The World, the Universe and Us
From the evolution of intelligent life to the mysteries of consciousness, from the threat of the climate crisis to the search for dark matter, this podcast is your essential weekly dose of science and wonder. Hosted by journalists Dr Rowan Hooper and Dr Penny Sarchet, each episode features expert scientists discussing the latest discoveries. The show draws on New Scientist's unparalleled depth of reporting to put the stories that matter into context. Feed your curiosity with a podcast that restores optimism and nourishes the brain.
Episodes
Breakthrough Synthetic Cell Has Just Reproduced - But Is It Alive?
Episode 382
Scientists have created a synthetic cell with just 36 genes that can copy DNA and replicate. In an attempt to create a “minimal cell”, a team led by professor Kate Adamala have built “SpudCell” from the ground up, using non-living components.
But is it alive - and is it dangerous? Despite being able to carry out some of the tasks of a normal cell, it’s not clear that it’s capable of
The Science of Football: Inside the 2026 World Cup
Episode 381
Advances in sports science, data analysis and AI are having a huge impact on the way football is played. With England rated highly in this year’s World Cup, and teams such as Paraguay causing upsets - how will science help give teams an edge?
In the past there was very little data available to help assess player performance - and diet and training were much more rudimentary. But now
Ancient Human DNA Found in Stone Age Cave Art For First Time
Episode 380
The DNA of ancient humans has been found preserved in cave art that’s more than 40,000 years old. This discovery could open an entirely new avenue for finding out about the lives of our ancient ancestors.
Researchers from the First Art project found these unexpected samples while examining 11 different caves decorated with rock art. Although it’s unclear if the DNA belongs to the ori
A “Super” El Niño May Be Coming - Here’s What It Means
Episode 379
El Niño has officially arrived – a natural climate event that raises global temperatures. The difference this time is it looks very likely to become a “Super” El Niño. This is a more extreme warming phase which could lead to record high temperatures.
Coupled with the ongoing impacts of climate change, weather agencies are predicting an increase in extreme weather events around the wo
The Lost Solstice Monument That Predates Stonehenge By 500 Years
Episode 378
A prototype Stonehenge has been discovered - an even older structure that may have been a first attempt at building the famous megalithic calendar.
A team led by archaeologist Phil Harding, best-known for the TV series ‘Time Team’, discovered a range of artefacts at a site near Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire.
Excavations at Bulford uncovered pottery, animal bones,
If We Can Make Genetically Engineered Designer Babies - Should We?
Episode 377
Considered too dangerous and unreliable a few years ago, the technology for gene editing babies is advancing fast. Improved methods of using CRISPR gene editing are making the technique safer and more targeted. But does that mean we should be creating designer babies?
A new, more powerful version of CRISPR has already saved lives by correcting cells in children linked to leukaemia. B
Scientists Mapped Earth's Vast Fungal Network - And It's Critical For The Climate
Episode 376
For the first time, scientists have mapped Earth’s vast underground fungal network - and it’s bigger than anyone imagined. Beneath our feet, plants and fungi have a hidden symbiotic relationship, sharing nutrients through fine fungal threads called hyphae.
With these new global maps, we’re now starting to understand just how important the mycorrhizal network is in keeping the Earth’s
Millions of Fossil Whale Bones Found in Deep Ocean Graveyard
Episode 375
The world’s deepest known whale graveyard has been discovered in the southern Indian Ocean. Located at a depth of seven kilometres, it contains millions of whale bones and has been described as a “deep-sea fossil megasite” and a whale necropolis.
Chinese researchers, diving in the crewed Fendouzhe submersible, undertook 32 dives along 1200 kilometres of the seafloor in an area known
DeepMind Is Simulating Entire Worlds - Ready for AI Robots
Episode 374
Google DeepMind is simulating entire worlds using AI - that can be interacted with in real time.
“World models” simulate the environment and physics of the real world. And DeepMind’s Genie 3 model allows people to create these worlds with basic image and text prompts.
The idea is not just to allow people to explore these worlds, but to serve as a testbed for AI agents to learn how t
Ötzi the Ice Man Contains Still-Living Microbes
Episode 373
Despite being 5,300-years-old, the gut microbiome of the famous Ötzi the Ice Man appears to be still alive. A mix of ancient and modern bacteria have been found on Ötzi’s mummified remains - which are preserved in icy conditions.
Found in 1991 by hikers on a glacier in the Alps, Ötzi has already taught us an incredible amount about the life of humans living in Europe during the Coppe
The Thwaites 'Doomsday' glacier's ice shelf is about to break away
Episode 372
Part of the world’s widest glacier is about to collapse – one of the dramatic changes underway that could ultimately trigger a 3 metre rise in sea levels, threatening coastal cities around the world.
Thwaites is a massive glacier in Antarctica – the size of Florida. A key part of the glacier could break away any day now -– an ice shelf that helps protect the main glacier from warm o
Some Scientists Want To Resurrect Extinct Species – Is It Even Possible?
Episode 371
The moa was a giant flightless bird from New Zealand that died out around 500 years ago. Are we about to see it brought back from extinction?
Colossal Biosciences say they have made an artificial egg shell that is a step towards recreating the massive eggs of moas (and dodos). This is huge news… if it works. Is this really enough to bring them back to life - and should we even be try
The Hidden Methane Time Bomb That Could Accelerate The Climate Crisis
Episode 370
The melting ice caps are accelerating global warming and contributing to sea level rise, but could also contribute to a different kind of climate catastrophe. The melting may cause massive amounts of frozen methane to bubble up into the atmosphere. It happened thousands of years ago - and scientists are concerned it’s about to happen again.
Methane is a greenhouse gas which is 86 tim
Science Reveals Neanderthals Had Dentists 60,000 Years Ago
Episode 369
A strange tooth found in a Siberian cave has pushed back the earliest evidence of dentistry by 45,000 years. The weird thing is, the evidence comes from a Neanderthal tooth - upending what we thought these ancient humans were capable of.
Markings on the 60,000-year-old molar show Neanderthals may have used stone tools to “drill” the tooth to treat dental decay. A team of scientists h
Scientists Concerned By a Sudden Increase in the Rate of Sea Level Rise
Episode 368
Scientists are concerned by a sudden increase in the rate of sea level rise. In 2012 it suddenly accelerated and has remained high ever since.
From melting glaciers to oceans expanding as they warm, global sea levels have risen by more than 0.2 metres over the past 15 years. Places like Venice and New Orleans are already under threat - and this fast pace of change is only set to make
The Strange Case Of The Man Immune To Alzheimer’s
Episode 367
Some people are genetically destined to develop Alzheimer’s disease. But one man who carried the devastating mutation seems to have escaped it entirely - and scientists think it may be because of his job.
Doug Whitney inherited the rare variant of a gene that should have caused early-onset Alzheimer’s in his mid-40s. Many of his family members died from it. Instead, he is now 76 yea
Astronomers Stunned by a Tiny World With an Atmosphere
Episode 366
A Pluto-sized object in the outer solar system has shocked scientists. It’s so tiny that it shouldn’t have an atmosphere - but it does.
Object 2002 XV93, known as a plutino, is a small rock floating about in the Kuiper belt - a doughnut-shaped region of icy objects out near Pluto. What’s surprising is that many dwarf planets bigger than this object can’t hold an atmosphere, so it’s a
Craig Venter’s Legacy: The Most Influential Geneticist Since Watson and Crick
Episode 365
Craig Venter, one of the world’s most influential geneticists, has died aged 79. He leaves behind an incredible - and complicated - legacy.
Venter is primarily known for playing a leading role in the sequencing of the human genome. Later he pioneered the field of synthetic biology, creating what was described as the first synthetic life form - a feat that was not without controversy.
Record Heat, Wildfires and Drought - The Climate Crisis Is About To Accelerate
Episode 364
Global temperatures are rising faster than ever - and with a strong
El Niño on the way, scientists are warning we could temporarily breach 2°C of warming above pre-industrial levels. While other models suggest it may only hit 1.75°C, either option is bad news for the climate.
The European state of the climate report has just been released, painting a picture of a rapidly warming wor
The Wood Wide Web: The Forest Discovery That Sparked a Backlash
Episode 363
Suzanne Simard is a world-renowned forest ecologist who shot to stardom with her first book Finding the Mother Tree. It tells the story of her life’s work, showing trees and plants are connected through fungal networks, demonstrating a kind of wisdom and intelligence.
Now, with the release of her latest book When the Forest Breathes, she’s keen to highlight the destructive and extrac
Chernobyl 40 Years On: Legacy of the World’s Worst Nuclear Disaster
Episode 362
It’s been 40 years since the world’s worst nuclear disaster unfolded. Since the explosion at Chernobyl in 1986, the world has feared nuclear power - and the widespread damage it can do. But are we right to fear it?
Though it’s left a lasting scar on the region, nuclear power is still safer than fossil fuels - which kill millions of people each year. So what will it take to change pub
A “Super El Niño” Is Coming - And It Could Trigger Global Climate Chaos
Episode 361
The Earth is about to enter an extremely strong climate phase that could cause major disruption on a planet-wide scale. This “super El Niño” - or “Godzilla El Niño” - threatens to make 2027 the hottest year on record.
If it’s as strong as scientists fear, the weather event will bring droughts to some areas of the world and floods to others, causing food shortages and billions of poun
Britain’s First Astronaut on the New Race to the Moon | Helen Sharman
Episode 360
A new era of space travel is finally upon us. NASA’s Artemis II rocket successfully launched 4 astronauts around the moon and back. Reacting to the historic news is Britain’s first astronaut, Helen Sharman.
The high tech space race sees countries, once again, scrambling to be the first to land people on the lunar surface - but this time to set up a permanent base of operations. Artem
How to spot the Lyrid meteor shower: New Scientist's stargazing companion
The Lyrid meteor shower hits its peak on the evening of the 22nd April, but you can look for them any time between the 16th and 25th.
Listen along with New Scientist's Abby Beall as she guides you through what a meteor shower is, when to see the Lyrids and how to look for them.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Genetic analysis reveals how the Neanderthals went extinct
Episode 359
DNA analysis of 10 Neanderthal people is shedding light on why their populations declined 75,000 years ago - eventually leading to their extinction.
After being hit by a cold spell, we can see Neanderthals lost a lot of genetic diversity as their numbers dwindled. Living in small, isolated groups, we see evidence in both genetic and archaeological evidence that this pushed the human
The Male G-Spot Has Finally Been Found
Episode 358
The male G-spot exists - and scientists have found it. The most comprehensive study of the human penis has identified one specific location most involved in sexual pleasure - and it’s not what science thought.
14 penis slices from deceased donors were inspected under the microscope - and one region in particular was packed with nerve endings.
Medical literature has long thought a di
Food shock is inevitable due to the Iran war – and it could get bad
Episode 357
A global food shock is on the way because of the ongoing war in Iran. Your food bill is expected to rise significantly.
The conflict is showing just how fragile our food system is, as spikes in fuel, fertiliser and pesticide prices begin to have knock-on effects around the world. With food availability in jeopardy, should we be stocking supplies at home?
Coupled with the worsening c
World’s First Antimatter Truck Carries Most Valuable And Volatile Substance on Earth
Episode 356
A truck carrying antimatter has been driving around the campus at CERN, home of the Large Hadron Collider. But why are scientists transporting this delicate and extremely expensive substance?
Antimatter is regular matter’s counterpart, first theorised in the 1920s. Producing and storing it has proved difficult, as it’s prone to annihilating the moment it meets its opposite half. But
Scientists Can Now Preserve a Brain After Death - What’s Next?
Episode 355
An entire pig’s brain has been preserved after death, using a technique that will keep the structure of the brain intact - potentially for hundreds of years.
Scientists say they will offer the treatment to terminally ill humans, in the hopes that one day, in the distant future, we’ll be able to reconstruct their minds and bring them back to life. Because of the speed at which scienti
The Dangerous Bias Shaping the Future of AI
Episode 354
Women are being erased from AI technologies. When world-changing technology is built primarily by men, the impact for women is hugely damaging.
This was the focus of a recent conference at the Royal Society in London. Panellists discussed how women are being left out of this major tech revolution, with Silicon Valley becoming increasingly hostile towards them.
And as the conversatio
Rebecca Solnit On Why the Future Isn’t as Dark as It Looks
Episode 353
The world might feel dark right now, but life is actually getting better, rapidly. From the rise of feminism and antiracism to environmental movements and shifting understandings of gender, the Western world looks nothing like it did 75 years ago.
Yet despite so many historic victories for rights and ideas in recent times, it often feels like we’re living in dark times - with progre
Why The Iran War Is Speeding The End Of The Fossil Fuel Era
Episode 352
Notwithstanding President Trump’s efforts to slow the growth of renewable energy, the US/Israeli attack on Iran has given the green revolution a huge boost.
In response to the war in Iran, the Islamic Republic has stopped almost all traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which one-fifth of global oil and one-fifth of seaborne gas supplies pass. They’ve also struck oil an
Mathematics is Undergoing the Biggest Change in its History
Episode 351
Artificial intelligence is starting to solve mathematical theorems better than humans. Mathematicians say AI is now an existential threat to their work. As one professor puts it; “We are running out of places to hide.”
From winning gold medals at mathematics competitions, to solving previously unanswered Erdős problems, multiple AI achievements have come together recently to exceed a
The Radical Theory That Could Force Us To Rethink Alzheimer’s
Episode 350
What If Alzheimer’s disease starts in the body, not the brain? A radical new theory upends everything we thought we knew about the disease. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia - the leading cause of death in the UK. And for 100 years we believed it all happened in the brain.
Despite all of the major symptoms of Alzheimer’s being brain related, scientists studying gene act
We Now Have Early Warning Signal Of Ocean Current Collapse
Episode 349
One of the most vital systems of ocean currents - needed to keep life in northern Europe stable - is at risk of collapse. And now we can predict when it’s going to happen.
Thanks to the work of climate scientists, we now have a model that tells us when major shifts in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) are expected. The AMOC is the Atlantic conveyor belt that keep
Two 'Extinct' Mammals Species Have Been Discovered in New Guinea
Episode 348
Thought extinct for 6,000 years, two marsupial species have been discovered alive in New Guinea. Biologists have found a new genus of marsupial glider and the Pygmy Long-fingered Possum on a small Western part of the island.
One biologist said this discovery was “more important than finding a living Thylacine in Tasmania”.
Host Rowan Hooper is joined by Tim Flannery of the Australia
How Ukraine Became a Drone Factory - and Changed Warfare Forever
Episode 347
Drones have taken over the battlefield in Russia’s war on Ukraine. Tens of thousands of drones are being produced every day - operating as kill vehicles for both sides. Multiple types are being deployed, including flying artillery drones and ground drones.
Now the deadliest war since World War 2 - and considered the first “drone war” - the conflict is being fought in a way unlike we’
The world is running out of water - can cloud-seeding save us?; Why some people get stuck in grief; Is our black hole actually a clump of dark matter?
Episode 346
The world is running out of water, with many countries suffering from significant water shortages. We’re now having to rely on groundwater that takes thousands of years to replenish – so what can we do? One group says, to save us from worldwide “water bankruptcy”, we need to artificially change the weather. Although “cloud-seeding” has been around for a long time, a new technique is g
How ancient humans crossed the vast ocean; Brain training for dementia; Life of science legend Maggie Aderin
Episode 345
More than 8,500 years ago, ancient people crossed the ocean to the remote island of Malta for the first time. Long before compasses or sails were invented, these prehistoric people navigated the seas on logs, using the stars to travel vast distances. Recent findings show we’ve long underestimated the voyaging capabilities of stone-age hunter-gatherers. We discuss the many examples of
Why Elon Musk plans to put 1 million satellites in orbit; Should we be giving sleep drugs to kids?; Why global pesticide risk is not improving
Episode 344
Elon Musk has announced he wants to merge SpaceX with another of his companies, xAI, and launch one million satellites into space. One reason - according to Musk - is to eventually harness the entire power of the sun, a sci-fi sounding idea that would make us a Kardashev Type II civilisation. But he also wants the satellites to help power AI and move data centres off Earth. Is his goa
Mini human brain grows blood vessels; The geoengineering risk of termination shock; Trove of ancient fossils discovered
Episode 343
The task of growing human brains in a lab has taken a step forward. Scientists have been creating brain organoids since 2013, but have now grown blood vessels in them for the first time. These mini brains resemble the developing cortex - the area of the brain that thinks, feels and stores memories. These advancements will help us learn more about the brain and conditions like dementia
The 5 worst ideas of the 21st century – and how they went wrong
Episode 342
Social media began with the best intentions - but it soon went sour. Platforms that once fostered connection are now driven by an endless desire to monopolise our time. From the endless scroll to ragebait content, social media is no longer designed to connect us with friends and family - but to profit from our attention. And that’s not to mention the damaging political influence it ca
Rutger Bregman on the crisis of moral ambition; Why primates have same-sex relationships; Living longer is easier than you think; Bizarre method to fight climate change
Episode 341
"The best minds of my generation are thinking about how to make people click ads. That sucks." A compelling quote that sums up the thesis of Rutger Bregman’s new book. In Moral Ambition, the Dutch historian and the best-selling author argues that smart people need to stop wasting their lives in “BS” jobs - and turn their skills to causes that benefit humanity. By reflecting on the his
Why does America want Greenland?; Mystery of dark DNA; Ozempic weight rebound
Episode 340
Acquiring Greenland has been deemed a national security priority by America. President Trump wants to use the country to deter adversaries in the Arctic, have control over its rare minerals and oil - and maybe even build experimental cities. But with the challenges of a changing climate, difficulty actually extracting any natural resources and the fact that Greenland isn’t free to occ
Humans are finally heading back to the moon; Cheaper weight loss drugs are coming; Milestone for LSD trials; Promise of new carbon tax
Episode 339
Humans are finally going back to the moon. NASA’s Artemis II mission is set to launch in April, taking four astronauts in a loop around the moon. If it goes well, it’ll set the stage for a lunar landing by Artemis III - bringing us closer to creating permanent settlements on the surface. And that’s not all - SpaceX is planning to visit Mars this year as part of its plans to colonise t
Best science TV, film and books of 2025 | The New Scientist culture review
Episode 336
Looking for something great to read or watch on TV over the festive period? We’ve got you covered. In a special edition of the podcast, we share our favourite books, TV and films of 2025 - for those moments when you need a break from the festivities.
From pure science fiction to books exploring climate change and the history of our early ancestors, we have something for everyone. Bel
Top Science Stories of 2025 | The New Scientist Features Special
Episode 337
As we reach the end of the year, catch up on some of New Scientist’s most exciting and thought-provoking features of the past twelve months.
For decades we’ve got autism in girls all wrong. Symptoms present quite differently in girls to boys, meaning they often go undiagnosed. So why have we failed to see the differences - and why are girls so often neglected by autism research? We
Orcas and dolphins are now hunting together; Genetic root of psychiatric conditions; Black hole stars and cosmic ecology
Episode 336
In an unlikely turn of events, orcas and dolphins have been observed teaming up - to hunt and kill massive chinook salmon in the pacific. Given that orcas sometimes prey on dolphins, what’s going on? Despite the promising signs of cooperation between these two species, there may be something less heartwarming at play. We dig into the findings and discuss other surprising ways animals
How exercise shrinks tumours and starves cancer; Weird molecules found on comet 3I/ATLAS; Einstein v Bohr on the nature of light
Episode 335
Exercise has been shown to shrink tumours by 60 per cent. A new study shows another link between regular exercise and cancer prevention, this time revealing that muscle cells may outcompete cancer cells for energy - basically starving them. We explore the links between metabolism and glucose - with the caveat that so far this has only been demonstrated in mice, in a small study.
The
The evolution of sperm and the enduring mystery of the scrotum; How our brain rewires itself 4 times in life; The (real) disaster scenarios of imminent climate breakdown
Episode 334
Which sperm is the oldest sperm - the ancestor sperm that came before all others? Well, you might think it links back to an ancient animal that came before us, but the oldest sperm may actually predate animals altogether. We explore this plus the enduring mystery of the scrotum - and why a male’s most important body part is so delicate and…exposed. The team hears about the variation i
The origin and evolution of music: Steve Pretty plays the conch
Episode 333
It’s not often you get to see or hear someone playing music on a conch shell. So prepare yourself for a musical treat with musician and podcaster Steve Pretty, who brings into the studio a trumpet and a collection of his favourite conches, rigged up to some modern electronics.
Steve is best known as the bandleader of the Hackney Colliery Band, and also hosts the Steve Pretty On the O
New genome of ancient human; 95% of us have a dormant virus that causes disease; Formula E cars faster than F1; Bill Bryson joins the pod!
Episode 332
For only the second time, the genome of an ancient Denisovan has been sequenced - thanks to the discovery of a 200,000-year-old tooth found in a Siberian cave. This ancient member of the human family has long been a mystery, so this genome is being described as a bombshell moment, revealing an early stage of Denisovan history. We explore how this reshapes our understanding about the o
Why the claims about Hitler’s genome are misleading
Episode 331
This week sees the broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK of a documentary called Hitler’s DNA: Blueprint of a dictator. Geneticists have managed to find a DNA sample from Adolf Hitler and have sequenced it and verified it, and now we have his genome. The big question is what does this really tell us – what can we tell from someone’s genome?
In this special episode of the podcast, Rowan H
COP30: The world's climate future hinges on this meeting
Episode 330
COP30 is nearly upon us - and this climate conference may be the most crucial so far. In a year where we’ve seen the first major global tipping point reached, destructive wildfires raging in Los Angeles and much more, joint action has never been more urgent.
But as hope starts to wane and climate goals continue to be missed, many are questioning the value of the COPs. Even legendary
The collapse of America’s health data system; How sleep affects your focus; Life on Mars in liquid veins?
Episode 329
America’s health data system is in crisis. The US government has been bleeding public health experts – many of whom run crucial public health surveys and databases which help identify, monitor and respond to health threats across the country. From drug use to food security and birth data, discover the 5 surveys most critically hit by the axing of over 20,000 jobs. If nothing is done t
How mRNA vaccines teach your body to kill cancer; Grim state of climate action; Why birds sing the dawn chorus
Episode 328
Not only has the mRNA covid vaccine saved 14 million lives, it may also help our bodies fight off cancer. A study of cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy treatment showed those who received an mRNA vaccine lived nearly twice as long - and this effect was discovered by accident. In a trial of cancer vaccines, Elias Sayour’s team at the University of Florida used standard mRNA vacci
Neuroscience of reality; Quest for dark matter; Folklore of geoscience (New Scientist Live Special)
Episode 327
A special episode recorded on October 18 at New Scientist Live in London, featuring experts in geoscience, dark matter and neuroscience.
Anjana Khatwa is an Earth scientist and TV presenter. In her new book, The Whispers of Rock, she brings together Western scientific knowledge about the evolution of our Earth and indigenous knowledge and stories. She demonstrates this connection by
First climate tipping point triggered; Man controls another person's body by brain implant; health worries over sumo wrestlers
Episode 326
The world’s first major climate tipping point has been triggered. The decimation of warm water coral populations caused by rising temperatures is now irreversible - passing the point of no return. The global consequences of widescale coral dieback could be catastrophic, so experts are sounding the alarm. But is anyone listening?
A man with paralysis has telepathically controlled the
Space 2075: How Humanity Will Live, Work and Make Drugs off-planet | Live Recording at the Royal Society
A special episode all about the future of space exploration, recorded in front of a live audience at the Royal Society in London.
Earlier this year, the Royal Society published ‘The Space: 2075 report’, which recognises the huge changes we’re seeing in space exploration, and urges for action to be taken to make sure the next 50 years of activity in space is sustainable and benefits all of humanit
How Jane Goodall changed the world; How the universe ends; How “selfish sperm” affect male fertility
Episode 324
The legendary primatologist Jane Goodall died last week aged 91, leaving behind a remarkable legacy. Her work studying tool use in chimpanzees completely reshaped the way we view animal intelligence. Fiercely protective of the natural world, she was also responsible for a huge amount of advocacy during her life. Primatologist Alejandra Pascual-Garrido worked directly with Jane and sha
Emergency in Antarctica; How movement changes the brain; Why women live longer than men
Episode 323
Temperatures in Antarctica have soared by over 35°C. Scientists are concerned about how quickly things are changing on the continent as these warmer temperatures impact the polar vortex. Coupled with record lows in sea ice cover over the last decade, this could be a sign that Antarctic weather patterns have shifted permanently. What’s driving this change - and what happens if we have
Skull rewrites story of human evolution; Autism and Tylenol; discovery of wind coming from black hole
Episode 322
An ancient skull discovered in China may have just rewritten the story of human evolution. It’s widely accepted that the common ancestor of Homo sapiens, Denisovans and Neanderthals came out of Africa. But this skull upends that assumption - potentially showing human evolution began in Asia. Discover how a new reconstruction of the Yunxian fossil skull could push back human origins by
The evolutionary price we pay for longer lives; the asteroid coming VERY close to Earth; how dinosaurs shaped the ecosystem
Episode 321
Humans live a lot longer than other primates - and much of that is down to our immune system. But there’s a price we pay for the capacity to fight off infections: inflammation. Chronic inflammation is to blame for a range of health issues, especially those related to older age. And now research has revealed exactly why inflammation is good for longevity but bad for health. Find out ho
Why we can't announce life on Mars (yet); The Romans' impact on the British economy; Link between exercise and your microbiome
Episode 320
Was Mars once home to alien life? The evidence is stronger than ever, since NASA’s discovery of rocks marked by patterns similar to those made by microbes on Earth. Found in an area now named Bright Angel, these rocks give us a tantalising insight into Mars’ ancient past - but just how definitive is this finding?
It’s long been thought that when the Roman Empire withdrew from Britain
First complete map of brain activity; Queen ant lays eggs of another species; The perils of scrolling while on the toilet
Episode 319
Scientists have created the first complete activity map of a mouse’s brain. Combining brain images from multiple mice, researchers recorded more than 650,000 neurons while these mice manipulated little Lego steering wheels in a driving game. This complex behaviour has allowed scientists to examine the interplay between various parts of the brain - and could help us better understand c
Scientists discovered a 100,000-year-old organism; Breakthrough brain implant uses AI to treat pain; How climate change leads to revolutions
Episode 318
An ancient organism has been discovered that has been alive for at least 100,000 years. Found in the Siberian permafrost, this lifeform doesn’t appear to have just remained dormant - but instead has actually been growing extremely slowly. Our understanding of life is already quite fuzzy, and this finding adds to the idea that life itself is a fuzzy state of being.
A breakthrough met
Could we end winter illness?; Cold fusion’s comeback; The delicious microbiome of chocolate
Episode 317
Winter bugs are notoriously hard to vaccinate against. But as cold, flu and covid season is about to descend on us once more, one group researchers are working on an entirely new solution to the misery. A team out of Columbia University has been testing an mRNA-based treatment that could prime our immune systems to fight against any kind of viral infection, perhaps in the form of an a
Climate special: How to fix the climate crisis with Tim Lenton and Kate Marvel
Episode 316
“All of the other planets out there are just complete garbage. The Earth is the only good place.” – Kate Marvel
The climate crisis can leave many of us feeling hopeless and overwhelmed. But, as climate scientists Kate Marvel and Tim Lenton say, there are many reasons to be optimistic.Both have new books out that hope to reframe the way we think about the issue.
Kate’s book Human Nat
80 years since Hiroshima: Forgotten victims of the atomic bomb
Episode 315
It’s been 80 years since the first and only use of nuclear weapons in war - events that altered the course of history. The consequences of the widespread destruction, deaths and nuclear fallout are still being dealt with today.
On 6th August 1945, a bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in Japan, and three days later Nagasaki was also bombed. Tens of thousands of people were killed. Since th
Ozempic and Wegovy slow down biological ageing; creation of synthetic bacterium; geology of the Russian earthquake
Episode 314
Weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy have been shown to slow down - or even reverse - the ageing process. In a trial of 84 people taking semaglutide, their biological age dropped by 3.1 years on average, with some organs becoming almost 5 years younger. Based on this new research, this finding could make these some of the most impactful anti-ageing drugs on the market. So how are they
AI wins first gold at maths Olympic games; How mitochondria are linked to sleep; Famous psychology trick works on octopuses too
Episode 313
AI has won gold at the world’s hardest maths event. For the first time, AI programs that use entirely natural language like ChatGPT, have used general reasoning to solve incredibly difficult tests at the International Maths Olympiad in Australia. Humans are still in the lead…for now. But could this be a big leap forward in the quest for artificial general intelligence?
Mitochondria -
Scientists test engineered microbes to fight disease; Has 1.5 degrees failed?; New theory why we’ve not found aliens
Episode 312
People have been given genetically engineered microbes to prevent a common health condition - and it worked. The gut microbiome is now known to be associated with many health conditions - and in this case, the team managed to treat 9 people who get recurring kidney stones. With the gut’s links to mental health, cancer and more, could engineered microbes be used to treat more condition
How geoengineering could save us from climate disaster; Have we broken mathematics?; Why exercise reduces cancer risk
Episode 311
Geoengineering could be the best way to avoid catastrophic climate disaster - but there’s a big catch. In the recent Global Tipping Points Conference in the UK, scientists discussed growing concerns that the AMOC may be on the verge of collapsing. This is a system of ocean currents that plays a crucial role in regulating global climate. With the window of action rapidly closing, one c
First full genome of Ancient Egyptian sequenced; Wild killer whales offer gifts to humans; First demonstration of interstellar navigation
Episode 310
An ancient Egyptian's complete genome has been read for the first time. The DNA of a man who lived in Egypt over 4500 years ago offers a new window into the ancient society and hints at surprising genetic connections with Mesopotamia. Based on forensic analysis of the man's skeleton and preserved images of different Egyptian occupations, the researchers think his most likely occupatio
Mice with two dads; perfect your sleep with science; how lizards survived dinosaur-killing asteroid
Ep 309
A groundbreaking experiment in reproductive biology has resulted in mice being born from two biological fathers. By fusing sperm and putting them into an emptied egg cell, researchers in China have produced healthy and fertile offspring from two male mice. While it’s early days and the technique requires hundreds of embryos to get results, it opens up the possibility of same-sex reproducti
First skull of mysterious human ancestor; Decoding whale language; Heatwaves 20x more likely to happen
Episode 308
An ancient skull discovered in China has been confirmed to belong to a Denisovan. It’s been tough to study this mysterious human ancestor, as we’ve only ever found a finger and jaw bone - so this new discovery could reshape our understanding of them. After being kept secret for decades, the “dragon man” skull is opening up a new window into our past.
We’ve unlocked another clue in ou
Is this the first step to cyborg brains? How drones are reshaping warfare forever; New Vera Rubin observatory goes live
Episode 307
Using new “ultrasoft” electronics, researchers at Harvard have effectively created tadpole cyborgs. A soft bioelectronic device has been implanted into their brains - one which grows with them as they develop into frogs. This neural implant is a first step in helping us better understand the inner workings of the brain. But could this work in mammals…or humans? Discussing just that, t
$1 trillion of platinum on the moon; how your brain distinguishes between reality and imagination; rise of the hyperworm
Episode 306
It’s been discovered that the moon is probably home to $1 trillion worth of platinum. Researchers suggest nearly 6500 of the Moon’s craters were made by asteroids containing commercial quantities of platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium. Does that mean space companies are going to head out on mining missions imminently…and should they? Hear the reasons for and ag
The real threat of AI - ethics, exploitation and the erosion of truth
Episode 305
As artificial intelligence grows into more and more aspects of our lives, it seems we’re just at the beginning of the boom. Hundreds of billions of dollars are being pumped into advancing AI capabilities, making it the best funded area in science. But, just like the dot-com revolution, is it a bubble waiting to burst?
In this special episode of the podcast, we explore the growing pro
Are smartphones really causing mental illness in teens?; More evidence of alien life; Digital oak trees
Episode 304
It seems the world is on heightened alert about the impact smartphones are having on our children’s brains. But are we right to be worried? Jonathan Haidt’s book the Anxious Generation has played a big role in this debate, with many researchers agreeing smartphones cause harm and action needs to be taken. But is there actually any scientific evidence to back all of these claims up?
T
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