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.
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).
Weekly roundup — Keep an eye out for bad science
Just about every study we talk about in this episode has a pretty significant caveat. Also, an emailed warning from a poet who chopped too much firewood.
Do younger siblings make you stupider?
A longitudinal US study shows that having a younger sibling will tend to lower your cognitive development. But the effect vanishes after child number three.
A proliferation of positive language is making science more confusing
In an unprecedented interview about a unique and novel study, an Austrian researcher explains why the first three adjectives you just read are part of a growing problem.