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Curious by Nature

Newswise Inc.

Welcome to Curious by Nature, presented by Newswise. The podcast for curious people.

In each episode, listeners can travel briefly into the fascinating world that comes with years of dedication to one field of study. Be inspired by the many amazing things that are going on right now, some may have a major effect on our lives.

Enjoy this concentrated knowledge from experts. We hope you can take inspiration from glimpses of innovation, dedication, and discovery.

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  • 34 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 21 min
  • English

Episodes 34

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  • Friday · 24 min

    Dr. Francis Lovecchio – Back Pain Explained

    Did you know that most herniated discs get better on their own. And the bigger the herniation, the more likely it is to go away. Dr. Francis Lovecchio is a spine surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery. He specializes in complex spine problems like adult spinal deformity and scoliosis, and he researches how to help patients heal better and faster after surgery. If you’ve ever felt pain down your leg and wondered whether it’s sciatica, Dr. Lovecchio explains what sciatica actually is, when it isn’t, and how to know when to wait it out or when to see someone soon. He also talks about the quick fixes you see on social media, and shares why spine surgery’s reputation may not match today’s results.

  • October 30 · 22 min

    Professor John Dinan – All Eyes Are on North Carolina

    Switch on a TV in North Carolina right now, and you’ll see why this is one of the top six most closely watched states in the country for the upcoming elections on November 3. John Dinan is a professor of politics at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Today, we explore why North Carolina is one of a handful of states that’s evenly split between the parties and why the race matters. We also look at how data centers suddenly became a campaign issue, how the state legislature shapes everyday life, and ask who the independent voters are and what they might do on Election Day.

  • October 23 · 19 min

    Dr. Allen Rutberg – Why Deer Are Taking Over the Suburbs

    Our relationship with the deer in our neighborhoods is complex. Yes, they are beautiful, but many people are also frustrated by their destruction to their gardens or the danger they pose in the street. Dr. Allen Rutberg is the Director of the Center for Animals and Public Policy at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, and an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health. He studies how people and wildlife can share the same neighborhoods, and how to keep deer populations in check without harming them. We explore why suburbs have become such a paradise for deer, why hunting often can’t solve the problem, and how a birth control vaccine for deer works.

  • October 16 · 27 min

    Professor Phoebe Koundouri – Incorporating Science to Solve Our Greatest Problems

    We have the science. We have the data. We have the technology, and even the money. So why are we still stuck in a permanent cycle of climate, biodiversity, and economic crises? According to today’s guest, the real culprit is something much simpler: we keep working in silos. Professor Phoebe Koundouri holds a PhD in Mathematical Economics and Econometrics from the University of Cambridge, and her professorship spans the Athens University of Economics and Business and the University of Cambridge. She also leads the Global Climate Hub of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, working to bring nature, society, and the economy into the same decision-making picture. Professor Koundouri discusses why governments struggle to use science, how ordinary citizens could become shareholders in the solutions that protect them, and what it looks like to take on wildfires with a community-wide plan.

  • October 9 · 16 min

    Professor Carolina López-Ruiz – The Odyssey Beyond the Myth

    Chris Nolan’s version of the Odyssey has stirred a lot of conversation, interest, and criticism. Why is this ancient story is still so impactful today? Carolina López-Ruiz, a Professor of Ancient Mediterranean Religions and Mythologies at the University of Chicago. She studies ancient religions, comparative mythology, and the connections between Greek and Near Eastern cultures. We explore what The Odyssey can tell us about the ancient world, how the Greek gods were such an important part of these stories, what makes Odysseus such a fascinating hero, and more

  • October 2 · 34 min

    Dr. Jennie Rosier – The Popular Parenting Advice That’s Totally Wrong

    What if one of the most recommended topics for parents to do with their babies, is completely wrong? Dr. Jennie Rosier is a Professor of Communication Studies at James Madison University, and studies close relationships, attachment, communication, and the connections between parent-child and romantic relationships. Dr. Rosier is also the editor of Dispelling Cry-It-Out Sleep Training Myths and What to Do Instead, published in 2026. Today, we explore what research tells us about infant sleep, where some common sleep-training ideas came from, whether babies can really learn to “self-soothe,” and how the way we respond to children early in life can shape the relationships and stories we carry with us as we grow.

  • September 25 · 14 min

    Bharat Jayaprakash – Does Speeding Save You Time and Money?

    As you are driving around and rushing to arrive at your next destination, is it worth it? Bharat Jayaprakash is a fifth-year PhD student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, where he studies vehicles, driving behavior, energy consumption, and emissions. Today, we explore just how much our everyday driving habits affect fuel consumption, why speeding may save far less time than we think, and what millions of real-world driving trips can teach us about the future of transportation and autonomous vehicles.

  • September 18 · 17 min

    Dr. Joselyn Del Pilar Albaladejo – Tiny Changes, Big Impact

    What if changing just a few atoms inside a material could completely change what that material can do? Something far too small to see could have enormous consequences for the way we produce chemicals, treat water, and build cleaner energy technologies. Dr. Joselyn Del Pilar Albaladejo is a professor of chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, where she studies materials at the atomic and crystal level.

  • September 11 · 25 min

    Dr. Chipo Dendere – Engaging the Diaspora Votes

    Leaving your country doesn’t need to mean leaving its politics behind. Often when people leave, their voice is lost as well, and for mass drains of a country this can have serious effects on the political environment. Dr. Chipo Dendere is a professor of political science in the Africana Studies Department at Wellesley College and the author of ‘How to Stay After Leaving’. We explore the surprising political consequences of migration, why people who leave may still have a powerful connection to their home countries, and how the loss of voters, professionals, and entire communities can actually strengthen the political systems they hoped to escape.

  • September 4 · 10 min

    Professor Romain Glèlè Kakaï – Can We Predict the Next Epidemic?

    Every day, diseases like cholera and malaria affect millions of people around the world. But what if we could predict how these diseases spread before outbreaks get worse? Professor Romain Glèlè Kakaï is a Professor of Biostatistics at the Université d’Abomey-Calavi, where he studies how diseases spread through people, animals, and the environment. His mathematical models help researchers understand outbreaks of diseases like cholera and malaria, and are used by organizations like the World Health Organization and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.

  • August 28 · 27 min

    Neal Piper – The Life-Changing Solution for Feeding Tubes

    Imagine needing a feeding tube just to get the nutrition your body needs, but having to be connected to bulky equipment that limits where you can go and what you can do. For thousands of families, that’s part of everyday life. But what if tube feeding could be as simple as carrying a smartphone? Neal Piper is the Founder and CEO of Luminoah, a medical technology company developing a wearable feeding system designed to give patients more freedom while helping caregivers and doctors better track their nutrition. Inspired by his own son’s battle with cancer, Neil set out to make tube feeding easier, safer, and more personal.

  • August 21 · 24 min

    Newswise – Benefits of Single-Port Robotic Mitral Valve Repair

    Today, we’re sharing a special Newswise event hosted by our COO, Thom Canalichio, with Dr. Rakesh Suri, Regional Director of Cardiac Surgical Robotics and Innovation at Corewell Health, along with his patient, Patrick O’Brien. Together, they discuss a breakthrough in robotic heart surgery that could make repairing damaged heart valves less invasive, helping patients recover faster and get back to their everyday lives sooner. You’ll also hear Patrick’s firsthand experience of becoming the first patient to undergo this innovative procedure and how it gave him a new outlook on life.

  • August 14 · 23 min

    Karsten Eastman – Why So Many Peptides Won’t Work

    You’ve probably heard people talking about peptides lately. They’re everywhere on social media, promising everything from anti-aging to better fitness. But what are peptides really, and could they become one of the biggest breakthroughs in medicine? Karsten Eastman is the Co-founder and CEO of Sethera Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing new ways to build peptide-based medicines. By using enzymes to reshape these tiny proteins, his team hopes to create treatments that last longer, work better, and one day help tackle diseases that have been difficult to treat.

  • August 7 · 19 min

    Newswise – Are You Talking to ME? | Part 2

    Joining the panel are Ella McCarthy, Co-founder of Sci_Burst and former Communication Specialist at the Australian National University; Dr. Will Grant, Associate Professor at the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science; Dr. Isabel Freiling, Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Utah and Responsible AI Fellow; and Shelley Wunder-Smith, Director of Research Communications at Georgia Tech. Together, they answer audience questions, share practical tips for communicating science more effectively, and discuss how researchers can better connect with the people they want to reach.

  • July 31 · 28 min

    Newswise – Are You Talking to ME? | Part 1

    At Newswise, we host a monthly webinar series, and this month’s webinar is titled “Are You Talking to Me?” Today, we’re bringing together science communication researchers and professionals to share the latest research on communicating science more effectively and, most importantly, how those ideas can be put into practice. We’re featuring presentations from Ella McCarthy, Co-founder of Sci_Burst and former Communication Specialist at the Australian National University. Dr. Will Grant, Associate Professor at the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science. And Dr. Isabelle Freiling, Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Utah and Responsible AI Fellow. They’ll discuss why understanding your audience is one of the most important parts of science communication, how researchers define and think about audiences, and how today’s online world, from social media algorithms to AI generated content, is changing the way people discover, understand, and trust science. Tune in next week for part two with Shelley Wunder-Smith, Director of Research Communications at Georgia Tech, joining the panel for a discussion of practical strategies based on the research presentations. You’ll hear a lively discussion about best practices for communicating science in today’s ever changing media landscape.

  • July 24 · 17 min

    Dr. Kelly Swanson – Does My Pet Have a Healthy Microbiome?

    Every pet owner wants to know the absolute best food to put in their dog or cat's bowl, but the endless rows of grocery store options have turned feeding time into a total guessing game. From raw diets and sous vide to traditional kibble, picking the right option isn't just about what looks delicious, it's about protecting an invisible internal ecosystem. Dr. Kelly Swanson is a professor of animal sciences and the director of the Division of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Illinois, where he has spent over twenty years studying pet health. His lab is uncovering the deep connection between what our pets eat and how their gut microbiome regulates everything from their immune systems to their weight.

  • July 17 · 24 min

    Dr. Siniša Hrvatin – What Can Humans Gain from Hibernation Research

    Dr. Siniša Hrvatin is an assistant professor of biology at MIT and a member of the Whitehead Institute. His lab is uncovering the biological secrets of hibernation and frozen stasis, not just to understand these animals, but to discover how we can copy their tricks to save human lives.

  • July 10 · 18 min

    Dr. Kouros Emami – Most People Don’t Know Concussions Are Fully Treatable

    For decades, the standard medical advice for treating a concussion was to go sit in a dark room, turn off your phone, and do absolutely nothing until you felt better. But modern science has completely flipped the script, revealing that hiding out in the dark might actually make your brain recover slower. Dr. Kouros Emami is a clinical and sports neuropsychologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery, where he works on the cutting edge of head injury recovery. He treats everyone from elite athletes to everyday people, using active movement and specialized exercises to help the brain heal itself.

  • June 26 · 21 min

    Professor Michael Schutz – Please Stop the Hospital Beeping

    Michael Schutz is a Professor of Music, Cognition, and Percussion at McMaster University, where he researches how auditory alerting systems in healthcare can be vastly improved. By applying centuries of musical composition insight and psychophysical research, he is exploring how healthcare sounds can be re-engineered to cut through critical room noise without being unnecessarily jarring.

Showing 1–20 of 34 episodes