Science Unscripted
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.
The songs of birds (even mp3s of them) are good for our nerves
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.
German men sit when they pee. Why?
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?
Weekly roundup — This one's pretty much entirely about animals
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.
Chimpanzees 'talk' when you scare them with snakes
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.
The unexpected connection between memory & decision-making
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.
Weekly roundup — Staying alive with a dead philosopher
The four-day workweek can work for making airplanes, and how a dusty political treatise could save your life in a hospital.
Google researcher reveals how to give AI 'human values'
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."
The perks (for moms) of giving birth under midwife care
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.
Sexual double standards are changing (in women's favor)
Most of us assume women are judged more harshly for promiscuous behavior. A study from Norway suggests the opposite is now true.
Bladders, bowels & mental health
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.)
Weekly roundup — An episode to make your life better
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).
Your perception of reality may be distorted
We assume reality to be objective. But what if the way you perceive it is off — because of your imagination?
The four-day work week… usually works?
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?
Weekly roundup — Food for thoughts
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.
How do I get my kids to eat more fruits and vegetables?
In a controlled experiment, researchers in Germany figured out a surprisingly easy way to get children to eat the food they're supposed to.
AI can take your thoughts and convert them into text
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?
Weekly roundup — A couple anti-headlines (that matter)
Sometimes it's not 'big' science stories, but the small ones, that will actually change your life.
Why do I believe in ghosts?
Aliens. Demons. The afterlife. The soul. Believing in the paranormal has many root causes. One appears to be bad sleep.
Would you trust a vaccine made by AI?
It might sound spooky. But is computer-generated medicine any different from the stuff we human beings come up with?
'Me time': Too much can tire you out
We all need time to ourselves. But a new study shows social isolation, when done incorrectly, can lead to a spiral of fatigue.