It seems like it’s been a couple months since the last ‘up to date’ segment of the podcast, so Adam Bristol is back to share just what exactly has been on his mind lately. From genetically modified mosquitoes to NASA knocking asteroids off course, it turns out there’s quite a lot occupying his thoughts. Not to be outdone, Indre counters with some protein-fuelled musical composition news of her own, so you know this is yet another wide ranging and thoroughly intriguing episode tailor made for inquiring minds.   Show Links: Inquiring Minds Podcast Homepage Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Protein music of enhanced musicality by music style guided exploration of diverse amino acid propertie Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inquiring Minds

Updates from the Microscopic to the Astronomic

If there’s one thing we can probably all agree on, it’s that water is a necessary component for life, right? Well, here to muddy up that argument is the adorable tardigrade which, it turns out, can survive extreme drying or dehydration, and can be revived by simply adding water. Much of what is known about these remarkable creatures comes courtesy of John and Lois Crowe, two retired UC Davis scientists who devoted much of their lengthy careers to the study of this phenomenon, and Indre’s very special guests on the podcast today.    Show Links: Inquiring Minds Podcast Homepage Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Matter of Life, Death or Maybe Somewhere in Between with John and Lois Crowe

Nina Kraus, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist who has done groundbreaking research on sound and hearing for more than three decades. She's the Hugh Knowles Professor of Neurobiology, Communication Sciences, and Otolaryngology at Northwestern University, and she has been a frequent guest on Indre’s other podcast, Cadence: What Music Tells Us About the Mind. Nina has just released her first trade book called “Of Sound Mind: How Our Brain Constructs a Meaningful Sonic World”. Today she joins Indre to explain just how important sound is, how the hearing brain engages how we think, feel, move, and incorporate information from our other senses, and why the “sound mind” is so integral to how we experience the world.   Show Links: “Of Sound Mind: How Our Brain Constructs a Meaningful Sonic World” by Nina Kraus Brainvolts Website https://brainvolts.northwestern.edu/ Inquiring Minds Podcast Homepage Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds Listen to the Cadence Podcast See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.   Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sound Mind with Neuroscientist Nina Kraus

Who among us hasn’t, at some point, wondered just what exactly a bear manager or a danger tree feller blaster does? Well, Mary Roach, America’s funniest science writer, TED 20 Most Watched list member, and increasingly frequent guest on this podcast has, and now she’s written a book for our collective enlightenment. In today’s episode, Mary discusses her latest offering, FUZZ: When Nature Breaks the Law, taking us on a fascinating journey around the world to explore these and other unique professions dealing with animals and plants whose interactions with humans can be dangerous and even fatal.    Show Links: Inquiring Minds Podcast Homepage Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Episode 31 - The Science of Your Guts Episode 138 - The Curious Science of Humans at War Mary's Homepage  Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Managing Our Criminal Nature with Mary Roach

No one would be surprised to hear that anxiety has become a staple of modern life, particularly over the past year and a half, but what may surprise some is that anxiety is a necessary component in our lives that can be managed and kept at a level which actually optimizes our performance. On today’s podcast, Indre is joined by the legendary Dr. Wendy Suzuki, Professor of Neural Science and Psychology at New York University, who is best known for her extensive work studying areas in the brain critical for our ability to form and retain new long-term memories. Wendy discusses the shift in her research to understanding how aerobic exercise can be used to improve learning, memory and higher cognitive abilities in humans, and examines anxiety and the gifts it offers as outlined in her new book, Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion. Show Links: Inquiring Minds Podcast Homepage Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Good Anxiety Healthy Brain, Happy Life       Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unwrapping the Gifts of Good Anxiety with Wendy Suzuki

Indre welcomes back Sam Kean, the New York Times bestselling author of The Icepick Surgeon, The Bastard Brigade, Caesar's Last Breath, The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons, and more. Sam has won many awards for his writing, and he's been featured on Radiolab, All Things Considered, and of course, Inquiring Minds. His own podcast, The Disappearing Spoon, is also high up on the iTunes science charts. Sam joins the show to discuss his latest book, which features true crime stories about scientists who take things too far. He also talks about his goal to demonstrate that there may be some bad actors within the scientific realm, and what we can learn from the ways in which science steers people wrong.    Show Links: Inquiring Minds Podcast Homepage Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Sam Kean Homepage   Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Science and True Crime With Author Sam Kean

Of all the side effects of opioid use that exist, one that is only recently starting to get the attention it deserves is that of becoming amnestic. That doesn’t mean that this effect hasn’t been on the radar of some researchers over the years, though. As far back as 2016, Neurology Specialist, Dr. Jed Barash, brought some case studies to Indre’s attention, and today’s guest, Lauren Aguirre, has built upon Jed’s findings to write The Memory Thief and the Secrets Behind How We Remember. An award-winning science journalist who has produced documentaries, short-form video series, podcasts, interactive games, and blogs for the PBS series NOVA, Lauren combines her personal experience with her extensive amount of research to generate both a book and an interview here today that you will not soon forget.    Show Links: Inquiring Minds Podcast Homepage Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. The Memory Thief Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investigating The Memory Thief with Lauren Aguirre

One undeniable side effect of the pandemic is that a lot of parents have spent far more time than they ever expected with their kids, and more often than not were left questioning their own parenting decisions frequently along the way. Given that, Melinda Wenner Moyer’s new book, How To Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes, could not be more timely as it shares science based strategies for better parenting from tots to teens. A contributing editor at Scientific American magazine, a regular contributor to a number of national magazines and newspapers, and a former parenting columnist at Slate, Melinda has done the research on this remarkably timely topic, and shares some highlights here today. The mere fact that Indre doesn’t read parenting books, but highly recommends Melinda’s, is proof enough that today’s examination of the science behind raising children who are not assholes is well worth the listen.   Show Links: Inquiring Minds Podcast Homepage Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Melinda's Homepage Melinda's Newsletter Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes with Melinda Wenner Moyer

As Adam wisely notes, ‘Science forges ahead’, making it high time for another ‘up to date’ segment of Inquiring Minds where he and Indre examine some recent instances of science in the news that they find particularly interesting. From tutoring parrots to migratory bird seed spreaders to the sheer beauty of Adam’s kombucha-infused microbiome, you’re sure to find today’s topics, and our hosts’ unique take on them, fascinating as well. Show Links: Inquiring Minds Podcast Homepage Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Innovation and Geographic Spread of a Complex Foraging Culture and an Urban Parrot Neural Correlates of ingroup Bias for Prosociality in Rats Designer Fibre Meals Sway Human Gut Microbes Migratory Birds Aid the Redistribution of Plants to New Climates Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Time for More ‘Science in the News’

In the summer of 2019 - long before the world heard of COVID - author, researcher extraordinaire, and ‘Gastropod’ co-host, Nicola Tilley and her husband and co-author, Geoff Manaugh, told a rapt audience, “You and everyone around you is going to be quarantined, is going to experience quarantine in your lifetimes.” They had just presented their extensive research into quarantine that would ultimately become their new book, Until Proven Safe: The History and Future of Quarantine – a book which provides remarkably valuable information and insights into this now all too familiar component of life and its relationship with freedom, governance, and mutual responsibility throughout the world today. Nicola shares details of her prescient work in today’s fascinating conversation, in which it should be noted for reasons that will become clear, absolutely no children were consumed. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Inquiring Minds Podcast Homepage Until Proven Safe Gastropod Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opening Up the World of Quarantine with Nicola Twilley

Among COVID-19’s many side effects are two that seem to be in direct conflict – on the one hand we’ve all become armchair epidemiologists, and on the other, conspiracy theories are at an all time high. In the common search for answers regarding the virus, some have put all their faith in the certainties of science while others are just as committed to making decisions based upon opinions and beliefs. This begs the question, ‘What happens when we apply our newfound knowledge of diseases to parasitic infections of the mind?’, and today, Andy Norman offers his response as he discusses his new book, Mental Immunity, which maps out how bad ideas can take on these parasitic qualities and outlines what we can do to generate cognitive antibodies.   Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds   See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Building Up Your Mental Health Immunity with Andy Norman

Over the years, music producers have tried to predict what audiences want to hear while at the same time advances in science and technology have taught us a lot about what happens in the brain when we listen to music that we love. Now, David Rosen, CEO and Co-founder of Secret Chord Labs, has brought these two fields together to explore the potential for artificial intelligence to generate guaranteed hits, and just what exactly that would mean for music and musicians. Listen in today as David joins the podcast to present a fascinating case study of the impact of AI or algorithms on human creativity.   Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Generating the Element of Harmonic Surprise with David Rosen

What are your thoughts regarding the relationship between the mind and the brain? For that matter, what are your thoughts? Iris Berent has definitely done some deep thinking on these questions, unearthing the stories we tell ourselves about what we know and who we are as well as the impact these stories can have. She shares her thoughts here today in our eye-opening conversation about her book, The Blind Storyteller.   Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thinking about Thinking about Yourself with Iris Berent

When was the last time you thought about geometry? Unless you're an architect or a kindergarten teacher, you probably don't spend a lot of time thinking about shapes. But mathematician Jordan Ellenberg wants to bring geometry back, and show us not just how shapes can measure the world, but how they can explain it.  Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Getting into Shape with Jordan Ellenberg

Joining Indre on the podcast today is University of Virginia Professor, Leidy Klotz. A former professional soccer player, Leidy has gone on to pursue his interest in studying how we transform things from how they are to how we want them to be, and has written for a number of prominent publications including The Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, and The Behavioral Scientist. His new book, Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less, explores the concept of subtraction as an effective yet often overlooked problem-solving strategy, and forms the basis for today’s fascinating episode.   Leidy begins by sharing the details of his journey to his current role and research, his interest in the science behind using subtraction to improve our lives, and a look at those such as Marie Kondo who have championed this approach. He then proceeds to explain the cognitive load concept and experiments regarding it, his findings regarding the different domains in which he found bias toward addition, reframing the concept of subtraction, and the current and future impact of pandemic inspired subtractions. Our guest concludes the episode by sharing what is coming up next for him. Leidy Klotz’s passion for his ‘favorite’ and ‘most valuable research’ is on full display here today as he makes the case for the often overlooked power of subtraction and the role it can play not only in supporting our own wellness, but that of the environment as well.   The Finer Details of This Episode:     Leidy’s journey to the work he does now   His interest in the science of improving our lives through subtraction   Marie Kondo   Cognitive load experiments   The different domains in which he has found the bias for addition   Subtraction and the pandemic   The reasons we believe that it’s better to add   Reframing subtraction   Pandemic inspired subtractions that can benefit the environment   What’s next for Leidy   Quotes:    “There've always been prophets…telling us to subtract in cases where we might otherwise overlook it.”   “Our default tendency, when we encounter something we want to change, is to think about what we're going to add to it.”   “This kind of bias towards adding is automatic, as opposed to something that we're deliberating about, and then deciding the adding is better.”   “Emergency zoom about zoom fatigue. Everybody, welcome.”    “If you really want to subtract, you've got to actually take something away that you're already doing.”    “We're wired to acquire.”     “But what's really cool about the science, I think, is that it shows that the fundamental problem is that we overlook subtraction.”   “Understanding the science, understanding the forces that are pulling us towards addition, I think that's why it warranted a book.”    “Carbon emissions were actually trending in the right direction for, like, the first time in industrialized society’s history.”   “People have recognized that podcasts are useful even if you're not on a train.”   “You've made a really excellent case in the book and in your body of work that we, first off, do neglect subtraction - that that's not something that we think about first - and yet that the benefits of subtraction really seem to...counter this kind of bias towards addition.”   “A combination of continuing to look for basic questions about how we create our world, and also continuing to explore subtraction.”   Show Links:   Inquiring Minds Podcast Homepage   Leidy's Homepage   Subtraction: The Untapped Science of Less   Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘The Untapped Science of Less’ with Leidy Klotz

Each week Inquiring Minds brings you a new, in-depth exploration of the space where science, politics, and society collide.We’re committed to the idea that making an effort to understand the world around you though science and critical thinking can benefit everyone—and lead to better decisions. We endeavor to find out what’s true, what’s left to discover, and why it all matters with weekly coverage of the latest headlines and probing discussions with leading scientists and thinkers.

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Inquiring Minds

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