Are we the problematic generation?In this episode of Curiosity Theory, astrophysicist Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@dr.starkid) and STEM educator and media producer Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) unpack how fast culture is shifting, why kids see Justin as “unk,” how generational labels get created, and whether Justin’s TEDx talk helped cement the term “Gen Z.”Topics include:• How social media has created five-year “micro generations” • Young people using AI as an operating system • Whether an algorithm could make better decisions than human leaders • Dolphin communication, Zipf’s Law, and overlooked animal intelligence • How future generations might judge factory farming and eating animals • Plant and fungal networks and whether societies behave like living systemsVisit our Merch Store:https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/merchJoin our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/CuriosityTheoryFollow the hosts: Dr. Dakotah — @dr.starkid Justin — @mr.fascinate Show — @curiositytheorypod
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You've Been Lied To About Social Media Detoxing
This week on Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@dr.starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) break down a new research study showing that taking a break from social media does not reliably improve or worsen mental health.They dig into why detox narratives are so popular, the placebo and expectation effects behind “feeling better,” and the actual psychological mechanisms affecting mood, anxiety, and attention online. They also unpack dopamine myths, algorithm design, comparison culture, and how to build a healthier digital relationship grounded in evidence, not trends.Support Curiosity Theory by:Joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CuriosityTheoryVisiting our merch store: https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/merchFollow the show: @curiositytheorypod Hosted by Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer
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A Universe Filled with Life & Waves
On this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@dr.starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) take you on a tour from ancient Mars to spiral galaxies to the trends moving through your social feeds.We start with new NASA results and the possibility of life on Mars, unpack what counts as a real biosignature, and dig into ideas like panspermia and endosymbiosis to explain how life might start and how complex cells evolved.Then we zoom out and connect the dots:Why most life in the universe is probably microbialHow MRI and quantum spin actually work in practiceHow Starlink and satellite constellations mess with astronomy and reshape low Earth orbitHow waves show up in oceans, galaxies, and even culture, as ideas move through people like physical waves move through matterIt is big picture, nerdy, practical, and philosophical all at once.Follow us on socials: @curiositytheorypod, @dr.starkid, @mr.fascinate Hosted by Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer.Stay curious
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Rebuilding the Human Body w/ Suh the Scholar, Ph.D.
This week on Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@dr.starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) sit down with Suh the Scholar (@suhthescholar) — a PhD stem-cell scientist — for a deep, funny, and inspiring conversation about the future of human biology.They explore stem-cell breakthroughs, the ethics of replacing body parts, and whether open-sourcing scientific knowledge could accelerate discovery for everyone. They also dig into creativity in STEM, identity, and how curiosity connects science with culture.To support the show:Visit our merch store: https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/merchJoin our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CuriosityTheoryFollow on socials: @curiositytheorypodHosted by Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer
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Don't Trust the Experts: The War on Science
This week on Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@dr.starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) unpack the rise of anti-intellectualism and the cultural war on science. From misinformation to AI ethics, they explore why people are losing trust in experts and sci-fi stories like Foundation and Alien Earth.Join our patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/CuriosityTheoryFollow on socials: @curiositytheorypod
A podcast about sharpening your curiosity through science, stories, and bold questions. With Astrophysicist Dr. Dakotah Tyler & STEM Educator Justin Shaifer.Support the podcast by subscribing to our Patreon or visiting our Merch Store:Curiosity Theory Merch Store: https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/storeJoin our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CuriosityTheory
South Africa