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.
Sexual double standards & better sleep
Women, not men, are viewed more favorably if they've had a few recent sexual partners... even if a German study appears to suggest the opposite. Also, if you're gonna do some late-night scrolling (because who doesn't), do it right.
Young Germans are happier to be single (nowadays)
"Are you okay with being single?" If you were to pose that question to a young German, you would get a different answer these days compared to 10 years ago. Why?
Weekly roundup — Things just won't stop changing
On this week's show, we learn the first thing young people should do when they're struggling. Also, why exactly do our eyes get worse as we get older? Plus, a researcher gets in touch to thank us (DW) for teaching him German.
Can you sing? And if so, does it have anything to do with lemurs?
Headlines implying human singing came from Madagascar... just aren't true. But lemurs are worth listening to.
Why do people ghost each other?
Ever had someone just... vanish out of your life? Or maybe you did it to them? A new study shows why people 'ghost' — and who actually suffers most from it.
Weekly roundup — A cure for lower back pain (that might injure your legs)
The number one cause of disabiliity worldwide is lower back pain. Great news, then, that a rigorous study says we can halve its recurrence by... walking. But there's a catch.
Losing your job is worse for your health if you live in a different country
Why is it that migrants get physically unhealthier when they lose their jobs (compared to locals)? And can anything be done to stop it?
Granola poop & a deserving victim
Sadly, one of our recent episodes caused a listener to go outside and cover her jacket in human feces. Also, if you're trying to raise money for a good cause, remember the German word 'Schadenfreude.'
Weekly roundup — Hold the door & filter your phone
Does it make YOU happier to do a random act of kindness? Also, how to stop a smartphone from messing with your sleep, and a milkshake fathers can make for pregnant partners.
Your body might not survive a trip to Mars
Why would our kidneys (possibly) fail when we're inside a spacecraft? And why do women's bodies do better in space than men's?
Where should you look during a video call?
Got an interview coming up? A study out of Japan has potentially life-changing advice for where to focus your gaze. Also, Gabe's back — and is recovering from an operation.
'Hunger games' in the jungles of Panama
Does having a big brain make you better at finding food? It's a difficult question to answer ethically. Unless you have access to an island.
The vending machine experiment (or why you don't live in a tree)
In a dream you see a vending machine. Instead of coins or cash, it has a square-shaped hole. That's it. No instructions. No one who walks past can explain it. At some point you shake it violently (still nothing) and see your own hands. They're furry.
What to do when your hair falls out
Hormonal therapies? Hair transplant? Or just go bald? When a genetic test shows a Science unscripted host is bound to lose his hair, it leads to a shocking amount of bad science and (potentially) significant side effects.
Weekly roundup — Make things & stay healthy
Is it OK to pee on your feet to get rid of foot and nail fungus? Also, if you say 'hi' kinda differently to your boss than you would to a friend or family member, you have something in common with the biggest land mammal on earth.
Drugs don't make you more creative
If you take drugs or drink alcohol and then write down your 'wildly creative,' chemically-inspired ravings... new research suggests you'll create a catalogue of useless garbage.
Scary microplastics news & how to eat during pregnancy
We all have microplastics inside our bodies. Until now, scientists weren't certain about the extent of the harm. Now they are.
Weekly roundup — Mea culpa!
Science unscripted got an email this week about orgasms. What's more, someone wrote to let us know why a dying countess in a classic German novel would rather spend her final moments with a chauvinist man than with Conor or Gabe. And finally, how your doctor's credentials might just save…
Nurses & teachers suffer when you call them 'heroes'
When you applaud nurses, teachers, or member of military for being 'heroic,' you make it more OK for them to be exploited.
'Bigger penises' & learning from our mistakes
Are male sex organs really 'getting bigger' over time? Also, a new study suggests we don't actually learn from all our mistakes.