses and creates a unique way of perceiving the world. This episode, Dr. Ward joins host Dr. Samantha Yammine to chat about what is going on in the...
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Translating Science is More Complex Than You Think
English being the common language in scientific research has its pros and cons. Scientists can collaborate easier and research can become more accessible, but what do we lose in that process? And what role does AI play? To discuss the complexities of scientific translation, Dr. Samantha Yammine…
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Can I Cut Mold Off My Cheese?: The Science of Food
Like it or not, food safety is something that people often bend the rules on. We leave leftovers on the counter too long, we use the five second rule, or maybe we don’t wash our veggies as well as we should. Today, it’s more important than ever to make sure that we can trust the food we’re eating...
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Mythbusting Reproductive Health
Reproduction is the basis for life and yet, for many, it’s still a mystery. This episode, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by author and gynecologist Dr. Karen Tang to discuss the rumors, misconceptions, and realities of reproductive health. Before that, Sam explains why scientists were surprised…
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Awareness in a Vegetative State
When someone goes into a coma or vegetative state, it is only natural for their doctors and loved ones to try to understand their level of awareness of the world around them. But, every patient is different and it’s not as simple as it looks in the movies. This episode, Dr. Samantha Yammine is...
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Menstruation in Space
Microgravity causes a ton of changes in the human body and there’s been a lot of research showing how these changes affect astronauts. One bodily function that hasn’t been studied during an active space mission? Menstruation. This episode, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by Manju Bangalore, an...
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Why Does My Brain Make Me So Sensitive
There’s a misconception that feeling deep emotions is a personality trait, rather than a neurological phenomenon. A lot of the time, it’s nature, not nurture that causes heightened emotional sensitivity. This episode, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by Dr. Sasha Hamdani, a board-certified...
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Lefties, Raise Your Hands
Most people are right-handed. So this episode, we are celebrating International Left-Handers Day to honor the 10% of the population that are left-handed. To discuss the unique elements of the left-hand brain, host Dr. Samantha Yammine speaks with clinical neuropsychologist Dr. David Carey. She…
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Training the Families of Astronauts: Then and Now
It’s been 57 years since humans first landed on the moon and there are a lot of ways that space travel has evolved since then. One of the major differences is that we now support and give credit to the families supporting the astronauts behind the scenes. Here to discuss how those communities...
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CSI Shark: Forensics of a Shark Attack
Researching apex predators often means putting yourself in situations that are mind-boggling to the average person. Our guest, Rosie Moore, is no stranger to this. She’s found herself lost at sea researching bull sharks, waist deep the Everglades trying to find Burmese pythons, and in...
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If You Give a Shark a Cookie…
It’s that time of year again… #SharkWeek starts July 26 on Discovery and HBO Max. To celebrate, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by renowned shark behavior expert and Shark Week star, Dr. Tristan Guttridge. The two talk all things sharks; from their social dynamics to their genetics to their...
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Programming the Body to Fight Cancer
There is some recent research that’s testing out cancer treatments that can utilize the power of our immune systems to attack cancer cells. It’s called CAR T-cell therapy and it involves programming immune cells to target and attack cancer in the body. Here to explain more is Dr. Shreya Shukla, a...
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Jealousy Vs. Envy
Everybody experiences feelings of the old green-eyed monster now and again, but for such a common mental state, there’s a surprising lack of scientific research about it. This episode, Dr. Samantha Yammine speaks with author Dr. Jennifer Bevan about her research on jealousy and how we communicate...
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The Researchers Translating Whale Language
Understanding animal communication has always seemed out of reach, but as technology advances, it might be more possible than ever before. Project CETI is an organization aimed at translating the language of sperm whales. This episode, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by Dr. David Gruber– the…
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The Machine That Lets Us Look At Dark Energy
The universe is expanding and the people of Earth want to know more! The Nancy Grace Roman Telescope is set to launch sometime in 2026 which will bring about some answers when it comes to understanding dark energy and how it stretches the universe. Here to discuss this groundbreaking project is...
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Cocaine is in Our Waterways. How are Animals Responding?
In this episode, host Dr. Samantha Yammine is asking a hard-hitting question: why are scientists giving salmon cocaine? Well, it turns out that the reasoning has less to do with throwing a fish rave and more to do with understanding how chemical pollutants affect animals living in our waterways....
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Science Needs Creativity
Science and art have always intersected but are still thought of as separate and opposing disciplines. This week, to talk about how the two concepts converge and how they benefit one another, host Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by interdisciplinary artist Kindra Crick. Sam also investigates a…
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Copy, Paste, Clone: What it Takes to Bring Back the Past
For a subject that won the Nobel Prize in 2012 and could be considered a scientific miracle, we surprisingly don’t hear a lot about cloning today. This episode, Dr. Vilceu Bordignon joins Dr. Samantha Yammine to give us an update on where we are with the science of cloning and how that technology...
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What Out-of-Body Experiences Reveal About Consciousness
It might sound like a sci-fi concept, but out-of-body experiences are surprisingly common, affecting up to 20% of the population. To explore what happens when our sense of self detaches from our physical form, we are joined by neuroscientist Dr. Marina Weiler, who challenges the traditional view...
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Hantavirus Outbreak: Separating Fact from Fear
All you late night caffeine drinkers, it turns out that habit might be making you more impulsive. And with all the news of the hantavirus outbreak, we’ve brought on Laurel Bristow to break down what we know about hantavirus historically, what’s happening now and if there’s anything to fear. And...
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Why Are People Getting Poop Transplants?
It might sound like a wacky treatment, but recently, the fecal microbiota transplant has emerged as an effective way to help reshape our gut microbiomes. There are a lot of ideas on how to use this emerging therapy, so to help us sort through the misinformation, we are joined by author and…
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How Violent Video Games Shape Perception
The debate about video games and mental health has been happening for decades and sometimes it can be hard to cut through the noise. This episode, host Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by Dr. Craig Anderson, an expert on media and aggression, to understand what science says happens when kids play...
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AI in Healthcare Isn’t What You Think
Artificial Intelligence has seemingly taken over every industry and headline in the past year, making it hard to keep up with advances in the technology. And things are evolving quickly, particularly in medicine. Here to help us understand where AI can help and hinder processes in the medical...
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How Much Socializing Do You Really Need?
Recent studies based on raccoons ability to solve puzzles taught researchers a lot about a raccoon’s desire to learn their environment. Dr. Samantha Yammine speaks to Dr. Ben Rein about his new book, “Why Brains Need Friends,” and learns all about the neurological benefits of friendship and the...
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Ending Animal Testing: Realistic or Not?
Scientific testing on animals has existed for hundreds of years and is considered a controversial element of how modern research is done. To discuss the past, present, and future of animal testing, host Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by veterinarian and bioethicist Dr. Lisa Moses. Sam also looks…
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The Analog Movement
As reliance on digital technology increases, there are plenty of people who are rejecting their screens and moving back to physical devices and experiences. The analog movement isn’t just a social media trend, there’s real science backing the potential psychological benefits of being offline.…
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Inside the High-Tech Hunt for Dinosaur Bones
These days, discovering a new species of dinosaur looks a lot different than it does in the movies. Technology enables paleontologists to search for dino bones with care and precision. Here to discuss his recent discovery of the Spinosaurus mirabilis is Dr. Paul Sereno. Host, Dr. Samantha Yammine...
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Medicinal Psychedelics: Hype or Health?
The brain is a complex and adaptable organ; one that can be transformed by a multitude of external factors. This episode, Dr. Samantha Yammine investigates the ways the brain can be altered from the outside in. First, she looks into new research on the brain’s response to consistent meditation...
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Magic Mushrooms Help Trees Gossip
The trees are talking about us… but not the way you think. Almost thirty years ago, Dr. Suzanne Simard discovered a vast network of fungal threads beneath the forest floor that functions as a complex communication network. This episode, Dr. Simard joins Dr. Samantha Yammine to discuss how trees...
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Online BS Fools Everyone, Even Experts
It’s hard to imagine just how much misinformation lives online and it turns out that people are only able to identify it a fraction of the time. To speak more on developing the essential skill of recognizing misinformation online, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by Professor Timothy Caulfield. Sam...
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Life Under the Sea, No Singing Crabs
They say it’s better down where it’s wetter… but is it really? Aquanauts have more in common with astronauts than they do with singing marine life. In fact, NASA conducts research into the biological and psychological effects of space on the ocean floor. This episode, Sam is joined by Dr. Dawn...
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Happiness IRL
If everyone wants happiness, why does it so often seem hard to achieve? This episode, host Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by psychologist Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky to talk about positive psychology and what science tells us about how to be happy. Sam also explores a new study that says swearing can...
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Tips For Pits: The Science of Body Odor
It’s not a stretch to say that everyone suffers from unwanted body odor from time to time. Whether it’s stress, exercise, or heat, there are plenty of reasons why we sweat and there is a lot to learn about our bodies from the odors they create. To learn more about the science of body odor, Dr....
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History Punished Scientists - Are We Doing the Same Thing?
It’s easy to think that every major scientific breakthrough in history was met with acceptance and enthusiastic fanfare, but that is not the case. Many modern scientific truths were discovered by researchers who were punished for their ideas at the time. To discuss this topic, Dr. Samantha…
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Does Your Dog Actually Feel Guilt?
Exploring the science behind pet ownership is a more complicated process than you might think. This episode, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by the author of The Science of Pets, Jay Ingram. They talk about the relationship between animals and humans and how we may not always see eye to eye when…
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Urban Ecosystems With The Rat Detective
We know that the health of the planet affects human health but what about the other way around? This episode, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by Dr. Kaylee Byers to discuss how human and animal health is interconnected, particularly in urban environments. Sam also investigates new research that...
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The Biggest Animal Sanctuary in the World with Forrest Galante
There are always constraints when it comes to conservation. Finances, logistics, population dynamics, medicine, and general care all need to be considered when asking: how do we best care for our planet? This episode, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by Forrest Galante, a wildlife conservationist…
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The End of the Universe
To understand how our universe might end, scientists often have to go back to the beginning. This episode of Curiosity Weekly, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by astrophysicist Dr. Katie Mack to discuss theoretical cosmology, astrophysics, and what scientists are thinking might happen to our...
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Why Scientists Can’t Agree on Aging
It’s a new year which means many of us are focusing on resolutions designed to take better care of our bodies as we age. But, even those conducting research on healthy aging find it a complicated concept to define. To help navigate the topic, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by Dr. Paul Robbins, a...
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Why Society Treats Allergies Like a Nothingburger
Allergies are estimated to affect upwards of 30% of people globally, so why are they so often swept under the rug? People in restaurants lie about their allergies, food labelling is difficult to understand, and those with the allergies are often forced to be their own advocate to avoid a...
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We Are Starting to Talk Like ChatGPT
Language has always evolved but it seems like technology has sped that process up to a staggering degree. Memes, algorithms, AI, and social media are altering the words we use and the way we use them. To speak more about the phenomenon, host Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by Adam Aleksic, an...
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The Inequity of Climate Change
Climate change is one of the most powerful forces shaping our world today. With an uptick in extreme weather events, it’s time to focus on how to adapt to this new normal from a public health perspective. Senior Producer Teresa Carey speaks with Dr. Georges C. Benjamin about the health impacts of...
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This is Your Brain on Sleep
We spend about a third of our lives sleeping, so you’d think we’d know more when it comes to understanding what is going on in our bodies and brains when we’re doing it. But studying sleep is surprisingly complex and there are a lot of ideas trying to untangle why we need sleep. This episode…
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The Batmobile Lab That Chases Storms
Meteorologist and storm chaser Dr. Reed Timmer doesn’t just study extreme weather, he drives straight into it with a custom build, storm proof vehicle. Host Dr. Samanthat Yammine talks with him about the science of surviving the planet’s increasingly volatile storms, the data he’s able to collect...
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How Science Can Hack Flavor
Will eating mint cancel out the feeling of spice in your mouth? How do you manipulate aroma compounds to mimic the taste of lemon? When it comes to the science of flavor, there is no shortage of questions to ask. On this episode, Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by renowned flavor scientist…
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This Episode Will Make You Love Math
If sitting down to solve a math problem is your personal nightmare, you’re not alone. On this episode, host Dr. Samantha Yammine is joined by drag queen and math communicator Kyne Santos to talk all things math and how it fuels our everyday lives. Sam also digs into how caffeine can make us…
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The Non-Fiction of Science Fiction
We all know that science shapes science fiction, but what happens when the opposite is also true? This episode, senior producer Teresa Carey speaks with legendary science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson about the intersection of science and science fiction and how the latter allows us to…
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Your Garden Is Not an Island: How to Protect Pollinators
Humans and nature have always coexisted. But, human intervention makes our modern world look very different than it once did. This episode, host Dr. Samantha Yammine digs into how humans are reshaping the wild. Sam speaks to Dr. Harland Patch about the decline of insect populations around the…
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Your Life Runs on GPS. And GPS Runs on Duct Tape
GPS runs our world, but the system is far from perfect and much more fragile than people believe. This episode, GPS expert Logan Scott speaks with senior producer Teresa Carey about the past, present, and future of GPS and how to avoid catastrophe when something goes wrong. Host, Dr. Samantha...
About this show
Welcome to Curiosity Weekly from Discovery, hosted by Dr. Samantha Yammine. Once a week, we’ll bring you the latest and greatest in scientific discoveries and break down the details so that you don’t need a PhD to understand it. From neuroscience to climate tech to AI and genetics, no subject is off-limits. Join Sam as she interviews expert guests and investigates the research guiding some of the most exciting scientific breakthroughs affecting our world today.
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