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
How Your Brain Cleans Itself - And What Happens When It Goes Wrong
Episode 406
The glymphatic system is the brain’s waste disposal system - responsible for clearing out harmful toxins that build up during the day.
Now a new mouse study has connected reduced glyphatic flow to Alzheimer’s disease. And because this glymphatic system cleans the brain during sleep, it’s thought poor sleep may contribute to this reduction in brain function.
Rowan Hooper and Penny Sa
If the AMOC Collapses - Could We Reverse the Damage?
Episode 405
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a major system of ocean currents that plays a vital role in Earth’s climate. If it collapses, the consequences could be catastrophic. We could see ice-age level winters in Europe, coupled with scalding hot summers - and impacts on food production around the world. The trouble is it’s already weakening.
That’s why scienti
Secrets of the World’s Longest-Lived Animals
Episode 404
Jonathan the tortoise was born in the year 1832, on a beach in the Seychelles. 194 years later and Jonathan is still alive, celebrating his birthday. How exactly has he managed to survive for so long?
Jonathan is a giant tortoise and the world’s oldest known land animal. His genome has now been sequenced, revealing intriguing hints about longevity. And it seems the key to a long life
New Fossil Shows Birds Weren’t the Only Dinosaurs to Evolve Flight
Episode 403
A new species of feathered dinosaur has been discovered - and it looks like a supercharged magpie with teeth. Fossil evidence and an artist’s reconstruction show the dinosaur looks remarkably like a bird - yet it’s not actually an ancestor of modern birds.
Over 100 million years old, Norellraptor barsboldi is named after two famous palaeontologists - one of whom taught palaeontologis
This El Niño Is About To Cause a Global Catastrophe
Episode 402
The current El Niño is shaping up to cause catastrophe on a global scale. Global temperatures are being pushed up, unleashing extreme weather which could devastate ecosystems. The heat alone is expected to kill half a million people over the next five months.
Sea-surface temperatures are expected to climb 4°C above average in parts of the Pacific - and it’s becoming clear this is an
How to Be Hopeful: Caitlin Moran and New Scientist Look to the Future
Episode 401
Anxiety is everywhere. Climate change, political turmoil and a constant stream of alarming headlines can make optimism feel impossible. But to be hopeful you don’t need to ignore reality. What if it’s about paying attention to the breakthroughs that are already changing the world?
In this special episode Penny Sarchet and Rowan Hooper are joined by bestselling author Caitlin Moran, w
THIS Is What You Need To Worry About With The Rise Of AI
Episode 400
Should we really be afraid of AI? Many headline statements from the likes of Anthrophic, OpenAI and even the King are raising alarm bells over the threat of AI to humanity. AI companies are even calling to be more highly regulated. But does that mean the threats are worth considering - or are there ulterior motives?
Among the apocalyptic or disastrous ways it could go wrong, there ar
The Mystery of Childbirth Is Finally Being Unravelled
Episode 399
Some aspects of childbirth have remained surprisingly mysterious - and scientists haven’t been able to agree on what actually kicks off the labour process. But they’ve finally worked out what’s going on - and the discovery could turn birth into a much more predictable occasion.
The labour process in humans is much more complex than in other mammals. But researchers have now worked ou
AI Just Solved One of the Hardest Problems in Mathematics
Episode 398
OpenAI says it has just solved one of the hardest problems in mathematics. The Navier-Stokes existence and smoothness problem has been unsolved for more than 200 years. Now AI has cracked it, some claim we’ve finally reached “AGI” - artificial general intelligence.
Navier-Stokes is one of the Millennium Prize Problems, chosen for being famously challenging. And as OpenAI sets its sig
New Discovery Reveals the Secret Lives of Denisovans
Episode 397
The first evidence has been discovered that Denisovans lived in south-west China. This ancient species of human spent over 100,000 years in the region and left behind incredible artefacts that tell us how they lived.
64,000 fragments of bone have been discovered from Bianfu Cave in Yunnan province. And the site tells us a lot about the food they ate and the animals they hunted - incl
The Nepal Disaster: How Climate Change is Reshaping the World
Episode 396
A devastating climate disaster has killed at least 1,200 people in Nepal. A mass of ice and rock came crashing down off the Langtang mountain into the valley below. The climate crisis has made events like this much more likely.
This is just one of many retreating glaciers. We’re also on track for a record year of ice-loss in the European alps. As the world is reshaped before our eyes
Scientists Find Best Evidence Yet For Dark Matter
Episode 395
Dark matter particles may have finally been spotted for the first time. LUX-ZEPLIN is the most sensitive dark matter detector on Earth - and what it’s discovered has the potential, if confirmed, to shake up all of physics.
Despite making up about 85 per cent of the universe, dark matter has been notoriously difficult to spot. WIMPs, or weakly-interacting massive particles, are the le
Why Humans Like Bigger Breasts - And a New Way to Augment Them
Episode 394
A new technique using a woman’s own fat cells has been used to reconstruct her breast without silicone implants. By injecting her own tissue into a dissolving scaffold, it’s hoped this technique will make breast augmentation safer.
Traditional plastic surgery involves silicone or saline, which can cause health issues like breast implant illness and even cancer. And they typically onl
ADHD Is Not a Myth - What the Science Really Says
Episode 393
A controversial TV show has suggested ADHD is a myth - a largely made up condition that is really just a “social construct”. But the science just doesn’t back this up. Decades of research prove ADHD is a real condition that impacts lives - and often needs treatment, which saves lives.
But at a time when diagnoses are rising, people are wondering what’s causing the increase. Are we ov
Wildfires Changed Human Evolution - Is It Happening Again?
Episode 392
Ancient wildfires may have shaped the course of human evolution. A reconstruction of the environment in East Africa 1.75 million years ago suggests a particularly volatile period of climate change made our species adapt rapidly.
Climate swings may have led our species to develop sophisticated tools. Ancient hominins may have also learnt to control fire thanks to frequent wildfires du
New Treatment Saves Children With Terminal Brain Cancer
Episode 391
Brain tumours are the most common and most deadly form of solid tumours in children. But a brand new kind of immunotherapy has shown incredible promise, saving four terminally ill children.
By using a child’s own immune cells, this new treatment seems to work better than existing immunotherapies and causes fewer adverse side effects. Although it saved just 4 out of 33 participants, i
Latitude Special: Why Festivals Make You Live Longer; Clearing Alzheimer’s Proteins from the Brain;Clouds Made of Rocks and Rubies; Orcas Blow Up Giant Fish
Episode 390
In a special episode recorded live at Latitude Festival in England, we open with the finding that orcas in the Gulf of California have been making fish explode like piñatas. Sunfish are too large for orcas to get their teeth around, but they’ve been seen working together to tackle them - another amazing display of their ability to coordinate.
We also discuss a surprising new wa
Climate 2026: Record Heat, Tens of Thousands Dead, Mass Evacuations
Episode 389
Europe is burning through another summer of extreme heat. Temperatures are soaring across the continent, wildfires are forcing mass evacuations in France and Spain, and scientists warn that heatwaves are becoming more frequent, more intense and longer-lasting as the climate warms.
The fires are changing too. Hotter, drier conditions are creating larger and more destructive wild
Scientists Pioneer Surgical Methods for Human Head and Eye Transplants
Episode 388
Two extraordinary breakthroughs have been made in transplant surgery. First, scientists have found a way of keeping human eyes alive for up to 10 hours after death, opening up the possibility of eye transplants in the future.
And in a second controversial surgery, another team has managed to restore severed spinal cords in pigs, allowing them to walk again after being paralysed
The Most Promising Alien Planet We've Ever Found?
Episode 387
Two big interstellar discoveries have hit the headlines. One is the discovery of the first atmosphere ever found on a small, rocky exoplanet that could host alien life.
The planet LHS 1140b is about 50 light years from Earth and sits in the “Goldlocks” zone, meaning it’s close enough to its star to be habitable. So what do we know about its atmosphere – and could it be just like Eart
Climate Crisis Is Triggering Global Food Shortages - New Predictions Are Devastating
Episode 386
The climate crisis is having a significant impact on yields of crucial food crops. Losses of maize, wheat and soybeans alone are costing $20 billion a year due to heat and drought. New estimates expect this to rise to $160 billion per year by 2100 - although that could be an underestimate.
While this means food prices will keep on rising in developed countries, the majority of the po
7 Essential Lessons We Can Learn From Homer’s Odyssey
Episode 385
What can Homer’s Odyssey teach us about psychology and human nature? Locked up in this 2,500-year-old text are a host of profound lessons and ancient wisdom.
In her new book The Odyssey Mindset, Oxford classicist and clinical psychologist Sam Akbar draws on seven essential lessons from this classic piece of Greek literature. She showcases what it teaches us about issues like gr
Chris Packham on the Untold Story of Evolution
Episode 384
The story of evolution is being brought to life in a new way. BBC series Evolution tells the story of 5 iconic animals, from elephants to ostriches, using CGI to reimagine ancient fossils.
And this isn’t just about the animals that came before them, but also explores the intricacies of how locomotion, intelligence, feeding, and reproduction emerged.
The series is hosted by broadcaste
Heatwaves Are Getting Deadlier - And It’s Going To Get Worse
Episode 383
As another heatwave takes hold, figures are now showing just how deadly the last one was. With one early estimate suggesting as many as 25,000 people may have died in Europe as a result of June’s extreme heat.
Heatwaves across Europe, Asia, Australia and the US hit record highs last month and wildfires are now spreading across southern Europe. And as the effects of climate change inc
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
