Lots of research has tried to break down how music toys with the emotions of any audience, but have you ever thought about how music makes the musicians playing it feel? A group of researchers from Italy recently noticed this gap in the science and decided to answer it. They found that when violinists play more emotional pieces, their bow movements are rougher. Nicola di Stefano, the cognitive scientist who led the study, thinks that this effect might come from musicians reacting strongly to the emotions in the pieces they play. He suggests that psychological pressure is the root cause. Professional violinist Curtis Macomber, though, doesn't see these results echoed in reality. He thinks of emotion as an overwhelmingly positive tool in his arsenal, something that makes his playing better, rather than worse. While Nicola and his team found that emotions can hamper a violinist, Curt actually looks forward to encountering them. Listen in as we dive into how playing emotional pieces affects musicians. Music: • Bach - Prelude and Fugue in C minor - BWV 847 - The Well-Tempered Clavier, No. 2 - Arranged for Strings [Gregor Quendel | Free Music Archive] • Mozart - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik / Serenade No. 13 - KV 525.mp3 [Gregor Quendel | Free Music Archive] • György Kurtág - Kafka Fragmente op. 24 [Divertimento Ensemble]

Have you ever wanted to take a trip to the Arctic? Every year, tourists from around the world make their way to the region. But the ships carrying these tourists bring an invisible pollutant with them — one that’s impossible to see and impossible to ignore: noise. How does this unseen phenomenon affect animals that call the Arctic home? And what role do even the most environmentally conscious travelers play in this story? Researchers and cruise industry officials are working to uncover the answers. Join us as we dive into this noisy crisis and hear from the experts navigating its challenges — and exploring ways to protect the Arctic’s pristine, icy wilderness. Check the associated article on Scienceline.org Music: "Cold Summers", "Digital Compass", "Arctic Draba" by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0

It’s no secret that rivers winding through major cities have been reshaped by human hands. Where wildlife and marshes once existed, gray sidewalks and bleak straight-lined tributaries have blossomed. Now, some cities are implementing floating wetlands — native plant life on a body of biodegradable materials that bobs on top of the water — to address a budding desire to see animals and greenery return to their rivers.  In this podcast episode, Jenaye Johnson speaks with scientists and community members in Chicago about the Wild Mile — the city's biggest floating wetland to date. Join her as she winds down the Chicago River, explores the wetlands and discusses the future of new animal habitats and clean water in our urban spaces. And check out the associated article on Scienceline: https://scienceline.org/2024/06/wilding-city-rivers/ Music used: "Glue&Glia" by Rah Hite | CC BY 4.0 "Floating Wetlands" by Rah Hite | CC BY 4.0 "Lo Margin" by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0 "The Maison" by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0

Meet the newest robotic police officer in town: the Knightscope K5. This “Robocop” completed a two month trial period in New York City’s Times Square subway station from September to November of 2023, recording video and monitoring the station. But despite city officials promising its safety, people were understandably nervous about a robotic police officer.  The robot’s trial period has ended and the K5 will not be re-entering the subway system, but it still serves as an important window to the future of robots integrating into our society.  In this podcast Kohava Mendelsohn talks to experts, does some research and even ventures forth to visit the K5 herself in order to answer the important questions: What was this robotic cop? What could it actually do? And how worried should we be about it? And check out the article on Scienceline: https://scienceline.org/2024/04/nyc-robocop/ MUSIC: "Tall Journey" by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0  "Turning to You" by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0  "The Gran Dias" by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0  "Pewter Lamp" by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0

Boredom under COVID quarantine led many to pursue some strange side hobby, but for 24 mathematicians and artists, it resulted in Mathemalchemy — a collective of mathematically (aesthetically, too) charming pieces of art — from cryptographic quilts, huge parabolas of embroidered spheres, crochet theta curves caught in fishing nets, and murals of OctoPi, seen generating various wave-related equations per every water ripple. For the “Mathemalchemists,” their project is a lively, whimsical invitation into the world of mathematics, made for an audience of all ages and interests. The goal is to illustrate how math can be fun — not something schools force you to do, but something that leaves you inspired. So, how did this project come to be? What makes Mathemalchemy so special, both for the Mathemalchemists and anyone that comes across the exhibition? In this podcast, Gayoung Lee goes behind the scenes of Mathemalchemy with co-founders Ingrid Daubechies and Dominique Ehrmann, in addition to Mathemalchemists Jessica Sklar, Elizabeth Paley and Carolyn Yackel. MUSIC: “Pglet Into” by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0  “The Gran Dias” by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0  “Spring Cleaning” by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0

Oysters have been a New York City culinary staple for centuries. Hundreds of years ago, when the Indigenous Lenape people lived in the region prior to European colonization, the harbor teemed with shellfish. But by the early 20th century, pollution, urban development and overharvesting erased nearly 350 square miles of oyster beds. Fast forward to the present, and a nonprofit is now working to revive the once-mighty bivalve. The Billion Oyster Project started seeding the harbor with oysters in 2010 to improve water quality, increase marine biodiversity and boost shoreline protection. Its efforts have been successful: The group is on track to meet its one-billion oyster goal by 2035. In October, Timmy Broderick spent an afternoon measuring oysters with other New Yorkers to learn more about the project and the harbor’s marine life.

When you imagine a dam, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s the hulking concrete wall of the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River or the Grand Coulee on the Columbia. Large barriers on large rivers, looming large on the horizon. But colossal structures like these make up only a fraction of the dams that chop up waterways across the United States. The nation’s rivers, streams and brooks are full of smaller dams — many of which aren’t monitored at the state or national level. And even though they’re small, these barriers can alter aquatic habitats and cause trouble for the species that live there. In this podcast, Madison Goldberg speaks with scientists about the issue and goes on a dam hunt of her own. Also find the full story on Scienceline's website: https://scienceline.org/2023/02/on-the-hunt-for-hidden-dams/#dropdown-box-1 Music used: “Tower of Mirrors” by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0 “Copley Beat” by Blue Dot Sessions | CC BY-NC 4.0

Growing up in Houston, Marina Watowich was no stranger to hurricane seasons. This familiarity now drives Watowich’s research in genomics, where she seeks to understand how the environment affects the aging process. She isn’t studying aging in humans — but in a unique population of monkeys in Puerto Rico. These monkeys live on an isolated island off Puerto Rico and give researchers unique access and insights into monkey genetics. In 2017, Hurricane Maria walloped Puerto Rico and tore down trees on the island where the monkeys live. After the storm, Watowich and colleagues discovered the primate survivors aged rapidly, findings that have implications for human aging after natural disasters. Scienceline reporter Hannah Loss speaks with Watowich on her journey to uncover the aftermath of hurricanes on aging. Also find the full story on Scienceline's website: https://scienceline.org/2022/08/aging-primates/ Sounds used: Cyclone Hurricane Hugo 1989 by solostud | CC BY 3.0 Dj0287 via The Weather Channel Tetana Adkins Mace via NBC News Sloan's TV Airchive via KHOU TV Cayo Santiago monkey sounds courtesy of Noah Snyder-Mackler

Chimpanzees are nearing extinction in many countries. Of the four subspecies of these great apes, western chimpanzees are the most endangered. Experts estimate that their distribution is now extremely patchy, with 80% of their numbers having declined in the last 20 years. The largest-remaining population is found in the Ivory Coast in Western Africa, with smaller populations in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Liberia.  Poaching and habitat loss are some of the well-known threats to chimpanzees. But a study published last September finds that road developments are exacerbating their population decline. Noise pollution emanating from the construction of roads and poachers gaining access to more remote locations are some of the reasons to blame. A team of primate conservationists have quantified the extent to which roads jeopardize their communities. They say that just about 4.5% of the chimp population are left unaffected by roads.  On this episode of the Scienceline podcast, reporter Niranjana Rajalakshmi speaks with primate behavior experts who suggest a few strategies that could mitigate the impact of roads on western chimpanzees.  Find more information at Scienceline.org

Thinking about climate change can be overwhelming, even paralyzing. Attempting to solve this global crisis will take enormous efforts by politicians, companies and local leaders to reverse the negative effects on our planet.  On this global stage, where can artistic expression fit into our response and communication efforts? Enter climate change theater — an effort by playwrights, educators and scientists to spread information and awareness about the impacts of human behavior on the environment. While filled with serious themes of melting ice caps and polluted waterways, these plays also offer hope for a positive future. Join Scienceline reporter Hannah Loss on a trip up the Hudson Valley as she experiences a global series of storytelling and live performances organized by Climate Change Theatre Action. You can read more on our website: https://scienceline.org/2022/03/climate-change-on-the-global-stage/ Music: Bedtime Story for My (future) Daughter by Caity-Shea Violette, performed by Hudson River Playback Theatre The Oysters, by Miranda Rose Hall, performed by Andrew Brehm, Eric Magnus and Liz Zito

What do Tiger Woods, Michelle Williams and President Joe Biden all have in common? Like around 3 million people in the United States, they are all people who stutter. Stuttering commonly develops around childhood and most people stop stuttering by the time they reach adulthood. However, stuttering persists for some adults and researchers haven’t been able to figure out why. But findings from a recent study may get them one step closer to finding out: Adults don’t stutter when they talk alone. Join Scienceline reporter Kharishar Kahfi as he learns more about the communication disorder and what the new discovery adds to the field of stuttering research. You can read more on our website: https://scienceline.org/2022/03/do-stutterers-always-stutter-not-really/ Music: Thinking Music by Kevin MacLeod | Filmmusic.io Standard License Western Streets by Kevin MacLeod | Filmmusic.io Standard License Sound effect: Phone Ringing by acclivity | CC BY 3.0

The Central Park Running Club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 in the morning. Not much stops them from starting their days together with an early morning jaunt through the park — not cold, not rain and not even January’s big snowstorm.  What’s so special about exercising together that it gets these intrepid Central Park runners out of bed and onto the road each week? In this episode of the Scienceline podcast, Emily talks to runners, a neuroscientist and a health psychologist to find out.  Find more information at Scienceline.org: https://scienceline.org/2022/02/what-we-gain-by-exercising-together/ Music:  Springtime After a Long Winter by Azovmusic | End-User License Agreement Sound Effects: Guitar: Alexander Nakarada | CC BY 4.0

The Republic of Tuva, located in the Russian Federation, is known across the world for its music. If you’ve ever heard Tuvan vocalists sing, you’ll understand why. A piercing whistle hovers over a deep, buzzing drone — two very different sounds coming from the same singer’s vocal tract as he harmonizes with himself. So how do these master vocalists sing two notes at once? The answer lies in the most fundamental principles of sound. And in theory, anyone can learn to do it.  On this episode of the Scienceline podcast, experience the captivating beauty of Tuvan throat singing and the physics that makes it possible. You can find more information on Scienceline: https://scienceline.org/2022/02/how-tuvan-vocalists-sing-two-notes-at-once/ Effects: Acoustic data from Bergevin et al. (2020) | Used with permission Music: ”My Throat” by Alash | Used with permission ”Karachal” by Alash | Used with permission

Sometimes, being a “material girl” comes with a downside. An endless cycle of fashion trends doesn’t only weigh on your wallet; it takes a toll on the planet too. In 2020, the fashion industry accounted for 10% of the world’s carbon emissions, which is more than the oceanic shipping and international flight industries combined. If current practices continue undeterred, experts predict emissions will only increase. Just like the larger issue of climate change, the path to fixing the fashion industry is disagreed upon. The good news? There are personal changes you can make to your shopping habits and potential policy changes that could help. Scienceline reporter Maiya Focht dives deeper into the fast fashion industry, giving you an overview of the most important trend: caring for the environment. More information on Scienceline.org: https://scienceline.org/2022/02/fighting-fast-fashion/ MUSIC USED IN ORDER: Dark Fog by Kevin MacLeod | Filmmusic.io standard license Raving Energy by Kevin MacLeod | Filmmusic.io standard license Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod | Filmmusic.io standard license SOUND EFFECTS Newscast waterfall: Vice News Teen Vogue DW Documentary MTV Impact CBS News Trend waterfall: Sisters Forever Kerina Wang Model Mouth Katelyn Dewitt Laini Ozark

Have you ever wondered how the universe will end? Chances are that the answer is “yes”;  humans tend to have an innate curiosity when it comes to morbid questions. Scientists, of course, are no different. Cosmologists have pondered the ultimate fate of the universe, and many have converged on a theory: the “heat death of the universe,” also known as the “Big Freeze.” The Big Freeze theory suggests that, one day, all the energy in the universe will become evenly distributed, preventing any further action from occurring. In other words, the entire universe will essentially “freeze” into place. To learn more about this theory and the science behind it, Scienceline’s Daniel Leonard sat down with a postdoctoral researcher in cosmology (plus another special guest). Listen to what he discovered below. Read more at Scienceline.org: https://scienceline.org/2022/02/the-icy-fate-of-the-universe/ Music: Solstice by Ross Budgen | CC by 4.0 Art of Silence by Uniq | CC by 4.0 Sound Effects: Robert Frost’s “Fire and Ice,” read for Librivox by Alan Davis Drake | Public Domain Mark 1.0 Gong: Under the Home | CC0 1.0 Splash: lwdickens | CC0 1.0 Wind: Sound Effect Database | CC by 4.0

Today, many charcuterie boards, servings of buffalo chicken and cobb salads feature blue cheese and possibly even a glass of beer. New evidence shows that humans’ taste for a cheese flavored by fungi may have begun as early as 800 B.C. The Hallstatt salt mines in the Eastern Alps preserved excrement left behind by the workers who extracted salt from underground. Last year, researchers analyzed molecules on four samples of paleofeces, or very old human poop, and found evidence of blue cheese and pale ale consumption as early as the Iron Age nearly 3,000 years ago. Join Scienceline reporter Delaney Dryfoos on a foray to unearth the dietary habits of European salt miners from the Bronze Age to the Baroque era. You can also listen to this episode of the Scienceline podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. Music: Krainer Waltz - Traditional Austrian and Slovenian Music by JuliusH | Pixabay License

Like many other volunteers, Brooklyn resident Hailee got involved with feral cat care by accident. After seeing cats in need around her neighborhood, she adopted some, found veterinary resources for others and joined a community of cat-savvy neighbors. Throughout New York City a network of volunteers and professionals are working to compassionately reduce feral cat populations. “In 2003, only 25% of animals who came into the shelters got out alive… now what the industry calls the live release rate has been consistently over 90% for the past few years,” says Kathleen O’Malley, director of community cat education for the non-profit organization Bideawee. Armed with humane traps, spay and neuter procedures, cat food and warm shelters, cat lovers have helped lower numbers of feral cats while keeping them safe at the same time. Join Scienceline reporter Tatum McConnell as she learns more about managing feral cats in New York City. You can listen to this episode of the Scienceline podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. Music: Hardboiled by Kevin MacLeod | Filmmusic.io Standard License Shades of Spring by Kevin MacLeod | Filmmusic.io Standard License Modern Jazz Samba by Kevin MacLeod | Filmmusic.io Standard License Sound effects: Footsteps in Street Woman by Stevious42 | CC BY 3.0 Cat Meow2 by steffcaffrey | CC0 1.0 Typing on a keyboard by SamsterBirdies | CC0 1.0 Cat Meow3 by steffcaffrey | CC0 1.0

If you’re a parent, you might have the opinion that video games are a waste of time. But the U.S. Department of State, educators and other experts think that gaming might actually be the best way to engage students — especially during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic — on important issues, like where the food we eat comes from and how agriculture can impact climate change. By using Farmcraft, a tweaked version of the popular game Minecraft that focuses on modern farming practices, students from around the world were able to compete in teams to see who could build the best farm. The next round of competition starts in February! Join Scienceline reporter Deborah Balthazar on a trip to the virtual farm. You can also listen to this episode of the Scienceline podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. Music: Dreiton from Minecraft Volume Beta by Daniel Rosenfield (c418) | Used with Permission Farmcraft Theme by North America Scholastic Esports Federation | Used with Permission Adventures in Adventureland by Kevin Macleod | Filmmusic.io Standard License Hillbilly Swing by Kevin Macleod | Filmmusic.io Standard License Sound effects: Surprise - Animal Crossing: New Horizons | Nintendo content guidelines Minecraft Sound Attributions

Right in the heart of New York City is the East River, separating Manhattan and the Bronx from Brooklyn, Queens and the suburbia of Long Island. For many New Yorkers, the river is just water running under the many bridges they cross over during their daily commute.  But before the confluence of the Hudson River and the harbor became New York City, the East River was home to a diversity of wildlife including fish, oysters and whales.  What would it take to reincarnate this lost ecosystem of New York City’s central body of water? In this episode of the Scienceline podcast, we try to find the answer. For more information about this episode, please visit: https://scienceline.org/2021/04/the-lost-and-future-wildlife-of-new-york-citys-east-river Photo: New York City’s East River is lined by numerous green spaces and parks, including Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn and the East River Esplanade in Manhattan. [Credit: Ingfbruno | CC BY-SA 3.0] Music: Waltz in B Minor, Op. 69 no. 2 by Olga Gurevich | Public Domain Mark 1.0 Fairy Chant - Elven Song - Epic Music & Vocals by Julius H | Pixabay License Sound Effects: Whale: davidou | CC0 1.0 Birds: hargissssound | CC0 1.0 Woodpecker: shelf_employed | CC BY 3.0 Owl: shelf_employed | CC BY 3.0 Frogs: sweetjuniper | CC0 1.0 River: CastleofSamples | CC BY 3.0

In the last few decades, the study of exoplanets — planets outside our solar system — has exploded. Since the first one was spotted in 1992, scientists have found thousands of different exoplanets in their own unique systems, each of which has told us something new about the cosmos. Hidden among planets made of diamond and systems that we didn’t think could exist is a wealth of scientific information. To the people that study these strange celestial bodies, finding a “weird one” is a sign that there are still questions to be answered and cosmic investigation to be done. And they are more than ready to start investigating. Photo: An artist’s interpretation of the K2-138 system. When they were discovered, these exoplanets gave scientists a window into how planets form when nothing interrupts the process. [Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC) | Public Domain] Music: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music https://pixabay.com/music/ SYSTEM Sounds (M. Russo, A. Santaguida) For more information about this episode, please visit: https://scienceline.org/2021/02/oddities-of-outer-space/