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The Curiosity Desk

The Curiosity Desk

By: GBH News
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Edgar B. Herwick III hosts GBH’s newest show, The Curiosity Desk, where he answers your questions and examines everyday mysteries hiding in plain sight. Tune in daily for conversations, insights and profundities about the world we live in.

Have something you’re curious about? Leave us a voicemail anytime at 877-301-8970, or submit questions via the form on our landing page at GBHNews.org.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content and exclusive videos.

©2026 WGBH Educational Foundation
Daily Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Why Is The Sky Yellow?
    Jul 17 2026

    July 17, 2026

    Arun Rath is guest hosting today!

    We talk briefly with Mathew Barlow, a Professor of Climate Sciences at Umass Lowell, about this week’s wildfire smoke & why the sky turned yellow.

    GBH’s Renuka Balakrishnan joins with Emily Schario from The B-Side for ICYMI. They’ll talk about the best local swimming pools, the 22nd annual Sand Sculpting Festival on Revere Beach, and cyclosporiasis ruining summer salad season.

    Why has the vinyl record endured? And what’s the value of physical media in an era of online disinformation? Arun talks with Joan Donovan from the Critical Internet Studies institute, this week with Tony Goddess from Mystery Train Records in Gloucester.

    Arun talks Indigenous history with Aquinnah Wampanoag singer/songwriter Thea Hopkins & Cerise Lim Jacobs from White Snake Projects, around a new interactive freedom trail experience for America 250.

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    52 mins
  • What Salt Is Worth Its Salt?
    Jul 15 2026

    First up, Edgar interviews Dr. Jim Faust about his nonprofit Adam’s Parachute, bringing people suffering from substance addiction into the world of fly fishing. He’ll join alongside GBH report Craig LeMoult ahead of Craig’s forthcoming reporting.

    Then, the grocery aisles are packed with all different options for salt. Table, iodized, sea, Celtic, gray, pink Himalayan – does it matter which you use? We get some consult from Dan Souza from America’s Test Kitchen.

    Lastly, Edgar brushes up on the history of the toothbrush with Dr. Scott Swank, curator at the National Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore.

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    51 mins
  • Why Is My Cat Obsessed With My Feet?
    Jul 14 2026

    First up, we're airing Edgar’s conversation with MIT physicist Pablo Jarillo-Herrero. Pablo tries to explain his research in the field of twistronics in the time it takes to finish a cone of soft serve ice cream. There’s a video version of the conversation also airing today on the GBH YouTube channel.

    Then, it's another round of Four Things To Know with Gal Tziperman Lotan from the GBH Daily newsletter.

    Lastly, we're opening up phone and text lines for “Ask the Dog & Cat behaviorist,” with Rachel Geller from All Cats All the Time and Kate Bigger from High Fidelity Dogs.

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    51 mins
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