Episode description

Researchers have developed a graphene ‘tongue’ that uses AI to tell the subtle differences between drinks. Graphene has long been sought after as a chemical sensor, but tiny variations between devices have meant that it couldn’t be used very reliably. The team behind the ‘tongue’ got around this problem by training an AI to tell the difference between similar liquids regardless of variations between graphene devices. They hope that their work shows that it’s possible to use ‘imperfect’ chemical sensors to get accurate readings and that the ‘tongue’ will be able to help detect problems with food.

Research Article: Pannone et al.

A 3D-printed optical microscope that can image biological samples with ultrahigh resolution, and how newly-hatched sea turtles dig their way up to the beach.

Research Highlight: A ‘Swiss army knife’ microscope that doesn’t break the bank

Research Highlight: Baby sea turtles ‘swim’ up from buried nests to the open air

Studies of migrating Pacific salmon have revealed that these animals transport thousands of tonnes of nutrients and kilograms of contaminants from the ocean to freshwater ecosystems. It’s been known that as the fish return to their freshwater spawning grounds from the sea they bring with them both nutrients and contaminants, but the impact of each has largely been studied separately. A new study combines datasets to estimate that over 40 years, the levels of nutrients these fish carry have increased at a proportionally higher rate than the contaminants, but the toxins could nevertheless be present at concerning levels to the animals that eat them.

Research Article: Brandt et al.

News and Views: Salmon’s moveable feast of nutrients with a side order of contaminants

Flora Graham from the Nature Briefing joins us to talk about the winners of this year’s science Nobel Prizes.

News: Medicine Nobel awarded for gene-regulating ‘microRNAs’

News: Physics Nobel scooped by machine-learning pioneers

News: Chemistry Nobel goes to developers of AlphaFold AI that predicts protein structures

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