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.
Why is new music so terrible?
Look, we know we sound like boomers — but there really is something wrong with mass-produced music today, and it's connected to the science of how humans perceive beats.
Weekly roundup — A human was behind this episode
Should Science unscripted be using AI imagery for its shows? It's a real question, and we don't know how to answer it. Will you help us?
Which decisions are you OK with AI making?
Imagine you got rejected by a university. Except a human didn't reject you — AI did. How do you feel now?
Alzheimer's 'infections' & walking around parking lots
Was Alzheimer's transferred to a handful of patients? Also, a new study shows what parking lots do to your brain.
Suffering from stress at work? (Play video games.)
Most of us employees only have a short time before going to bed to recover from the stress of the work day. Video games can help. But you have to be careful with how you use them.
Were we hunter-gatherers, or gatherer-hunters?
Let's be honest: 'Gatherer-hunters' doesn't quite roll off the tongue. And a new study from up in the Andes doesn't prove we've been plant-based all along.
Weekly roundup — The moral law within me
A new study suggests it's never a good idea to watch someone else eat raw broccoli. Also, what Job (from the Old Testament) got wrong about wind and wisdom, and the surprising side effect of phobia therapy.
Kids don’t need God to tell them what’s right or wrong
By asking children whether they should stomp on another kid’s foot, researchers have answered one of the core questions of our existence.
Why more women are doing 'Veganuary'
Look, we're not trying to push a vegan lifestyle. But it’s worth figuring out why a diet that leads to better human health (and a cooler climate)… just isn't popular with men.
Weekly roundup — Buk, buk, buk, buk... ba-gawk!
Chickens can communicate emotions (like exasperation), and we humans can understand it. Also, our listeners have a wild variety of new status symbols (and one of them is Science unscripted).
How do I become wise?
We all have an image of what a 'wise person' looks and sounds like. New research shows we're wrong.
A cure for morning sickness?
A new study on mice shows there may be an easy way to prevent — and treat — the debilitating nausea and vomiting that happens in 70% of pregnancies.
We're back!
Once in a while we have an episode that has nothing to do with science. This one's about how Gabe burned his hair off.
The status symbols they are a-changin’
An expensive car, a shiny watch, a hot body, video game skins, a vegan diet — regardless of how different they can be, status symbols will always be a part of the human experience. Why do we need them so deeply?
Happy New Year from Science unscripted!
Thanks for listening to (or watching) our show this year. And please don't forget these quick tips on how to have a safe and fun party on December 31.
Homeopathic sugar balls for Christmas!
Pain might rob your Christmas cheer - And drag you through depressing muck - But don't you worry, and don't you fear - For you, my friend are in grand old luck - Ho! There lies a simple remedy - The balls of ho-me-o-pathy.
Why is it so hard to say no to an invitation?
Sometimes we end up at social events because... it's just too awkward to say no. New research suggests you should feel better about declining (if you do it the right way).
Weekly roundup — You can't deepfake this
Conor misplaces a telescope, our solar system is a ballerina, and how to protect your voice from being AI synthesized.
Why are kids getting worse at math?
Across the globe, 15-year-olds are doing worse on standardized tests than five years ago. And it may have nothing to do with the pandemic lockdowns.
What was it like when the Earth formed? (And how could we ever know?)
Does that seem like an impossible question to answer? It sure does. Because you'd have to go back in time to answer it. Or you'd need 30 hours on the planet's most powerful telescope (James Webb).