Science Weekly podcast

Science Weekly

Twice a week, the Guardian brings you the latest science and environment news

Twice a week, the Guardian brings you the latest science and environment news

 

#299

The surprising value of boring chats, ‘super El Niño’ and Alzheimer’s evidence reviewed

Madeleine Finlay sits down with co-host and science editor Ian Sample to discuss three eye... more

16 Apr 2026

20 MINS

20:45

16 Apr 2026


#298

Helium: the invisible gas that powers AI, and why it’s in short supply

Alongside the oil and gas stranded in the strait of Hormuz is another commodity vital to t... more

14 Apr 2026

16 MINS

16:19

14 Apr 2026


#297

Everything you need to know about Artemis II so far

This week Artemis II’s four-astronaut crew broke Apollo 13’s distance record, becoming the... more

09 Apr 2026

19 MINS

19:04

09 Apr 2026


#296

Can we eradicate a second human disease?

The number of human cases of guinea worm, a painful and debilitating tropical illness, fel... more

07 Apr 2026

15 MINS

15:37

07 Apr 2026


#295

Sauna and cold plunge: where does the evidence stand?

Saunas and cold plunge pools are popping up everywhere in the UK, bringing fiery heat and ... more

02 Apr 2026

16 MINS

16:36

02 Apr 2026


#294

Does going to the moon still matter?

If all goes to plan, Artemis II, Nasa’s mission to return humans to the moon, will launch ... more

31 Mar 2026

19 MINS

19:36

31 Mar 2026


#293

Transporting the most expensive and volatile substance on Earth

A box the size of a filing cabinet was lifted by crane, slowly moved and placed very caref... more

26 Mar 2026

15 MINS

15:48

26 Mar 2026


#292

What sets human consciousness apart from AI?

Why is it like something to be ourselves and how do physical processes create our subjecti... more

24 Mar 2026

21 MINS

21:29

24 Mar 2026


#291

Off Duty: The Crime

On the evening of 29 December 2011, police officer Clifton Lewis was moonlighting as a sec... more

21 Mar 2026

26 MINS

26:38

21 Mar 2026


#290

Meningitis explained: who is most at risk?

Over the weekend, news emerged of an outbreak of meningitis among university and school st... more

18 Mar 2026

15 MINS

15:00

18 Mar 2026


#289

What’s behind the injectable peptide craze?

Grey-market injectable peptides – a category of substances with obscure, alphanumeric name... more

17 Mar 2026

17 MINS

17:42

17 Mar 2026


#288

Exercise and brain function, hedgehog hearing, and can AI change our minds? – podcast

The Guardian’s science editor, Ian Sample, talks to Madeleine Finlay about three eye-catch... more

12 Mar 2026

20 MINS

20:03

12 Mar 2026


#287

Was Iran really building a nuclear weapon?

Among the many justifications Donald Trump has presented for the US and Israel attacking I... more

10 Mar 2026

16 MINS

16:31

10 Mar 2026


#286

Will China own the green energy future?

The conflict in the Middle East has sent energy prices soaring, and for countries that imp... more

05 Mar 2026

17 MINS

17:20

05 Mar 2026


#285

Does Trump want to wage an AI-powered war?

In the past three months, Donald Trump’s White House has reportedly used AI twice to effec... more

03 Mar 2026

16 MINS

16:30

03 Mar 2026


#284

Can degrowth save the climate?

Since the 1960s, global GDP has been rapidly rising and living standards have reached reco... more

26 Feb 2026

18 MINS

18:16

26 Feb 2026


#283

The truth about fat, and its complex role in our health

For a long time fat was seen simply as an inert yellow substance wrapping around our bodie... more

24 Feb 2026

16 MINS

16:32

24 Feb 2026


#282

Psychedelics for depression, dart frog poison and why do we have chins?

Madeleine Finlay sits down with science editor Ian Sample and science correspondent Nicola... more

19 Feb 2026

19 MINS

19:41

19 Feb 2026


#281

Should we really all be taking magnesium supplements?

Testimonials about the beneficial health effects of magnesium supplements abound online, w... more

17 Feb 2026

16 MINS

16:58

17 Feb 2026