logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2019
3m 48s

Your Skull Shapes Your Hearing

Scientific American
About this episode
The resonant properties of your skull can amplify some frequencies and dampen others—and, in some cases, affect your hearing. Christopher Intagliata reports.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
Up next
Sep 14
From 9/11’s lasting legacy to AI’s disruptive future
In this episode of Science Quickly, we explore newly released 9/11 records and their revelations about the attacks’ lasting health impacts, unpack a controversial artificial intelligence breakthrough that solved one of mathematics’ biggest problems and examine the growing backlas ... Show More
12m 39s
Sep 11
Is AI making us less human?
Can an artificial intelligence really be a friend? In this episode of Science Quickly, Scientific American books and culture lead Bri Kane sits down with Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher Sherry Turkle to discuss the rise of AI chatbots and their effect on human co ... Show More
26m 25s
Sep 9
The surprising science of friendship
Friendships are key to our well-being, but what kind of friendships do we really want? Despite being such a foundational part of the human experience, the science of friendship is still mysterious. Assistant professor of psychology Jessica Ayers is trying to fill in the blanks. W ... Show More
17m 56s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2022
How our brain makes sense of a noisy world, with Nina Kraus, PhD
Our life experiences shape the way that our brain processes sound, and sound is deeply intertwined with everything from our ability to read to our cognitive health as we age. Dr. Nina Kraus, of Northwestern University, talks about why we undervalue our sense of hearing; why music ... Show More
34m 40s
Jul 2023
What That Jazz Beat Tells Us about Hearing and The Brain
Very small delays in swing jazz point to our evolution as a supremely auditory species. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
13m 55s
Dec 2022
The Power of Sound
Close your eyes and just listen. Even if you aren’t actively thinking about the noises happening around you, your brain is constantly processing sound. That’s because, unlike your eyes, your ears never close. In fact, Northwestern neurobiology professor Nina Kraus, says listening ... Show More
30m 9s
Dec 2018
BrainStuff Classics: Is There A Noise Loud Enough To Kill You?
You've probably experienced a noise loud enough that it hurt your ears, but could a noise be so loud that it could actually kill you? Spoiler alert: Yes. Learn more in today's episode of BrainStuff. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnys ... Show More
4m 45s
Mar 2022
Making Sense: How sound becomes hearing
In the same way optical illusions trick our eyes, audio illusions can trick our ears. This raises a fundamental question: What is hearing, and how much of it is made up by our brains? This is the first episode of our new six-part series, Making Sense. You can find more of Diana D ... Show More
40m 14s
Dec 2021
Concussions: How A Mild Brain Injury Can Alter Our Perception Of Sound
Headaches, nausea, dizziness, and confusion are among the most common symptoms of a concussion. But researchers say a blow to the head can also make it hard to understand speech in a noisy room. Emily Kwong chats with science correspondent Jon Hamilton about concussions and how u ... Show More
12m 54s
Oct 2022
The "Mother Earth Frequency": The Sound Driving Some People Crazy
Can YOU hear the secret sound of the Mother Earth Frequency? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
47m 12s
Aug 2023
Hearing Aids Stave Off Cognitive Decline
Hearing aids may help maintain better brain functions in older people and better health overall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
13m 33s
Jun 2022
Relearning Boléro: How our brains rewrite the sounds we hear
In the same way that optical illusions can trick our eyes, auditory illusions can trick our ears. This raises a serious question: what is hearing, and how much of it is actually made up by our brains? In this story from the Unexplainable podcast, we explore how our brains create ... Show More
38m 7s