Johanna Mayer appears in the following:
COVID Questions, Introvert Origin
Friday, March 19, 2021
Some scientists are using social media to tackle COVID-19 myths and answer your questions. Plus, our understanding of psychology has evolved since Jung coined the term “introvert.”
Introvert: The Invention Of A Type
Tuesday, March 16, 2021
It all started with a falling out between two famous psychologists.
Mercury: How It Made Cats Dance
Tuesday, March 09, 2021
Mercury has captivated humanity for ages. But what happens when it invades a town?
Alcohol: History's Favorite Mind-Bending Substance
Tuesday, March 02, 2021
And the time the U.S. government went to unthinkable lengths to pry it away.
Robot: Making A Mechanical Mind
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
A mind we create isn’t necessarily a mind we can control.
Lunacy: Mind Control From The Sky
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
How an ancient belief in the mind-altering power of the moon gave us a word.
Mesmerize: The 18th Century Medical Craze Behind the Word
Tuesday, February 09, 2021
It all started when a doctor with some peculiar methods showed up in Paris.
Science Diction Returns For Season 3
Tuesday, February 02, 2021
Starting February 9, we’re back with more words and stories—all about mind control.
Christmas Bird Count, Black Birders Week, Science Diction: Vaccine
Friday, January 01, 2021
The annual Christmas Bird Count is still on—how the century-old community science project is guiding scientists. The origin of the word ‘vaccine’ stretches back to a disease and a cow.
Hydrox: How A Cookie Got A Name So Bad
Friday, October 16, 2020
Before Oreo, there was a nearly identical cookie on the market. A much-loved cookie with a terrible name.
How Did The ‘Cosmic Crisp’ Apple Get Its Name?
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
When it takes 20 years to develop a new apple, you better have a dazzling name to go with it.
SciFri Extra: After 20 Years, The ‘Cosmic Crisp’ Has Landed
Monday, September 21, 2020
How scientists developed a new apple, and how it got that flashy name.
Restaurant: How It All Began
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Before a restaurant was a place, it was a soup for fancy French people.
Umami: A Century Of Disbelief
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Why we’ve craved umami for ages, but denied its existence.
Guest Episode: Communal Eating With ‘Gastropod’
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
The science behind why sharing a meal means so much.
Rocky Road: Why It Sounds So Dang Delicious
Tuesday, August 04, 2020
How linguistic tricks can influence your choices at the freezer.
SciFri Extra: The Origin Of The Word 'Ketchup'
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
How a group of volunteers called the Poison Squad helped make ketchup “pure.”
Ketchup: A Fishy History
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
How a group of volunteers called the Poison Squad helped transform ketchup into the sauce we know and love today.
Science Diction Digs Into Food
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Over the next few weeks, we'll investigate the science, language, and history of food.
