Nature Podcast

This week, the resilience of internet hate groups, and searching for early life.In this episode:00:46 Tackling internet hateResearchers have been modelling how hate groups interact online, and have come up with suggestions to combat this activity. Research article: Johnson et al.; News and Views: Strategies for combating online hate08:55 Research HighlightsGallstone growth, and the reproductive strategies of hitchhiking stick insects. Research Highlight: The ‘net’ that leads to excruciating stones in the belly; Research Highlight: The insect that lost its homeland — and its sex life11:23 Hunting for early lifeFinding fossil evidence of Earth’s earliest life is fraught with difficulty. Research Article: Javaux18:43 News ChatChemists create a ring made only of carbon atoms, and inoculating newborns with their mothers’ microbes. News: Chemists make first-ever ring of pure carbon; News: Do C-section babies need mum’s microbes? Trials tackle controversial idea

This week, spilling nuclear secrets, and a mysterious period in the Universe’s history.In this episode:00:46 "The most dangerous spy in history"We hear the story of Klaus Fuchs, who gave away the details of building an atomic bomb. Books and Arts: The scientist-spy who spilt secrets of the bomb08:00 Research HighlightsEnvironmental impacts of electric scooters, and the Goliath frog engineers. Research Highlight: Trendy e-scooters might not be as green as they seem; Research Highlight: Enormous frogs heave rocks to build tadpole ‘nests’10:33 Signals from the ancient UniverseResearchers hope that radio signals from ancient hydrogen will further their understanding of galaxy formation News Feature: The quest to unlock the secrets of the baby Universe18:17 News ChatChanges to the US Endangered Species Act, and what a microbe might tell us about the evolution of complex life. News: Trump administration weakens Endangered Species Act; News: Scientists glim

This week, a mindset to improve school performance, and the complex story of how mercury accumulates in fish.In this episode:00:46 Growth MindsetHow a one hour course could improve academic achievement. Research article: Yeager et al.11:47 Research HighlightsAn extinct giant parrot, and hacking Manhattan’s traffic. Research Highlight: Polly wants many crackers: fossils reveal first known giant parrot; Research Article: Vivek et al.13:42 Toxic TunaMethylmercury levels in fish may increase due to climate change and overfishing, despite declines in emissions. Research Article: Schartup et al.19:15 News ChatIndia’s proposed protections for fossils, and trust of scientists in the United States. News: India’s geologists champion law to protect fossil treasures; News: US trust in scientists is now on par with the military  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, whether the placenta is lacking microbes, and new hardware for artificial intelligence.In this episode:00:43 Microbe-free placentas?New research suggests that the placenta is sterile. Research article: de Goffau et al.; News and Views: No bacteria found in healthy placentas07:12 Research HighlightsAntacids and allergies, and the source of unexplained radioactivity. Research Article: Jordakieva et al.; Research Article: Masson et al.09:13 AI hardwareMaking technology for AI can be challenging, so scientists try a new solution. Research Article: Pei et al.15:54 News ChatA worrying spike in HIV drug resistance, and approval of research into human-animal hybrids. News: Alarming surge in drug-resistant HIV uncovered; News: Japan approves first human-animal embryo experiments  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode was first broadcast in July 2013.This year, Nature celebrates its 150th birthday. To mark this anniversary we’re rebroadcasting episodes from our PastCast series, highlighting key moments in the history of science.During the Second World War, scientists worked on secret projects such as the development of radar. Their efforts were hinted at in the pages of Nature but the details, of course, couldn't be published. In this episode, historian Jon Agar explains how war work gave physicists a new outlook and led to new branches of science. We also hear from the late John Westcott, whose wartime job was to design radar systems.From the archiveNature Volume 150 Issue 3794, 18 July 1942Sound effects courtesy of daveincamas, piet.candeel@pandora.be, guitarguy1985 and acclivity at freesound.org  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, how the climate has changed throughout history, and why enforcing vaccination should be done with care.In this episode:00:39 Climate through timeResearchers have modelled how climate has changed throughout the past 2000 years. Research article: Neukom et al.; Research article:Neukom et al.; News and Views: The aberrant global synchrony of present-day warming06:45 Research HighlightsMaking a self-propelling liquid, and the benefit of laugh tracks. Research Highlight: How to make water flow uphill; Research Highlight: To make lame jokes funnier, cue the laugh track08:35 Make vaccines mandatory?Scientists have warned that enforcing vaccinations could backfire, so should be done carefully. Comment: Mandate vaccination with care14:15 News ChatThe UK’s new prime-minister, and the launch of an Indian moon mission. News: What Boris Johnson’s leadership could mean for science; News:India launches ambitious second Moon mission  S

In this episode:01:01 Breaking NewsThe first image of a black hole took the world by storm, but what was it like reporting such a quickly developing story? News: Black hole pictured for first time — in spectacular detail; Video: The first image of a black hole: A three minute guide; Video: How scientists reacted to the first-ever image of a black hole09:01 Digital JournalismWhen a new research paper came to light about pig brains being revived, we asked our audience what they wanted to know, and got a big response. Could this be the future of journalism? News: Pig brains kept alive outside body for hours after death; News Explainer: Disembodied pig brains revived: Your questions answered15:09 The Future of gene editingWith yet more stories emerging of the editing of human embryos, we discuss the ethical implications and what should happen next? News Feature: CRISPR babies: when will the world be ready?; News: Russian biologist plans more CR

This week, a new advance in silicon based quantum computing and experiences of how to recover when disaster strikes.In this episode:00:45 Quantum logicA fast and accurate two-qubit logic gate has been designed in silicon. Research article: Simmons et al.07:52 Research HighlightsTeaching a computer to solve a Rubik’s cube and immigration in Chichén Itzá. Research Highlight: AI solves the Rubik’s cube; Research Highlight: Death as a human sacrifice awaited some travellers to a Mayan city10:43 Coping with calamityResearchers share how they are recovering from catastrophe. Career Feature: Explosions, floods and hurricanes: dealing with a lab disaster; News Feature: The battle to rebuild centuries of science after an epic inferno19:04 News ChatA campaign to open up the world’s research, and dinosaur egg-laying clubs. News: The plan to mine the world’s research papers; News: Ancient Mongolian nests show that dinosaurs protected their eggs &n

This week, an extended chat about all things lunar with Alex Witze.Instead of a regular edition of the Nature Podcast, this week we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of humans walking on the Moon. Nick Howe catches up with planetary science reporter, Alex Witze. They discuss the latest US plans to land people on the moon by 2024, the history of the Apollo missions, and what’s next for the lunar exploration.News: Can NASA really return people to the Moon by 2024?Books and Arts: Propulsive reading: books on the MoonNews Feature: These young scientists will shape the next 50 years of Moon researchVideo: Three generations of space experts react to the Moon landings  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, using an algorithm to find properties in materials science, and the global consequences of sand-mining.In this episode:00:47 Predicting propertiesA word-association algorithm is reading millions of abstracts to discover new properties of materials. Research article: Tshitoyan et al.; News and Views: Text mining facilitates materials discovery08:28 Research HighlightsTiny robot-jellyfish, and genome mutation hot-spots. Research Article:Multi-functional soft-bodied jellyfish-like swimming; Research Highlight:How DNA ‘hotspots’ snarl the search for cancer genes10:48 Sand under strainResearchers warn that the mining of sand is unsustainable. Comment:Time is running out for sand15:44 News ChatThe results of a bullying survey, and the spread of microbial disease through opioid use. News: Germany’s prestigious Max Planck Society conducts huge bullying survey; News: The US opioid epidemic is driving a spike in infectious diseases  See acast.c

This year, Nature celebrates its 150th birthday. To mark this anniversary we’re rebroadcasting episodes from our PastCast series, highlighting key moments in the history of science.According to the fables of early explorers, the gorilla was a terrible, man-eating monster. It was also thought to be man’s closest relative in the animal kingdom. Naturally, scientists and the public alike wanted to see these fierce beasts for themselves. But in the mid-nineteenth century, as the evolution debate heated up, getting a live gorilla to Europe from Africa was extremely difficult. In 1876, the pages of Nature report the arrival in England of a young specimen.This episode was first broadcast in June 2013.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, how going barefoot affects what your feet can feel, and uncovering history with ancient proteins.In this episode:00:44 A sole sensationA study of people who do and don't wear shoes looks into whether calluses make feet less sensitive. Research article: Holowka et al.; News and Views: Your sensitive sole08:50 Research HighlightsMagma moving quickly, and twice-transforming 4D materials. Research Highlight: Volcano’s magma hit top speed; Research Article: Wang et al.11:09 Dating fossils with proteinsArchaeologists turn to proteins to answer questions DNA cannot. News Feature: Move over, DNA: ancient proteins are starting to reveal humanity’s history19:38 News ChatA special report from the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the ongoing Ebola crisis. News: The doctor who beat Ebola — and inspires other survivors to care for the sick; News: Meet the Ebola workers battling a virus in a war zone; News: World Health Organization resists declaring Ebola emergency — for third time  See acast.com/p

This week, what makes birds invasive, and a robotic fish powered by a blood-like battery.In this episode:00:44 How do alien bird species establish themselves?Researchers have been looking at how bird species settle in non-native locations. Research article: Redding et al.08:22 Research HighlightsCrafting the perfect crêpe, and anti-fungal wasp eggs. Research Highlight: Physicists tackle a delicate challenge: making the ideal crêpe; Research article: Strohm et al.10:09 Robot bloodMultipurpose battery fluid both moves and powers a robot fish. Research article: Aubin et al.; News: Robo-fish powered by battery ‘blood’16:30 News ChatResearchers reviewing misconduct investigations, and redefining pressure. News: What universities can learn from one of science’s biggest frauds  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, a record-breaking magnetic field, and aerosols’ potential effects on the atmosphere.In this episode:00:45 Making massive magnetsResearchers have created the world’s strongest direct current magnetic field. Research article: S. Hahn et al.08:38 Research HighlightsMacaques’ musicality and human consumption of microplastics. Research Article: Divergence in the functional organization of human and macaque auditory cortex revealed by fMRI responses to harmonic tones; Research Highlight: What a bottled-water habit means for intake of ‘microplastics’10:55 Aerosols’ impacts on the climateThere’s a still a lot to learn about how aerosols affect the climate. Comment: Soot, sulfate, dust and the climate — three ways through the fog17:03 News ChatThe launch of an X-ray space telescope, and a Russian researcher’s plans to CRISPR-edit human embryos. News:Space telescope to chart first map of the Universe in high-energy X-rays; News: Russian biologist plans m

This week, how gut microbes might be affecting drugs, and a new theory on the beginning of plate tectonics.In this episode:00:45 Microbes metabolising drugsResearchers are investigating whether the gut microbiota can alter the activity of medicinal drugs.Research article: Zimmermann et al. 06:40 Research HighlightsElephants counting with smell, and audio activity monitoring.Research Highlight: Elephants have a nose for portion sizeResearch Highlight: Deep learning monitors human activity based on sound alone08:57 The origin of plate tectonics?A new theory suggests that sediment may have lubricated the Earth’s tectonic plates, allowing them to move.Research article: Sobolev and BrownNews and Views: Earth’s evolution explored 14:14 News ChatScientists protest in Hungary, and a trial of a new post-review process to test reproducibility.News: Hungarians protest against proposed government takeover of scienceNews: Reproducibility trial publishes two conclusions for one paper  See acast.com/priv

This year, Nature celebrates its 150th birthday. To mark this anniversary we’re rebroadcasting episodes from our PastCast series, highlighting key moments in the history of science.The discovery of the ozone hole in the mid-1980s was a shock. Scientists suspected that man-made gases called CFCs were damaging the ozone layer, but they didn’t expect to see such a dramatic decline. Nor did they expect the discovery to be made by a small group of British scientists in Antarctica. In this podcast, we hear from the ‘little voice’ in the background whose persistence led to the reporting of the reduced ozone in Nature in May 1985. But how did it become known as the ‘ozone hole’? And what lessons are there for climate change scientists today?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, looking back at cold fusion, a ranking of gender balance in universities, and measuring the impact of wildfires.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, how climate change has affected plankton, the future of European science, and evidence of an ancient fungus.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, rewriting the script of life, and a trip to the far side of the Moon.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, body mass increases around the world, and river connections in decline.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.