Nature Podcast

From a sore arm to anaphylaxis, a wide range of adverse events have been reported after people have received a COVID-19 vaccine. And yet it is unclear how many of these events are actually caused by the vaccine. In the vast majority of cases, reactions are mild and can be explained by the body's own immune response. But monitoring systems designed to track adverse events are catching much rarer but more serious events. Now scientists need to work out if they are causally liked to the vaccine, or are just statistical anomalies - and that is not an easy task.News: Why is it so hard to investigate the rare side effects of COVID vaccines?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, Google Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast app. Head here for the Nature Podcast RSS feed.  See acast.com/privacy for p

Laser-cooled antimatter opens up new physics experiments, and the staggering economic cost of invasive species.In this episode:00:44 Cooling antimatter with a laser focusAntimatter is annihilated whenever it interacts with regular matter, which makes it tough for physicists to investigate. Now though, a team at CERN have developed a way to trap and cool antihydrogen atoms using lasers, allowing them to better study its properties.Research Article: Baker et al.News and Views: Antimatter cooled by laser light09:27 Research HighlightsA dramatic increase in Arctic lightning strikes, and an acrobatic bunny helps researchers understand hopping.Research Highlight: Rising temperatures spark boom in Arctic lightningResearch Highlight: Rabbits that do ‘handstands’ help to find a gene for hopping11:53 Cost of invasionInvasive alien species are organisms that end up in places where they don’t really belong, usually as a result of human activity. These species can cause loss of biodiversity and a host of damage to their

Since the beginning of the pandemic the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has been plagued by confusion and controversy. The vaccine has been authorised in over 100 countries, tens of millions of doses have been administered, and it has been demonstrated to be safe and effective. However, over the past few weeks the vaccine has again been in the headlines.In this episode of Coronapod, we discuss all of these controversies and ask how they may the reputation of the vaccine, and what that could mean for roll-outs moving forward.News: Latest results put Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID vaccine back on trackNews: What scientists do and don’t know about the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID vaccineSubscribe 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, Google Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast app. Head here for the Nature Podcast RSS feed. &n

A web of three optical atomic clocks show incredibly accurate measurements of time, and the trailblazing astronomer who found hints of dark matter.In this episode:00:44 Optical clock networkOptical atomic clocks have the potential to reach new levels of accuracy and redefine how scientists measure time. However, this would require a worldwide system of connected clocks. Now researchers have shown that a network of three optical clocks is possible and confirm high levels of accuracy.Research Article: BACON collaborationNews and Views: Atomic clocks compared with astounding accuracy08:55 Research HighlightsThe possible downside of high-intensity workouts, and the robot with adaptable legs for rough terrain.Research Highlight: Can people get too much exercise? Mitochondria hint that the answer is yesResearch Highlight: A motorized leg up: this robot changes its limb length to suit the terrain11:26 Vera RubinVera Rubin was an astronomer whose observations were among the first to show evidence of dark matter. At t

In the early days of the pandemic, researchers raced to identify the most potent antibodies produced by the immune system in response to SAR-COV-2 infection and produce them in bulk. The resulting ‘monoclonal antibodies’ have since been tested in a variety of settings as treatments for COVID-19.But despite promising clinical trial results and several therapies having already been approved, antibody therapies have not yet played a large role in the fight against COVID-19. In this episode of Coronapod, we ask why.News: COVID antibody treatments show promise for preventing severe diseaseNews: Antibody therapies could be a bridge to a coronavirus vaccine — but will the world benefit?Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A computer that can participate in live debates against human opponents.In this episode:00:43 AI DebaterAfter thousands of years of human practise, it’s still not clear what makes a good argument. Despite this, researchers have been developing computer programs that can find and process arguments. And this week, researchers at IBM are publishing details of an artificial intelligence that is capable of debating with humans.Research Article: Slonim et al.News and Views: Argument technology for debating with humans10:30 Research HighlightsThe sea slugs that can regrow their whole body from their severed head, and evidence of high status women in ancient Europe.Research Highlight: Now that’s using your head: a sea slug’s severed noggin sprouts a new bodyResearch Highlight: A breathtaking treasure reveals the power of the woman buried with it12:56 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, the next generation of gravitational wave detectors, and why 2020 was a record-breaking yea

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been many open questions about how COVID-19 could impact pregnant people and their babies – confounded by a lack of data.But now, studies are finally starting to provide some answers. While it does seem that pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of hospitalisation, babies appear to be spared from severe illness in most cases.In this week’s Coronapod we talk about these findings, and the questions that remain – including whether vaccines are safe to give to pregnant people.News: Pregnancy and COVID: what the data say  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. H

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  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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.

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  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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

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  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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 brou

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?   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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 bene

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  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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 calculati

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?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.