Podcasts

Infections particular to our genome might have helped drive human-specific traits — plus, using heat to power DNA computers.

Claims about what is responsible are ignoring answers from decades of research, scientists say.

Protein on the surface of brain cells appears to play a key role in disease progression — plus, a bot explores what might have happened to research if the Trump’s teams funding cuts had happened 10 years ago.

Science journalist Lizzie Wade joins us to talk about her new book investigating the seismic events that humans have faced through history.

Trained on 400,000 medical records, the system can predict risks 20 years in advance — plus, how AIs could make you more likely to cheat.

Attribution study suggests major energy producers play an outsized role in causing extreme heatwaves — plus, the scientists fighting back against US funding cuts.

Misconduct is rare in science, but there are worries about a detritus of fake papers in the scientific literature. In this podcast, we explore why misconduct happens and how to tackle it.

Facility aims to stop deadly viruses such as Zika, dengue and chikungunya through the release of disease-fighting mosquitoes.

Iberian harvester ants can produce males that are genetically different species — plus, new insights into preventing deadly bridge collapses.

Scientists are searching for awareness in all its possible forms — insights from human brains could inform that quest.

Modern epidemiological models shed light on the causes of the ‘Great Fear’ — plus, Nature’s big quantum interpretation quiz.

Chemists used an electrochemical method to enhance the rates of fusion in a desktop reactor — plus, how microbes give chocolate its taste.

Authors welcome ‘serious’ scientific rebuttal, while researchers say report misrepresents decades of climate science.

One centimetre-wide devices can use heat from the Sun to levitate — plus, the new experiments trying answer whether gravity is quantum.

Adhesive shows promise in tricky salt-water conditions — plus, a hidden microbial ecosystem living within trees.

Submersible dives reveal a startling diversity of life in the depths of the Pacific Ocean — plus, how respiratory infections could awaken dormant cancer cells.

A 50 nm thick sheet of solid gold was heated well beyond a theoretical limit, suggests new study — plus, what researchers think about the threat of nuclear war.

Researchers are trialling myriad approaches to prevent errors in science. In this podcast, we explore their different approaches and ask how can science be improved.

180-million-year-old fossil suggests Temnodontosaurus had several adaptations for quiet swimming — plus, why damage to mitochondria during waking hours might explain the need for sleep.

Vianet Djenguet joins us to talk about working with conservation researchers in the documentary series The Wild Ones.