In a special bonus episode of So Curious, Bey and Kirsten are joined by Derrick Pitts, Chief Astronomer and Director of the Fels Planetarium at the Franklin Institute!

The three discuss how Derrick came to be in the field of astronomy, what being in space would actually be like, how sci-fi shapes our understanding of outer space, and so much more.

Be sure to check out Derrick's new podcast, The Curious Cosmos, for more amazing space talk! New episodes will be released every Tuesday throughout the fall.

Hope you have your dancing shoes on, because in this final episode of So Curious' 4th season, Bey and Kirsten explore the science behind why music makes us dance!

First, they sit down with McMaster post-doctoral fellow Dr. Daniel Cameron to learn about his research into rhythm and the brain. Then, the two are joined by Dr. Jayatri Das, Chief Bioscientist of The Franklin Institute, to explore the incredible ways dance incorporates various sensory systems in our bodies. And to close out the season, Bey and Kirsten are joined by Philadelphia's DJ Phreakwency to explore the history of dance music, the experience of being a DJ, and what in his experience gets the crowd moving!

Links for Today's Episode:

• Learn more about Dr. Daniel Cameron and the research he's part of at McMaster University into rhythm and the brain
• Check out DJ Phreakwency and his monthly dance party, Bass Down Low, at The Dolphin in Philadelphia.

This week, So Curious takes to the stage! Exploring how and why humans play and perform music.

First, Bey and Kirsten sit down with jazz educator and researcher Dr. Martin Norgaard to learn about jazz improvisation, and what happens in the brain while musicians are improvising. Then, the two are joined by Dr. Jayatri Das for another Body of Knowledge segment, this time to explore the physiology of singing and why we find songs so moving. And to round out the episode, veteran music teacher Beth Carson joins to discuss her years in the classroom, the importance of music education, what it's like to teach young children to perform.

Links for Today's episode:

• Learn more about Dr. Martin Norgaard and his research into musical improvisation in the brain
• Explore those singing-responsive brain cells Jayatri spoke about further
• Listen to that moving performance of Creep on America's Got Talent that Kirsten referenced
• Check out the composer bust of Beth Carson that one of her students made of her