Episode 104: July 2026

Chapters

1. 0:40

   The cost of bulk and brawn

   Reduced sperm competition in gorillas has led to a relaxed selection on male reproductive genes.
   
2. 5:35

   The hidden pull of arcades

   Reward-linked sounds and images can encourage riskier decisions by reducing sensitivity to losses.
   
3. 13:01

   Feel the beat

   Babies are born able to listen to music and respond to it, but their ability to move to it only develops around 12 months.
   
4. 21:09

   Built for thin air

   Birds living in tropical mountains appear to adapt to high elevations by modifying their eggshells to reduce water loss during development.
   
5. 25:32

   Why fever makes malaria stick

   Fever-like temperatures make malaria-infected red blood cells stickier by increasing parasite proteins on their surface.