Nature Podcast

The structure of a beetle’s super-strong exoskeleton could open up new engineering applications, and efforts to address diversity and equality imbalances in academia.In this episode:01:17 Insights into an armoured insectThe diabolical ironclad beetle has an exoskeleton so strong, it can survive being run over by a car. Researchers have identified how the structure of the exoskeleton provides this strength, and show that mimicking it may lead to improved aerospace components.Research Article: Rivera et al.; News and Views: Diabolical ironclad beetles inspire tougher joints for engineering applications10:42 CoronapodThis week, the UK government announced plans to run a ‘human challenge trial’, where healthy volunteers are deliberately infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We talk about the process, the ethical and procedural hurdles, and whether such an approach will provide any useful data.News: Dozens to be deliberately infected with coronavirus in UK ‘human challenge’ trials22:46 Research HighlightsA meth