If you heard our Parasites show, then you've heard the story of how one man--Jasper Lawrence--turned his passion for hookworms into a business (Jasper deliberately infected himself with hookworms to combat allergies and asthma: listen to the full story here, or you can catch it on
Radiolab got up early to appear on NPR’s Morning Edition.
After releasing our Parasites episode we wanted to share some gloriously gross parasite videos that served to inspire us and Carl Zimmer. We hope you enjoy them as much as we did. Thanks to Carl Zimmer for all of the parasitic help!
Hey everyone, Jad here. Times have been tough lately, for everyone, and public radio is no exception. I wonder if you could shake out the couch cushions and then make a pledge of support of… $10? $20? $75? Anything would help. If you like the show, help support us so ...
It is official!! Radiolab has joined the ranks of Twitter. You can hear us tweet here: http://twitter.com/wnycradiolab. We will keep you updated on what we are up to and reach out for story ideas.
Here's a little soundtrack to our tweets.
On the etymology of 'sardonic laughter', from Laughter: A Scientific Investigation by Robert Provine:
The term “sardonic laughter,” referring to the bitter, mocking laughter of derision, has a rich if dark etymology. The ancients who coined the term were referring to the humorless laughter and smiling produced by a ...
Some hard-working psychologists at the University of California, Santa Barbara found that although tickling generally elicits laughter, it’s not always funny or pleasant. Here’s an excerpt from a New York Times article about that study:
The basis for the newly published study is what is known as the ...
Around the world, millions are celebrating Charles Darwin's 200th birthday.
Radio Lab brings you the highlights:
New Haven: Yale's Peabody Museum is having birthday cake (and a letter from Darwin to once-Yale professor O.C. Marsh).
If you can't make it this afternoon, the Yale Center for British ...
Do you a story of a coincidence too crazy to be believed? We're looking for that chance story that leaves your mouth agape. The story of the time you took the wrong (identical) luggage from baggage claim only to find a business card inside with your same name on it! ...
Aristotle puzzled over the great mystery of why it’s impossible to tickle oneself. Turns out it’s quite simple, really. Here’s a brief explanation by British neuroscientist Sarah Blakemore that appeared in Scientific American:
“The answer lies at the back of the brain in an area called the cerebellum, ...
It was an action packed year in the Lab. With the release of Seasons 4 and 5, plus podcasts, our small staff of elves was busy in the workshop...but not too busy to take notice of all of the amazing things happening in the world. We thought we'd bring you ...
A neuroscientist at Stanford recently used an fMRI machine to peer into people’s brains while they watch cartoons, and found that men and women were responding differently.
Mrs. Murphy’s Manners for Women, a British how-to from 1897, has very particular ideas about the role of women’s laughter.
Much has been written about the alleged health benefits of laughter, but a new report takes it up a notch by claiming that the mere anticipation of laughter dramatically reduces stress hormones—which tempts me to lie and say that this article is really funny:
As you may already know, we are hard at work finishing up Season 5. But we can't finish it ourselves. After some intense jam sessions over the long weekend, Jad and Robert's death-metal side project has rendered them both mute! Don't worry they'll recover.
Back by popular demand, Radiolab's live performance goes on October 26th and 27th at the Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago, Illinois!
Aristotle thought babies became human beings only once they laughed for the first time. He also decided that this should happen around their 40th day. Conventional wisdom now puts it at about the 90th day—but we’re probably not as funny as the ancient Greeks.
Last summer we traveled to Tanzania in our Laughter show to investigate a 1962 epidemic of contagious laughter. Well, it turns out these sorts of episodes still happen, and not just with laughter.
“Laughter,” wrote Thomas Hobbes, “is nothing else but sudden glory arising from some sudden conception of some eminency in ourselves, by comparison with the infirmity of others, or with our own formerly.”
Yet another listener has sent in a youtube that makes us stop what we're doing and gather around ye olde computer screen to gaze upon its offerings. Darn you, Ross Bennett, for indulging our desire to procrastinate! You want to us to finish Season 5, don't you? Alas. This one's too good not to pass along.
