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.
Do you think animals can think?
It's an interesting question. Even more intriguing is why you believe what you do — and whether you live near a city.
Neanderthals chose to eat each other?
Cannibalism happened among the Neanderthals. That much we knew. Now, a paleoanthropological discovery has possibly uncovered an ugly truth about our distant cousins. Conor and Gabe head to a cave in Belgium to check it out.
Happy New Year!
Thanks to everybody who listened during this year. Most of all, thank you to those who wrote to us and — in the process — became part of our show.
Imagine your way to better friendships...?
Want to like someone more? It just takes eight seconds. Also, mice that smelled bacon... had more obese children?
Who do you give to? (And who do you not?)
$1,000 is put in your hand. With one condition: You have to donate it. What do you do next?
The Batman effect
A pregnant woman enters a tram. Nearly 40% of the time, she's offered a seat. Unless someone else enters. Dressed as batman.
Does the world feel... off to you?
If you feel overwhelmed... and you don't know why... new research suggests you may be experiencing something called 'mismatch.'
Mountain gorilla menopause & why raccoons are the next dogs
We're on our way to having a new housepet, a study suggests. Also, mountain gorillas join humans as part of the (exclusive) 'grandmother hypothesis.'
Gen Z can't sleep (but at least they're not out committing crimes)
An alarming number of young people are using two very unhelpful drugs to help them sleep. Also, what's behind the sharp decline in youth crime?
When people talk about 'dehumanization,' listen
Dehumanizing a group of people is step 4 on the 10-step path to genocide. We should pay attention when politically powerful people start saying it.
Can you tell the difference?
Is a hair-loss product causing men (primarily) to become depressed and suicidal? Also, can you pass our AI voice test?
Women have more to lose when healthcare gets cut
Women will die at disproportionately higher rates as the US rolls back access to public insurance programs (like medicaid). Also, AI tools like ChatGPT change how honest we are... and not in a good way.
Why do men die earlier?
Five years. That's the (significant) difference between male/female life expectancies in human beings. If we'd like to change that (and shouldn't we try?), a new study suggests we look at the animals that reverse this rule, and how they do it.
Keeping score (or how to doom a relationship)
If you're keeping a mental list of what your partner 'owes' you, a new study suggests... maybe don't?
Does getting married make your life more satisfying?
On this week’s Science unscripted, a quantitative and qualitative glimpse into how harmful politics can be for relationships, a glimpse into the future of pregnancy, and an unabashed analysis of what marriage does for our feeling of satisfaction.
Huntington's disease: Curing the incurable?
On Science unscripted this week, we dissect the latest research on political violence. Also, we look into what scientists are calling a breakthrough for an incurable neurodegenerative disease.
Rate my professor? No thanks.
Think you're getting a fair review of a teacher from a rating site? Think again. Also, two studies shed light on who wakes up more when a baby cries... and the connection between 'stereotypes' and condoning political violence.
Painkillers, pregnancy & autism — what the research says
A metastudy on pregnant women taking the painkiller acetaminophen is at odds with the leaked 'autism report' commissioned by US Health Secretary RFK Jr. Also, why so many people avoid information about their own health, and a beautiful obituary.
Have you lived a good life?
If you read enough obituaries, you might unearth what people (and society) find important about existence. What do you want yours to say?
Could a spray 'end all viruses' in humans?
If a coworker coughs or your partner pukes... you know you're gonna get sick. Unless an antiviral does the same thing to humans that it did to mice (and hamsters).