00:00 The podcast episode titled "SYSK Selects: What Makes us Yawn?" explores the mystery behind yawning and why we still don't fully understand it.

03:48 Yawning is contagious among humans and animals, with about 40 to 50% of adults yawning in response to seeing, hearing, or reading about yawning, and it is an involuntary action that can even occur in paralyzed individuals.

07:15 Yawning is a complex process that involves the opening of the mouth, squinting of the eyes, activation of neurotransmitters and dopamine in the brain, and the distribution of surfactant to coat the alveoli in the lungs, but the exact function and purpose of yawning is still unknown.

11:02 Yawning in groups may be due to a fight for oxygen, but the theory that yawning developed as a signal or intimidation tactic is not widely believed, while the brain cooling theory and the idea that contagious yawning is linked to empathy are more popular explanations.

14:57 Yawning may be less contagious in individuals with autism, suggesting a link between empathy and contagious yawning, although other studies contradict this finding and suggest that individuals with autism may simply miss the cues for yawning.

19:37 Fetuses from 11 to 20 weeks of development yawn in utero, and contagious yawning is only observed in individuals around age four, while outside temperature can affect the frequency of yawning.

23:19 The hosts discuss their uncertainty about the true cause of yawning and joke about observing their pets and loved ones to test different theories, before transitioning to an ad break and then moving on to listener mail.

27:26 The hosts discuss their personal experiences with musician Rodriguez and his performance of the same song multiple times during a late-night conversation in a Detroit courtyard.

30:34 The hosts provide contact information for listeners to share their stories and promote other podcasts.