The Nature Podcast brings you the best stories from the world of science each week. We cover everything from astronomy to zoology, highlighting the most exciting research from each issue of the Nature journal. We meet the scientists behind the results and provide in-depth analysis from Nature's journalists and editors.
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In this episode: 00:57 How your smartphone’s camera could measure your heart rate Research article: Liao et al. 08:55 Research Highlights Nature: A star gone rogue tears through the Galaxy Nature: Gold keeps glittering courtesy of surface chemistry 11:04 Should you try something new in a restaurant? Maths has the answer Nature: Feynman solved the ‘restaurant dilemma’ 50 years ago — now a study confirms his mathematics Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, op...
In this episode: 00:21 When witnesses identify suspects from police line-ups, confidence matters Nature: Memory on trial: the new science of when to trust eyewitness testimony 07:15 Registered Reports: how this ‘double peer review’ process could benefit scientists and their results Nature: Nature is expanding Registered Reports to all the fields in which we publish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
On 17 May the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an ongoing Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. Centred on the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, the outbreak has seen mounting numbers of suspected cases and deaths linked to the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus. In this podcast we hear what's currently known about the outbreak and the efforts of clinicians, researchers and public health officials to halt its progress. Nature: Ebola outbreak is...
In this episode: 00:46 Meet the AI scientists designed to accelerate research Research article: Ghareeb et al. Research article: Gottweis et al. Nature: Teams of AI agents boost speed of research Editorial: Why AI cannot do good science without humans Nature: Do you hate or love AI? Take Nature’s poll 13:25 Research Highlights Nature: Dried to survive: desiccated tardigrades tolerate high heat Nature: Pristine Antarctic ice records the Solar System’s travels 15:35 Using LiDAR to look around corn...
In this episode: 00:34 What questions remain about the hantavirus outbreak? Nature: Hantavirus outbreak exposes uncertainty about how disease spreads Nature: There is no vaccine for deadly hantavirus: what that means for future outbreaks 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: 00:42 Is red-light therapy all hype? Disclaimer: The opinions and assertions expressed herein by Juanita Anders are those of the speaker and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences or the Department of War. Nature: The surprising science behind red-light therapy — and how it really works 10:52 Research Highlights Nature: Trafficked pangolins can be traced to their source by DNA — even to a specific forest Nature:...
Although scientists have long been able to gather DNA from water and soil, it's only recently that they've started to see the air as a source of genetic information. Airborne DNA is already being used to monitor individual species, but researchers hope its abundance could have multiple uses, including judging the success of conservation efforts or attacks with biological weapons. However, there remains much to understand, such as how far DNA travels in the air, and the ethics involved in the pot...
00:31 The science of attention spans Nature Feature: Are attention spans really shrinking? What the science says 04:54 Data centres in space? Nature News Explainer: AI data hubs in space: when will they take flight? Nature Comment: Space diplomacy: bridging the operating gaps between myriad missions 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: 00:42 Probing the unconscious brain’s processing ability Research Article: Katlowitz et al. Nature: Even the unconscious brain can learn — and predict what you’ll say next 12:32 Research Highlights Nature: An electrifying test to find a good coffee Nature: Forest pests hit trees hard as temperatures rise Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
In this episode: 00:27 How a parasite unveiled a mitochondrial secret Nature: Mitochondria can spawn new ‘organelles’ — hinting at how modern cells evolved 06:13 The extinct cephalopods that could have been enormous Nature: Did kraken-like octopuses rule Cretaceous seas? Massive jaw fossils offer clues 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: 00:45 How eating can boost the immune system Research Article: Kumar et al. 08:28 Research Highlights Nature: Cosmic-ray detection heralds era of mega-observatories for neutrinos Nature: Little ants groom big ones in a desert spa 10:53 The pressing need to plan for future nuclear disasters World View: Forty years after Chornobyl, more nuclear disasters are inevitable — plan for them Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis ...
In this episode of Nature hits the books , we speak with Nature 's Helen Pearson whose book Beyond Belief: How Evidence Shows What Really Works looks at the history of using evidence, rather than opinion, in decision making. The book traces the course of the movement in various disciplines, such as the rise of evidence-based medicine in the 90s, looking at the rebels who led the charge, the barriers they faced, and why the use of evidence is crucial at a time when misinformation is rife. Beyond ...
In this episode: 00:45 The table-tennis robot that can mix it with the pros Research Article: Dürr et al. News and Views: Robot can beat elite players at table tennis Video: This robot can beat you at table tennis 14:13 Research Highlights Nature: Venus’s impenetrable haze could be made of cosmic dust Nature: Graves reveal plague’s inequitable toll 16:21 Why physicists can’t agree on the strength of Big G Nature: How big is Big G? Mystery deepens after ten-year effort to measure gravity’s streng...
In this episode: 00:30 The penguins measuring environmental PFAS Science: Penguins become marine detectives, thanks to pollutant-detecting anklets 05:14 Treating autoimmune diseases with CAR-T Nature: One woman, three autoimmune diseases: CAR-T therapy vanquishes ultra-rare disease trio 10:34 Why an anglerfish’s lure might have two uses Science: Why do anglerfish have glowing lures? It might be sex Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis f...
In this episode: 00:46 A massive trial assessing the outcomes of ‘off label’ cancer treatment Research Article: Verkerk et al . 12:49 Research Highlights Nature: Microbial hockey: bacteria can spin a ‘puck’ just by swimming Nature: Regular physical activity in midlife cuts risk of early death 15:14 10,000 years of western Eurasian evolution Nature: Landmark ancient-genome study shows surprise acceleration of human evolution Research Article: Akbari et al. Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissa...
In this episode: On Monday, reporter Alexandra Witze was in the heart of the Artemis II mission’s science operations. She tells us about the experience and what NASA’s researchers have learnt from the mission so far. Nature: I was with Artemis II’s scientists during the Moon fly-by. Here’s what I saw Nature: First photos from Artemis II: see stunning ‘Earthset’ and more Nature: Historic Artemis II Moon fly-by — Nature’s live coverage as it happened Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable dai...
In this episode: 00:41 Exosome therapies could deliver drugs to hard to reach places Nature: Eye drops made from pig semen deliver cancer treatment to mice 5:08 The impact of parenthood on women’s academic careers Nature: Motherhood derails women’s academic careers — these data reveal how and why 10:34 The unusual suction that lets Sunbirds drink Science: These birds suck—literally Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox...
In this podcast we'll talk about NASA's Artemis II launch, which has ushered in a new era of lunar exploration. Nature : Lift off! Artemis II mission sends humans to the Moon — opening a new era of exploration Nature: Artemis II mission is about to fly humans to the Moon — here’s the science they’ll do Nature: Humanity is heading back to the Moon — why aren’t more scientists thrilled? Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your in...
In this episode: 00:46 Collecting contrails at 30,000 feet Research Article: Voigt et al. 11:23 Research Highlights Nature: Sunken Soviet nuclear submarine’s radioactive release Nature: History of ‘forever’ chemicals is written in Antarctic snow 13:34 Fakery in science April Fakes Day 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....
The Nature Briefing Podcast delves into two groundbreaking science stories. First, researchers discuss successfully transplanting synthetic genomes into "dead" bacterial cells, offering a novel method for genetic engineering and avoiding false positives. Second, a long-term experiment reveals a definitive limit to serial cloning in mice, showing that after 58 generations, accumulated mutations and genetic instability lead to "genetic mayhem," raising critical questions for animal breeding and pet cloning.
00:44 Why insects aren’t massive Research Article : Snelling et al. 11:39 Research Highlights Nature: Faster ticking of ‘biological clock’ predicts shorter lifespan Nature : Mighty mini-magnet is low in cost and light on energy use 14:05 CRISPR creates CAR-T cancer therapy inside mice Research Article: Nyberg et al. News & Views: A gene-editing method generates immunotherapeutic CAR T cells in the body Nature: CRISPR makes enhanced cancer-fighting immune cells inside mice Subscribe to Nature...
In this episode: 00:22 Exploring how gut microorganisms contribute to ageing Nature: Memory loss is fuelled by gut microbes in ageing mice 04:30 How good jokes are in short supply during academic conferences Nature: Knock knock, no one’s there. Study finds scientists’ jokes mostly fall flat 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: 00:46 Piecing together a biochemical puzzle Research Article : Lombe et al. 12:26 Research Highlights Nature: Electric-vehicle batteries toughen up to beat the heat Nature: Live parrots were carried across the Andes before the Incas’ rise Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
00:26 Why researchers keep using Doom in their research Nature: How the classic computer game Doom became a tool for science 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....
A study reveals how the asexual Amazon molly defies evolutionary expectations — plus, evidence of what may be powering superluminous supernovae. In this episode: 00:46 Unravelling the genetics of an asexual fish that should be extinct Research Article: Ricemeyer et al. News and Views: How an all-female fish species defies evolutionary expectations 10:19 Research Highlights Nature: Jam-packed star system is most compact of its kind ever found Nature: Peanut-processing microbes ward ...
In this episode: 00:25 How paediatricians’ antibodies could treat serious viral infections New Scientist: Paediatricians’ blood used to make new treatments for RSV and colds 04:22 Galileo’s annotations in an ancient text Science: Galileo’s handwritten notes found in ancient astronomy text 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....
Injectable fluid safely fills area in which blood clots can form, in animal trials — plus, strong evidence that an elusive form of diamond has been made in the lab. 00:47 A magnetic seal to stop clots forming in the heart Research Article : Wang et al. News and Views: Magnetic fluid offers better seal in heart-plugging medical procedure Video: Magnetic gel injected into the heart could stop strokes 07:02 Research Highlights Nature: Sewage systems secretly waft pollution into the air Nature: This...
This is an audio version of our Feature: Many people have no mental imagery. What’s going on in their brains? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On Pokémon's 30th anniversary, this episode delves into its unexpected impact on science. It highlights how the franchise has inspired natural history exhibitions, influenced species naming, and even prompted researchers to create a phylogenetic tree of Pokémon. The discussion also covers an inventive use of Pokémon-themed fake papers to identify and expose predatory academic journals, showcasing its far-reaching influence beyond entertainment.
High-speed footage reveals shoe squeaks can start with a tiny bolt of lightning — plus, evidence that a debated brain phenomenon exists in humans. 00:44 The science of squeaky shoes Research Article : Djellouli et al. Basketball sound effects via Bradley Kanaris/Getty. 09:05 Research Highlights Nature: Runaway black hole leaves a trail of stars Nature: Super-sticky feet help a robot to climb the walls 11:31 Evidence of hippocampal neurogenesis Research Article: Disouky et al. Subscribe to Nature...
