Nature Podcast

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: A wispy wrapper for a chilly, Pluto-like world 13:11 The complex story of global obesity rates Research article: NCD Risk Factor Collaboration 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.

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 potential identification of a person's genetic information. This is an audio version of our Feature: The air is full of DNA — here’s what scientists are using it for Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Belief: How Evidence Shows What Really Works Helen Pearson Princeton University Press (in the press) Music supplied by SPD/Triple Scoop Music/Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 strength Research Article: Schlamminger et al. 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: 00:30 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 free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the Nature Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music or your favourite podcast app. An RSS feed for the Nature Podcast is available too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 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: 00:41 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 every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

Nature staff discuss some of the week's top science news. 00:18 ‘Zombie cells’ revived with genome transplant Nature: ‘Zombie cells’ return from the dead — after a genome transplant 05:27 A limit to cloning, in mice Nature: Can a mouse be cloned indefinitely? Decades-long experiment has answers 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.

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 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: 00:22 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 off dangerous allergic shock 11:31 How a superluminous supernova got so bright Research Article : ​​​​​​​Farah et al. News and Views: ​​​​​​​Ultra-bright supernova wobbles like a spinning top Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday: https://www.nature.com/briefing/signup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.