The world, the universe and us podcast

The world, the universe and us

From the evolution of intelligent life, to the mysteries of consciousness; from the threat of the climate crisis to the search for dark matter, The world, the universe and us is your essential weekly dose of science and wonder in an uncertain world. Hosted by journalists Dr Rowan Hooper and Dr Penny Sarchet and joined each week by expert scientists in the field, the show draws on New Scientist’s unparalleled depth of reporting to put the stories that matter into context. Feed your curiosity with the podcast that will restore your sense of optimism and nourish your brain. For more visit newscientist.com/podcasts

From the evolution of intelligent life, to the mysteries of consciousness; from the threat of the climate crisis to the search for dark matter, The world, the universe and us is your essential weekly dose of science and wonder in an uncertain world. Hosted by journalists Dr Rowan Hooper and Dr Penny Sarchet and joined each week by expert scientists in the field, the show draws on New Scientist’s unparalleled depth of reporting to put the stories that matter into context. Feed your curiosity with the podcast that will restore your sense of optimism and nourish your brain. For more visit newscientist.com/podcasts

 

#396

The collapse of America’s health data system; How sleep affects your focus; Life on Mars in liquid v...

Episode 329 America’s health data system is in crisis. The US government has been bleeding... more

31 Oct 2025

23 MINS

23:51

31 Oct 2025


#395

How mRNA vaccines teach your body to kill cancer; Grim state of climate action; Why birds sing the d...

Episode 328 Not only has the mRNA covid vaccine saved 14 million lives, it may also help o... more

24 Oct 2025

29 MINS

29:20

24 Oct 2025


#394

Neuroscience of reality; Quest for dark matter; Folklore of geoscience (New Scientist Live Special)

Episode 327 A special episode recorded on October 18 at New Scientist Live in London, feat... more

20 Oct 2025

28 MINS

28:29

20 Oct 2025


#393

First climate tipping point triggered; Man controls another person's body by brain implant; health w...

Episode 326 The world’s first major climate tipping point has been triggered. The decimati... more

17 Oct 2025

34 MINS

34:00

17 Oct 2025


#392

Space 2075: How Humanity Will Live, Work and Make Drugs off-planet | Live Recording at the Royal Soc...

A special episode all about the future of space exploration, recorded in front of a live a... more

13 Oct 2025

53 MINS

53:35

13 Oct 2025


#391

How Jane Goodall changed the world; How the universe ends; How “selfish sperm” affect male fertility

Episode 324 The legendary primatologist Jane Goodall died last week aged 91, leaving behin... more

10 Oct 2025

43 MINS

43:27

10 Oct 2025


#390

Emergency in Antarctica; How movement changes the brain; Why women live longer than men

Episode 323 Temperatures in Antarctica have soared by over 35°C. Scientists are concerned ... more

02 Oct 2025

30 MINS

30:56

02 Oct 2025


#389

Skull rewrites story of human evolution; Autism and Tylenol; discovery of wind coming from black hol...

Episode 322 An ancient skull discovered in China may have just rewritten the story of huma... more

26 Sep 2025

33 MINS

33:57

26 Sep 2025


#388

The evolutionary price we pay for longer lives; the asteroid coming VERY close to Earth; how dinosau...

Episode 321 Humans live a lot longer than other primates - and much of that is down to our... more

19 Sep 2025

32 MINS

32:59

19 Sep 2025


#387

Why we can't announce life on Mars (yet); The Romans' impact on the British economy; Link between ex...

Episode 320 Was Mars once home to alien life? The evidence is stronger than ever, since NA... more

12 Sep 2025

29 MINS

29:59

12 Sep 2025


#386

First complete map of brain activity; Queen ant lays eggs of another species; The perils of scrollin...

Episode 319 Scientists have created the first complete activity map of a mouse’s brain. Co... more

05 Sep 2025

31 MINS

31:10

05 Sep 2025


#385

Scientists discovered a 100,000-year-old organism; Breakthrough brain implant uses AI to treat pain;...

Episode 318 An ancient organism has been discovered that has been alive for at least 100,0... more

29 Aug 2025

25 MINS

25:50

29 Aug 2025


#384

Could we end winter illness?; Cold fusion’s comeback; The delicious microbiome of chocolate

Episode 317 Winter bugs are notoriously hard to vaccinate against. But as cold, flu and co... more

22 Aug 2025

20 MINS

20:41

22 Aug 2025


#383

Climate special: How to fix the climate crisis with Tim Lenton and Kate Marvel

Episode 316 “All of the other planets out there are just complete garbage. The Earth is th... more

14 Aug 2025

44 MINS

44:25

14 Aug 2025


#382

80 years since Hiroshima: Forgotten victims of the atomic bomb

Episode 315 It’s been 80 years since the first and only use of nuclear weapons in war - ev... more

05 Aug 2025

34 MINS

34:06

05 Aug 2025


#381

Ozempic and Wegovy slow down biological ageing; creation of synthetic bacterium; geology of the Russ...

Episode 314 Weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy have been shown to slow down - or even re... more

01 Aug 2025

28 MINS

28:24

01 Aug 2025