Stream Now
Shows
Meet The Expedition Members on Expedition From Hell: The Lost Tapes
The Best Moments of Puppy Bowl XX
Puppy Bowl XX Partners
Baltimore Ravens Hang With Rescue Puppies for Puppy Bowl XX!
Shop Puppy Bowl Apparel
Meet the Players of Puppy Bowl XX
Get Ready for Puppy Bowl XX on Animal Planet!
Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing Survivalist's Weekly PSR Ratings
Cast Headshot
Who Will Be the Last One Standing?
Meet the Puppy Bowl XIX Starting Line Up
See All Shows
DNews
A Rare Glimpse of Disappearing Snowy Owls
Peak Inside the Scales with Reptile X-Rays
Meet The Champions of Fat Bear Week 2022
Channel Islands: A Tale of Two Worlds
Close up of Galapagos giant tortoise in San Cristobal, Galapagos Island.
Galápagos Giant Tortoises Are Mysteriously Turning Up Dead in Ecuador
3D low poly green plant HUD UI display. Future polygonal triangle point line ecology problems solution abstract biology genome engineering vector illustration future business technology.
Supertrees That Suck Up More Carbon Could Be Forest Climate Fix
A young coastal brown bear cub lays on a beach waiting for mom to catch fish in Alaska
Baby Bear Takes a Trip on Hallucinogenic ‘Mad Honey’
Hero Rats Are Being Trained to Rescue Earthquake Survivors
Further upstream the river becomes more trout friendly. This is an example of what a restored LA River might look like, with trees and pools for fish to hide in as they migrate up and downstream.
Can the Los Angeles River be Restored?
The LA River where it meets the Pacific Ocean in Long Beach, California. This is the entry point for migrating steelhead salmon that would hope to return to their spawning grounds in the mountains above Los Angeles. This marks the start of a nearly 40 mile journey upstream, though barriers above prevent a successful migration.
Helping the Los Angeles River Change Course
See All DNews
Nature
A Rare Glimpse of Disappearing Snowy Owls
This is the ultimate test to compare iPhone camera with my DSLR. It's amazing how well this came out, but still some limitations balancing the shadows of the bush on the rocks with the highlights on the mountain. I even tried to adjust this one a bit afterward, but the contrast range just wasn't there, even considering that I was shooting in RAW mode.
Year in Review: Nature in Focus Adventures
A captive Snowy Owl in winter quarters at the Raptor Center, Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey. They, too, migrate. No matter where you are in North America, there are different opportunities to see different species.
Nature in Focus: Look Back at 2022
Snow geese are some of my favorite birds. They are beautiful to photograph, fun to watch, and their large congregations make for dramatic imagery.
Great Migrations
The Tipple Family Goes Behind the Scenes at Georgia Sea Turtle Center
Fall in Love with the Marine Animals of Georgia Aquarium
The Oldest Complete Fish Fossil was Discovered Thanks to Kung Fu
Peak Inside the Scales with Reptile X-Rays
While hiking in Sequoia National Park, California, on the mountain trail known as the Lakes Trail, I limited myself to only the most basic set-up, the camera on my iPhone Pro Max 13.
Giant Sequoia Trees Through a Tiny Lens
While hiking in Sequoia National Park, California, on the mountain trail known as the Lakes Trail, I limited myself to only the most basic set-up, the camera on my iPhone Pro Max 13. Glare was sometimes an issue, but I sort of like the effect.
Photographing Sequoia National Park with a Smartphone
See All Nature
Exploration
Pinnacles National Park, California California Condors, one of the rarest birds in the world.
Caves to Condors: Uncovering Pinnacles National Park
Pinnacles National Park, California
Photos from Pinnacles National Park
Chaco Cultural HIstoric Park, New Mexico. Chaco Culture National Historic Park, New Mexico. One of the most enigmatic archaeological sites of the ancestral Puebloans, found in one of the most remote and rugged parts of the American Southwest.
Explore the Rugged, Remote Chaco Canyon in New Mexico
Chaco Cultural HIstoric Park, New Mexico. Chaco Culture National Historic Park, New Mexico. One of the most enigmatic archaeological sites of the ancestral Puebloans, found in one of the most remote and rugged parts of the American Southwest.
Photos from New Mexico's Remote Chaco Canyon
The Hunt for Outlaw Jesse James’ Treasure
Thoth, Ibis-headed god leads the deceased to the Underworld, Mummy-case of Pensenhor, c900BC. Coffin of Pensenhor, 22nd Dynasty, Thebes, Egypt. At British Museum. Artist Unknown. (Photo by CM Dixon/Heritage Images/Getty Images)
Meet the Ancient Egyptian Gods Who Empower DC Comic's Black Adam
Giza Egypt Pyramids in Sunset Scene, Wonders of the World.
What's Inside the Secret Chambers in the Pyramids of Giza
Spain, Murcia region, Caravaca de la Cruz, cityscape (Photo by: Hermes Images/AGF/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Women May Have Been Powerful Rulers of the Ancient World
Temple One shot from Temple 2 at Tikal Mayan Ruins in Guatemala.
A Canadian Teen Once Discovered an Ancient Temple – Using Google Maps
Photo taken in Colombia, Colombia
A Spanish Sunken Galleon Has a $17B Bounty Onboard - and Now You Can See It
See All Exploration
Space
Iâ m dreaming about dinosaurus concept with cute little boy in an empty room
How to Save Humanity from Extinction
Asteroid rock on green starry background
Asteroid Ryugu Has Dust Grains Older Than the Sun. How?
moon, lunar, planet, landing, surface, earth, rock, night, astronomy, light, astrology, abstract, grey, crater, illustration, ornamental, apollo, system, solar, decorative, backdrop, texture, grungy, design, science, orbit, satellite, exploration, holes, background, grunge, space, peak, meteor, nature, detail, cosmos, landscape, universe
Scientists in China Discover Rare Moon Crystal that Could Power Earth
When We’ll Know if NASA’s Asteroid Impact Test was a Success
One Day Man Will Return To The Moon , & Will Set Up Bases & Colonies AS We Expanding Out Into The Solar System & The Depths Of Space.
What Comes After the Moon and Mars?
Blackhole concept
What Screaming Black Holes are Telling Us
The four members of the SpaceX Crew-5 mission pose for a portrait in their Crew Dragon flight suits at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. From left are, Mission Specialist Anna Kikina from Roscosmos; Pilot Josh Cassada and Commander Nicole Aunapu Mann, both from NASA; and Mission Specialist Koichi Wakata from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
The First Native American Woman Travels into Space with NASA's Crew-5 Mission
The sun rises on Rigel IV, a rocky planetoid in the Neutral Zone, on the Outer Rim of the Galaxy.
Want to Name a Planet? Now’s Your Chance
Highly detailed "Supermoon" Pink Moon image with a star field background
What We Learn from the Lunar Surface
Solar system planets set. The Sun and planets in a row on universe stars and lines of gravity background. Elements of this image furnished by NASA. /urls: https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/suns-magnetic-field-portrayed https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/545/artists-concept-our-solar-system/ https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2016/hubble-spins-a-web-into-a-giant-red-spider-nebula
Six Planets are Retrograde, What Does that Mean for You?
See All Space
Science
Iâ m dreaming about dinosaurus concept with cute little boy in an empty room
How to Save Humanity from Extinction
Lightning Strike On A House
Extreme Weather Tests the Durability of Solar and Wind Power
Close-up of architectural model in desk while female architects working on background
How 3D Print Building is Changing the Future
moon, lunar, planet, landing, surface, earth, rock, night, astronomy, light, astrology, abstract, grey, crater, illustration, ornamental, apollo, system, solar, decorative, backdrop, texture, grungy, design, science, orbit, satellite, exploration, holes, background, grunge, space, peak, meteor, nature, detail, cosmos, landscape, universe
Scientists in China Discover Rare Moon Crystal that Could Power Earth
The Berlin-Tegel airport "Otto Lilienthal" (IATA code: TXL, ICAO code: EDDT) is one of the two international airports in the german capital Berlin.
This Country is Transforming an Abandoned Airport into a Green Oasis
BEDFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: The as yet unnamed second Asian elephant calf to be born in the last 7 months stands at a photocall with its mother Azizah at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park on September 29, 2004 in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England. Azizah is one of the three Asian elephants moved from London Zoo to Whipsnade in December 2001, and her new calf joins her sister Kaylee's, born earlier this year.
Saving Baby Elephants from a Deadly Herpes Virus
blue glowing futuristic city
Digital Twin Cities Can Shrink the Impact of Planet’s Largest Polluters
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Building Atlantropa: One Man’s Plan To Drain the Mediterranean Sea
Frontal close-up of an yellow-fever mosquito sucking blood, known vector of zika virus, chikungunya, yellow fever and dengue.
Why You Can’t Escape a Mosquito
Climate change idea. Soft focus on bunch of micro plastic that cannot be recycled.
Microplastics in Blood Spotlight Health Emergency from Plastic Pollution
See All Science
Motor
"Street sign, isolated"
California Proposes Ban on New Gas-Fueled Cars by 2035
Modern electric car chassis design battery modular platform skateboard module pack board with green recycling symbol sign. Recycle vehicle components battery cell pack, motor powertrain, controller.
How Lithium Batteries Will Improve EV Range and Rapid Charging
Flying on turbines taxicab illustrate the great speed of delivery the client in spite of the traffic jams
Air Taxis Bring Electric Flight Hype to Life in Busy Cities
Colorful silhouttes of different Electric Car or automobile types
Recycled Lithium-Ion Batteries are Outlasting Brand New Ones
A photograph of an American Classic car, as seen through the side window, showing the steering wheel, dash board and blue interior, Image taken in August 2018 on a sunny day at Goodwood Motor Circuit, in the UK, at a classic car meeting (breakfast club), open to the general public.
Retrofitting Older Cars with Electric Motors Could Transform Transport
Environmentally Friendly Alternative Energy Concept With Hydrogen Refuelling Station.
Hydrogen Ready to Ignite as Transport Network and Technology Takes Off
Aerial photo of a large oil tanker floating in calm seas.
Catch-22: How the Clean Energy Industry is Perpetuating Deep-Sea Mining
In March 2018 Siemens Mobility was commissioned by the Research and Development Center of the University Kiel to build a five-kilometer eHighway on the A1 autobahn between the Reinfeld and Lübeck interchanges
Are Electric Highways the Way of the Future?
Solid State Batteries Promise Long Life and Rapid Refuel Electric Vehicles
Electric vs. Hydrogen: The Pros and Cons of Greener Transportation
See All Motor
Schedule
More

Curiosity Daily Podcast: Did Your Microbiome Come from Dirt?

Award-winning journalist and economist Tim Harford explains three simple rules for understanding statistics and evaluating truth in the news. Then, you’ll learn about why our microbiomes may have come from dirt.

March 10, 2021

Episode Show Notes:

Additional resources from Tim Harford:

Microbes in dental plaque are more like soil microbes than tongue microbes, which suggests our microbiomes came from dirt by Cameron Duke

  • Caldwell, A. (2020, December 15). Microbes in dental plaque look more like relatives in soil than those on the tongue. EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-12/uocm-mid121420.php
  • Shaiber, A., Willis, A. D., Delmont, T. O., Roux, S., Chen, L.-X., Schmid, A. C., Yousef, M., Watson, A. R., Lolans, K., Esen, Ö. C., Lee, S. T. M., Downey, N., Morrison, H. G., Dewhirst, F. E., Mark Welch, J. L., & Eren, A. M. (2020). Functional and genetic markers of niche partitioning among enigmatic members of the human oral microbiome. Genome Biology, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-020-02195-w

Subscribe to Curiosity Daily to learn something new every day with Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer. You can also listen to our podcast as part of your Alexa Flash Briefing; Amazon smart speakers users, click/tap “enable” here: https://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-com-Curiosity-Daily-from/dp/B07CP17DJY

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Next Up

Curiosity Daily Podcast: Hacking Device, Designer Seaweed, Accent Exposure

We discuss the latest in phone hacking technology, how aquaculture may be able to help the global food crisis, and how engaging with people who speak in a foreign accent may help us retain language.

Curiosity Daily Podcast:The Myth of Man Flu, Arctic Lakes, Buzzing Bats

Let’s talk about whether “man flu” is fact or fiction, how the Arctic lakes just threw a curveball at our climate change projections, and the genius new way bats are tricking their predators.

Curiosity Daily Podcast: Pee and Seagrass, Heart Sound Maps, Modified Mosquitos

Today we talk about how crystallizing human urine can help save seagrass, a new AI program that can detect early signs of heart disease, and how mosquitos can be used to vaccinate against malaria.

Curiosity Daily Podcast: Flirting Cats, Walking Sharks, Preventing Cerebral Palsy

We discuss a new app that can translate a cat’s meow into human languages, how the Epaulette shark is teaching us about climate change, and a potential treatment that might prevent cerebral palsy.

Curiosity Daily Podcast: Geckos & Skin Cancer, Music in Childhood, Underwater Camera

Today we discuss the connection between skin cancer and a leopard gecko named Mr. Frosty, how playing a musical instrument in childhood can affect brain function as we age, and how a new underwater camera can help us explore previously-unseen parts of the ocean.

Curiosity Daily Podcast: Why So Many Outbreaks (Like the Coronavirus) Come from Bats, Older Siblings’ Surprising Influence, and April’s Curiosity Challenge

Learn about why bats are the source of so many deadly virus outbreaks; and the surprisingly strong influence older siblings can have on their brothers and sisters — just in time for Siblings Day. Then, test your knowledge from this podcast with a Curiosity Challenge trivia game.

Curiosity Daily Podcast: How to Manage Your Work-from-Home Paranoia

Learn 4 tips for managing WFH paranoia; flat-pack pasta; and how eye contact is affected by the shape of a dog’s face.

Curiosity Daily Podcast: Your Brain Treats Human Beauty Differently from Artistic Beauty

Learn about how your brain treats beautiful faces differently from beautiful objects; why the town of Baarle sits on one of the world’s most complex international borders; and what might happen if you’re eating during a car accident.

Curiosity Daily Podcast: What Getting Chills from Music Says About Your Brain

Learn about a surprising benefit of adding humor to the news; what getting chills from music says about your brain; and how Volta’s electric eels that hunt in packs.

Curiosity Daily Podcast: Become A CRISPR Connoisseur (w/ Synthego), Up-and-Coming Batteries, and Microsleep

Learn about 4 up-and-coming batteries that could overtake lithium-ion; how microsleep happens without you even knowing it; and what you’re getting wrong about CRISPR gene editing technology, and how to get smart about it — with a little help from Minu Prabhune of Synthego.