Best Different Things Can Be Sad Podcasts (2024)

1
Young Germans are happier to be single (nowadays) 11:43

2d ago11:43

11:43

"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?By DW

1
Weekly roundup — Things just won't stop changing 30:00

7d ago30:00

30:00

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.By DW

1
Can you sing? And if so, does it have anything to do with lemurs? 8:35

7d ago8:35

8:35

Headlines implying human singing came from Madagascar... just aren't true. But lemurs are worth listening to.By DW

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Why do people ghost each other? 20:09

8d ago20:09

20:09

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.By DW

1
Weekly roundup — A cure for lower back pain (that might injure your legs) 30:00

17d ago30:00

30:00

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.By DW

1
Losing your job is worse for your health if you live in a different country 9:12

15d ago9:12

9:12

Why is it that migrants get physically unhealthier when they lose their jobs (compared to locals)? And can anything be done to stop it?By DW

1
Granola poop & a deserving victim 20:01

16d ago20:01

20:01

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.'By DW

1
Weekly roundup — Hold the door & filter your phone 30:00

21d ago30:00

30:00

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.By DW

1
Your body might not survive a trip to Mars 12:48

22d ago12:48

12:48

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?By DW

1
Where should you look during a video call? 20:34

22d ago20:34

20:34

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.By DW

1
'Hunger games' in the jungles of Panama 12:53

29d ago12:53

12:53

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.By DW

1
The vending machine experiment (or why you don't live in a tree) 30:00

1M ago30:00

30:00

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.By DW

1
What to do when your hair falls out 18:50

2M ago18:50

18:50

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.By DW

1
Weekly roundup — Make things & stay healthy 30:00

2M ago30:00

30:00

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.By DW

1
Drugs don't make you more creative 14:08

2M ago14:08

14:08

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.By DW

1
Scary microplastics news & how to eat during pregnancy 18:53

2M ago18:53

18:53

We all have microplastics inside our bodies. Until now, scientists weren't certain about the extent of the harm. Now they are.By DW

1
Weekly roundup — Mea culpa! 30:00

2M ago30:00

30:00

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 your life.By DW

1
Nurses & teachers suffer when you call them 'heroes' 13:37

2M ago13:37

13:37

When you applaud nurses, teachers, or member of military for being 'heroic,' you make it more OK for them to be exploited.By DW

1
'Bigger penises' & learning from our mistakes 17:48

2M ago17:48

17:48

Are male sex organs really 'getting bigger' over time? Also, a new study suggests we don't actually learn from all our mistakes.By DW

1
Weekly roundup — Around the rim 30:00

2M ago30:00

30:00

Gabe's voice undergoes an unexpected transformation, and why two people have been running around a 'wall of death' in Italy. Also, send your favorite SAD SONG to su@dw.com - and let us know why you listen to it?By DW

1
Your body image, ice baths & sad music 18:19

2M ago18:19

18:19

Unhappy with your body? Deleting Instagram may help (if you're a woman). Also, forget 'cold tubs' if you want bigger muscles — and why do we consume content that makes us sad?By DW

1
Avian flu, strangers & orgasms 18:39

3M ago18:39

18:39

How concerning is the spread of H5N1 from cows to humans? Also, random people know you better than you think, new research on why people make sounds during sex, and a listener... doesn't like a song we played.By DW

1
Weekly roundup — Let's talk (to a whale) 30:00

3M ago30:00

30:00

If we wanted to talk to a gigantic underwater animal, how would we do that? Also, lose weight... by making friends!By DW

1
Yes, songs are getting simpler, angrier & more about 'me' 13:52

3M ago13:52

13:52

Dear elderly people, you were right. Today's music isn't what it used to be. The interesting part is why.By DW

1
A (surprising) connection between bad eating & loneliness 16:10

3M ago16:10

16:10

If you're home alone on a Friday night, you might stuff your face full of chips, chocolate or candy. (Gabe and Conor do.) A study on brain activity shows it's not entirely your fault, though — and that there may be a way to solve it.By DW

1
Weekly roundup — In your head, your heart & your tummy 30:00

3M ago30:00

30:00

Angry? New research shows you can 'export' it and then destroy it! Also, make yourself healthier and happier... by being touched... by something!By DW

1
Please touch me (it's for my health) 12:34

3M ago12:34

12:34

Are we touching each other less? Probably. Does it matter? Very much. If you're missing physical contact, new research will make you feel better.By DW

1
Where do you feel music? 17:17

3M ago17:17

17:17

A good song resonates inside you. But the question is... where? Well, it depends — on 'surprise' and 'uncertainty.'By DW

1
Solar eclipse? Drive carefully. 12:08

4M ago12:08

12:08

There's a 30% increase in car deaths due to solar eclipses, and it's important to know why that happens.By DW

1
Weekly roundup — There's so much in this one we couldn't find a title 30:00

4M ago30:00

30:00

Frozen hands, subjective aging, understanding autism — this episode has a ton of science (and some angry YouTube comments).By DW

1
A vaccine for... cocaine? 7:02

4M ago7:02

7:02

Human trials are underway to stop cocaine addiction using vaccines. Do they work? And if so, how?By DW

1
Weekly roundup — Fat dogs & a new gender bias 30:00

4M ago30:00

30:00

If you're tempted to blame dog owners for their chunky animals... think twice. Also, should Gabe and Conor be perfectly informed on every study they talk about?By DW

1
Angry? Don't run. Just breathe. 14:09

4M ago14:09

14:09

We all have ways of dealing with anger. And most of them don't really work.By DW

1
You probably prefer studies that make women look better (and that's a problem) 17:57

4M ago17:57

17:57

When new research makes women look good, we tend to like it. When it makes men look good, we don't.By DW

1
Weekly roundup — Want the job? Be first 30:00

4M ago30:00

30:00

A quirk in human psychology has a big impact on your chances of getting a job, a date or winning a talent show. Also, Conor puts 'social norms erosion' research to the test — twice.By DW

1
A blood 'breathalyzer' for tired drivers 17:43

4M ago17:43

17:43

Exhaustion is almost as dangerous as driving drunk. And researchers might have found a way to prove who's doing it.By DW

1
Stop f***ing swearing & get some damn sleep 13:19

4M ago13:19

13:19

Did you notice? How the curse words above jolted your brain awake? That effect is real. Don't abuse it.By DW

1
Weekly roundup — Make yourself do things 30:00

4M ago30:00

30:00

You a procrastinator? (We are.) New research suggests an unexpected cause of that. Also, if you have a tough time confronting rule breakers in public (because who doesn't), a new study shows there's a way to do it right.By DW

1
How to stop people from playing loud music & videos on their phones 13:14

4M ago13:14

13:14

Ever heard someone scrolling TikTok or YouTube Shorts ? It's really annoying — and there's a way to stop it.By DW

1
The German man who got 200+ COVID vaccinations 20:05

4M ago20:05

20:05

Yes, he's real. And he was doing it (in part) to make money. But when doctors found out, they asked him to get jabbed a few times more.By DW

1
Weekly roundup — Dark waters 30:00

5M ago30:00

30:00

A listener email sends us deep into the lakes of Latvia — and to honor victims of genocide, it's important to talk about what it is, how it happens and who it happens to.By DW

1
Is it possible to reintegrate people who committed genocide? 16:20

5M ago16:20

16:20

If a close neighbor had committed horrific murders 30 years ago and was released back into your community, could you accept that? That they'd been rehabilitated? Researchers are trying to answer that question in Rwanda.By DW

1
Infectious empathy & a laptop with a nose 11:42

5M ago11:42

11:42

If someone had become more empathetic... how would you know? Also, people are willing to pay more for products that look and talk like humans — but only some products.By DW

1
Weekly roundup — Smell & anti-depressants 30:00

5M ago30:00

30:00

Powerful smells may mitigate severe depression, and a new study suggests regular erections can help against ED. Also, the fascinating reason humans built a gigantic wall close to a lake roughly 10,000 years ago.By DW

1
Scared of crime? Motion lights won't help 13:00

5M ago13:00

13:00

A new study using VR suggests the things that make neighborhoods safer… don't necessarily make us FEEL safer. (And for God's sake, close the garage door.)By DW

1
What is the Alaskapox virus? 15:38

5M ago15:38

15:38

Deep in a remote forest, a sick, elderly man got scratched by a stray cat — and likely died as a result.By DW

1
Weekly roundup — Understanding climate deniers (a little better) 30:00

5M ago30:00

30:00

Every third person thinks human-induced climate change — which is real and caused by us humans — is a fantasy. But if you think it's a psychological trick to drive SUVs or fly (guilt free), a new study suggests you're wrong.By DW

1
(Psst. Telling secrets is good for you.) 13:10

5M ago13:10

13:10

New research suggests we should divulge our secrets more often than we do. But how you do it matters. (Send secrets to su@dw.com)By DW

1
Why is new music so terrible? 18:43

5M ago18:43

18:43

Look, we know we sound like boomers — but there really is something wrong with mass-produced music today, and it's connected to the science of how humans perceive beats.By DW