Curiosity Weekly

Programming the Body to Fight Cancer 15.07.2026 28min

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 biomedical engineer specializing in this treatment. But first, host Dr. Samantha Yammine will separate hype from fact when it comes to one of the internet’s most recent fixations: peptides. Later, Sam digs into a study trying to figure out how pigeons find their way home on a cloudy day.  Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing What It's Like To Be... with Dan Heath 15.07.2026 2min

We encourage you to check out What It’s Like to Be... a podcast hosted by bestselling author Dan Heath that explores the world of work one profession at a time. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Jealousy Vs. Envy 08.07.2026 26min

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 it to others. Before that, Sam digs into the latest sunscreen ingredient approved by the FDA and what that means for our skin. Later, a new study explores how our balance is affected as we age and what that means for preventing falls among the elderly.   Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Researchers Translating Whale Language 01.07.2026 23min

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 founder and CEO of Project CETI– to discuss how and why his team is translating whale conversations. Before that, Sam looks into the discovery of a new octopus species and later, she explores a new study that describes a new treatment for lowering cholesterol.   Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Machine That Lets Us Look At Dark Energy 24.06.2026 24min

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 Swapna Krishna, a science journalist who specializes in all things space. Before that, Sam will look into how mathematicians were able to (almost) calculate pi using Minecraft and later, she’ll discuss how mental health questionnaires might need some updating.    Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cocaine is in Our Waterways. How are Animals Responding? 17.06.2026 25min

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. Sam is joined by study author Dr. Jack Brand to get further insight and talk about what exactly happens to salmon when they’re exposed to human drugs.   Before that, she’ll discuss a new study that explains how stress messes with the way our brains make connections. And later, Sam digs into why PCOS has been officially renamed PMOS and what that means for people who suffer from the condition moving forward.   Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Science Needs Creativity 10.06.2026 27min

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 very interesting finding about a previously unseen remora behavior as well as a study that looks into why there are so few cases of cancer in the heart.   Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Copy, Paste, Clone: What it Takes to Bring Back the Past 03.06.2026 21min

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 is moving forward. Sam also looks into some new studies that explain why some old houses feel haunted and a surprisingly eco-friendly way to deal with termites.  Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Out-of-Body Experiences Reveal About Consciousness 27.05.2026 29min

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 that the brain creates the mind. Before that, Sam investigates the evolutionary mystery of why true crabs walk sideways, and later, a new study reveals how a popular Korean skincare ingredient could become a powerful ally in the fight against antibiotic resistance.   Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hantavirus Outbreak: Separating Fact from Fear 20.05.2026 21min

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 later on, we’ll learn what is actually happening with brain-based computers and how soon the future might be here.  Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Are People Getting Poop Transplants? 13.05.2026 29min

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 general surgeon, Dr. James Kinross. Before that, Sam digs into a bizarre question: why do humans have chins? And later, a new study reveals how heroic beavers are when it comes to combatting climate change.   Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Violent Video Games Shape Perception 06.05.2026 26min

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 violent video games. Before that, Sam will dig into how something called the Grandmother Hypothesis separates us from our primate cousins and later, she’ll look at new research on how snakes store their stolen toxins.   Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI in Healthcare Isn’t What You Think 29.04.2026 28min

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 industry is Dr. Nina Kottler, a radiologist and AI expert. Before that, we explore a new study detailing some surprising findings in koala population genetics and later, Sam looks into research on how other people’s opinions shape our own experiences.  Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Much Socializing Do You Really Need? 22.04.2026 30min

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 power of socializing. And finally, adorable microscopic organisms called tardigrades might be showing us the way to slow DNA damage.  Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ending Animal Testing: Realistic or Not? 15.04.2026 22min

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 at a new study exploring an alternative treatment to sleep apnea and one that looks into how people living at high altitudes can provide inspiration for diabetes medication.   Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Analog Movement 08.04.2026 22min

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. Here to discuss how our digital habits affect us is Dr. Natalia Khodayari, a postdoctoral scholar at UC Davis. Host Dr. Samantha Yammine also looks into a new study that solved the mystery of how horses whinny and a paper on the effects of dim lighting on our eyes.   Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside the High-Tech Hunt for Dinosaur Bones 01.04.2026 29min

 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 also looks into Humanity’s Last Exam which is a test designed for AI to fail and a study that shows how repeated exercise rewires our brains.   Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medicinal Psychedelics: Hype or Health? 25.03.2026 27min

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 practice. Then, she sits down with Dr. Ishrat Husain to discuss the efficacy of psychedelics in medical settings on mental health. And lastly, she digs into how modern football helmets utilize science and engineering to better protect the brain from concussions.   Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Magic Mushrooms Help Trees Gossip 18.03.2026 33min

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 connect with one another and how that discovery changed the way we think about forest ecosystems. Sam also looks into an Austrian cow who’s learned how to use tools and a new study that claims to be able to regrow cartilage.   Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Online BS Fools Everyone, Even Experts 11.03.2026 24min

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 also investigates a new study on motivation that might help us all tackle tasks we’ve been avoiding and explains how artificial snow is made.   Link to Show Notes HERE  Follow Curiosity Weekly on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Dr. Samantha Yammine — for free! Still curious? Get science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. Terms apply.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.