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.
Don't text & drive (especially during a full moon)
Quiz time: How could a full moon make roads more dangerous? (Email su@dw.com with your guess before you listen.) Also, teens (like all of us) use their phones while driving — and a jarring new study tells us how much.
Can we hit ‘pause’ on a human embryo?
Scientists in Berlin have shown you can stop the development of an embryo-like model - *NO HUMAN EMBYROS WERE USED IN THE EXPERIMENT* - and keep it alive to be developed later. The implications could be huge for IVF.
This is what a fake podcast sounds like
If a show made by AI sounds as good as one made by humans... what happens next?
Want the job? Post a 'Duchenne' smile
Fake smiles aren't just bad for Instagram. They're bad for your reputation. That's the implication of a new study — with clear consequences for LinkedIn... and maybe your life? (Also, come with us to see Europe's 'answer to ChatGPT.')
Assert yourself (especially if your partner drinks)
Alcohol? Bad for us. But a fascinating new study looks at what happens to person who's watching the drinking happen. Also, college kids in Egypt saw their depression/anxiey/stress drop... by getting a crash course on 'assertiveness.'
Cat-eating conspiracies & a heartless bot to stop them
Fresh off the birth of a brand-new conspiracy, researchers have unveiled a 'soulless' new tool to stop us from becoming victims of half-truths and full-blown lies.
Weekly roundup — Waves in the dark
An email from a miner, scary sounds in outer space, and a powerful magnet aimed at 50 human heads.
A dyslexia breakthrough
With the help of a powerful MRI, researchers in Germany have discovered where dyslexia appears to happen deep inside the human brain (in males). The peppercorn-sized structure may become the target of therapies for millions of people.
When you look in the mirror, does your face match your name?
A new study suggests your appearance 'drifts' as you age — back toward the name you were given at birth.
Weekly roundup — My phone can smell things?
Ever take out your phone to identify a song that's playing near you? Pretty soon, you'll be able to do the same with smells. Also, fruit flies may have just given scientists the secret to happy hour.