Nature Podcast

Physicists examine the gravitational pull between two tiny masses, and how fossil lampreys could shake-up the field of vertebrate evolution.In this episode:00:47 Gravity, on the small scaleThis week, researchers have captured the smallest measurement of gravity on record, by measuring the pull between two tiny gold spheres. This experiment opens the door for future experiments to investigate the fundamental forces of nature and the quantum nature of gravity.Research Article: Westphal et al.News and Views: Ultra-weak gravitational field detected07:37 Research HighlightsResearch shows that people often don’t know when a conversation should end, and the cuttlefish that show remarkable self control.Research Highlight: How long should a conversation last? The people involved haven’t a clueResearch Highlight: Arms control: cuttlefish can pass the ‘marshmallow test’10:18 Lamprey evolutionThe larval stage of lamprey growth has long been thought to resemble the kind of early animal that all vertebrates evolved from. However, new research looking at the fossils of lamprey species suggests that this popular hypothesis may be incorrect.Research Article: Miyashita et al.17:38 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, glow-in-the-dark sharks, and scientists’ reflections on the nuclear industry 10 years on from Fukushima.The Guardian: 'Giant luminous shark': researchers discover three deep-sea sharks glow in the darkNature Comment: Nuclear energy, ten years after FukushimaSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.Video: Deep-sea soft robots Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where did the SARS-CoV-2 virus come from? As a team of researchers from the WHO prepares to report on its investigation into the origins of the virus, we discuss the leading theories, including the controversial ‘lab leak' hypothesis.Although there is no evidence to support it, the lab-leak idea remains popular among certain groups. Similar hypotheses were even touted about the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. We discuss why theories like this seem to gain traction.News: ‘Major stones unturned’: COVID origin search must continue after WHO report, say scientistsNews: Where did COVID come from? Five mysteries that remainNews: Can COVID spread from frozen wildlife? Scientists probe pandemic origins Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pandemic's unequal toll on the research community, and a newly discovered mitochondria-like symbiosis.In this episode:00:48 The pandemic's unequal toll on researchersAlthough 2020 saw a huge uptick in the numbers of research papers submitted, these increases were not evenly distributed among male and female scientists. We look at how this could widen existing disparities in science, and damage future career prospects.Editorial: COVID is amplifying the inadequacy of research-evaluation processes09:18 Research HighlightsHow a parasite can make viral infections more deadly, and the first known space hurricane.Research Highlight: Intestinal worms throw open the door to dangerous virusesResearch Highlight: The first known space hurricane pours electron ‘rain’11:36 Energy without oxygenMillions of years ago, a microscopic protist swallowed a bacterium and gained the ability to breathe nitrate. This relationship partially replaced the cell's mitochondria and allowed it to produce abundant energy without oxygen. This week, researchers describe how this newly discovered symbiosis works.Research Article: Graf et al.News and Views: A microbial marriage reminiscent of mitochondrial evolution19:22 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, the weakening of the Gulf Stream, and a new satellite to monitor deforestation in the Amazon.The Guardian: Atlantic Ocean circulation at weakest in a millennium, say scientistsScience: Brazil’s first homemade satellite will put an extra eye on dwindling Amazon forestsSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.Video: How to build a Quantum Internet Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A repository with millions of data points will track immunity and variant spread.To answer the big questions in the pandemic, researchers need access to data. But while a wealth has been collected, much of it isn’t collated or accessible to the people who need it.This week sees the launch of Global.health, a database that aims to collate an enormous amount of anonymized information about individual COVID-19 cases.On this week’s Coronapod we discuss how this database could help answer the biggest questions facing scientists right now, from variants to vaccines – could data change the game?News: Massive Google-funded COVID database will track variants and immunityNews: Can COVID vaccines stop transmission? Scientists race to find answers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The surprising structure of protons, and a method for growing small intestines for transplantation.In this episode:00:45 Probing the proton’s interiorAlthough studied for decades, the internal structure of the proton is still throwing up surprises for physicists. This week, a team of researchers report an unexpected imbalance in the antimatter particles that make up the proton.Research Article: Dove et al.News and Views: Antimatter in the proton is more down than up07:08 Research HighlightsHow an inactive gene may help keep off the chill, and Cuba’s isolation may have prevented invasive species taking root on the island.Research Highlight: Impervious to cold? A gene helps people to ward off the chillsResearch Highlight: Marauding plants steer clear of a communist-ruled island09:48 A new way to grow a small intestineShort Bowel Syndrome is an often fatal condition that results from the removal of the small intestine. Treatment options are limited to transplantation, but donor intestines are hard to come by and can be rejected by the body. Now researchers may have developed a method to grow a replacement small intestine using stem cells and a small section of colon.Research Article: Sugimoto et al.15:50 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, the landing of Perseverance on Mars, and the researchers speaking with lucid dreamers.Nature News: Mars video reveals Perseverance rover’s daring touchdownNature News: Touch down! NASA’s Mars landing sparks new era of explorationNature News: The hunt for life on Mars: A visual guide to NASA’s latest missionScience: Scientists entered people’s dreams and got them ‘talking’Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Researchers in Japan are trying to understand why thunderstorms fire out bursts of powerful radiation.Gamma rays – the highest-energy electromagnetic radiation in the universe – are typically created in extreme outer space environments like supernovae. But back in the 1980s and 1990s, physicists discovered a source of gamma rays much closer to home: thunderstorms here on Earth.Now, researchers in Japan are enlisting an army of citizen scientists to help understand the mysterious process going on inside storm clouds that leads to them creating extreme bursts of radiation.This is an audio version of our feature: Thunderstorms spew out gamma rays — these scientists want to know why Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s the endgame for the COVID-19 pandemic? Is a world without SARS-CoV-2 possible, or is the virus here to stay?A recent Nature survey suggests that the majority of experts expect the virus to become endemic, circulating in the world’s population for years to come.But what does this mean? On this week’s episode of Coronapod, we ask what a future with an ever-present virus could look like.News Feature: The coronavirus is here to stay — here’s what that means Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Researchers sequence the oldest DNA ever recovered, and the people bringing art and science together.In this episode:00:46 Million-year-old mammoth DNAThis week, researchers have smashed a long-standing record by sequencing a genome that's over a million years old. They achieved this feat by extracting DNA from permafrost-preserved mammoth teeth, using it to build-up a more detailed family tree for these ancient animals.Research Article: van der Valk et al.News: Million-year-old mammoth genomes shatter record for oldest ancient DNANews and Views: Million-year-old DNA provides a glimpse of mammoth evolution10:00 Research HighlightsA spacecraft catches a rare glimpse of a rock smashing into Jupiter, and the perilous state of sawfish populations.Research Highlight: Robotic eyes spy the flash of a meteor on JupiterResearch Highlight: Humans push a hulking fish with a chainsaw nose towards oblivion12:18 Putting art into science (and science into art)Art and science are sometimes considered disparate, but when brought together the results can be greater than the sum of their parts. This week we hear from an artist and a scientist on the benefits they found when crossing the divide.Career Feature: How to shape a productive scientist–artist collaborationCareer Feature: How the arts can help you to craft a successful research careerWhere I work: ‘All my art is curiosity-driven’: the garden studio where art and physics collideSome resources for bringing arts and science together:https://okre.orghttps://lifeology.io/21:43 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, a neanderthal gene makes brain-like organoids bumpy, and uncovering the original location of Stonehenge’s stone circle.News: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The science behind how and when to give vaccines doses.As vaccines are rolled out, massive logistical challenges are leading scientists and policymakers to consider alternative dosing strategies.But what does the science say? In this week’s episode of Coronapod, we discuss mixing and matching vaccines and lengthening the time between doses. Approaches like these could ease logistical concerns, but we ask what's known about their impact on vaccine efficacy – what is the science behind the decisions, and could they actually boost immune responses?News: Could mixing COVID vaccines boost immune response?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking back at the publication of the human genome, and how macrophages mend muscle.In this episode:00:45 The human genome sequence, 20 years onThis week marks the 20th anniversary of a scientific milestone – the publication of the first draft of the human genome. Magdalena Skipper, Nature’s Editor-in-Chief gives us her recollections of genomics at the turn of the millennium, and the legacy of the achievement.Editorial: The next 20 years of human genomics must be more equitable and more openComment: A wealth of discovery built on the Human Genome Project — by the numbersComment: Sequence three million genomes across AfricaVideo: How a worm showed us the way to open scienceVideo: How ancient DNA sequencing changed the game10:50 Research HighlightsIs there an evolutionary reason why hotter countries have hotter food? Maybe not. And larger groups of giraffe gal pals have better chances of survival.Research Article: Bromham et al.Research Highlight: For female giraffes, friends in high places bring towering benefits12:48 Mending damaged musclesIt’s known that immune cells play an important role in muscle repair. Now though, researchers have isolated the specific molecules involved, and hope that this knowledge could be used in future to create therapies.Research Article: Ratnayake et al.19:39 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, a court overrules a Trump administration guideline on how science can be used in environmental policy, and the harrowing lengths that Blue Whales need to take to avoid fishing vessels.Washington Post: Judge throws out Trump rule limiting what science EPA can useThe Independent: Animation shows week in life of blue whale as it tries to avoid fishing... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Researchers are scrambling to understand the biology of new coronavirus variants and the impact they might have on vaccine efficacy. Around the world, concern is growing about the impact that new, faster-spreading variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus will have on the pandemic.In this episode of Coronapod, we discuss what these variants are, and the best way to respond to them, in the face of increasing evidence that some can evade the immunity produced by vaccination or previous infection.News: ‘A bloody mess’: Confusion reigns over naming of new COVID variantsNews: Fast-spreading COVID variant can elude immune responsesNews: Could new COVID variants undermine vaccines? Labs scramble to find outNews: How to redesign COVID vaccines so they protect against variantsNews: J&J’s one-shot COVID vaccine offers hope for faster protection Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exploring the properties of a vanishingly-rare artificial element, and the AI that generates new mathematical conjectures.In this episode:01:04 Einsteinium's secretsEinsteinium is an incredibly scarce, artificial element that decays so quickly that researchers don’t know much about it. Now, using state-of-the-art technology, a team has examined how it interacts with other atoms, which they hope will shed new light on einsteinium and its neighbours on the periodic table.Research Article: Carter et al.06:28 Research HighlightsThe mysterious appearance of three ozone-depleting chemicals in Earth’s atmosphere, and how ride-sharing services have failed to reduce traffic jams.Research Highlight: Mystery on high: an ozone-destroying chemical appears in the airResearch Highlight: Uber and Lyft drive US gridlock — but not cuts in car ownership8:38 The computer that comes up with new mathematical formulasA team of researchers have developed artificial-intelligence algorithms that can generate new formulas for calculating the digits of key mathematical numbers like pi. Although crucial, many of these numbers remain mysterious, so it is hoped that this system will open up new avenues of questioning for mathematicians.Research Article: Raayoni et al.14:48 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, a new theory to explain a sixty-year-old mystery surrounding the icy deaths of a group of Russian students, and the continued controversy about the chances of life on Venus.Video: Explaining the icy mystery of the Dyatlov Pass deathsNews: Life on Venus claim faces strongest challenge yetSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A year ago the WHO’s coronavirus emergency alarm was largely ignored. Why?On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a ‘public health emergency of international concern’, or PHEIC, to raise the alarm of the imminent threat of a global coronavirus pandemic.Alongside the PHEIC, the WHO made a number of recommendations to curb the spread of the virus. But many of these were ignored by governments around the world.In this episode of Coronapod, we explore why this emergency warning system failed, and hear about efforts to reform it, and the WHO, to avoid this happening again.News: Why did the world’s pandemic warning system fail when COVID hit? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Researchers are probing the subtle physical forces that sculpt cells and bodies.At every stage of life, from embryo to adulthood, physical forces tug and squeeze at bodies from within.These forces are vital, ensuring that cells are correctly positioned in a developing embryo, for example. But they also play a role in diseases like cancer. Yet despite their importance, relatively little is known about how cells sense, respond to and generate these forces.To find out, researchers have turned to bespoke tools and methods, using them to probe lab-cultured cells and whole animals to get to the root of how mechanical forces sculpt life.This is an audio version of our feature: The secret forces that squeeze and pull life into shape Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A neuroprosthetic device restores blood-pressure control after spinal-cord injury, and identifying the neurons that help us understand others’ beliefs.In this episode:00:47 A neuroprosthetic restores the body’s baroreflexA common problem for people who have experienced spinal-cord injury is the inability to maintain their blood pressure, which can have serious, long-term health consequences. Now, however, researchers have developed a device that may restore this ability, by stimulating the neural circuits involved in the so-called baroreflex.Research Article: Squair et al.News and Views: Neuroprosthetic device maintains blood pressure after spinal cord injury08:27 Research HighlightsHow gesticulating changes the way that speech is perceived, and a new theory of how Saturn got its tilt.Research Highlight: Hands speak: how casual gestures shape what we hearResearch Highlight: The moon that made Saturn a pushover10:58 A neuronal map of understanding othersHumans are very good at understanding that other people have thoughts, feelings and beliefs that are different to our own. But the neuronal underpinnings of this ability have been hard to unpick. Now, researchers have identified a subset of neurons that they think gives us this ability.Research Article: Jamali et al.18:04 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, the science of why cats love catnip, and the struggle to identify what the mysterious celestial object StDr 56 actually is.Science: Why cats are crazy for catnipSyfy Wire: So what the heck is StDr 56?Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Check out our new video - Fossilised glider takes the origin of mammals back to the Triassic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Analysis of hundreds of thousands of job searches shows that recruiters will discriminate based on ethnicity and gender, and the neural circuitry behind a brief period of forgetting.In this episode:00:47 Hiring discriminationA huge dataset has shown that widespread discrimination occurs in job hiring, based on ethnicity and gender. This backs up decades of research, showing that people from minority backgrounds tend to get contacted far less by employers.Research Article: Hangartner et al.09:31 CoronapodToday Joe Biden becomes the next president of the United States. We find out what this new political chapter could mean for the country’s immediate pandemic response, including the mass rollout of vaccines.News: Joe Biden’s COVID plan is taking shape — and researchers approveNews: Joe Biden names top geneticist Eric Lander as science adviser20:46 Research HighlightsA new way to study fragile helium pairs, and there’s no limit to how much exercise improves your heart health.Research Highlight: Taking tenuous helium molecules for a spinResearch Highlight: Feeling fit? A little more sweat could still help your heart23:17 Forgetful fliesEver had the feeling where you can’t quite remember what you were doing? While common, this sort of ‘tip of the tongue’ forgetting is not well understood. Now though, researchers have uncovered the neural process behind this feeling… in fruit flies.Research Article: Sabadal et al.29:49 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, the economics calculations of thieving monkeys, and how in certain situations electric eels will hunt together.The Guardian: Bali’s thieving monkeys can spot high-value items to ransomScience: Shocking discovery: Electric eels hunt in packs in Amazon riversSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Benjamin Thompson, Noah Baker and Elie Dolgin discuss RNA vaccines.In this episode: 01:16 How RNA vaccines came to prominenceIn less than a year, two RNA vaccines against COVID-19 were designed, tested and rolled out across the world. We discuss these vaccines’ pros and cons, how RNA technology lends itself to rapid vaccine development, and what this means for the fight against other diseases.News feature: How COVID unlocked the power of RNA vaccines09:20 The hurdles for trialling new COVID-19 vaccinesMultiple candidates for new COVID-19 vaccines are still being developed, which may offer advantages over the vaccines currently available. However, running placebo-controlled trials of these candidates is becoming increasingly difficult, so researchers are looking for different ways to evaluate them.News: Search for better COVID vaccines confounded by existing rollouts14:45 How long will COVID vaccines be effective?There is much concern around the world about two faster-spreading variants of SARS-CoV-2. We get an update on whether these variants could render vaccines ineffective.News: Could new COVID variants undermine vaccines? Labs scramble to find outSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DNA clues point to how dire wolves went extinct, and a round-up of the main impacts of Brexit on science.In this episode:00:45 Dire wolf DNADire wolves were huge predators that commonly roamed across North America before disappearing around 13,000 years ago. Despite the existence of a large number of dire wolf fossils, questions remain about why this species went extinct and how they relate to other wolf species. Now, using DNA and protein analysis, researchers are getting a better understanding of what happened to these extinct predators.Research Article: Perri et al.11:43 Research HighlightsThe secret to Pluto’s blue haze, and the neural circuitry underlying mice empathy.Research Highlight: Ice bathes Pluto in a blue hazeResearch Highlight: Brain maps show how empathetic mice feel each other's pain13:31 Post-Brexit scienceIn December, a last minute trade-deal between the UK and EU clarified what the future relationship between the two regions would look like, after Brexit. We discuss the implications of this trade-deal for science funding, the movement of researchers, and data sharing.News Explainer: What the landmark Brexit deal means for science23:18 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, concerns about contaminating water on the moon, and the spy satellites that spied out environmental change.Nature News: Will increasing traffic to the Moon contaminate its precious ice?The New York Times: Inside the C.I.A., She Became a Spy for Planet EarthSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lessons from Iceland, which utilised huge scientific resources to contain COVID-19.When COVID reached the shores of Iceland back in March, the diminutive island brought it to heel with science. Here’s how they did it, and what they learnt.This is an audio version of our feature: How Iceland hammered COVID with science Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Nature Podcast team select some of their favourite stories from the past 12 months.In this episode:00:32 Following the Viking footprint across EuropeIn September, we heard about the researchers mapping ancient genomes to better understand who the Vikings were, and where they went.Nature Podcast: 16 September 2020Research Article: Margaryan et al.08:09 Mars hopesIn July, the UAE launched its first mission to Mars. We spoke to the mission leads to learn about the aims of the project, and how they developed the mission in under six years.Nature Podcast: 08 July 2020News Feature: How a small Arab nation built a Mars mission from scratch in six yearsNews Feature: Countdown to Mars: three daring missions take aim at the red planet17:42 Disaster in San QuentinIn July, we reported on a massive COVID-19 outbreak in San Quentin. In Coronapod, we dug into how they got there. Also in the episode, we investigated whether lockdowns could have any lasting impact on young minds.Coronapod: 10 July 2020News: California's San Quentin prison declined free coronavirus tests and urgent advice — now it has a massive outbreak25:23 Communicating complex dataIn April, we found out about some of the methods that communications experts and behavioural scientists recommend to keep the public informed about risks and evidence – something that remains key for governments and other organisations during the pandemic.Coronapod: 17 April 202037:19 ‘Stick to the science’: when science gets politicalIn November, we published our miniseries “Stick to the science” which aimed to find out why a journal of science needs to cover politics. In the series we explored the history, philosophy and reality of science’s complicated relationship with politics.‘Stick to the science’: when science gets political Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Benjamin Thompson, Noah Baker and Traci Watson discuss some of 2020's most significant coronavirus research papers.In the final Coronapod of 2020, we dive into the scientific literature to reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers have discovered so much about SARS-CoV-2 – information that has been vital for public health responses and the rapid development of effective vaccines. But we also look forward to 2021, and the critical questions that remain to be answered about the pandemic.Papers discussedA Novel Coronavirus from Patients with Pneumonia in China, 2019 - New England Journal of Medicine, 24 JanuaryClinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China - The Lancet, 24 JanuaryA pneumonia outbreak associated with a new coronavirus of probable bat origin - Nature, 3 FebruaryA new coronavirus associated with human respiratory disease in China - Nature, 3 FebruaryTemporal dynamics in viral shedding and transmissibility of COVID-19 - Nature Medicine, 15 AprilSpread of SARS-CoV-2 in the Icelandic Population - New England Journal of Medicine, 11 JuneHigh SARS-CoV-2 Attack Rate Following Exposure at a Choir Practice — Skagit County, Washington, March 2020 - Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report, 15 AugustRespiratory virus shedding in exhaled breath and efficacy of face masks - Nature Medicine, 3 AprilAerosol and Surface Stability of SARS-CoV-2 as Compared with SARS-CoV-1 - New England Journal of Medicine, 13 AprilProjecting the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 through the postpandemic period - Science, 22 May Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A video game provides players with insights into pandemic responses, and our annual festive fun.In this episode:01:02 Balancing responses in a video game pandemicIn the strategy video-game Plague Inc: The Cure, players assume the role of an omnipotent global health agency trying to tackle outbreaks of increasingly nasty pathogens. We find out how the game was developed, and how it might help change public perception of pandemic responses.Plague Inc: The Cure from Ndemic Creations10:02 “We three Spacecraft travel to Mars”The first of our festive songs, we head back to July this year, and the launch of three separate space missions to the red planet. Scroll to the transcript section at the bottom of the page for the lyrics.12:54 Research HighlightsGiant pandas roll in piles of poo to keep warm, and how different bread-baking styles have led to distinct lineages of baker’s yeast.Research Highlight: Why pandas like to roll in piles of pooResearch Highlight: Sourdough starters give rise to a new line of yeast15:17 The Nature Podcast Audio Charades Competition: Lockdown editionIn this year’s festive competition, our reporters try to describe some of the biggest science stories, using only homemade sound effects. Results are mixed, at best...24:15 Nature’s 10We hear about some of the people who made it on to this year’s Nature’s 10 list this year.Nature’s 10: ten people who helped shape science in 202032:20 All I want for Christmas is vaccinesIn our final festive song, we celebrate a huge scientific achievement, and one that’s offering a little hope for 2021. Scroll to the transcript section at the bottom of the page for the lyrics.Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.Song lyrics:"We three Spacecraft travel to Mars" We three spacecraft travel to MarsBearing probes we traverse afarRockets firingLaunching, flyingOne by one we departOh-oh one from Chinaone the Statesone the Arab Emirates…Careful timingWorlds aligninglaunching on the perfect dates.First is Hope from the UAEI map weather, orbitallyMy ambitionour first missionInterplanetaryOh-oh one from Chinaone the Statesone the Arab Emirates…Careful timingWorlds aligninglaunching on the perfect dates.Next Tianwen-one will debutI’ve a rover and orbiter tooPlus a landerAnd I’ve planned aMission returning soonOh-oh one from Chinaone the Statesone the Arab Emirates…Careful... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How water chemistry is shifting researchers' thoughts on where life might have arisen, and a new model to tackle climate change equitably and economically.In this episode:00:46 A shallow start to life on Earth?It’s long been thought that life on Earth first appeared in the oceans. However, the chemical complexities involved in creating biopolymers in water has led some scientists to speculate that shallow pools on land were actually the most likely location for early life.News Feature: How the first life on Earth survived its biggest threat — water07:44 CoronapodThe COVID-19 pandemic has massively shifted the scientific landscape, changing research and funding priorities across the world. While this shift was necessary for the development of things like vaccines, there are concerns that the ‘covidization’ of research could have long-term impacts on other areas of research.News: Scientists fear that ‘covidization’ is distorting research20:45 Research HighlightsThe Hayabusa2 mission successfully delivers a tiny cargo of asteroid material back to Earth, and a team in China claims to have made the first definitive demonstration of computational ‘quantum advantage’.Nature News: Physicists in China challenge Google’s ‘quantum advantage’22:38 Calculating carbonLimiting carbon emissions is essential to tackling climate change. However, working out how to do this in a way that is fair to nations worldwide is notoriously difficult. Now, researchers have developed a model that gives some surprising insights in how to equitably limit carbon.Research Article: Bauer et al.News and Views: Trade-offs for equitable climate policy assessed29:08 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, bioluminescent Australian animals, and the collapse of the Arecibo telescope.ABC News: Biofluorescent Australian mammals and marsupials take scientists by surprise in accidental discoveryNature News: Gut-wrenching footage documents Arecibo telescope’s collapseSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Erna Solberg on fisheries, fossil fuels and the future of the oceans.This week, world leaders are announcing a series of pledges to protect and sustainably use the world’s oceans. The pledges form the crowning achievement of the ‘High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy’ a multinational group formed back in 2018. The panel has sought to bring together research, published in a number of so-called ‘blue papers’ and special reports by scientists, policy- and legal-experts from around the world – all with the ear of 14 participating world leaders.Erna Solberg, the prime minister of Norway, co-led the Panel. In this podcast, she speaks with Springer Nature’s editor-in-chief Philip Campbell about the panel’s work.The ocean in humanity’s future: read all of Nature's content on the Ocean PanelWorld View: Science can boost ocean health and human prosperitySubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A trio of genes may be key to making cells young again, and ultra precise measurement of a fundamental physics constant.In this episode:00:47 Reversing ageingResearchers claim to have identified a method to revert cells in mice eyes back to a younger state.Research article: Lu et al.News and Views: Sight restored by turning back the epigenetic clockNews: Reversal of biological clock restores vision in old mice09:39 CoronapodWe discuss emergency-use approvals for COVID-19 vaccines. Approvals are coming in fast, which presents a dilemma for scientists - they’re critically needed, but what could it mean for research?News: Why emergency COVID-vaccine approvals pose a dilemma for scientistsNews: The UK has approved a COVID vaccine — here’s what scientists now want to know27:04 Research HighlightsAncient megalodon nurseries, and predicting mud volcanoes.Research Highlight: Even Earth’s largest-ever sharks needed nurseries for their babiesResearch Highlight: How mud volcanoes are born under the sea29:38 Fine measurement of the fine-structure constantThe fine structure constant is a fundamental number that gives researchers an understanding of the laws of the universe. For years, scientists have been trying to get better measurements of it. This week, we see the most precise measurement yet.Research Article: Morel et al.News and Views: Fine-structure constant tests standard model35:00 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, a holistic plan to tackle climate challenges, and the rarest pollinator of them all - a lizard.Washington Post: An ancient people with a modern climate planThe Guardian: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scientists have finally confirmed the existence of a CNO cycle fusion reaction in the Sun, and why women’s contraception research needs a reboot.In this episode:00:47 Detection of CNO neutrinosSince the 1930s it has been theorised that stars have a specific fusion reaction known as the CNO cycle, but proof has been elusive. Now, a collaboration in Italy report detection of neutrinos that show that the CNO cycle exists.Research article: The Borexino CollaborationNews and Views: Neutrino detection gets to the core of the Sun08:48 CoronapodWe discuss the search for the animal origin of SARS-CoV-2, with researchers raiding their freezer draws to see if any animals carry similar viruses, and the latest vaccine results.News: Coronaviruses closely related to the pandemic virus discovered in Japan and CambodiaNews: Why Oxford’s positive COVID vaccine results are puzzling scientists19:32 Research HighlightsHow sleep patterns relate to ageing, and a solar-powered steam sterilizer.Research Highlight: For better health, don’t sleep your ageResearch Highlight: Technology for sterilizing medical instruments goes solar21:50 Getting women’s contraception research unstuckSince the 1960s there has been little progress on research into women’s contraceptives. This week in Nature, researchers argue that this needs to change.Comment: Reboot contraceptives research — it has been stuck for decades29:35 Briefing ChatWe discuss a highlight from the Nature Briefing. This time, a tool to summarise papers.Nature News: tl;dr: this AI sums up research papers in a sentenceTry the TLDR tool yourself!Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode:00:44 An increase in survival ratesThe COVID-19 mortality rate is falling around the world. We discuss the reasons behind this – the role of new drugs, the treatment strategies the have been learned, or re-learned, and the ever-present worry that these hard won victories could be undone by rising infection rates.News Feature: Why do COVID death rates seem to be falling?10:53 More vaccine good newsThis week, Moderna released preliminary results for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, the third positive indication from a string of vaccine announcements. Although the full data are yet to be published, do these results give us more reasons to feel hopeful?News: COVID vaccine excitement builds as Moderna reports third positive resultSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scientists have grave concerns over ethical and societal impacts of facial-recognition technology. In this surveillance special, we dig into the details.In this episode:03:24 Standing up against ‘smart cities’Cities across the globe are installing thousands of surveillance cameras equipped with facial recognition technology. Although marketed as a way to reduce crime, researchers worry that these systems are ripe for exploitation and are calling for strict regulations on their deployment.Feature: Resisting the rise of facial recognition17:44 The ethics of researching facial recognition technologyDespite concerns surrounding consent and use, researchers are still working on facial recognition technology. Can this sort of work be justified? We hear some of the debates going on in academia about this field of research.Feature: The ethical questions that haunt facial-recognition research25:02 What do researchers actually think?Nature surveyed 480 researchers who have published papers on facial recognition, AI and computer science. The results revealed that many researchers think there’s a problem.Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New fossil finds and new techniques reveal evidence that early animals were more complex than previously thought.The Cambrian explosion, around 541 million years ago, has long been regarded as a pivotal point in evolutionary history, as this is when the ancient ancestors of most of today’s animals made their first appearances in the fossil record.Before this was a period known as the Ediacaran – a time when the world was believed to be populated by strange, simple organisms. But now, modern molecular research techniques, and some newly discovered fossils, are providing evidence that some of these organisms were actually animals, including ones with sophisticated features like legs and guts.This is an audio version of our feature: These bizarre ancient species are rewriting animal evolution Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Researchers try to unpick the complex relationship between sensory pollutants and bird reproduction, and how to combat organised crime in fisheries.In this episode:00:46 Sensory pollution and bird reproductionLight- and noise-pollution have been shown to affect the behaviour of birds. However, it’s been difficult to work out whether these behavioural changes have led to bird species thriving or declining. Now, researchers have assembled a massive dataset that can begin to give some answers. Research article: Senzaki et al.10:17 CoronapodInterim results from a phase III trial show compelling evidence that a coronavirus vaccine candidate can prevent COVID-19. However, amid the optimism there remain questions to be answered – we discuss these, and what the results might mean for other vaccines in development. News: What Pfizer’s landmark COVID vaccine results mean for the pandemic23:29 Research HighlightsA tiny bat breaks a migration record, and researchers engineer a mouse’s sense of place. Research Highlight: The record-setting flight of a bat that weighs less than a toothbrush; Research Article: Robinson et al.25:39 Organised crime in fisheriesWhen you think of fishing, organised crime probably isn’t the first thing that springs to mind. However, billions of dollars every year from the fishing industry are lost to criminal enterprises. We discuss some of the impacts and what can be done about it. Research Article: Witbooi et al.32:13 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, a time-capsule discovered on the Irish coast provides a damning indictment of Arctic warming, and some human remains challenge the idea of ‘man-the-hunter’. The Guardian: Arctic time capsule from 2018 washes up in Ireland as polar ice melts; Science: Woman the hunter: Ancient Andean remains challenge old ideas of who speared big gameSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Astronomers pin down the likely origins of mysterious fast radio bursts, and the latest on what the US election means for science.In this episode:00:46 The origins of mysterious fast radio burstsThe detection of a brief but enormously-powerful radio burst originating from within the Milky Way could help researchers answer one of astronomy’s biggest mysteries.Research article: Bochenek et al.; News: Astronomers spot first fast radio burst in the Milky Way07:59 CoronapodAt the start of the pandemic, there were fears that schools could become hotspots for infections. We discuss the evidence suggesting that this is unlikely to be the case, and the rates of infection in children of different ages.News: Why schools probably aren’t COVID hotspots18:34 Research HighlightsOctopuses taste with touch, and a tool to watch dangerously-reactive metals grow.Research Highlight: How octopuses taste with their arms — all eight of them; Research Highlight: How to make violently reactive metals and watch them grow21:28 An update on the US electionAlthough the winner of this year’s US election is unclear, we discuss the current situation and what it might mean for science.News: Scientists aghast as hopes for landslide Biden election victory vanish28:58 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, ancient genomes reveal the migration of man’s best friend, and a new polio vaccine looks set to receive emergency approval.News: Ancient dog DNA reveals 11,000 years of canine evolution; News: New polio vaccine poised to get emergency WHO approvalSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Science and politics are not easy bedfellows - "Stick to the science" is a three part series which aims to find out why.In the third and final episode we try to get to the bottom of how journalists, communicators and policymakers influence how science is perceived. We discuss the danger of politicization and ask the question - can science be part of the political narrative without compromising its values?Tell us what you think of this series: https://go.nature.com/2HzXVLcThis episode was produced by Nick Howe, with editing from Noah Baker and Benjamin Thompson. It featured: Deborah Blum, Bruce Lewenstein, Dan Sarewitz, Hannah Schmid-Petri, Shobita Parthasarathy, and Beth Simone Noveck. Further ReadingThe great fish pain debatePoliticization of mask wearingMasks workDonald Trump used a quote from Anthony Fauci to falsely suggest Fauci approved of his actions in the pandemicComparing Norway and Sweden in their coronavirus combating actionsBeth Simone Noveck argues for more open and transparent governanceSolving Public Problems, by Beth Simone NoveckSmart Citizens, Smarter State: The Technologies of Expertise and the Future of Governing, by Beth Simone NoveckThe Received Wisdom Podcast, with Shobita Parthasarathy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Science and politics are not easy bedfellows - "Stick to the science" is a three part series which aims to find out why.In this episode we're asking how politics shapes the life of a working scientist. Be it through funding agendas, cultural lobbies or personal bias, there's a myriad of ways in which politics can shape the game; influencing the direction and quality of research, But what does this mean for the objective ideals of science?Tell us what you think of this series: https://go.nature.com/2HzXVLcThis episode was produced by Nick Howe, with editing from Noah Baker and Benjamin Thompson. it featured contributions from many people, including: Mayana Zatz, Shobita Parthasarathy, Michael Erard, Peg AtKisson, Susannah Gal, Allen Rostron, Mark Rosenberg, and Alice Bell. Further ReadingBrazil’s budget cuts threaten more than 80,000 science scholarshipsMove to reallocate funds from scientific institutions in São PauloBacklash to “Shrimps on a treadmill”Explanation of the Dickey AmendmentAfter over 20 years the CDC can now fund gun violence researchSpirometer use “race-correction” softwareBlack researchers less likely to get funding from the National Institutes of Health in the USBlack researchers may get less funding from the National Institutes of Health due to topic choiceBlack researchers fill fewer academic roles in the UKClinical trials use mostly white participantsThe Received Wisdom Podcast, with Shobita Parthasarathy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Science and politics are not easy bedfellows - "Stick to the science" is a three part series which aims to find out why.In this episode we delve into the past, and uncover the complicated relationship between science, politics and power. Along the way, we come up against some pretty big questions: what is science? Should science be apolitical? And where does Nature fit in?Tell us what you think of this series: https://go.nature.com/2HzXVLcThis episode was produced by Nick Howe, with editing from Noah Baker and Benjamin Thompson. it featured contributions from many researchers, including: Shobita Parthasarathy, Alice Bell, Dan Sarewitz, Anna Jay, Melinda Baldwin, Magdelena Skipper, Steven Shapin, David Edgerton, Deborah Blum, Bruce Lewenstein and Chiara Ambrosio. Quotes from social media were read by: Shamini Bundell, Flora Graham, Dan Fox, Edie Edmundson and Bredan Maher. And excerpts from Nature were read by Jen Musgreave.Further ReadingHistory of Education in the UKNature’s HistoryNature’s Mission statementNature editorial on covering politicsMaking “Nature”, by Melinda BaldwinNever Pure: Historical Studies of Science as if It Was Produced by People with Bodies, Situated in Time, Space, Culture, and Society, and Struggling for Credibility and Authority, by Steven ShapinDavid Edgerton’s writing on the history of science and politics in the GuardianThe received wisdom podcast with Shobita Parthasarathy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The chances of mini-brains becoming sentient, and a UK government decision threatens gender diversity in academia.In this episode:00:59 The ethics of creating consciousnessBrain organoids, created by culturing stem cells in a petri dish, are a mainstay of neuroscience research. But as these mini-brains become more complex, is there the chance they could become conscious, and if so, how could we tell?News Feature: Can lab-grown brains become conscious?09:01 CoronapodSo called ‘herd immunity’ is claimed by some as a way to break the chain of infection and curtail the pandemic. However epidemiologists say that this course of action is ineffective and will lead to large numbers of infections and deaths.News Explainer: The false promise of herd immunity for COVID-1920:59 Research HighlightsVolcanic ash degrades ancient art in Pompeii, and the aerial ineptitude of two bat-like dinosaurs.Research Highlight: The volcanic debris that buried Pompeii wreaks further destruction; Research Highlight: A dead end on the way to the sky23:22 How cutting red-tape could harm gender diversity in UK academiaThe Athena SWAN scheme, designed to boost gender-equality in UK academia, has proved effective, and has been exported to countries around the world. But now a decision by the UK government to cut bureaucracy could mean that institutions pay less heed to schemes like this and threaten future efforts to increase gender diversity in UK academia.Editorial: Equality and diversity efforts do not ‘burden’ research — no matter what the UK government says31:00 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, oncologists discover a potential new human organ, and how re-examined fossils have given new insights into the size of baby tyrannosaurs.New York Times: Doctors May Have Found Secretive New Organs in the Center of Your Head; National Geographic: First tyrannosaur embryo fossils revealedOther linksVote for the podcast in this year's Lovie Awards! Your vote can help us win a People's Lovie. Two of our videos are also up an award, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The structure of a beetle’s super-strong exoskeleton could open up new engineering applications, and efforts to address diversity and equality imbalances in academia.In this episode:01:17 Insights into an armoured insectThe diabolical ironclad beetle has an exoskeleton so strong, it can survive being run over by a car. Researchers have identified how the structure of the exoskeleton provides this strength, and show that mimicking it may lead to improved aerospace components.Research Article: Rivera et al.; News and Views: Diabolical ironclad beetles inspire tougher joints for engineering applications10:42 CoronapodThis week, the UK government announced plans to run a ‘human challenge trial’, where healthy volunteers are deliberately infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We talk about the process, the ethical and procedural hurdles, and whether such an approach will provide any useful data.News: Dozens to be deliberately infected with coronavirus in UK ‘human challenge’ trials22:46 Research HighlightsA method to assess the age of RNA, and how southern elephant seals helped to identify supercooled seawater.Research article: Rodriques et al.; Research article: Haumann et al.25:20 Efforts to address equity in scienceJulie Posselt has been investigating the efforts of academic institutions to assess ingrained imbalances in diversity and equality. We talk to her about these efforts and her new book on the subject.Book review: How to get more women and people of colour into graduate school — and keep them there31:43 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, back pay for female professors at Princeton, and a newly uncovered superpower for the tiny tardigrade.CNN: Princeton will pay nearly $1M in back pay to female professors in sweeping discrimination settlement; Science: New species of water bear uses fluorescent ‘shield’ to survive lethal UV radiation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode:00:44 Room-temperature superconductivityFor decades, scientists have been searching for a material that superconducts at room temperature. This week, researchers show a material that appears to do so, but only under pressures close to those at the centre of the planet.The paper covered in this podcast has been retracted following concerns surrounding data processing steps.Read more in this article: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-03066-zThe retracted paper can be found here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2801-z 08:26 CoronapodThe Coronapod team revisit mask-use. Does public use really control the virus? And how much evidence is enough to turn the tide on this ongoing debate? News Feature: Face masks: what the data say19:37 Research HighlightsA new method provides 3D printed materials with some flexibility, and why an honest post to Facebook may do you some good. Research Highlight: A promising 3D-printing method gets flexible; Research Highlight: Why Facebook users might want to show their true colours22:11 The best way to restore ecosystemsRestoring degraded or human-utilised landscapes could help fight climate change and protect biodiversity. However, there are multiple costs and benefits that need to be balanced. Researchers hope a newly developed algorithm will help harmonise these factors and show the best locations to target restoration. Research Article: Strassburg et al.; News and Views: Prioritizing where to restore Earth’s ecosystems28:40 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, a 44 year speed record for solving a maths problem is beaten… just, and an ancient set of tracks show a mysterious journey. Quanta: Computer Scientists Break Traveling Salesperson Record; The Conversation: Fossil footprints: the fascinating story behind the longest known prehistoric journey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Researchers are aligning data on animal neuronal activity with behavioural information recorded on millisecond timescales, to uncover the signatures of internal brain states associated with things like moods and motivation.This is an audio version of our feature: Inside the mind of an animal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A conversation about the US election and the possible fallout for science, and are maternal behaviours learned or innate?In this episode:00:46 US electionIn the United States the presidential race is underway, and Nature is closely watching to see what might happen for science. We speak to two of our US based reporters to get their insight on the election and what to look out for. News Feature: A four-year timeline of Trump’s impact on science; News Feature: How Trump damaged science — and why it could take decades to recover; News: What a Joe Biden presidency would mean for five key science issues12:36 CoronapodWith news of the US President Donald Trump contracting coronavirus, the Coronapod team discuss the treatments he has received and what this might mean for the US government. News: Contact tracing Trump's travels would require 'massive' effort25:33 Research HighlightsHow binary stars could become black hole mergers, and a prehistoric massacre. Research Highlight: The odd couple: how a pair of mismatched black holes formed; Research Highlight: A bustling town’s annihilation is frozen in time27:36 Are parental behaviours innate?Nature versus nurture is a debate as old as science itself,and in a new paper maternal behaviours are innate or learned, by looking at the neurological responses of adult mice to distress calls from mice pups. Research Article: Schiavo et al.33:03 Briefing ChatThis week sees the announcement of the Nobel Prizes, so we chat about the winners and their accomplishments. News: Physicists who unravelled mysteries of black holes win Nobel prize; News: Virologists who discovered hepatitis C win medicine Nobel; News: Pioneers of revolutionary CRISPR gene editing win chemistry Nobel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How current and future ice loss in Greenland compares to the past, and using graphene to make ultra-sensitive radiation detectors.In this episode:00:45 Greenland’s historic ice lossClimate change is accelerating the loss of ice and glaciers around the world leading to unprecedented levels of disappearance. Researchers have drilled samples from deep in the Greenland ice sheet, to model how current, and future, losses compare to those seen in the last 12,000 years. Research Article: Briner et al.; News and Views: The worst is yet to come for the Greenland ice sheet; Editorial: Arctic science cannot afford a new cold war09:23 CoronapodDespite recovering from an initial COVID-19 infection, many patients are experiencing severe symptoms months later. We find out about the impact of ‘Long Covid’ and the research that’s being done to try and understand it. News Feature: The lasting misery of coronavirus long-haulers18:55 Research HighlightsA robot defeats humans at yet another sport, and extreme diving in Cuvier’s beaked whales. Research Highlight: A robot triumphs in a curling match against elite humans; Research Highlight: A smiling whale makes a record deep dive21:20 A radiation detector made of grapheneRadiation-detectors known as bolometers are vital instruments in many fields of science. This week, two groups of researchers have harnessed graphene to make super sensitive bolometers that could be used to improve quantum computers, or detect subtle traces of molecules on other planets. Research Article: Lee et al.; Research Article: Kokkoniemi et al.27:49 Briefing ChatWe discuss some of the latest stories highlighted in the Nature Briefing. This week we chat about the lack of diversity in academia, and an animal ally that can protect wildlife during forest fires. Nature Careers: Diversity in science: next steps for research group leaders; National Geographic: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coaxing tiny colloid particles into a diamond structure, and manipulating cell death and homeostasis in neurodegenerative disease.In this episode:00:45 Creating colloidal crystalsFor decades, researchers have attempted to create crystals with a diamond-like structure using tiny colloid particles. Now, a team thinks they’ve cracked it, which could open the door for new optical technologies. Research Article: He et al.07:50 CoronapodRapid antigen tests for coronavirus have been described in some circles as ‘game changers’ in the fight against COVID-19. We discuss their strengths and weaknesses, and how they could fit into an overall testing strategy. News Feature: Fast coronavirus tests: what they can and can’t do; If you are involved in a clinical trial for a coronavirus vaccine or treatment, please fill in our survey.23:52 Research HighlightsClimate change causes greening in the Arctic, and the peptide that gives the Giant Stinging Tree its sting. Research Highlight: A frozen land goes green as Earth warms; Research Highlight: How the giant stinging tree of Australia can inflict months of agony26:04 Controlling cellular deathIn neurodegenerative disease, cell death can be prevented, however this can lead to the accumulation of incorrectly folded proteins. Now researchers have found targets that can be used to both stop cell death and protein aggregation. Research Article: Xu et al.32:20 Briefing ChatWe discuss some of the latest stories highlighted in the Nature Briefing. This week we talk about the increasing complexity of scientific writing, and uncovering the real origins of charcoal. Nature Index: Science is getting harder to read; Nature News: Microscopy illuminates charcoal’s sketchy originsSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mapping the migration of the Vikings, and the world’s smallest ultrasound device.In this episode:00:45 Following the Viking footprint across EuropeTo better understand who the Vikings were, and where they went, researchers have mapped genomes from hundreds of archaeological artifacts. Research Article: Margaryan et al.08:00 CoronapodPhase III trials of a leading coronavirus vaccine were abruptly paused last week – we discuss how news of the event leaked out, and the arguments for transparency in clinical trials. News: A leading coronavirus vaccine trial is on hold: scientists react; News: Scientists relieved as coronavirus vaccine trial restarts — but question lack of transparency; If you are involved in a clinical trial for a coronavirus vaccine or treatment, please fill in our survey.21:05 Research HighlightsA burnt grain silo gives insight into ancient tax collection, and how hummingbirds survive the cold Andean nights. Research Highlight: Ancient tax collectors amassed a fortune — until it went up in smoke; Research Highlight: Why some of the world’s zippiest birds go stiff and cold every night23:40 Ultra-tiny ultrasoundScientists have developed an ultrasound detector which is smaller than the wavelength of sound it detects, providing highly detailed imaging at a cellular level; Research Article: ; Research Article: Shnaiderman et al.29:53 Briefing ChatWe discuss some of the latest stories highlighted in the Nature Briefing. This week we talk about why California has an orange hue, and the strangeness at the edge of the Solar System. Forbes: The Science Behind Mysterious Orange Skies In California; BBC Future: The weird space that lies outside our Solar SystemSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keeping electronics from overheating, and how to include minority populations in genetic analyses.In this episode:00:46 Cool computersKeeping components cool is a major hurdle when it comes to increasing electronic power. This week, we find out about a new way to integrate tiny microfluidic channels directly into circuits, to help keep them cool. Research Article: van Erp et al.06:57 CoronapodBy comparing coronavirus genomes taken from people around the world, researchers are getting an idea of how SARS-CoV-2 is changing as it spreads. We discuss a particular genetic mutation that rapidly became dominant early in the pandemic, and the effect it may have had on the outbreak. News: The coronavirus is mutating — does it matter?21:41 Research HighlightsHow rock avalanches can cause destructive air blasts, and melting glaciers cause lakes to grow. Research Highlight: The violent blasts that can add to an avalanche’s devastation; Research Article: Shugar et al.23:59 The people left out of genetic studiesMinority populations are often underrepresented in genetic study recruitment. However, even when data about them is collected it may go unused. We find out why, and what can be done about it. Comment: Don’t ignore genetic data from minority populations30:51 Briefing ChatWe discuss some of the latest stories highlighted in the Nature Briefing. This week we discuss how bacterially-infected mosquitoes could curb dengue fever, and some surprisingly large black holes. Nature News: The mosquito strategy that could eliminate dengue; Nature News: ‘It’s mindboggling!’: astronomers detect most powerful black-hole collision yetSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Engineering yeast to produce medicines, and the mechanism of anaesthetic action.In this episode:00:44 Making medicine with yeastThe tropane alkaloids are an important class of medicine, but they are produced agriculturally leaving them vulnerable to extreme weather and world events. Now, researchers have engineered yeast to produce these important molecules. Research Article: Srinivasan and Smolke06:36 CoronapodWe discuss the complex story of immunity to COVID-19, and how this may affect vaccine development. News Feature: What the immune response to the coronavirus says about the prospects for a vaccine16:33 Research HighlightsThe neurological reason for overindulgence, and the bacteria that harness copper electrodes. Research Highlight: The brain circuit that encourages eating for pleasure; Research Highlight: Microbes with mettle build their own electrical ‘wires’19:07 The molecular mechanisms of general anaestheticsDespite over a century of use, there’s a lot we don’t know about how anaesthetics function. This week, researchers have identified how some of them they bind to a specific neuronal receptor. Research Article: Kim et al.26:34 Briefing ChatWhilst the Nature Briefing is on its summer holidays, we take a look at some other science from around the web. This time we discuss Elon Musk’s latest showcase of a brain-chip, and the physics behind how boats can float upside down on levitating liquid. New Scientist: Elon Musk demonstrated a Neuralink brain implant in a live pig; Business Insider: Elon Musk's AI brain chip company Neuralink is doing its first live tech demo on Friday. Here's what we know so far about the wild science behind it.; Research Article: Apffel et al.; Video: The weird physics of upside down buoyancy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Protecting delicate quantum bits, and a competition to replicate findings from ancient computer code.In this episode:01:04 Quantum computers vs ionizing radiationThe quantum bits, or ‘qubits’, central to the operation of quantum computers are notoriously sensitive. Now, researchers have assessed the damaging effects that ionizing radiation can have on these qubits and what can be done about it. Research Article: Vepsäläinen et al.08:15 CoronapodWe discuss the US Food and Drug Administration’s decision to authorize convalescent plasma for emergency use in COVID-19 patients. As accusations of political interference fly, what might this mean for the future of the US coronavirus response?20:39 Research HighlightsFinding new populations of a long-lost elephant shrew, and the hunting method of ancient ichthyosaurs. Research Highlight: An elephant-nosed creature ‘lost to science’ was living just next door; Research Highlight: An extinct reptile’s last meal shows it was a grip-and-tear killer22:34 The reproducibility of computer codeMany scientists have published papers based on code. Recently though, a gauntlet was thrown down for researchers to try to replicate their code, 10 years or more after they wrote it. Tech Feature: Challenge to scientists: does your ten-year-old code still run?28:06 Briefing ChatWe take a look at some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time we discuss a cancer diagnosis in a dinosaur, and how to brew yourself a career outside of academia. Science: Doctors diagnose advanced cancer—in a dinosaur; Nature Careers Feature: The brews and bakes that forged career paths outside academiaSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.Other linksVideo: March of the microscopic robots Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new way to produce aerogels opens up their use, and understanding how sulfur can change state between two liquids.In this episode:01:05 Printing aerogelsAerogels are materials with impressive insulating properties, but they’re difficult to handle, due to their innate fragility. Now, researchers have shown a new way to 3D print the most common form of aerogel, opening up a range of potential new applications. Research Article: Zhao et al.07:00 CoronapodTo provide targeted public health interventions during the pandemic, it’s vital that data are collected and shared effectively. We discuss the countries doing this well, and find out how fragmented systems are preventing epidemiologists from giving up-to-date information on outbreaks. News: Why the United States is having a coronavirus data crisis21:11 Research HighlightsFats in the blood as a possible marker of autism, and the selfish component to solar panel adoption. Research Highlight: Fats in the blood linked to autism; Research Highlight: Self-interest powers decision to go solar23:24 Liquid-liquid transitionsIt’s been thought that some liquids may be able to exist in two distinct states, but evidence has been scarce. Now, researchers show that sulfur can exist in two liquid states, and have discovered some insights into how this might occur. Research Article: Henry et al.; Video: 24 hours in a synchrotron30:09 Briefing ChatWe take a look at some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time we discuss the English language’s dominance in science, and how to make squid transparent. Symmetry: Physics in a second language; OneZero: The First Gene-Edited Squid in History Is a Biological BreakthroughSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Triggering swarming behaviour in locusts, and new insights into how humans synchronize.In this episode:01:56 Understanding swarming behaviourSwarms of migratory locusts regularly devastate crops across the world, but why these swarms form has been a mystery. Now, a team of researchers have identified a compound that causes solitary locusts to come together in their billions - a finding that could have practical applications for preventing this behaviour. Research article: Guo et al.; News & Views: Catching plague locusts with their own scent08:48 CoronapodWe discuss the role that monoclonal antibodies may have as therapeutics to treat COVID-19. Although promising, there are numerous hurdles to overcome before these drugs can be used. News: Antibody therapies could be a bridge to a coronavirus vaccine — but will the world benefit?15:30 Research HighlightsA satellite’s fecal find reveals that Antarctica’s emperor penguin population is much larger than previously thought, and changing how genes are named to avoid Excel’s autocorrect. Research Highlight: Satellites find penguins by following the poo; Research article: Bruford et al.17:49 An out-of-sync arts projectA collaborative art-science project featuring a network of connected violinists has given new insights into how humans synchronize. Research article: Shahal et al.23:51 Briefing ChatWe take a look at some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time we find out about the odd immune system of the anglerfish, and the beetle that can pass through a frog’s digestive system without coming to harm. Wired: The Anglerfish Deleted Its Immune System to Fuse With Its Mate; Research paper: SugiuraSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2015, after a nine-and-a-half-year journey, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft raced past Pluto, beaming images of the dwarf planet back to Earth.Five years after the mission, researchers are poring over images of Pluto’s far-side, which was shrouded in shadow during New Horizon’s flypast. They hope that these images will help give a better understanding of how Pluto was born and even whether a hidden ocean resides beneath the world’s icy crust.This is an audio version of our feature: Pluto’s dark side spills its secrets — including hints of a hidden ocean Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Skin's unusual response to stretching is finally explained, and the latest in a huge effort to map DNA.In this episode:01:06 Stretching skinFor decades it’s been known that stretching skin causes more skin to grow, but the reasons why have been a mystery. Now, researchers have uncovered a mechanism to explain the phenomenon. Research Article: Aragona et al.; News and Views: Stretch exercises for stem cells expand the skin07:49 CoronapodWe discuss how the coronavirus pandemic has affected scientific meetings and how the learned societies that organise them are adapting. How scientific conferences will survive the coronavirus shock; How scientific societies are weathering the pandemic’s financial storm; A year without conferences? How the coronavirus pandemic could change research18:18 Research HighlightsA genetic trait for pain-resistance, and the accessibility-aware ancient Greeks. Research Highlight: A gene helps women in labour to skip the painkillers; Research Highlight: This temple was equipped with accessibility ramps more than 2,000 years ago20:42 ENCODE updatesThe ENCODE project aims to identify all the regions in the human genome involved in gene regulation. This week, data from its third iteration has been published and we examine the highlights. Research Article: Snyder; News and Views: Expanded ENCODE delivers invaluable genomic encyclopaedia28:50 Briefing ChatWe take a look at some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time we look at how smallpox may be much older than previously thought, and how the Earth’s atmosphere rings like a bell. Nature News: Smallpox and other viruses plagued humans much earlier than suspected; Physics World: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New evidence may push back the date on human arrival to the Americas, and an examination of science’s flaws.In this episode:00:59 Ancient AmericansTwo papers suggest that humans were present in the Americas thousands of years before many people have thought. We examine the evidence. Research Article: Ardelean et al.; Research Article: Becerra-Valdivia and Higham; News and Views: Evidence grows that peopling of the Americas began more than 20,000 years ago10:44 CoronapodWe discuss the latest results from vaccine trials around the world, and controversy in the US as COVID-19 data collection moves out of the CDC. News: Coronavirus vaccines leap through safety trials — but which will work is anybody’s guess24:38 Research HighlightsHow being green makes things easy for some frogs, and how waves will be affected by climate change. Research Highlight: How frogs became green — again, and again, and again; Research Highlight: Extreme Arctic waves set to hit new heights27:11 How can science improve?A new book highlights some of the flaws of how science is done. We caught up with the author to find out his thoughts on how science can be cleaned up. Books and Arts: Fraud, bias, negligence and hype in the lab — a rogues’ gallery35:54 Briefing ChatWe take a look at some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time we discuss a puzzling new insight into the expansion of the Universe, and an update to Plan S that will allow open-access research to be published in any journal. Nature News: Mystery over Universe’s expansion deepens with fresh data; Nature News: Open-access Plan S to allow publishing in any journalSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.