Curiosity Theory

Dr. Dakotah Tyler & Justin Shaifer

A podcast about sharpening your curiosity through science, stories, and bold questions. With Astrophysicist Dr. Dakotah Tyler & STEM Educator Justin Shaifer. Support the podcast by subscribing to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CuriosityTheory

  1. -2 dias

    The Rocket Engines That Don't Burn Fuel | Dr. Naia Butler-Craig

    In this episode of Curiosity Theory, hosts Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer sit down with Dr. Naia Butler-Craig, a newly minted aerospace engineer and NASA electric propulsion researcher, for a conversation about rocket science, how we actually move through space, and where humans are headed next. The discussion moves from her path through grad school and into NASA to how electric propulsion works and why it beats chemical rockets on efficiency, what it would really take to get people to the Moon and Mars, and what living and working at the agency is like from the inside. Along the way, she breaks down what is happening inside a Krypton Hall effect thruster and why plasma, not combustion, is the future of deep space travel. The conversation also dives into why astrology is not astronomy, how to think about trust and misinformation in science, the engineering and people behind the missions we take for granted, and the surprising ways space tech is advancing medicine on Earth through Avatar tissue chips. It closes on the sci-fi and the curious childhood that set her on this path in the first place. Chapters 00:00:00 Intro and meeting Dr. Naia Butler-Craig  00:01:15 Her path into NASA and life inside the agency  00:11:43 Electric propulsion vs chemical rockets explained  00:17:23 Getting humans to the Moon and Mars  00:24:04 Why astrology is not astronomy  00:31:50 Trust, misinformation, and relying on science  00:37:00 Is NASA still competent? The engineering behind spaceflight  00:46:01 Avatar chips: how space tech advances medicine  00:58:50 How sci-fi and a curious childhood shaped her  01:03:34 Inside a Krypton Hall effect thruster  01:11:37 Where to find Naia and final thoughts Follow us  @curiositytheorypod  @dr.starkid  @mr.fascinate Guests  Dr. Naia Butler-Craig Visit our Merch Store  https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/merch Join our Patreon  / curiositytheory

    1 h 12 min

  2. 8/06

    What Dark Matter Actually Is | KeShawn Ivory (dark.mattering)

    In this episode of Curiosity Theory, hosts Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer sit down with KeShawn Ivory, a soon-to-be PhD astrophysicist who studies the large-scale structure of the universe, for a deep conversation about dark matter, cosmology, and the invisible stuff that holds the universe together. The discussion moves from what dark matter actually is to how the universe became clumpy and lumpy instead of smooth, why the first atoms appeared minutes after the Big Bang, and how primordial black holes (a mountain's worth of mass packed into the size of a proton) became one of the more compelling candidates for what dark matter might be. Along the way, they get into how scientists detect something they can't see, what counts as evidence, and how scientific consensus actually moves. The conversation also dives into the hunt for dark matter through detection experiments, the role of skepticism in good science, what it means to know something, and KeShawn's favorite idea of all: that dark matter works as a framework for any force that is deeply impactful but hard to see, from race and systemic disparities in sociology to genomic dark matter in biology and trauma in art. Chapters 00:00:00 Intro and meeting KeShawn Ivory 00:02:30 The PhD as a credential and the path to science communication 00:08:55 What dark matter actually is 00:10:00 Why the universe is clumpy: large-scale structure 00:11:30 The early universe and the first atoms 00:20:30 The cosmic microwave background and the universe's baby picture 00:30:00 How we know dark matter is really there 00:33:30 Primordial black holes as a dark matter candidate 00:40:00 Dark stars and other exotic candidates 00:47:40 Healthy skepticism and how scientific consensus moves 00:53:00 Science, truth, and what it means to know something 00:59:00 The hunt for dark matter: WIMPs, axions, and detectors 01:08:00 How theory predicts the particles we look for 01:17:50 Astrosociology: dark matter as a lens on race and systemic forces 01:24:10 Dark matter as a storytelling tool in biology and art 01:26:18 Where to find Kishan and Black Space Week Follow us @curiositytheorypod @dr.starkid @mr.fascinate Guests Kishan Ivory (Dark Mattering) Visit our Merch Store https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/merch Join our Patreon / curiositytheory If you enjoy the conversation, subscribe and share Curiosity Theory with someone who's curious about the universe.

    1 h 28 min

  3. 1/06

    Curiosity and Why Old Ideas Have To Die

    Dakotah and Justin revisit the original idea behind Curiosity Theory: curiosity as a North Star. That quickly turns into an argument over whether wanting to know what is in someone’s fridge counts as curiosity or just being nosy. The conversation eventually gets more serious. They talk about the courage required to question beliefs, why scientific progress often threatens ideas people consider sacred, and the difference between an old belief being useful and actually understanding why it works. Then they get into aging, genetic engineering, designer babies, and immortality. If we eventually learn how to extend human life dramatically, who gets access first? And would society become better, or would the most powerful people simply hold power for even longer? Visit our Merch Store https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/merch Join our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/CuriosityTheory Follow the show @curiositytheorypod Hosted by Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer Stay curious.

    1 h 9 min

  4. 21/05

    Stay Curious and Eat Your Grits & Eggs | Deante Kyle

    In this collaboration episode of Curiosity Theory and Grits & Eggs Podcast, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer sit down with Deante Kyle and Big Ice Kup Kat for an unfiltered conversation about AI, capitalism, social media, internet culture, and the future of humanity. They discuss the rise of artificial intelligence, billionaires and wealth inequality, the psychology of social media addiction, and whether modern technology is actually improving human life. The conversation also dives into online culture, work, relationships, movies, internet misinformation, and the increasingly strange direction society seems to be heading. This episode is more explicit and unfiltered than a typical Curiosity Theory episode, but we wanted the conversation to remain authentic and uncensored. Visit our Merch Store https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/merch Join our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/CuriosityTheory Follow the show @curiositytheorypod Hosted by Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer Stay curious.

    1 h 33 min

  5. 12/05

    Space Is Bigger Than Your Brain Can Handle | Epic Spaceman

    Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer sit down with Toby from Epic Spaceman, the YouTube creator known for using cinematic animations to make the scale of the universe easier to understand. They talk about cosmic scale, visual storytelling, interstellar travel, whether future humans would still be human, what telescopes actually see when we look at stars, Betelgeuse going supernova, why UFOs are probably not alien spacecraft, and where microbial life might exist in our own solar system. Visit our Merch Store  https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/merch Join our Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/c/CuriosityTheory Follow the show @curiositytheorypod Hosted by Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer Stay curious.

    1 h 19 min

  6. 6/05

    The Media Literacy Crisis Is Crisis-ing

    Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer talk through media literacy, scientific literacy, and why people can watch the same piece of content and walk away with completely different interpretations. They discuss misunderstood clips, fluoride and the naturalistic fallacy, AI water usage, statistics without context, confirmation bias, AI-generated media, satire, comment sections, and why curiosity has to include the ability to slow down and ask what is actually being said. Visit our Merch Store  https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/merch Join our Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/c/CuriosityTheory Follow the show @curiositytheorypod Hosted by Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer Stay curious.

    1 h 16 min

  7. 30/04

    Can We Outgrow Human Nature? | Maynard Okereke (hiphopscienceshow)

    In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer sit down with Maynard Okereke, also known as Hip Hop MD, for a deep conversation about the future of humanity, evolution, and the idea of starting a new civilization from scratch. They explore how human behavior is shaped by evolution, whether traits like competition and greed can ever be removed, and what it would take to build a better society on a new planet. The discussion also dives into genetic engineering, space colonization, and the philosophical implications of immortality. Along the way, they tackle big questions about identity, meaning, and whether humanity could ever outgrow its own nature. Visit our Merch Store https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/merch Join our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/CuriosityTheory Follow the show @curiositytheorypod Hosted by Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer Stay curious.

    1 h 19 min

  8. 23/04

    Rethinking Human Uniqueness | Forrest Valkai

    In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer sit down with biologist Forrest Valkai, also known as the Renegade Science Teacher, to explore evolution, intelligence, and what it really means to be human. They discuss how evolution shapes life on Earth, from whales evolving from land mammals to humans’ place within the broader tree of life. The conversation challenges the idea that humans are uniquely special, exploring intelligence, communication, and behavior across species. They also dive into science communication, misinformation, and how we actually measure learning in the modern content landscape, along with deeper questions about culture, biology, and meaning. Visit our Merch Store https://www.curiositytheorypod.com/merch Join our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/CuriosityTheory Follow the show @curiositytheorypod Hosted by Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer Stay curious.

    1 h 36 min
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Excerto

Sobre

A podcast about sharpening your curiosity through science, stories, and bold questions. With Astrophysicist Dr. Dakotah Tyler & STEM Educator Justin Shaifer. Support the podcast by subscribing to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CuriosityTheory

Informação

  • Autoria
    Dr. Dakotah Tyler & Justin Shaifer
  • Anos em atividade
    2025 - 2026
  • Episódios
    63
  • Classificação
    Explícito
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Curiosity Theory
  • Site do programa
    Curiosity Theory

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