A Wandering Mind, Song of the Humpback, Robocap

Today we discuss the science behind a wandering mind, the ins and outs of songs composed by humpback whales, and how an innovative new robotic capsule might help our digestive systems absorb drugs that aren’t as effective to take orally. 

A Wandering Mind

• “The science of a wandering mind” By Tim Vernimmen
  • https://knowablemagazine.org/article/mind/2022/science-wandering-mind
• “How Self-Generated Thought Shapes Mood—The Relation between Mind-Wandering and Mood Depends on the Socio-Temporal Content of Thoughts” by Florence J. M. Ruby, Jonathan Smallwood, Haakon Engen, and Tania Singer
  • https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0077554

Song of the Humpback

• “Humpback Whales Pass Their Songs Across Oceans” by Carl Zimmer
  • https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/30/science/humpback-whale-songs-cultural-evolution.html
• “Humpback Whales Almost 9,000 Miles Apart Have Been Caught Singing The Same Song” by Carly Casella
  • https://www.sciencealert.com/humpback-whales-almost-9000-miles-apart-have-been-caught-singing-the-same-song

Robocap

• “RoboCap – The Robotic Capsule Designed to Improve Drug Delivery in the Gut” by Sarah Whelan
  • https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/robocap-the-robotic-capsule-designed-to-improve-drug-delivery-in-the-gut-366073
• “RoboCap: Robotic mucus-clearing capsule for enhanced drug delivery in the gastrointestinal tract” by SHRIYA S. SRINIVASAN et al.
  • https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.abp9066
• “Tiny robotic pill RoboCap delivers drugs to guts and could end injections like insulin” by Nergis Firtina
  • https://interestingengineering.com/health/tiny-robotic-pill-robocap-drugs-guts
• “Human Insulin Injection” by MedLine Plus
  • https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682611.html

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Find episode transcripts here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/a-wandering-mind-song-of-the-humpback-robocap

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