Nature Podcast podcast

Nature Podcast

The Nature Podcast brings you the best stories from the world of science each week. We cover everything from astronomy to zoology, highlighting the most exciting research from each issue of the Nature journal. We meet the scientists behind the results and provide in-depth analysis from Nature's journalists and editors. Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

The Nature Podcast brings you the best stories from the world of science each week. We cover everything from astronomy to zoology, highlighting the most exciting research from each issue of the Nature journal. We meet the scientists behind the results and provide in-depth analysis from Nature's journalists and editors. Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

 

#685

Sanitary products made from plants could help tackle period poverty

Around 500 million people are estimated to be in period poverty, lacking adequate access to sanitary products. Many of these people rely on donations, but this is far from a long-term solution. To tackle this researchers have developed a method to extract absorbent materials for menstrual pads from a common plant, Agave sisalana. The researchers say that their method can be performed using local techniques and has a lower environmental impact than the manufacture of other period products. They're aiming to scale-up this approach to help those in period poverty. Research Article: [Molina et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s44172-023-00130-y?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) [Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.] (https://briefer.public.springernature.app/nature_briefing?brieferEntryPoint=nb_nature_briefing) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

17 hrs Ago

09 MINS

09:02

17 hrs Ago


#684

Why COP28 probably won't keep the 1.5 degree dream alive

In this episode: 00:49 What to expect at COP28. ------------------------------ The UN’s annual climate change conference is starting soon in Dubai. This time will be the first time that humanity formally assesses its progress under the 2015 Paris climate agreement, so we ask if this challenge of keeping warming below 1.5 ˚C can be met and what needs to happen at COP28 to make it a reality. News Feature: [Is it too late to keep global warming below 1.5 °C? The challenge in 7 charts] (https://www.nature.com/immersive/d41586-023-03601-6/index.html?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 10:49 Research Highlights ------------------------- Falcons show off their smarts, and how smoke from California wildfires made Europe cloudy. Research Highlight: [These falcons excel at problem-solving — and outdo some of the world’s smartest birds] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03563-9?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Research Highlight: [Huge California wildfires seeded cirrus clouds half a world away] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03560-y?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 12:59 Briefing Chat ------------------- The mystery surrounding a powerful cosmic ray, and how to make super hot plasma easily. Nature News: [The most powerful cosmic ray since the Oh-My-God particle puzzles scientists] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03677-0?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Research Article: [Xie et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06694-1?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Video: [Super hot plasma made easy with stabilising fibres] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEAYulyOZq4?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) [Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.] (https://briefer.public.springernature.app/nature_briefing?brieferEntryPoint=nb_nature_briefing) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

Yesterday

25 MINS

25:30

Yesterday


#683

Audio long read: Apple revival — how science is bringing historic varieties back to life

Researchers have been resurrecting apple trees to revive forgotten varieties of the fruit. They hope that sequencing these apples' genomes could uncover mutations that influence flavour, colour, crispness and other characteristics. This knowledge could help unlock the next blockbuster fruit, and develop trees that are more resistant to disease, climate change and other environmental pressures. This is an audio version of our Feature [Apple revival: how science is bringing historic varieties back to life] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03229-6?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

24 Nov 2023

17 MINS

17:55

24 Nov 2023


#682

Polio could be eradicated within 3 years — what happens then?

In this episode: 00:46 What happens after polio is eradicated -------------------------------------------- Since 1988, cases of polio have fallen by more than 99%, and many observers predict that the disease could be eradicated within the next three years. However, eradication isn’t the same as extinction, so the next challenge is for researchers to make sure the disease won’t return. We discuss what a post-polio future may look like, and how to ensure that the disease is gone for good. News Feature: [Polio is on the brink of eradication. Here's how to keep it from coming back] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03602-5?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 09:48 Research Highlights ------------------------- Botulinum toxin shows promise in treating a common disorder in older people, and how safeguarding seabirds may require significantly larger conservation-areas than previously thought. Research Highlight: [Botox’s paralysing effects can relieve an uncontrolled head tremor] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03525-1?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Research Highlight: [Seabirds’ lonely travels pose a conservation challenge] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03526-0?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 12:21 Briefing Chat ------------------- How demand for research monkeys is fuelling an illegal trade in smuggled animals, and thesurprising observation thatmay help explain mysterious space explosions. Nature: [How wild monkeys ‘laundered’ for science could undermine research] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03533-1?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Nature News: [Mysterious ‘Tasmanian devil’ space explosion baffles astronomers] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03569-3?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) [Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.] (https://briefer.public.springernature.app/nature_briefing?brieferEntryPoint=nb_nature_briefing) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

22 Nov 2023

22 MINS

22:26

22 Nov 2023


#681

Dust: the tiny substance with enormous power

In the latest episode of Nature hits the books, writer and researcher Jay Owens joins us to discuss her book Dust: The Modern World in a Trillion Particles. Much like dust itself, Jay’s book travels the globe, looking at the impacts that these microscopic particles are having on the world, our healthand environment, as well as exploringthe role that humanity has played in creating them. Dust: The Modern World in a Trillion Particles Jay Owens Hodder & Stoughton (2023) Music supplied by Airae/Epidemic Sound/Getty images. Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

17 Nov 2023

26 MINS

26:47

17 Nov 2023


#680

How to 3D print fully-formed robots

In this episode: 00:46 Machine vision enables multi-material 3D printing ------------------------------------------------------- 3D printers are capable of producing complex shapes, but making functioning objects from multiple materials in a single print-run has proved challenging. To overcome this, a team has combined inkjet printing with an error-correction system guided by machine vision, to allow them to print sophisticated multi-material objects. They used this method to make a bio-inspired robotic hand that combines soft and rigid plastics to make mechanical bones, ligaments, and tendons, as well as a pump based on a mammalian heart. Research article: [Buchner et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06684-3) News & Views: [Multi-material 3D printing guided by machine vision] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03420-9) Video: [The 3D printer that crafts complex robotic organs in a single run] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDFuBoeVd_8) 07:49 Research Highlights ------------------------- Citizen-scientists help identify an astronomical object that blurs the line between asteroid and comet, and how a Seinfeld episode helped scientists to distinguish the brain regions involved in understanding and appreciating humour. Research Highlight: [Citizen scientists find a rarity: an asteroid trying to be a comet] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03399-3) Research Highlight: [One brain area helps you to enjoy a joke — but another helps you to get it] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03400-z) 10:31 Assessing the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for diabetes ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Type 2 diabetes affects hundreds of millions of people around the world and represents a significant burden on healthcare systems. But behaviour change programmes — also known as lifestyle interventions — could potentially play a large role in preventing people from developing type 2 diabetes. This week in Nature a new paper assesses how effective this kind of intervention might be. Looking at a huge amount of data from the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, the paper concludes that these interventions represent a viable diabetes prevention strategy. Research article: [Lemp et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06756-4) News & Views: [Diabetes prevention programme put to the test] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03431-6) 17:35 Briefing Chat ------------------- How marine heatwaves revved up crabs’ metabolisms until they starved, and the AI-powered, robot chemist that could extract oxygen from water on Mars. Wired: [The Surprising Reason Sea Creatures Are Getting Hungrier] (https://www.wired.com/story/the-hidden-awful-way-that-climate-change-imperils-animals/) Nature News: [This AI robot chemist could make oxygen on Mars] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03522-4) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

15 Nov 2023

26 MINS

26:45

15 Nov 2023


#679

How to tame a toxic yet life-saving antifungal

In this episode: 00:46 Modifying a fungal drug to make it less toxic --------------------------------------------------- Amphotericin B is a drug used to treat life-threatening fungal infections. But while it is effective against many fungal species, it is also extremely toxic to kidneys, meaning it is mostly used as a drug of last-resort. This week, a team has unpicked the mechanism behind the drug’s toxicity, allowing them to modify it and reduce side effects in human kidney cells. The researchers hope this new version of the drug could become a useful tool in fighting fungal diseases. Research article: [Maji et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06710-4) 09:00 Research Highlights ------------------------- Reconstructing woolly rhino DNA using samples from fossilized hyena dung, and a soft robot that can perform surgery inside a beating heart. Research Highlight: [Woolly-rhino genome emerges from cave hyena’s fossilized poo] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03351-5?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Research Highlight: [A robot performs heart surgery with a strong but delicate touch] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03353-3?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 11:26 Phosphorus found at the edge of our Galaxy ------------------------------------------------ Phosphorus is a vital element for life and for planet formation, but although abundant in the inner part of the Milky Way, it has been undetected in the outer regions of our Galaxy. Now, researchers have identified phosphorus-containing molecules huge distances from Earth, although exactly how this phosphorus was created is unclear. The team suspect that lower-mass stars are behind the phosphorus generation, and believe that the detection of the element could broaden the range of planets that may be habitable in our Galaxy. Research article: [Koelemay et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06616-1?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 18:14 Briefing Chat ------------------- What Osiris-REx’s hypersonic capsule return could teach researchers about asteroids hitting Earth’s atmosphere, and the genetic studies that could help restore the genomes of Scotland’s endangered ‘Highland tigers’. Nature News: [Asteroid sampler’s hypersonic return thrilled scientists: here’s what they learnt] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03318-6?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Nature News: [How to keep wildcats wild: ancient DNA offers fresh insights] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03451-2?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) [Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.] (https://briefer.public.springernature.app/nature_briefing?brieferEntryPoint=nb_nature_briefing) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

08 Nov 2023

27 MINS

27:55

08 Nov 2023


#678

Nature's Take: How will ChatGPT and generative AI transform research?

In the past year, generative AIs have been taking the world by storm. ChatGPT, Bard, DALL-E and more, are changing the nature of how content is produced. In science, they could help transform and streamline publishing. However, they also come with plenty of risks. In this episode of Nature's Take we discuss how these AIs are impacting science and what the future might hold. [Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.] (https://briefer.public.springernature.app/nature_briefing?brieferEntryPoint=nb_nature_briefing) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

03 Nov 2023

30 MINS

30:22

03 Nov 2023


#677

A new hydrogel can be directly injected into muscle to help it regenerate

In this episode: 00:46 An injectable gel for healing muscles ------------------------------------------- Severe muscle injury can be debilitating, with long recuperation periods. Now, researchers have developed a material that can be directly injected into injured muscle, helping to stimulate and heal damaged tissue. The team showed this approach could rapidly restore walking ability in severely injured rats and regenerate muscles within four weeks. They hope that this solution could one day help humans with similar injuries, and overcome some of the limitations of current recuperation strategies. Research article: [Jin et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06628-x) News and Views: [Hydrogel implant rehabilitates muscles through electrical stimulation] (http://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03211-2) 10:02 Research Highlights ------------------------- Ancient human genomes fill in a missing link between Europe’s first humans and later arrivals, and how ferns are inspiring pest-resistant crops. Research Highlight: [Ancient DNA reveals traces of elusive first humans in Europe] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03278-x) Research Highlight: [Fierce ferns make insect-fighting proteins] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03281-2) 12:43 Briefing Chat ------------------- Largest release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes shows promise at controlling dengue, and the genes that explain why starfish aren’t so symmetrical. Nature News: [Dengue rates drop after release of modified mosquitoes in Colombia] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03346-2) Video: [How would a starfish wear trousers? Science has an answer] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxfTkjkgZt0) Research Article: [Formery et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06669-2) [Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.] (https://briefer.public.springernature.app/nature_briefing?brieferEntryPoint=nb_nature_briefing) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

01 Nov 2023

23 MINS

23:27

01 Nov 2023


#676

Audio long read: Why BMI is flawed — and how to redefine obesity

For decades, BMI — calculated by dividing weight by height squared — has been as an international standard to determine healthy weights. However, BMI does not measure body fat, and ignores many other factors that can affect how healthy someone it. Now, a small but growing movement of reseachers and clinicians are calling for other metrics to be used in conjunction with BMI when diagnosing and treating obesity. This is an audio version of our Feature: [Why BMI is flawed — and how to redefine obesity] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03143-x?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

30 Oct 2023

11 MINS

11:56

30 Oct 2023


#675

Martian sounds reveal the secrets of the red planet's core

For years, researchers have been listening to Mars and the quakes that ripple through it, to understand the planet's internal structure and uncover its history. But often these results have left more questions than answers. Now, though, new research published in Nature reveals the composition and size of Mars's core, finding that it is much smaller than previously thought. Research Article: [Khan et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06586-4) Research Article: [Samuel et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06601-8) News and Views: [Deep Mars is surprisingly soft] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03151-x) [Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.] (https://briefer.public.springernature.app/nature_briefing?brieferEntryPoint=nb_nature_briefing) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

27 Oct 2023

13 MINS

13:23

27 Oct 2023


#674

Sounds of recovery: AI helps monitor wildlife during forest restoration

In this episode: 00:47 An automated way to monitor wildlife recovery --------------------------------------------------- To prevent the loss of wildlife, forest restoration is key, but monitoring how well biodiversity actually recovers is incredibly difficult. Now though, a team have collected recordings of animal sounds to determine the extent of the recovery. However, while using these sounds to identify species is an effective way to monitor, it’s also labour intensive. To overcome this, they trained an AI to listen to the sounds, and found that although it was less able to identify species, its findings still correlated well with wildlife recovery, suggesting that it could be a cost-effective and automated way to monitor biodiversity. Research article: [Müller et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-41693-w?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 12:30 Research Highlights ------------------------- Researchers develop algae-based living materials that glow when squeezed, and a 50-million-year-old bat skull that suggests echolocation was an ancient skill. Research Highlight: [Give these ‘living composite’ objects a squeeze and watch them glow] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03279-w?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Research Highlight: [Fossilized skull shows that early bats had modern sonar] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03223-y?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 15:11 Briefing Chat ------------------- A brain imaging study reveals how high-fat foods exert their powerful pull, and how being asleep doesn’t necessarily cut you off from the outside world. Nature News: [Deep asleep? You can still follow simple commands, study finds] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03252-7?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Nature News: [Milkshake neuroscience: how the brain nudges us toward fatty foods] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03243-8?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) [Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.] (https://briefer.public.springernature.app/nature_briefing?brieferEntryPoint=nb_nature_briefing) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

25 Oct 2023

25 MINS

25:23

25 Oct 2023


#673

An anti-CRISPR system that helps save viruses from destruction

In this episode: 00:47 An RNA-based viral system that mimics bacterial immune defences --------------------------------------------------------------------- To protect themselves against viral infection, bacteria often use CRISPR-Cas systems to identify and destroy an invading virus’s genetic material. But viruses aren’t helpless and can deploy countermeasures, known as anti-CRISPRs, to neutralise host defences. This week, a team describe a new kind of anti-CRISPR system, based on RNA, which protects viruses by mimicking part of the CRISPR-Cas system. The researchers hope that this discovery could have future biotechnology applications, including making CRISPR-Cas genome editing more precise. Research article: [Camara-Wilpert et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06612-5?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 09:05 Research Highlights ------------------------- Carved inscriptions suggest a queen named Thyra was the most powerful person in Viking-age Denmark, and the discovery of a puffed-up exoplanet that has just 1.5% the density of Earth. Research Highlight: [Runes on Viking stones speak to an ancient queen’s power] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03107-1?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Research Highlight: [‘Super-puff’ planet is one of the fluffiest worlds ever found] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03222-z?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 11:38 Modelling the future of Greenland’s ice sheet melt -------------------------------------------------------- Climate-change induced melting of Greenland’s vast ice sheet would contribute to 7m of sea level rise. But it has been difficult to calculate how the ice sheet will respond to future warming. This week, a team suggest that abrupt ice loss is likely if the global mean temperature is between 1.7 °C and 2.3 °C above pre-industrial levels. Keeping temperature rise below 1.5 °C could mitigate ice loss, if done within a few centuries, but even a short overshoot of the estimated threshold could lead to several metres of sea-level rise. Research article: [Bochow et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06503-9?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 17:50 Briefing Chat ------------------- A massive reproducibility exercise reveals over 200 ecologists get wildly-diverging results from the same data, and how melting simulated lunar-dust with lasers could help pave the Moon. Nature News: [Reproducibility trial: 246 biologists get different results from same data sets] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03177-1?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Nature News: [How to build Moon roads using focused beams of sunlight] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03207-y?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) [Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.] (https://briefer.public.springernature.app/nature_briefing?brieferEntryPoint=nb_nature_briefing) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

18 Oct 2023

30 MINS

30:17

18 Oct 2023


#672

Gene edits move pig organs closer to human transplantation

In this episode: 00:46 Engineered pig kidneys show transplantation promise --------------------------------------------------------- Kidneys from genetically-engineered miniature pigs have been transplanted into non-human primates, in some cases keeping the animals alive for more than a year. Using CRISPR, a team made dozens of edits to the pig genome to prevent the monkeys’ immune system from attacking the organs. They also removed pig retrovirus genes that could represent an infection risk. These steps are necessary if pig organs are to be used in human transplants, something many clinicians and researchers think will be needed to overcome a critical shortage of organs for transplantation. Research article: [Anand et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06594-4?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) News and Views: [Pig-to-primate organ transplants require genetic modifications of donor] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02817-w?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Nature News: [The most-complex gene edits yet move pig organs closer to human transplant] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03176-2?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 09:02 Research Highlights ------------------------- How babies’ nasal immune systems could explain why they tend to have mild cases of COVID-19, and the molecular ‘glue’ that allows 3D printing with challenging materials. Research Highlight: [How the littlest children stop SARS-CoV-2 in its tracks] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03036-z?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Research Highlight: [3D printing tackles tricky materials with help from tiny crystals] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03037-y?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 11:35 Briefing Chat ------------------- This time, the discovery that the human brain uses one system for estimating whether a group contains four or fewer items, and a different one for when there are five or more. Plus, we discuss how researchers fixed the Euclid telescope’s wobbles. Nature News: [Your brain finds it easy to size up four objects but not five — here’s why] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03136-w?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Nature News: [ ‘Immense relief’: Universe-mapping Euclid telescope fixes problem that threatened mission] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03174-4?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) [Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.] (https://briefer.public.springernature.app/nature_briefing?brieferEntryPoint=nb_nature_briefing) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

11 Oct 2023

21 MINS

21:04

11 Oct 2023


#671

'This doesn't just fall on women': computer scientists reflect on gender biases in STEM

In this Podcast Extra, two computer scientists, Shobhana Narasimhan and Sana Odeh, join Nature's Anne Pichon to discuss the barriers that women and gender-diverse people still face when working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. They share their experiences and perspectives on the challenges facing women in research, and reflect on potential ways to move forward. Comment: [‘I wrote my first piece of code at seven’: women share highs and lows in computer science for Ada Lovelace Day] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03146-8) [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 <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

10 Oct 2023

14 MINS

14:57

10 Oct 2023


#670

Astronomers are worried by a satellite brighter than most stars

In this episode: 00:45 A bright satellite is concerning researchers -------------------------------------------------- Satellites reflect sunlight down to Earth, and some do so with such intensity it risks obscuring astronomers' observations from ground-based telescopes. A paper in Nature suggests that the telecommunications satellite called BlueWalker 3 at times outshines most stars visible from Earth. Astronomers worry about the increasing number of such bright satellites making astronomy more difficult, and so the team suggest that future launches should undergo impact assessments. Research article: [Nandakumar et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06672-7?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Nature News: [Huge new satellite outshines nearly every star in the sky] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03054-x?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 09:27 Research Highlights ------------------------- Analysis of carrot genomes reveals how the vegetable got its orange hue, and the self-healing diamond that can fix microscopic fractures. Research article: [Coe et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-023-01526-6?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Research Highlight: [Crack this kind of diamond, and it heals itself] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03011-8?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 11:47 The last meal of a 400-million-year-old trilobite ------------------------------------------------------- Trilobites are a group of extinct marine arthropods distantly related to animals like crabs and spiders. Although found throughout the fossil record, little is known about the lives of this diverse group of animals. Now, a team has used powerful x-rays to peer inside a trilobite fossil and uncovered the contents of its last meal, over 400-million-years ago. This animal appears to have been an unfussy scavenger, gorging itself on a variety of small, shelled animals. Research article: [ Kraft et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06567-7?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 22:20 Nobel News ---------------- Flora Graham from the Nature Briefing joins us to talk about the winners of this year’s science Nobel Prizes. Nature News: [Pioneers of mRNA COVID vaccines win medicine Nobel] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03046-x?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Nature News: [Physicists who built ultrafast ‘attosecond’ lasers win Nobel Prize] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03047-w?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Nature News: [Tiny ‘quantum dot’ particles win chemistry Nobel] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03048-9) [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/?utm_source=podcast-organic&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=briefing-signup&utm_content=shownotes) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

04 Oct 2023

33 MINS

33:58

04 Oct 2023


#669

Audio long read: These animals are racing towards extinction. A new home might be their last chance

Australia's swamp tortoise is one of the most endangered species in the world. This species lives in wetlands that are under threat due to rising temperatures and a reduction in rainfall. In an effort to save the tortoise, researchers are trialling a controversial strategy called assisted migration. This approach has seen captive-bred tortoises released in other wetlands some 330 kilometres south of where they are naturally found. The aim is to see whether the animals can tolerate cooler climates, and whether this new habitat might ensure the species’ future as the planet warms. While many conservation biologists and land managers have long resisted the idea of assisted migration, attitudes are changing and other projects are beginning to test whether it can protect protect animals at risk from climate change. This is an audio version of our Feature: [These animals are racing towards extinction. A new home might be their last chance] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02732-0?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

29 Sep 2023

20 MINS

20:05

29 Sep 2023


#668

This isn't the Nature Podcast — how deepfakes are distorting reality

In this episode: 00:45 How to tackle AI deepfakes -------------------------------- It has long been possible to create deceptive images, videos or audio to entertain or mislead audiences. Now, with the rise of AI technologies, such manipulations have become easier than ever. These deepfakes can spread misinformation, defraud people, and damage economies. To tackle this, researchers and companies are developing tools to find and label deepfakes, in an attempt to rob them of their potential to wreak havoc. News Feature: [ How to stop AI deepfakes from sinking society — and science] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02990-y?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 11:17 Research Highlights ------------------------- Ultra-accurate measurement of Earth’s day-length using lasers, and the insect that amputates its own legs to survive the cold. Research Highlight: [How lasers detect day-length changes of a few milliseconds] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02919-5?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Research Highlight: [Snow-loving flies amputate their own legs for survival] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03010-9?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 14:04 Stacked timbers might be evidence of ancient woodworking -------------------------------------------------------------- Ancient stone tools are well preserved in the archeological record, and are used by researchers to understand the lives of ancient hominins. But other materials like wood are less common, since they will only preserve under specific conditions. Now researchers have found a trove of wooden artefacts in Zambia dated to be around 476,000 old. In particular, stacked timbers from the site could be the earliest known wooden structure, perhaps implying that ancient hominins had a greater capacity for woodworking than previously thought. Research article: [Barham et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06557-9?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) News & Views: [Hominins built with wood 476,000 years ago] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02858-1?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Nature News: [These ancient whittled logs could be the earliest known wooden structure] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02928-4?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 22:00 OSIRIS-REx brings haul of asteroid dust and rock back to Earth -------------------------------------------------------------------- This week, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx successfully landed a capsule containing rocks and dust from the asteroid Bennu. We talk with reporter Alex Witze, who was on the ground in Utah when the samples landed, to find out what these ancient rocks could reveal about the origins of the Solar System. Nature News: [Special delivery! Biggest-ever haul of asteroid dust and rock returns to Earth] (https://go.nature.com/3RCvf5U) [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/?utm_source=podcast-organic&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=briefing-signup&utm_content=shownotes) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

27 Sep 2023

30 MINS

30:55

27 Sep 2023


#667

Why does cancer spread to the spine? Newly discovered stem cells might be the key

In this episode: 00:45 A new insight into cancers' selective spread -------------------------------------------------- Cancer cells can spread to bones in the late stages of disease and in many cancers, cells actually preferentially metastasise to the spine. The reason for this has been a puzzle to researchers for years, but now a team has found a new kind of stem cell that may be involved in this process. The stem cell is found in mice and humans and could represent a clinical target in the treatment of cancer. Research article: [Sun et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06519-1?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) News and Views: [Stem cells provide clues to why vertebrae attract tumour cells] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02768-2?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 09:55 Research Highlights ------------------------- A preference for certain percussion instruments among palm cockatoos, and modelling where people wait on train platforms. Research Highlight: [This parrot taps out beats — and it custom-builds its instruments] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02829-6?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Research Highlight: [The maths of how we wait in crowded places] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02828-7?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 12:29 Briefing Chat ------------------- This time, a second trial shows the effectiveness of using MDMA to help treat post-traumatic stress disorder, and how an upgrade to an X-ray laser will let researchers make ultra-crisp ‘molecular movies’. Nature News: [Psychedelic drug MDMA moves closer to US approval following success in PTSD trial] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02886-x?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Nature News: [World’s most powerful X-ray laser will ‘film’ chemical reactions in unprecedented detail] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02874-1?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

20 Sep 2023

23 MINS

23:42

20 Sep 2023


#666

A mussel-inspired glue for more sustainable sticking

In this episode: 00:46 A sustainably-sourced, super-strong adhesive -------------------------------------------------- The modern world is held together by adhesives, but these fossil-fuel derived materials come at an environmental cost. To overcome this, a team have developed a soya-oil based adhesive, which also takes inspiration from the proteins that marine animals like mussels use to stick firmly to rocks. The researchers say their glue is strong, reversible, and less carbon intensive to produce than existing adhesives. Research article: [Westerman et al.] (https://go.nature.com/3r3AjW5) 07:43 Research Highlights ------------------------- Why chemicals derived from wood could be sustainable alternatives to a common plastic building block, and how historical accounts helped researchers estimate the brightness of a 1859 solar flare. Research Highlight: [Wood component yields useful plastics — without the health risks] (https://go.nature.com/3EEvdCw) Research Highlight: [A historic solar flare’s huge intensity is revealed by new tools] (https://go.nature.com/44PMGm7) 10:08 New insights into childhood stunting and wasting ------------------------------------------------------ Around the world, millions of children are affected by malnutrition, which can result in stunting or wasting, both associated with serious health issues. Despite a widespread recognition of the seriousness of stunting and wasting, there are still questions about their extent, causes and consequences. To answer these, a team have pooled data from previous studies, and show that nutritional interventions targeting the earliest years of life could have the greatest impact. Research article: [Benjamin-Chung et al.] (https://go.nature.com/44WjhGV) Research article: [Mertens et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06480-z?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Research article: [Mertens et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06501-x) Nature Collection: [Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals] (https://www.nature.com/collections/bhfffjiadc?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 20:29 Briefing Chat ------------------- This time, what rejoining the Horizon Europe research-funding programme means for UK research, and the 1.4-million-year-old stone balls that are mystifying scientists. Nature News: [Scientists celebrate as UK rejoins Horizon Europe research programme] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02812-1?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Science: [Were these stone balls made by ancient human relatives trying to perfect the sphere?] (https://www.science.org/content/article/were-these-stone-balls-made-ancient-human-relatives-trying-perfect-sphere?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) [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/?utm_source=podcast-organic&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=briefing-signup&utm_content=shownotes) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

13 Sep 2023

33 MINS

33:42

13 Sep 2023


#665

Our ancestors lost nearly 99% of their population, 900,000 years ago

In this episode: 00:30 Early humans pushed to brink of extinction ------------------------------------------------ Around 900,000 years ago the ancestors of modern humans were pushed to the brink of extinction, according to new research. Genetic studies suggest that the breeding population of our ancestors in Africa dropped to just 1,280 and didn’t expand again for another 117,000 years. This population crash would likely have had an impact on human genetic diversity, and may have driven the evolution of important features of modern humans, such as brain size. Nature News: [Human ancestors nearly went extinct 900,000 years ago] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02712-4?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 3:49 The pollution legacy of Antarctica’s research stations ----------------------------------------------------------- Poor historical waste practices have left high levels of pollution around Antartica’s research facilities. By surveying the seafloor near Australia’s Casey research station, researchers have revealed high concentrations of hydrocarbons and heavy metals.This pollution is likely to be widespread, but its impact on the continent is unknown. Nature News: [Antarctic research stations have polluted a pristine wilderness] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02740-0?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 07:43 Melting sea-ice causes catastrophic penguin breeding failure ------------------------------------------------------------------ Persistently low levels of sea-ice around Antarctica have caused emperor penguins to abandon their breeding colonies early, resulting in the death of large numbers of chicks. Although the affected populations only represent a small number of the total emperor penguins on the continent, it’s unclear how they’ll fare if trends in sea-ice melt continue. Science: [Emperor penguins abandon breeding grounds as ice melts around them] (https://www.science.org/content/article/emperor-penguins-abandon-breeding-grounds-ice-melts-around-them?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 09:23 The AI trained to describe smells --------------------------------------- Researchers have developed an artificial-intelligence that can describe how compounds smell by analysing their molecular structures. The system’s description of scents are often similar to those of trained human sniffers, and may have applications in the food and perfume industries. Currently the AI works on individual molecules, and is unable to identify the smells associated with complex combinations of molecules, something humans noses do with ease. Nature: [AI predicts chemicals’ smells from their structures] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02714-2?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) [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 <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

06 Sep 2023

13 MINS

13:34

06 Sep 2023


#664

Physicists finally observe strange isotope Oxygen 28 – raising fundamental questions

In this episode: 00:47 First observation of oxygen 28 ------------------------------------ Oxygen 28 is an isotope of oxygen with 20 neutrons and eight protons. This strange isotope has long been sought after by physicists, as its proposed unusual properties would allow them to put their theories of how atomic nuclei work to the test. Now, after decades of experiments physicists believe they have observed oxygen 28. The observations are at odds with theory predictions, so they imply that there’s a lot more physicists don’t know about the forces that hold atomic nuclei together. Research article: [Kondo et al.] (https://go.nature.com/3YYb43D) News and Views: [Heaviest oxygen isotope is found to be unbound] (https://go.nature.com/3L2bQHa) 10:06 Research Highlights ------------------------- How venus fly traps can protect themselves from wildfires, and a ball-point pen that can ‘write’ LEDs. Research Highlight: [Venus flytraps shut their traps when flames approach] (https://go.nature.com/3qSzEGJ) Research Highlight: [A rainbow of LEDs adorns objects at the stroke of a pen] (https://go.nature.com/3PhmrQ7) 12:39 An AI for Drone Racing ---------------------------- AIs have been beating humans at games for years, but in these cases the AI has always trained in exactly the same conditions in which it competes. In chess for example, the board can be simulated exactly. Now though, researchers have demonstrated an AI that can beat humans in a place where simulation can only take you so far, the real world. The Swift AI system is able to race drones against champion-level humans, and beat them most of the time. The researchers hope this research can help improve the efficiency of drones in general. Research article: [Kaufmann et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06419-4?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) News and Views: [Drone-racing champions outpaced by AI] (http://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02506-8?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Video: [AI finally beats humans at a real-life sport - drone racing] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq53uCDZelQ?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 19:51 Briefing Chat ------------------- This time, the Indian Space Research Organization’s successful moon landing, and the low level of support offered to researchers whose first language isn’t English by journals. Nature News: [India lands on the Moon! Scientists celebrate as Chandrayaan-3 touches down] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02690-7?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Nature News: [Scientists who don’t speak fluent English get little help from journals, study finds] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02529-1?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) [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 <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

30 Aug 2023

29 MINS

29:05

30 Aug 2023


#663

Audio long read: Medicine is plagued by untrustworthy clinical trials. How many studies are faked or...

Investigations suggest that, in some fields, at least one-quarter of clinical trials might be problematic or even entirely made up. Faked or unreliable trials are dangerous, as they could end up being included in the reviews that help inform clinical treatments. However, the extent of the problem in unclear, and many researchers urge stronger scrutiny. This is an audio version of our Feature: [Medicine is plagued by untrustworthy clinical trials. How many studies are faked or flawed?] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02299-w?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

25 Aug 2023

26 MINS

26:28

25 Aug 2023


#662

Brain-reading implants turn thoughts into speech

In this episode: 00:47 The brain-computer interfaces that help restore communication ------------------------------------------------------------------- People with certain neurological conditions can lose the ability to speak as a result of facial paralysis. This week, two teams demonstrate the potential of devices called brain-computer interfaces to help people in these situations communicate. These interfaces work by identifying the brain activity associated with the intent to say words, and converting this activity into speech-related outputs, such as text or audio. Both devices show marked improvements compared with previous interfaces, and show that the technology could represent a way to help restore communication to people with severe paralysis. Research article: [Metzger et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06443-4) Research article: [Willett et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06377-x) News and Views: [Brain implants that enable speech pass performance milestones] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02546-0) 11:46 Research Highlights ------------------------- How wind-tunnel experiments could help athletes run the fastest marathon ever, and an analysis that could help explain why birds are the colours they are. Research Highlight: [Physicists find a way to set a new marathon record] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02573-x) Research Highlight: [Which birds are drab and which dazzle? Predators have a say] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02574-w) 14:06 How much heat can tropical leaves take? --------------------------------------------- As the climate warms, tropical forests around the world are facing increasing temperatures. But it’s unknown how much the trees can endure before their leaves start to die. A team has combined multiple data sources to try and answer this question, and suggest that a warming of 3.9 °C would lead to many leaves reaching a tipping point at which photosynthesis breaks down. This scenario would likely cause significant damage to these ecosystems’ role in vital carbon storage and as homes to significant biodiversity. Research article: [Doughty et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06391-z) 21:01 Briefing Chat ------------------- This time, a reexamination of Ötzi the iceman’s DNA suggests he had a different appearance, and the failure of a Russian mission to the moon. Nature News: [Ötzi the Iceman has a new look: balding and dark-skinned] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02562-0) Nature News: [Russian Moon lander crash — what happened, and what’s next?] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02659-6) [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 <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

23 Aug 2023

29 MINS

29:28

23 Aug 2023


#661

Fruit flies' ability to sense magnetic fields thrown into doubt

In this episode: 00:49 The search for animals’ magnetic sense sufferers a potential setback -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Exactly how animals sense Earth’s magnetic field has long eluded researchers. To understand it, many have turned to the fly model Drosophila melanogaster, long thought to be able to detect magnetic fields. However, a recent Nature paper has raised questions about this ability, a finding that could have repercussions for scientists’ efforts to understand the mechanism behind magnetic sensing, one of the biggest questions in sensory biology. Research article: [Bassetto et al.] (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06397-7?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) News & Views: [ Replication study casts doubt on magnetic sensing in flies] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02489-6?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 10:53 Research Highlights ------------------------- The world’s first filter feeder, and human-caused climate change in the Bronze Age. Research Highlight: [This ancient reptile wanted to be a whale] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02524-6?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) Research Highlight: [Bronze Age deforestation changed Europe’s climate] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02525-5?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 13:03 An iconic observatory shuts down -------------------------------------- This week the famed Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico shut down. The facility’s main telescope collapsed in 2020 and the site has since been battered by storms and pandemic-related shutdowns. Now, with funding exhausted and no clear plan in place, scientists are wondering what will become of the site. Nature News: [Closing down an icon: will Arecibo Observatory ever do science again?] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02503-x?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) 20:28 Briefing Chat ------------------- This time, the Standard Model of physics still isn't dead according to new measurements of muons' magnetic moment, and finding the most diverse habitat on Earth under your feet. Nature News: [Dreams of new physics fade with latest muon magnetism result] (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02532-6?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) The Guardian: [More than half of Earth’s species live in the soil, study finds] (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/07/more-than-half-of-earths-species-live-in-the-soil-study-finds-aoe?utm_source=naturepod&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=shownotes) [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 <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information. ... Read more

16 Aug 2023

31 MINS

31:47

16 Aug 2023