Episode description

In this episode:

Cancer cells can spread to bones in the late stages of disease and in many cancers, cells actually preferentially metastasise to the spine. The reason for this has been a puzzle to researchers for years, but now a team has found a new kind of stem cell that may be involved in this process. The stem cell is found in mice and humans and could represent a clinical target in the treatment of cancer.

Research article: Sun et al.

News and Views: Stem cells provide clues to why vertebrae attract tumour cells

A preference for certain percussion instruments among palm cockatoos, and modelling where people wait on train platforms.

Research Highlight: This parrot taps out beats — and it custom-builds its instruments

Research Highlight: The maths of how we wait in crowded places

This time, a second trial shows the effectiveness of using MDMA to help treat post-traumatic stress disorder, and how an upgrade to an X-ray laser will let researchers make ultra-crisp ‘molecular movies’.

Nature News: Psychedelic drug MDMA moves closer to US approval following success in PTSD trial

Nature News: World’s most powerful X-ray laser will ‘film’ chemical reactions in unprecedented detail

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