Nature Podcast

Astronomers pin down the likely origins of mysterious fast radio bursts, and the latest on what the US election means for science.In this episode:00:46 The origins of mysterious fast radio burstsThe detection of a brief but enormously-powerful radio burst originating from within the Milky Way could help researchers answer one of astronomy’s biggest mysteries.Research article: Bochenek et al.; News: Astronomers spot first fast radio burst in the Milky Way07:59 CoronapodAt the start of the pandemic, there were fears that schools could become hotspots for infections. We discuss the evidence suggesting that this is unlikely to be the case, and the rates of infection in children of different ages.News: Why schools probably aren’t COVID hotspots18:34 Research HighlightsOctopuses taste with touch, and a tool to watch dangerously-reactive metals grow.Research Highlight: How octopuses taste with their arms — all eight of them; Research Highlight: How to make violently reactive metals and watch them grow21:28 An update