Learn about how scientists are predicting viral content by measuring people’s brain activity; how Tuvan throat singers are able to produce two notes at once; and how effective facemasks are in preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

How our brains forecast what goes viral online by Kelsey Donk

• Stanford researchers find our brains are powerful – but secretive – forecasters of video virality. (2020, March 9). Stanford.Edu. https://news.stanford.edu/press/view/32654
• Tong, L. C., Acikalin, M. Y., Genevsky, A., Shiv, B., & Knutson, B. (2020). Brain activity forecasts video engagement in an internet attention market. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(12), 6936–6941. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1905178117

How does Tuvan Throat singing work? by Cameron Duke

• Bergevin, C., Chandan Narayan, Williams, J., Mhatre, N., Jennifer KE Steeves, Joshua GW Bernstein, & Story, B. (2020, February 12). Overtone focusing in biphonic tuvan throat singing. ELife; eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd. https://elifesciences.org/articles/5047
• P. Cosi and G. Tisato. (2003) On the magic of overtone singing. Voce, Parlato. Studi in onore di Franco Ferrero, 83-100 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Piero_Cosi/publication/228780318_ON_THE_MAGIC_OF_OVERTONE_SINGING/links/09e4150a363d7236ff000000/ON-THE-MAGIC-OF-OVERTONE-SINGING.pdf
• Renaud, J. (2020, March 10). Researchers solve mystery of Tuvan throat singing. Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2020-03-mystery-tuvan-throat.html
• UNESCO. (2020). The Mongolian traditional art of Khöömei [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV8EJOvvPvY
• A tangentially related video of a Mongolian folk metal band (Just for fun): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1UhoGJ2PwA

How effective are masks for preventing Coronavirus by Ashley Hamer (Listener question from Likhit)

• WHO | What can I do? (2015). WHO.int. https://doi.org//entity/csr/disease/swineflu/frequently_asked_questions/what/en/index.html
• Interim Guidance for the Use of Masks to Control Seasonal Influenza Virus Transmission. (2020). https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/maskguidance.htm
• Advice on the use of masks in the community, during home care and in healthcare settings in the context of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. (2018). WHO.int. https://www.who.int/publications-detail/advice-on-the-use-of-masks-in-the-community-during-home-care-and-in-healthcare-settings-in-the-context-of-the-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)-outbreak
• Romney, M. G. (2001). Surgical face masks in the operating theatre: re-examining the evidence. Journal of Hospital Infection, 47(4), 251–256. https://doi.org/10.1053/jhin.2000.0912
• Davies, A., Thompson, K.-A., Giri, K., Kafatos, G., Walker, J., & Bennett, A. (2013). Testing the Efficacy of Homemade Masks: Would They Protect in an Influenza Pandemic? Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 7(4), 413–418. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2013.43
• CDC. (2020, February 11). Use Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow Spread. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

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Find episode transcript here: https://curiosity-daily-4e53644e.simplecast.com/episodes/do-masks-prevent-coronavirus-how-tuvan-throat-singers-sing-two-notes-at-once-and-predicting-viral-content-by-measuring-brain-activity

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