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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109 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes109

Newest first

Dec 13, 2024 · 16 min
Dr. Amy Grooms – 80% Success Rate in Depression Treatment
Dr. Amy Grooms, Psychiatrist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS Health) in Little Rock, Arkansas, works with patients experiencing severe and treatment-resistant depression. For some people, depression persists even after years of trying multiple medications without relief. These cases, known as treatment-resistant depression, have pushed researchers and clinicians to explore new approaches beyond traditional drug therapies. One promising option involves neurostimulation using magnetic fields, combined with MRI technology to precisely target specific areas of the brain. In this episode, Dr. Grooms explains how these advances are helping doctors better understand the brain circuits involved in depression and how new techniques may finally provide relief for patients who have struggled for years to find effective treatment.
Dec 6, 2024 · 21 min
Dr. Deborah Padgett – There Is a Solution to Homelessness
Dr. Deborah Padgett, Professor at the Silver School of Social Work at New York University, studies homelessness, housing policy, and the effectiveness of programs designed to support people experiencing housing instability. People experiencing homelessness in the United States face a wide range of challenges, including mental health issues, addiction, and barriers to stable housing. Public debates about homelessness are often shaped by stigma, politics, and strong opinions, making it difficult to focus on evidence-based solutions. In this episode, Dr. Padgett discusses what the data actually shows about addressing homelessness. Her research examines approaches such as housing vouchers and supportive housing programs, exploring how these policies can help people secure stable housing and improve long-term outcomes.
Nov 29, 2024 · 19 min
Dr. Shuo Sun – A Fascinating Glimpse into Quantum Photonics
Dr. Shuo Sun, Assistant Professor of Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder, studies quantum photonics and the behavior of light and particles at the quantum level. What is quantum photonics? What is quantum entanglement? These concepts are often described as some of the most mysterious ideas in modern physics. Yet they are becoming increasingly important as scientists explore new technologies based on quantum mechanics. In this episode, Dr. Sun helps demystify these topics and offers a glimpse into the fascinating quantum world. His research uses arrays of entangled particles to design new experiments that could advance quantum communication, computing, and other technologies that may shape the future of science and technology.
Nov 22, 2024 · 19 min
Dr. Nitin Agarwal – The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Online Behavior
Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Distinguished Professor of Information Science at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Director of the COSMOS Research Center (Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies), studies online behavior, misinformation, and the spread of digital influence campaigns. Much of the information we consume today comes from social media. Sometimes it is helpful, but other times it can be misleading or even harmful. The challenge of identifying and combating misinformation and disinformation has become increasingly important in a world where online narratives can influence public opinion, elections, and global events. In this episode, Dr. Agarwal explains how researchers at COSMOS are using advanced data analytics to study online behavior and track the spread of misinformation. Their work examines everything from propaganda campaigns and COVID-19 misinformation to election interference, terrorism, and online extremism, helping experts better understand how information spreads in the digital age.
Nov 15, 2024 · 19 min
Dr. Michelle LaRue – Watching Penguins from Outer Space
Dr. Michelle LaRue, Associate Professor in the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, studies wildlife and ecosystems using satellite technology. Studying animals in some of the most remote places on Earth can be incredibly difficult. Traveling to Antarctica to observe emperor penguins, for example, is expensive, time-consuming, and limited to certain times of the year. Dr. LaRue is helping transform how wildlife research is done by studying animals from space. Using satellite imagery, she can track populations of emperor penguins and other wildlife in places that are nearly impossible for researchers to reach regularly. In this episode, we explore how this innovative approach is giving scientists unprecedented insight into Antarctic ecosystems and the impacts of climate change on these fragile environments.
Nov 8, 2024 · 18 min
Dr. Jacqueline Gottlieb – Curiosity with a Capital 'C'
Dr. Jacqueline Gottlieb, Professor of Neuroscience at Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute and the Department of Neuroscience, studies how curiosity and attention shape the way the brain processes information. Are you paying attention? Our ability to focus is influenced by a complex set of processes in the brain, and curiosity plays a central role. When we encounter uncertainty or a question we want answered, the brain becomes more engaged, driving us to seek information and solve the problem. In this episode, Dr. Gottlieb explains how curiosity, emotion, and uncertainty influence brain activity. Drawing on research from neuroscience, animal behavior, and decision science, she explores why the brain becomes more motivated to learn when the outcome is uncertain.
Nov 6, 2024 · 21 min
Dr. Neil Johnson – Hate Groups After Elections
Dr. Neil Johnson, Professor of Physics at George Washington University, studies complex systems and applies physics-based methods to understand how online hate and misinformation spread across social networks. The run-up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election has seen rising levels of misinformation, division, and hate speech across social media platforms. Online conversations around topics such as race, immigration, and politics often attract extremist voices that can overwhelm more constructive dialogue. In this episode, Dr. Johnson explains how communities that promote hate organize themselves online and how they build networks across mainstream platforms as well as darker corners of the web. Using tools originally developed in particle physics, his research maps how harmful content spreads through digital networks and warns that the biggest spikes in online hate may occur after election day, when tensions and uncertainty are at their highest.
Nov 1, 2024 · 18 min
Dr. Nathan Johnson – What is Renewable Energy Missing
Dr. Nathan Johnson, Professor of Systems Engineering at Arizona State University, Assistant Director of Research at the Global Futures Laboratory, and Director of the Laboratory for Energy and Power Solutions, studies how energy systems must evolve to support the transition to renewable power. Power grids around the world were designed for a very different era of electricity production. As more communities adopt renewable energy sources like wind and solar, managing when and where electricity is generated and used becomes far more complex. In this episode, Dr. Johnson explains why today’s power grids are not fully prepared for the coming green energy transition and how smarter infrastructure, energy storage, and advanced systems planning will be essential to deliver electricity reliably in a future powered by renewables.
Oct 25, 2024 · 19 min
Dr. Susan Kelly-Weeder – College Students Should Consider This When Drinking
Dr. Susan Kelly-Weeder, Professor and Dean at the George Washington University School of Nursing, studies health behaviors among young adults, including alcohol use and prevention strategies on college campuses. Despite growing awareness of the risks of excessive alcohol consumption, binge drinking remains common among college students in the United States. Universities face a difficult challenge: encouraging safer behavior while balancing education, intervention, and student independence. In this episode, Dr. Kelly-Weeder discusses research aimed at understanding why students engage in risky drinking and what colleges can do to reduce harm. From alcohol-free housing to campus programs that promote safer choices, her work explores practical ways institutions can help students avoid the most serious risks associated with alcohol use.
Oct 23, 2024 · 15 min
Dr. Olivier Loudig – Breath Cancer Detection
Dr. Olivier Loudig, Scientist at the Center for Discovery and Innovation within the Hackensack Meridian Health Network, studies how biological signals in the air we exhale can reveal important clues about human health. Take a deep breath in. Now exhale. Do you know what microscopic particles you release every time you breathe out? During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people became more aware of how airborne particles can spread infectious disease. But our breath may contain much more information than just germs. In this episode, Dr. Loudig explains how researchers are studying the tiny biological particles in exhaled breath and how they could one day be used to detect diseases, monitor health conditions, and provide new ways of diagnosing illness.
Oct 11, 2024 · 18 min
Dr. Gaige Kerr – The Toxicity of Online Shopping
Warehouses are rapidly expanding across the landscape, covering large areas with metal buildings, concrete lots, and a constant flow of trucks transporting goods. These logistics centers help deliver products faster than ever before, but they also raise important questions about their impact on the environment and public health. In particular, communities living near these facilities may face higher levels of air pollution, which can contribute to health issues such as childhood asthma. Dr. Gaige Kerr, Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at George Washington University, studies the environmental and health consequences of warehouse-related pollution, with a focus on how these impacts disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.
Oct 4, 2024 · 17 min
Dr. Elise Wang – Conspiracy Theories from Medieval Times to Today
Effective storytelling has always held a powerful place in human culture. A well-crafted story can inspire, persuade, and shape the way we see the world. From medieval literature to modern entertainment, people are naturally drawn to narratives. But what happens when the power of storytelling is used to mislead? Modern conspiracy theories often rely on the same narrative techniques that great storytellers once used, but with very different intentions. Our guest today studies exactly how that works. Dr. Elise Wang, Assistant Professor at California State University, Fullerton, brings her background in medieval literature to the study of modern conspiracy theories. In this episode, we explore how these narratives spread, why people believe them, and what we can do to recognize and challenge them.
Sep 27, 2024 · 17 min
Dr. Dave Rakestraw – Yes, You Can Do Amazing Physics with Your Smartphone
While many schools across the United States are considering banning smartphones in the classroom, some educators see these devices as powerful tools for learning. Modern smartphones are packed with sensors capable of measuring everything from motion and sound to health data and basic principles of physics. For students growing up in the smartphone age, these tools are already in their pockets. Our guest today is exploring how that technology can be used to inspire curiosity and hands-on discovery in science education. Dr. Dave Rakestraw, Senior Scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, joins us to discuss how smartphones can become powerful scientific instruments and how educators can harness everyday technology to get students excited about science.
Sep 20, 2024 · 15 min
Dr. Bruce Greyson – Lessons from Near-Death Experiences
Coming close to death and surviving can have a profound impact on a person’s life. But some people report near-death experiences, events that can transform how they see themselves, consciousness, and the world around them. What actually happens during these experiences from a scientific perspective? Our guest today has spent decades studying this phenomenon. Dr. Bruce Greyson, Chester F. Carlson Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia, has collected hundreds of accounts and conducted extensive research through the university’s Division of Perceptual Studies. In this episode, we explore what near-death experiences may reveal about the mind, consciousness, and what science can and cannot explain about these extraordinary moments.
Sep 13, 2024 · 17 min
Dr. Robert Ferl – How You Too Can Go to Space
Dr. Robert Ferl, a molecular biologist and professor at the University of Florida, discusses his work on understanding how organisms, particularly plants, adapt to extreme environments, including space. He highlights his recent spaceflight aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard, where he conducted experiments to study the effects of space travel on plants. The goal was to analyze how plants respond during the initial moments of spaceflight and upon reentry. This unique opportunity allowed Dr. Ferl to gain first-hand experience of space, deepening his understanding of how biology behaves in space. He talked about the importance of allowing scientists to personally conduct research in space and advocates for expanding these opportunities for others in the scientific community.
Sep 6, 2024 · 18 min
Dr. Samantha Keppler – We Can Give Teachers the Basic Supplies They Need So Students Will Do Better in School
Recent advances in artificial intelligence are beginning to reshape the world of education. While many leaders see AI as a tool that could improve learning and student outcomes, the reality is more complex. New technologies may offer exciting possibilities, but it may take time before they truly make teachers’ jobs easier. Our guest today has been studying what works in education and how new technologies are influencing classrooms. Dr. Samantha Keppler, Assistant Professor of Technology and Operations at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, joins us to discuss how AI is affecting teachers, what it could mean for student success, and how schools can thoughtfully adapt to these changes.
Aug 30, 2024 · 16 min
Dr. Marc Hungerford – The Robotic Revolution of Knee Replacements
Joint replacement technology has advanced significantly in recent years. Improved materials and more precise surgical techniques have helped the number of procedures more than double over the past decade. But even with these advances, many patients struggle to regain the full range of motion and stability of their natural joints, often requiring extensive follow-up care and physical therapy. Our guest today is working to improve those outcomes. Dr. Marc Hungerford of Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore joins us to discuss how innovations such as robotic-assisted surgery and implanted sensors are helping patients get the most out of their knee and hip replacements, giving them a better chance at long-term mobility and recovery.
Aug 16, 2024 · 16 min
Dr. Carl Lipo – Debunking Easter Island Collapse
When British explorers first encountered Easter Island and the Rapa Nui people, they were struck by the island’s iconic stone heads, known as moai. Yet they were puzzled that such a remote island, more than 1,000 miles off the coast of Chile, was home to only a few thousand inhabitants. From a European perspective, many assumed that the Rapa Nui must once have been a much larger civilization that collapsed after exhausting the island’s resources. This idea became widely known as the theory of the “Easter Island Collapse.” Today, archaeologists are challenging that narrative. Dr. Carl Lipo of Binghamton University is among the researchers working to reexamine the evidence and provide a more nuanced understanding of Rapa Nui history and how its people adapted to their environment.
Aug 9, 2024 · 17 min
Dr. Puneet Manchanda – How Addictive Are Companies Making Video Games
Addiction research has long focused on chemical dependence such as drugs and alcohol, but newer behaviors like excessive video gaming and social media use are only beginning to receive the same level of scientific attention. Many parents worry that their children may be developing addictive habits with these modern technologies. At the same time, game developers and social media platforms are designed to maximize engagement and keep users online for longer periods of time. So what safeguards exist to prevent technology from becoming manipulative or addictive? Dr. Puneet Manchanda, the Isidor and Leon Winkelman Professor of Marketing at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, joins us to explore these questions. His research examines how modern digital platforms influence user behavior and what that means for understanding the potential risks of technology-driven addiction.
Aug 2, 2024 · 16 min
Dr. Eric Patton – Neurodiversity at Work
Estimates suggest that 10 to 30 percent of students are neurodivergent, raising important questions about what the future of work will look like for them. Neurodiverse employees bring many unique strengths to the workplace, but companies may need to rethink how they design roles, environments, and expectations to support those strengths. Our guest today is Dr. Eric Patton, Professor of Management at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, and author of the book Neurodiversity and Work. In this episode, we explore how organizations can better support neurodivergent employees and why embracing neurodiversity can benefit both workers and companies.