Podcasts about New Scientist

Sam Altman and Dario Amodei both published essays this week on the future of AI and what we must do so everyone benefits. One of them is literally titled "Our Plan." The other one has an actual plan.Kwaku and I dig into it all on this week's FAFO Friday. Plus — and this story isn't getting enough attention — according to New Scientist, two years ago Ukraine used fully autonomous “Terminator” drones that killed everything they saw. No human in the loop. Dead Russian soldiers. But rest assured, according to the drone-maker cited, it was just a one-off “test.” But how long until this is standard practice? And do we want that future? So, yeah, maybe we should get planning… ---Support Future Around & Find Out:* Follow Dan on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dblums/* Get the free newsletter: https://www.futurearound.com* Become a paid subscriber and help future proof FAFO! https://www.futurearound.com/upgradeMusic by Jonathan Zalben

Episode 373 Despite being 5,300-years-old, the gut microbiome of the famous Ötzi the Ice Man appears to be still alive. A mix of ancient and modern bacteria have been found on Ötzi's mummified remains - which are preserved in icy conditions. Found in 1991 by hikers on a glacier in the Alps, Ötzi has already taught us an incredible amount about the life of humans living in Europe during the Copper Age - and continues to reveal his secrets. While we unpack this surprising news, we also explore some of the other fascinating discoveries Ötzi has led us to over the years, from the type of food ancient people ate during this period, to the different animal skins they wore as clothing. We also discuss the six tools he was found with - and why he was covered in 61 tattoos.  To discuss the new finding, Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist's Sam Wong. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 372 Part of the world's widest glacier is about to collapse – one of the dramatic changes underway that could ultimately trigger a 3 metre rise in sea levels, threatening coastal cities around the world.  Thwaites is a massive glacier in Antarctica – the size of Florida. A key part of the glacier could break away any day now -– an ice shelf that helps protect the main glacier from warm ocean water. Scientists are shocked by the speed at which these changes have happened. Is there anything we can do to stop it? To discuss the news, Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist's Alison George – former British Antarctic Survey scientist. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Bailey is a Bristol-based theatremaker and artist, and creative director of Herald Angel award-winning company MECHANIMAL, whose work — described by New Scientist as "extraordinary… moving and enlightening" — has toured to over 15 countries and explores humanity's relationship to a changing planet. We caught up with Tom from a remote shack in northern Norway, where he is currently midway through *Threshold – A Wild New Border Journey*: a 600km ultra-slow expedition by ski, sled, foot and boat across the Arctic borderlands of Norway, Finland and Sweden. Beginning on 10 March 2026 at Barents Spektakel, the two-month journey travels westwards through the Russia–Finland–Norway border region before concluding at Stamsund International Theatre Festival in the Lofoten Islands in May 2026. Along the way, Tom is meeting local communities, artists and researchers to document the lived realities of life in a fast-changing Arctic — with a new performance piece set to premiere in 2027. Threshold builds on a body of work that has consistently used endurance and landscape as artistic material. In 2024 Tom walked 1,000 kilometres solo as a tribute to lost species, research that fed directly into *Wild Thing!* — his most recent Edinburgh Fringe production, in which he attempts to embody 48,000 endangered species. Supported by Arts Council England, Arts Council Norway and the Danish Arts Foundation, his practice remains one of the most distinctive and committed voices in ecological theatre.Tom Bailey is our guest in episode 586 of My Time Capsule and he chats to Michael Fenton Stevens about the five things he'd like to put in a time capsule; four he'd like to preserve and one he'd like to bury and never have to think about again .To find out more about Tom's theatre visit - https://mechanimal.co.uk .Follow Tom Bailey's theatre company on Instagram: @_mechanimal_ .Visit our website! - https://mytimecapsulepodcast.com .Follow My Time Capsule on Instagram: @mytimecapsulepodcast & Twitter/X & Facebook: @MyTCpod .Follow Michael Fenton Stevens on Twitter/X: @fentonstevens & Instagram @mikefentonstevens .Produced and edited by John Fenton-Stevens for Cast Off Productions .Music by Pass The Peas Music .Artwork by matthewboxall.com .This podcast is proud to be associated with the charity Viva! Providing theatrical opportunities for hundreds of young people .To support this podcast and get all episodes ad-free, please sign up here - https://mytimecapsule.supercast.com. All money goes straight into the making of the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 371 The moa was a giant flightless bird from New Zealand that died out around 500 years ago. Are we about to see it brought back from extinction? Colossal Biosciences say they have made an artificial egg shell that is a step towards recreating the massive eggs of moas (and dodos). This is huge news… if it works. Is this really enough to bring them back to life - and should we even be trying? We discuss the news and wider ethical implications of de-extinction - including Colossal's headline goal of bringing back the woolly mammoth to assist in the climate crisis. Rowan Hooper is joined by New Scientist's Michael Le Page and palaeontologist Victoria Herridge. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is all about how childhood literally shapes the brain.Our most important experiences – from learning to read, to the growing complexity of our social lives at school, and even the video games we play – leave physical traces in how our brains get organized that shape how we see the world as adults.But how does the brain actually know what parts of our lives are actually important enough to reorganize around? How do particular experiences get under the hood to leave their mark on the developing brain?Today's guest, Stanford psychology professor Kalanit Grill-Spector, has spent her career trying to answer these questions. She's has been imaging children's brains – from infants to teenagers – to watch this reorganization unfold. Her work focuses on how our visual experience as children shapes our brains and how we see the world – what she and her team have found is not always what they expected.Learn MoreThe Vision and Perception Neuroscience Lab at Stanford Humanities and SciencesBrain's face recognition area grows much bigger as we get older (New Scientist, 2017)Neuroscientists use AI to simulate how the brain makes sense of the visual world (Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, 2025)Bridging nature and nurture: The brain's flexible foundation from birth (Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, 2025)Extensive childhood experience with Pokémon suggests eccentricity drives organization of visual cortex (Nature Human Behavior, 2019)Cortical recycling in high-level visual cortex during childhood development (Nature Human Behaviour, 2021)A unifying framework for functional organization in early and higher ventral visual cortex (Neuron, 2024)The emergence of visual category representations in infants' brains (eLife, 2024)White matter connections of human ventral temporal cortex are organized by cytoarchitecture, eccentricity and category-selectivity from birth (Nature Human Behaviour, 2025)Send us a text!Thanks for listening! If you're enjoying our show, please take a moment to give us a review on your podcast app of choice and share this episode with your friends. That's how we grow as a show and bring the stories of the frontiers of neuroscience to a wider audience.We want to hear from your neurons! Email us at at neuronspodcast@stanford.eduLearn more about the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute at Stanford and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

Episode 370 The melting ice caps are accelerating global warming and contributing to sea level rise, but could also contribute to a different kind of climate catastrophe. The melting may cause massive amounts of frozen methane to bubble up into the atmosphere. It happened thousands of years ago - and scientists are concerned it's about to happen again. Methane is a greenhouse gas which is 86 times more potent than CO2. Some estimates suggest this frozen methane - methane hydrates - contain twice as much warming potential as all the coal, oil and gas on Earth. Scientists have now discovered a new way for methane in Greenland to be unleashed. It's not a threat that has been taken seriously as the evidence has been inconclusive. But perhaps it's time for us to take notice? Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist's Alec Luhn to discuss the news. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 369 A strange tooth found in a Siberian cave has pushed back the earliest evidence of dentistry by 45,000 years. The weird thing is, the evidence comes from a Neanderthal tooth - upending what we thought these ancient humans were capable of. Markings on the 60,000-year-old molar show Neanderthals may have used stone tools to “drill” the tooth to treat dental decay. A team of scientists has recreated the experience - and it sounds gruesome. And that's not all for Neanderthal news - as archaeologists have discovered an ancient kneeprint made in clay around 175,000 years ago. It was found in a cave containing a mysterious stalagmite circle that may have been deliberately constructed. Could this suggest Neanderthals were engaging in some sort of religious practice? Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist's Sam Wong and Michael le Page to discuss these two discoveries Listen to Change Your Mind, the new podcast from New Scientist: https://podfollow.com/1896636265 To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 368 Scientists are concerned by a sudden increase in the rate of sea level rise. In 2012 it suddenly accelerated and has remained high ever since. From melting glaciers to oceans expanding as they warm, global sea levels have risen by more than 0.2 metres over the past 15 years. Places like Venice and New Orleans are already under threat - and this fast pace of change is only set to make things worse. So what's causing this sudden shift? As sea level rise is now moving faster than we expect, is there something else driving up the tides? We also look to the future, when we could face truly catastrophic change.  Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist climate reporter Michael le Page to discuss the latest research.To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Further reading: Jump in rate of sea level rise - https://www.newscientist.com/article/2525773-there-has-been-a-sudden-increase-in-the-rate-of-sea-level-rise/ Global warming is accelerating - https://www.newscientist.com/article/2518362-earth-is-now-heating-up-twice-as-fast-as-in-previous-decades/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 367 Some people are genetically destined to develop Alzheimer's disease. But one man who carried the devastating mutation seems to have escaped it entirely - and scientists think it may be because of his job.  Doug Whitney inherited the rare variant of a gene that should have caused early-onset Alzheimer's in his mid-40s. Many of his family members died from it. Instead, he is now 76 years old with no memory problems and no trace of the disease. Researchers investigating his case uncovered a surprising clue: his inadvertent heat exposure while working as a mechanic in ship engine rooms.  Could heat exposure really help shield the brain from Alzheimer's? What does Doug's case reveal about the disease? And should we all build a sauna in our backyard? Rowan Hooper is joined by New Scientist reporter Alice Klein to discuss Doug Whitney's extraordinary case and what it could mean for the future of Alzheimer's research. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Make Pluto a planet again" was the call this week from Donald Trump's NASA Administrator, Jared Isaacman. The icy body was first seen in 1930 and was the only planet whose discovery was claimed by the United States. In 2006, though, it was officially stripped of its planet status. Tom Whipple is joined by astronomer Chris Lintott to discuss the debate that has raged ever since over whether Pluto should or shouldn't be reinstated as the solar system's 9th planet.We also hear about the big money scientific prize hoping to lead to breakthroughs in how humans can communicate with animals. Head judge Professor Yossi Yovel, from Tel Aviv University, and finalists Dr Catherine Crockford, from the CNRS Institute for Cognitive Sciences in Lyon, and Professor Nicolas Mathevon, from the University of Saint-Etienne, tell us what the Coller Dolittle Challenge is hoping to uncover.Plus, Penny Sarchet from New Scientist brings us the science news that might have slipped under the radar this week, including why there's a scientific gap in the dating lives of over 50s.Presenter: Tom Whipple Producer: Alex Mansfield Editor: Ilan Goodman Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

Ziedonis dabā tā vien mudina doties garās pastaigās un atpūtu meklēt pie dabas krūts. Taču, vai protam ne tikai atpūsties zaļumos, bet arī pamanīt un novērot lietas dabā? Dabas vērošana bija vienīgā agrāk pieejamā laika ziņu prognozēšanas metode, mūsdienās talkā nāk zinātne un tehnoloģijas. Vai latvietis aizvien prot vērot dabu un norises tajā? Vai pamanām lielas un mazas pārmaiņas? Vai protam atpazīt dažādos augus un dzīvniekus un pamanīt arī to, kā laika gaitā mainās gada laiku mija Latvijas dabā? Raidījumā Zināmais nezināmajā sarunājas ģeogrāfijas doktore, fenoloģe Gunta Kalvāne un Latvijas Dabas fonda pārstāve Liene Brizga-Kalniņa. Uzklausām arī Latvijas Ornitoloģijas biedrības pārstāvi Agni Bušu. "Mūsdienu sabiedrībā cilvēkiem vairs nav nepieciešamības pamanīt to, kas notiek dabā, vairs nav nepieciešamības pazīt augus un dzīvniekus, jo tas nav mūsu izdzīvošanas jautājums," norāda Liene Brizga-Kalniņa. "Dabas vērošana šobrīd ir izvēle. Kaut kādā ziņā tas ir vērtību jautājums, dzīvesveida jautājums, cilvēciskās ziņkāres jautājums." Gunta Kalvāne vērtē, ka esam pazaudējuši saikni ar dabu un pats svarīgākais ir - ejiet dabā. "Nav svarīgi, vai jūs zināt vai nē. Sākumā ir pilnīgi normāli nezināt. Pētījumi rāda, ja sāksi ar 10 minūtēm, pēc divām nedēļām tās būs jau 25 minūtes un vairāk," atzīst Gunta Kalvāne. Viņa arī min, ka līdzīgi kā ir uzmanības deficīta sindroms, daži pētnieki runā arī par dabas deficīta sindromu, kas cilvēkos rada trauksmi. Zinātnes ziņās par mākslīgā intelekta datu centru ietekmi uz vidi Mākslīgā intelekta datu centriem ir dažāda funkcionalitāte, tostarp tie nepieciešami, lai mēs saņemtu atbildes no daudziem jau labi zināmā sarunu bota jeb “ChatGPT”. Vienlaikus šie datu centri varot pamatīgi uzsildīt to tuvumā esošo vidi un atstāt ietekmi uz vairākiem miljoniem cilvēku. Par to pavisam nesen vēstīts zinātnes ziņu vietnē “New Scientist”. Vai problēma patiesi ir samilzusi? Saruna ar Elektronikas un datorzinātņu institūta direktoru un vadošo pētnieku, kā arī Latvijas Zinātņu akadēmijas akadēmiķi Modri Greitānu. Viņš norāda, ka pirms trim gadiem Latvijā rīkotā Baltijas intelektuālās sadarbības konferencē, kur apspriesti enerģētikas jautājumi, arī bijušas bažas, ka mākslīgā intelekta datu centri uzsildīs vidi. Tāpat ir satraukums, ka mākslīgais intelekts it visā pārspēs cilvēku, tomēr pētnieks atgādina - cilvēka smadzeņu darbības efektivitāte ir desmitiem tūkstošiem reižu lielāka, kaut enerģijas patēriņš tām ir tūkstošiem reižu mazāks nekā mākslīgajam intelektam. 

▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/   What if drinking the same milkshake could make you gain or lose weight, just based on what you believe about it? The same idea could also affect your stress, how you age, and your relationships.   In this episode of Being Human, Richard Atherton talks with David Robson, a science writer and author of The Expectation Effect: How Your Mindset Can Transform Your Life and The Laws of Connection. David used his mind training approach to go from an average student to getting in to Cambridge University to study mathematics. He is now a respected science journalist in the UK, writing for the BBC, The Guardian, and New Scientist. His work explores how our beliefs not only shape our actions but also affect our cortisol levels and our health. ​ For example, just having a positive view of ageing can add 7.5 years to your life. David also challenges the idea that willpower runs out as the day goes on, showing that what we believe about self-control is more important than the time of day. He explains why self-compassion is the key to lasting performance, backed by scientific evidence.   We discuss: The art of being a "Beautiful Mess" How to rapidly build rapport It's not just about listening to them Why they might like you more than you think How to eat decadently and lose weight Links:  David's Website    

Episode 365 Craig Venter, one of the world's most influential geneticists, has died aged 79. He leaves behind an incredible - and complicated - legacy. Venter is primarily known for playing a leading role in the sequencing of the human genome. Later he pioneered the field of synthetic biology, creating what was described as the first synthetic life form - a feat that was not without controversy. So what drove Venter? And why was he so compelled to promote the idea of science as a competitive race? We discuss his many achievements, including his work in marine biology - and explore the pioneering methods behind it all. Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by science writer Mike Marshall, and former New Scientist editor Roger Highfield. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Image Credits: Marjorie McCarty, CC BY 2.5 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5, via Wikimedia Commons Arienette22, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons The original uploader was Bruno Comby at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 1.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0, via Wikimedia Commons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 364 Global temperatures are rising faster than ever - and with a strong El Niño on the way, scientists are warning we could temporarily breach 2°C of warming above pre-industrial levels. While other models suggest it may only hit 1.75°C, either option is bad news for the climate. The European state of the climate report has just been released, painting a picture of a rapidly warming world. Temperatures in Europe are rising faster than any other continent - and places like Iceland, Norway and the UK have all experienced record breaking years. As we're already watching the impacts of this heat on biodiversity, wildfires, harvests and more - can we handle a 2°C rise in temperatures? And does this signal the end of the Paris goal to limit warming to 1.5°C?  Despite the gloom, there is one glimmer of hope. One species of warm water corals seems to have adapted to these extreme surges in heat - and is surviving against the odds. Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist reporters Alec Luhn and James Woodford. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 362 It's been 40 years since the world's worst nuclear disaster unfolded. Since the explosion at Chernobyl in 1986, the world has feared nuclear power - and the widespread damage it can do. But are we right to fear it? Though it's left a lasting scar on the region, nuclear power is still safer than fossil fuels - which kill millions of people each year. So what will it take to change public opinion? We examine the lasting impact of nuclear fallout on Chernobyl - and how things have changed in the exclusion zone over four decades. Rowan Hooper is joined by New Scientist reporter Matt Sparkes, who shares news of his recent visit where he met the families who still live there. And Professor Jim Smith, author of Chernobyl: Catastrophe and Consequences, explains how the ecosystem and wildlife are thriving - and how he's been making Atomik Brandy out of radioactive apples from the region. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ To buy Atomik drinks and help support communities in Ukraine affected by Chernobyl and the war, see www.atomikvodka.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Heard Online, we dive into a fascinating article from The New Scientist by Helen Thompson. We explore the "propaganda" surrounding the 8-hour sleep rule and look at groundbreaking research that suggests how you think you slept is actually more important for your performance and mood than how many hours you actually slept. If you're ready to leave insomnia for good, check out our coaching options. Head over to www.thesleepcoachschool.com and click on GET SLEEP in the menu. The Insomnia Immunity program is perfect if you like learning through video and want to join a group on your journey towards sleeping well. BedTyme is ideal if you like to learn via text and have a sleep coach in your pocket. The 1:1 Zoom based program is for you if you like to connect one on one with someone who has been where you are now.  Do you like learning by reading? If so, here are two books that offer breakthroughs! Tales of Courage by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Courage-Twenty-six-accounts-insomnia/dp/B09YDKJ3KX Set it & Forget it by Daniel Erichsen https://www.amazon.com/Set-Forget-ready-transform-sleep/dp/B08BW8KWDJ Would you like to become a Sleep Hero by supporting the Natto movement on Patreon? If so, that's incredibly nice of you

Episode 361 The Earth is about to enter an extremely strong climate phase that could cause major disruption on a planet-wide scale. This “super El Niño” - or “Godzilla El Niño” - threatens to make 2027 the hottest year on record. If it's as strong as scientists fear, the weather event will bring droughts to some areas of the world and floods to others, causing food shortages and billions of pounds of damage. And with the world already warming faster due to human activity, the effects will only be intensified. To discuss what we can expect from the near future, Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist climate reporter Alec Luhn. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Siden vi optog dette afsnit, så ER Artemis II kommet i luften, rundt om månen og ned på jorden igen! Det taler vi naturligvis om i et kommende afsnit. Karina's noter til dette afsnit: 0: Der var lige en lille meteor over USA. 1: Den der asteroide der IKKE rammer Jorden i 2032 (den rammer så heller ikke Månen)2: Artemis II missionen3: ESA introduces space environment ‘health index'4: Europæiske Aerospace giganter slår sig sammen5: Ny Komet6: Oversigt over kommende kometer (med link!)7: Sidste nyt fra 3I/ATLAS—————————-1: Den der asteroide der IKKE rammer Jorden i 2032Fra Michael Linden-VørnleAsteroiden kommer...… og den skal være så velkommen!I starten af 2025 blev der talt og skrevet en del om den ca. 60 meter store asteroide 2024 YR4, fordi der havde vist sig en betydelig risiko for, at den ville ramme Jorden d. 22. december 2032. Vedholdende observationer af asteroiden afslørede dog, at der alligevel ikke var risiko for en kollision med Jorden. Til gengæld var der stadig en ret høj sandsynlighed for at 2024 YR4 ville ramme Månen.Et nedslag af en ca. 60 meter stor asteroide på Månen ville være særdeles interessant at observere for at lære mere om den kraterdannelse på Månen og andre himmellegemer, der netop er resultatet af nedslag af bl.a. større eller mindre asteroider. Nogle mente dog også, at en kollision mellem 2024 YR4 og Månen d. 22. december 2032 kunne udgøre en risiko for os på Jorden, da brudstykker fra nedslaget kunne slynges væk fra Månen og ramme vores planet.Uanset om man mener, at et nedslag af 2024 YR4 på Månen er en god eller dårlig ting, så er en kollision med vores nærmeste nabo i rummet nu altså også blevet taget af programmet for asteroidens besøg i 2032. Nye observationer lavet med James Webb-rumteleskopet har vist, at asteroiden ikke vil ramme Månen, men med størst sandsynlighed passere forbi i en afstand på mere end 20.000 km. Asteroider som 2024 YR4 er byggeaffald fra Solsystemets barndom og er derfor videnskabeligt uhyre interessante for at lære os mere om, hvordan vores planetsystem er blevet dannet og har udviklet sig. Når de altså vel at mærke er så elskværdige ikke at ramme vores planet. Så 2024 YR4 skal være mere end velkommen til at smutte forbi d. 22. december 2032.Billedet her viser 2024 YR4 optaget af James Webb-rumteleskopet d. 26. februar 2026. Billedet er gengivet i negativ farveskala – altså med lyse objekter (asteroiden) gengivet med mørke farver. Asteroiden er også markeret med en grøn ring.Læs mere hos ESA:https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Planetary_Defence/Asteroid_2024_YR4_will_not_impact_the_MoonCredit:NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, M. Micheli (ESA NEOCC)Den der asteroide der IKKE rammer jorden i 2032 rammer måske månen. -----------------------------------------2: Artemis IIhttps://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/artemis/Orion is developed to be capable of sending astronauts to the Moon and is a crucial step toward eventually sending crews on to Mars.The Orion spacecraft will serve as the exploration vehicle that will carry and sustain the crew on Artemis missions to the Moon and return them safely to Earth. Orion will launch on NASA's new heavy-lift rocket, the SLS (Space Launch System).SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and cargo directly to the Moon in a single launch. The Artemis II mission will carry astronauts farther from Earth and closer to the Moon than any human has been in over half a century. From this unique vantage point and environment, the Artemis II crew will work with scientists on Earth to facilitate science investigations to inform future human spaceflight missions. Det er altså kun et flyby. Der lander ingen mennesker på månen i denne omgang."The Artemis II astronauts will be the first humans to fly by the Moon in more than 50 years and will serve as scientific ambassadors to our nearest neighbor.On the journey to the Moon and back, the Orion capsule will fly by the far side of the Moon — the side that always faces away from Earth. During this three-hour period, astronauts will analyze and photograph geologic features, such as impact craters and ancient lava flows. They will rely on the extensive geology training they received in the classroom and in Moon-like places on Earth to describe nuances in shapes, textures, and colors — the type of information that reveals the geologic history of an area. These skills will be critical to exploring the Moon's South Pole region through future missions."Hvad Michael Linden-Vørnle siger om sagen:NASA har i dag, d. 12. marts, meddelt, at Artemis II-missionen bliver klar til at komme af sted mod Månen i starten af april. Her skal de fire astronauter, chefen Reid Wiseman, piloten Victor Glover samt de to missionsspecialister Christina Koch og Jeremy Hansen (sidstnævnte fra Canada), i løbet af ti dage flyve ud til Månen, rundt om Månens bagside og hjem igen.Udmeldingen kommer som konklusionen på en minutiøs gennemgang af hele missionens parathed til at gennemføre rejsen – det såkaldte Flight Readiness Review (FRR), der er blevet gennemført over to dage i denne uge. Det var oprindelig planen, at Artemis II skulle være taget af sted mod Månen i starten af februar, men utætheder i systemet på affyringsrampen til tankning af brændstof (flydende brint) forhindrede dette. Udfordringerne med utæthederne blev håndteret i løbet af februar og herefter blev der fokuseret på starten af marts for at få Artemis II af sted. Denne mulighed glippede dog også, da der viste sig et problem med et system i rakettens øverste trin, der bruger helium til at sætte tryk på brændstoftankene. Dette problem kunne ikke løses på affyringsrampen, så for to uger siden blev raketten kørt tilbage til den store montagehal – Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB).Artemis-programmet er baseret på NASAs nye måneraket kaldet SLS: Space Launch System og rumskibet Orion. SLS og Orion har allerede fløjet en tur til Månen, men det var en ubemandet testflyvning kaldet Artemis I, der blev gennemført i slutningen af 2022. Ifølge NASA er problemet med helium-systemet løst og SLS med Orion vil efter planen blive kørt ud til affyringsrampen igen på næste torsdag, d. 19. marts.Ifølge NASA er der i alt seks opsendelsesmuligheder startende fra d. 1. april (d. 2. april dansk tid). Så hvis alt går vel, vil mennesker igen være på vej til Månen om mindre end tre uger. Billedet her viser Artemis II d. 18. januar i år, hvor SLS og Orion første gang blev kørt ud til affyringsrampe 39B på Kennedy Space Center i Florida.————3: ESA introduces space environment ‘health index'https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Space_Debris/Sounding_the_alarm_ESA_introduces_space_environment_health_index----------4: Europæiske Aerospace giganter slår sig sammenEn virksomhed med 25.000 ansatte spredt over Europa og de tre virksomheder Airbus, Thales og Leonardo som ‘forældre' skal sættes i verden for at levere et robust europæisk alternativ til amerikanske rumfartsvirksomheder.https://europeanspaceflight.com/airbus-thales-and-leonardo-agree-to-create-european-space-behemoth/------------5: Ny Komethttps://www.sciencealert.com/a-newly-discovered-comet-may-soon-appear-bright-in-our-skiesA newly discovered comet has astronomers excited, with the potential to be a spectacular sight in early April.C/2026 A1 (MAPS) was spotted by a team of four amateur astronomers with a remotely operated telescope in the Atacama desert on January 13.It quickly became apparent the newly discovered object was a member of a group called the Kreutz sungrazing comets. These include many of the brightest and most spectacular comets ever seen.Great story about originsOverall, it's too soon to tell. If – and that's a big if – the comet survives its closest approach to the Sun (known as perihelion), it could put on a great show in early to mid-April.If it holds together, it might get bright enough to be visible in broad daylight. Even if that doesn't happen, the SOHO spacecraft will provide great images of the comet.Og øv, den er nemmest at se fra den sydlige himmelkugle.--------------------------6: Oversigt over kommende Kometer:https://starwalk.space/en/news/upcoming-comets--------------------7: Sidste nyt fra 3I/ATLASALMA Detects Extremely Abundant Alcohol in Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLASNew research from ALMA Observatory reveals that 3I/ATLAS is packed with an unusually large amount of the organic molecule methanol – more than almost all known comets in our own solar system.In 3I/ATLAS, methanol is unusually abundant, making up around 8 percent of the comet's vapor, compared to around 2 percent in solar system comets. In our short time viewing the object, scientists have found some interesting things and unusual chemistry. Of particular interest is that it contains molecules that are key to life, and in abundance compared to most Solar System comets."We report the detection of methanol (CH3OH) toward interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS using the Atacama Compact Array of the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) on UT 2025 August 28, September 18 and 22, and October 1, and of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) on September 12 and 15," a recent preprint paper explains."The CH3OH production rate increased sharply from August through October, including an uptick near the inner edge of the H2O sublimation zone at r H = 2 au. Compared to comets measured to date at radio wavelengths, the derived CH3OH/HCN ratios in 3I/ATLAS of 124+30 −34 and 79+11−14 on September 12 and 15, respectively, are among the most enriched values measured in any comet, surpassed only by anomalous Solar System comet C/2016 R2 (PanSTARRS)."To be clear, these molecules are not themselves indication of life on the comet. We've had enough of the (unnecessary and outlandish) hypothesis that 3I/ATLAS is an alien spacecraft, we don't want people thinking that the comet contains life either. But they are considered so-called "building blocks" of life."Life as we know it requires building blocks, such as amino acids," NASA explains, "and hydrogen cyanide is one of the most important and versatile molecules needed to form amino acids." Similarly, methanol can be used to form more complex molecules like sugars, amino acids, and DNA/RNA precursors. “It seems really chemically implausible that you could go on a path to very high chemical complexity without producing methanol,” Martin Cordiner, of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland and author on the paper, explained to New Scientist.

The Lyrid meteor shower hits its peak on the evening of the 22nd April, but you can look for them any time between the 16th and 25th. Listen along with New Scientist's Abby Beall as she guides you through what a meteor shower is, when to see the Lyrids and how to look for them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're letting you run the airwaves. Victoria Gill puts your science questions to Catherine Heymans, Astronomer Royal for Scotland and Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Edinburgh, Mark Maslin, Professor of Earth System Science at University College London, and Penny Sarchet, Managing editor of New Scientist. If you've ever wondered why men have nipples, how gravity slingshots work, or whether photosynthesis could solve our energy problems, that's all on this week's BBC Inside Science. Presenter: Victoria Gill Producers: Ella Hubber & Debbie Kilbride Editor: Martin Smith Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

Episode 357 A global food shock is on the way because of the ongoing war in Iran. Your food bill is expected to rise significantly. The conflict is showing just how fragile our food system is, as spikes in fuel, fertiliser and pesticide prices begin to have knock-on effects around the world. With food availability in jeopardy, should we be stocking supplies at home? Coupled with the worsening climate and environment crises - and governments increasingly incentivising the production of biofuel - there could be tough times ahead. So how can we prepare? From eating less meat and raising less livestock, to countries focusing on renewable energy and becoming more self-sufficient - will this shock finally be what's needed to force leaders to take action? To discuss this critical issue, Rowan Hooper is joined by climate, energy, and food systems professor Paul Behrens - and New Scientist reporter Michael Le Page. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Klaiņojoši dzīvnieki, vardarbība vai nolaidīga attieksme pret dzīvniekiem – šie jautājumi parasti sakuļ ūdeņus sociālo tīklu vidē, kur nereti diskusijās iesaistās kā brīvprātīgie dzīvnieku glābēji, tā arī veterinārārsti, kuru aprūpē nereti nonāk šie dzīvnieki. Par šo tapis promocijas pētījums Latvijas Universitātē. Asās diskusijas liek uzdot jautājumus visai sabiedrībai kopumā – ko uzskatām par labu dzīvnieku aprūpi un kādai jābūt cilvēku atbildībai, nodrošinot dzīvnieku tiesības? Plašāk stāsta pētījuma autors sociālo zinātņu doktors Staņislavs Šeiko un filozofs, publicists, Latvijas Universitātes Filozofijas un ētikas nodaļas asociētais profesors Artis Svece.   Vai nākotnē kvantu skaitļotājus varētu izgatavot pats un lietot mājās? Kvantu datori ir viena no nozīmīgākajām mūsdienu tehnoloģiju attīstības tendencēm. Atšķirībā no ikdienā ierastajiem datoriem, kas izmanto par bitiem dēvētas informācijas vienības, kvantu datori izmanto kvantu bitus jeb kubitus un spēj būt daudz, daudz jaudīgāki. Tas nozīmē, ka tie jau var un ar laiku aizvien labāk varēs risināt sarežģītas problēmas, tostarp biznesā, saistībā ar datu drošību un citām jomām. Tīmekļa meklētājā ierakstot atslēgas vārdus “kvantu dators”, ikviens var redzēt ļoti populāru attēlu ar zelta vadu lielu daudzpakāpju elementu un tādā veidā gūt priekšstatu, kā šie jaudīgie datori izskatās. Bet ar to viss nebeidzas. Kā vēstī zinātnes žurnāls “New Scientist”, Spānijā, Barselonā bāzētais uzņēmums “Qilimanjaro” šobrīd piedāvā pašsaliekamus kvantu datorus. Izmēros krietni mazākus, nekā ierasts redzēt attēlos, bet ar visām svarīgajām detaļām. Kāds labums no šādiem maziem kvantu datoriem, skaidro Latvijas Universitātes tenūrprofesors fizikā Vjačeslavs Kaščejevs.

Hello Booty Gang, and welcome back to another episode of BUTT HONESTLY—where the carry-on is full, the questions are layered, and the science is… unexpectedly specific.This week, Dr. Carlton returns from Spain with stories that are equal parts cultural immersion and… extracurricular exploration. From darkrooms to sex clubs to a suspiciously high concentration of very friendly bears, let's just say the trip was educational. The flight over? Memorable. The kind of memorable where you question your seating choices and your life decisions simultaneouslyBack in the studio, the guys dive into a wild New Scientist article featuring an extremely detailed study of the male anatomy—because nothing says intellectual curiosity like peer-reviewed curiosity. It's science, it's fascinating, and it's just clinical enough to make you feel smarter while listening.In the inbox, a Booty Gang member opens up about being in a long-term relationship while feeling pulled toward unexplored fetishes—raising the age-old question: how do you honor your desires without detonating your stability? The guys approach it with honesty, nuance, and just enough realism to keep things grounded.Another listener writes in asking about the new A-Ball alternative to douching, and yes—this turns into exactly the kind of conversation you think it will. Informative, slightly skeptical, and deeply Butt Honestly.As always, the episode wraps with the guys' Love Language of the Week, because after travel chaos, scientific deep dives, and emotional honesty, we all deserve a little connection.Press play. It's worldly, weirdly educational, and just the right amount of inappropriate.

Episode 351 Artificial intelligence is starting to solve mathematical theorems better than humans. Mathematicians say AI is now an existential threat to their work. As one professor puts it; “We are running out of places to hide.” From winning gold medals at mathematics competitions, to solving previously unanswered Erdős problems, multiple AI achievements have come together recently to exceed all expectations of its capabilities. Find out just how quickly the tech is advancing, how we can tell the AI isn't just hallucinating answers, why it may help us formalise all of mathematics - and whether it will really put humans out of a job. And 10 years on since Google's AlphaGo AI first beat human Go master Lee Sedol, we reflect on that epic moment and hear from Chris Maddison who saw it all unfold. Rowan Hooper is joined by New Scientist's Alex Wilkins to discuss “one of the most remarkable stories” he's ever worked on. Chapters (00:00) Intro - The biggest moment in the history of mathematics (01:10) The many problems AI is now solving (04:11) Are these models similar to ChatGPT or Claude? (05:09) Will AI help us advance the field of mathematics? (07:28) How can we check AI's answers - are they just hallucinations? (10:51) Why it's important to “formalise” maths (12:03) Will we become too reliant on this AI? (13:00) 10 years on since AI beat Lee Sedol at Go (14:54) AI creativity: The famous ‘Move 37' (16:50) How it felt to watch this epic moment (19:21) How AlphaGo led to the LLMs of today (20:25) Are regular chatbots becoming more creative? To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rapa Nui, known to Western cultures as Easter Island for centuries, has long been a source of mystery. While the massive stone statues that populate the island's landscape have loomed in the popular Western imagination since Europeans first set foot there in 1722, in recent years, the island has gained infamy as a cautionary tale of eco-destruction. The island's history as it's been written tells of Polynesians who carelessly farmed, plundered their natural resources, and battled each other, dooming their delicate ecosystem and becoming a warning to us all about the frailty of our natural world. But what if that history is wrong? In The Island at the Edge of the World: The Forgotten History of Easter Island (Bloomsbury, 2025), archeological writer and scholar Mike Pitts offers a direct challenge to the orthodoxy of Rapa Nui, bringing to light new research and documents that tell a dramatic and surprising story about what really led to the island's downfall. Relying on the latest archaeological findings, he paints a vastly different portrait of what life was like on the island before the first Europeans arrived, investigating why a Polynesian people who succeeded for centuries throughout the South Pacific supposedly failed to thrive in Rapa Nui. Pitts also unearths the vital story of one of the first anthropologists to study Rapa Nui, an Oxford-trained iconoclast named Katherine Routledge, who was instrumental in collecting firsthand accounts from the Polynesians living on Rapa Nui in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. But though Routledge's impressive scholarship captured the oral traditions of what life had been like pre-1722, her work was widely dismissed because of her gender, her reliance on indigenous perspectives, and her conclusions which contradicted her historical peers. A stunning work of revisionism, this book raises critical questions about who gets to write history and the stakes of ignoring that history's true authors. Provocative and illuminating, The Island at the Edge of the World will change the way people think about Easter Island, its colonial legacy, and where the blame for its devastation truly lies. Mike Pitts is a writer and broadcaster, archaeologist and former museum curator. His books include A Fairweather Eden: Excavations at Boxgrove, Hengeworld, Digging for Richard III, Digging up Britain, and How to Build Stonehenge. He has also written for almost all of the important British newspapers - the Guardian, Observer, Times, Sunday Times, Telegraph, New Scientist, BBC History Magazine, Spectator and other papers and magazines - and conduct original research and publish in peer-reviewed journals. He also edited British Archaeology magazine for 20 years and is a Fellow of the London Society of Antiquaries. Sidney Michelini is a post-doctoral researcher working on Ecology, Climate, and Violence at the Peace Research Institute of Frankfurt (PRIF). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Rapa Nui, known to Western cultures as Easter Island for centuries, has long been a source of mystery. While the massive stone statues that populate the island's landscape have loomed in the popular Western imagination since Europeans first set foot there in 1722, in recent years, the island has gained infamy as a cautionary tale of eco-destruction. The island's history as it's been written tells of Polynesians who carelessly farmed, plundered their natural resources, and battled each other, dooming their delicate ecosystem and becoming a warning to us all about the frailty of our natural world. But what if that history is wrong? In The Island at the Edge of the World: The Forgotten History of Easter Island (Bloomsbury, 2025), archeological writer and scholar Mike Pitts offers a direct challenge to the orthodoxy of Rapa Nui, bringing to light new research and documents that tell a dramatic and surprising story about what really led to the island's downfall. Relying on the latest archaeological findings, he paints a vastly different portrait of what life was like on the island before the first Europeans arrived, investigating why a Polynesian people who succeeded for centuries throughout the South Pacific supposedly failed to thrive in Rapa Nui. Pitts also unearths the vital story of one of the first anthropologists to study Rapa Nui, an Oxford-trained iconoclast named Katherine Routledge, who was instrumental in collecting firsthand accounts from the Polynesians living on Rapa Nui in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. But though Routledge's impressive scholarship captured the oral traditions of what life had been like pre-1722, her work was widely dismissed because of her gender, her reliance on indigenous perspectives, and her conclusions which contradicted her historical peers. A stunning work of revisionism, this book raises critical questions about who gets to write history and the stakes of ignoring that history's true authors. Provocative and illuminating, The Island at the Edge of the World will change the way people think about Easter Island, its colonial legacy, and where the blame for its devastation truly lies. Mike Pitts is a writer and broadcaster, archaeologist and former museum curator. His books include A Fairweather Eden: Excavations at Boxgrove, Hengeworld, Digging for Richard III, Digging up Britain, and How to Build Stonehenge. He has also written for almost all of the important British newspapers - the Guardian, Observer, Times, Sunday Times, Telegraph, New Scientist, BBC History Magazine, Spectator and other papers and magazines - and conduct original research and publish in peer-reviewed journals. He also edited British Archaeology magazine for 20 years and is a Fellow of the London Society of Antiquaries. Sidney Michelini is a post-doctoral researcher working on Ecology, Climate, and Violence at the Peace Research Institute of Frankfurt (PRIF). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Episode 350 What If Alzheimer's disease starts in the body, not the brain? A radical new theory upends everything we thought we knew about the disease. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia - the leading cause of death in the UK. And for 100 years we believed it all happened in the brain. Despite all of the major symptoms of Alzheimer's being brain related, scientists studying gene activity have discovered something surprising. Most risk variants for the disease appear in the skin, lungs and gut - not the brain. This could mean the leading suspects of the disease - amyloid plaques and tau proteins - may not be to blame. But if not them, then what? Rowan Hooper is joined by New Scientist's Australia reporter Alice Klein to discuss the findings. Chapters (00:00) Intro - A radical new understanding of Alzheimer's (01:23) Why amyloid and tau treatments aren't proving effective (02:16) How gum and dental health is linked to Alzheimer's (03:09) Could proteins in the brain be a protective feature? (03:56) Why amyloid and tau really aren't the full picture (04:35) Why scientists have gone back to the drawing board (05:37) Does Alzheimer's start in the skin, lungs and gut? (06:14) Alzheimer's risk genes found in the immune system and barrier tissues (07:12) Where inflammation fits into the puzzle of Alzheimer's (09:10) The role of the blood brain barrier (10:00) How have scientists responded to these findings? (10:58) What other health conditions are linked to Alzheimer's? (12:08) Preventative measures you can take to reduce your Alzheimer's risk (15:03) How reframing diseases leads to better treatments To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Read the latest New Scientist CoLab article: https://newscientist.com/eternal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rapa Nui, known to Western cultures as Easter Island for centuries, has long been a source of mystery. While the massive stone statues that populate the island's landscape have loomed in the popular Western imagination since Europeans first set foot there in 1722, in recent years, the island has gained infamy as a cautionary tale of eco-destruction. The island's history as it's been written tells of Polynesians who carelessly farmed, plundered their natural resources, and battled each other, dooming their delicate ecosystem and becoming a warning to us all about the frailty of our natural world. But what if that history is wrong? In The Island at the Edge of the World: The Forgotten History of Easter Island (Bloomsbury, 2025), archeological writer and scholar Mike Pitts offers a direct challenge to the orthodoxy of Rapa Nui, bringing to light new research and documents that tell a dramatic and surprising story about what really led to the island's downfall. Relying on the latest archaeological findings, he paints a vastly different portrait of what life was like on the island before the first Europeans arrived, investigating why a Polynesian people who succeeded for centuries throughout the South Pacific supposedly failed to thrive in Rapa Nui. Pitts also unearths the vital story of one of the first anthropologists to study Rapa Nui, an Oxford-trained iconoclast named Katherine Routledge, who was instrumental in collecting firsthand accounts from the Polynesians living on Rapa Nui in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. But though Routledge's impressive scholarship captured the oral traditions of what life had been like pre-1722, her work was widely dismissed because of her gender, her reliance on indigenous perspectives, and her conclusions which contradicted her historical peers. A stunning work of revisionism, this book raises critical questions about who gets to write history and the stakes of ignoring that history's true authors. Provocative and illuminating, The Island at the Edge of the World will change the way people think about Easter Island, its colonial legacy, and where the blame for its devastation truly lies. Mike Pitts is a writer and broadcaster, archaeologist and former museum curator. His books include A Fairweather Eden: Excavations at Boxgrove, Hengeworld, Digging for Richard III, Digging up Britain, and How to Build Stonehenge. He has also written for almost all of the important British newspapers - the Guardian, Observer, Times, Sunday Times, Telegraph, New Scientist, BBC History Magazine, Spectator and other papers and magazines - and conduct original research and publish in peer-reviewed journals. He also edited British Archaeology magazine for 20 years and is a Fellow of the London Society of Antiquaries. Sidney Michelini is a post-doctoral researcher working on Ecology, Climate, and Violence at the Peace Research Institute of Frankfurt (PRIF). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology

Rapa Nui, known to Western cultures as Easter Island for centuries, has long been a source of mystery. While the massive stone statues that populate the island's landscape have loomed in the popular Western imagination since Europeans first set foot there in 1722, in recent years, the island has gained infamy as a cautionary tale of eco-destruction. The island's history as it's been written tells of Polynesians who carelessly farmed, plundered their natural resources, and battled each other, dooming their delicate ecosystem and becoming a warning to us all about the frailty of our natural world. But what if that history is wrong? In The Island at the Edge of the World: The Forgotten History of Easter Island (Bloomsbury, 2025), archeological writer and scholar Mike Pitts offers a direct challenge to the orthodoxy of Rapa Nui, bringing to light new research and documents that tell a dramatic and surprising story about what really led to the island's downfall. Relying on the latest archaeological findings, he paints a vastly different portrait of what life was like on the island before the first Europeans arrived, investigating why a Polynesian people who succeeded for centuries throughout the South Pacific supposedly failed to thrive in Rapa Nui. Pitts also unearths the vital story of one of the first anthropologists to study Rapa Nui, an Oxford-trained iconoclast named Katherine Routledge, who was instrumental in collecting firsthand accounts from the Polynesians living on Rapa Nui in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. But though Routledge's impressive scholarship captured the oral traditions of what life had been like pre-1722, her work was widely dismissed because of her gender, her reliance on indigenous perspectives, and her conclusions which contradicted her historical peers. A stunning work of revisionism, this book raises critical questions about who gets to write history and the stakes of ignoring that history's true authors. Provocative and illuminating, The Island at the Edge of the World will change the way people think about Easter Island, its colonial legacy, and where the blame for its devastation truly lies. Mike Pitts is a writer and broadcaster, archaeologist and former museum curator. His books include A Fairweather Eden: Excavations at Boxgrove, Hengeworld, Digging for Richard III, Digging up Britain, and How to Build Stonehenge. He has also written for almost all of the important British newspapers - the Guardian, Observer, Times, Sunday Times, Telegraph, New Scientist, BBC History Magazine, Spectator and other papers and magazines - and conduct original research and publish in peer-reviewed journals. He also edited British Archaeology magazine for 20 years and is a Fellow of the London Society of Antiquaries. Sidney Michelini is a post-doctoral researcher working on Ecology, Climate, and Violence at the Peace Research Institute of Frankfurt (PRIF). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/archaeology

Rapa Nui, known to Western cultures as Easter Island for centuries, has long been a source of mystery. While the massive stone statues that populate the island's landscape have loomed in the popular Western imagination since Europeans first set foot there in 1722, in recent years, the island has gained infamy as a cautionary tale of eco-destruction. The island's history as it's been written tells of Polynesians who carelessly farmed, plundered their natural resources, and battled each other, dooming their delicate ecosystem and becoming a warning to us all about the frailty of our natural world. But what if that history is wrong? In The Island at the Edge of the World: The Forgotten History of Easter Island (Bloomsbury, 2025), archeological writer and scholar Mike Pitts offers a direct challenge to the orthodoxy of Rapa Nui, bringing to light new research and documents that tell a dramatic and surprising story about what really led to the island's downfall. Relying on the latest archaeological findings, he paints a vastly different portrait of what life was like on the island before the first Europeans arrived, investigating why a Polynesian people who succeeded for centuries throughout the South Pacific supposedly failed to thrive in Rapa Nui. Pitts also unearths the vital story of one of the first anthropologists to study Rapa Nui, an Oxford-trained iconoclast named Katherine Routledge, who was instrumental in collecting firsthand accounts from the Polynesians living on Rapa Nui in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. But though Routledge's impressive scholarship captured the oral traditions of what life had been like pre-1722, her work was widely dismissed because of her gender, her reliance on indigenous perspectives, and her conclusions which contradicted her historical peers. A stunning work of revisionism, this book raises critical questions about who gets to write history and the stakes of ignoring that history's true authors. Provocative and illuminating, The Island at the Edge of the World will change the way people think about Easter Island, its colonial legacy, and where the blame for its devastation truly lies. Mike Pitts is a writer and broadcaster, archaeologist and former museum curator. His books include A Fairweather Eden: Excavations at Boxgrove, Hengeworld, Digging for Richard III, Digging up Britain, and How to Build Stonehenge. He has also written for almost all of the important British newspapers - the Guardian, Observer, Times, Sunday Times, Telegraph, New Scientist, BBC History Magazine, Spectator and other papers and magazines - and conduct original research and publish in peer-reviewed journals. He also edited British Archaeology magazine for 20 years and is a Fellow of the London Society of Antiquaries. Sidney Michelini is a post-doctoral researcher working on Ecology, Climate, and Violence at the Peace Research Institute of Frankfurt (PRIF). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/book-of-the-day

Die Themen in den Wissensnachrichten: +++ Igel können Ultraschall hören +++ Alien-Signale kommen möglicherweise verzerrt an +++ Mutterschaft verändert das Jobprofil +++**********Weiterführende Quellen zu dieser Folge:Studie über das Igel-Gehör in Biology Letters, 11.03.2026Studie wie das Weltraum-Wetter Alien-Signale verzerren könnte im Astrophysical Journal, 05.03.2026Kommentar des Forschers zu den Alien-Signalen in "New Scientist"Studie zur Tätigkeitsänderung bei Müttern im Journal of Marriage and Family, 01.12.2025Studie zu den Nagetieren und ihrem Belohnungssystem in Neuron, 10.03.2025Alle Quellen findet ihr hier.**********Ihr könnt uns auch auf diesen Kanälen folgen: TikTok und Instagram .

Michiel van Elk (1980) is a researcher and writer in the field of psychology, philosophy and neuroscience. Having received his PhD at the Donders Institute, the Netherlands, he has worked at several international institutions including the University of California Santa Barbara the École Polytechnique Féderale de Lausanne in Switzerland and Stanford University. He is currently affiliated as associate professor at Leiden University. He has conducted pioneering work on psychedelics, altered states of consciousness, feelings of awe, the evolution of religion and mystical experiences. His work, including more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles, book chapters and books, has been featured by the New York Times, Vice, Lonely Planet, New Scientist, The Daily Beast and Psychedelic Spotlight. VISIT PRSM Lab: https://prsmlab.com/teams/michiel-van-elk/ Visit Sacred Writes: https://www.sacred-writes.org/  

My conversation with Matt Kaplan starts at minutes 31 mins in to today's show after headlines and clips Subscribe and Watch Interviews LIVE : On YOUTUBE.com/StandUpWithPete ON SubstackStandUpWithPete Stand Up is a daily podcast. I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. This show is Ad free and fully supported by listeners like you! Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 750 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls I Told You So!: Scientists Who Were Ridiculed, Exiled, and Imprisoned for Being Right Matt Kaplan is a science correspondent at The Economist where he has written about everything from paleontology and parasites to virology and viticulture over the course of two decades. His writing has also appeared in National Geographic, New Scientist, Nature, and The New York Times. He is the author of The Science of Monsters and Science of the Magical, and co-author of David Attenborough's First Life: A Journey Through Time. He completed a thesis in Paleontology at Berkeley, and one in science journalism at Imperial College, London. In 2014 he was awarded a Knight Fellowship to study at MIT and Harvard. Born in California, he lives in England. Pete on Blue Sky Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on YouTube  Pete on Twitter Pete On Instagram Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page  

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, I'm joined by Starre Vartan — science and environment writer, author, and lifelong question-asker whose work sits at the powerful intersection of the human body and the natural world. With a background in geology and biology, Starre began her career as an environmental geologist before pivoting into journalism to tell the stories behind the science. Over the past 15+ years, she's written for publications including National Geographic, Scientific American, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and New Scientist, becoming known for her ability to make science both rigorous and deeply human — especially when it comes to women's bodies. We dive into Starre's latest book, The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells Us About the Power of the Female Body, a myth-busting, research-driven celebration of women's endurance, longevity, adaptability, and strength. From the messages girls receive about their bodies at a young age, to puberty, bone density, menopause, and why women often excel in endurance sports, Starre unpacks the science that has been overlooked — and what it means for women's health, sport, and everyday life. We also talk about Starre's upbringing between Australia and the U.S., the influence of her formidable grandmother, growing up active and outdoors, and how reconnecting with strength training later in life has left her feeling more powerful than ever. This conversation is about listening to your body, trusting its wisdom, and reclaiming strength — physically, mentally, and scientifically. If you've ever been told women are the weaker sex, this episode will change how you think about the female body forever. ***  New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.  Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.  Your support makes a difference.  Thank you x *** Show notes Who is Starre Working as a scientist journalist focusing on women's health recently  Being based in a beach town south of Sydney, Australia  Growing up in NYC Being a dual citizen with Australia and America  Book: The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells us about the Power of the Female Body  The dedication to her grandmother -the strongest women's she's ever known  Growing up with her grandmother  Doing her age appropriate chores; stacking wood, working in the garden, being involved and active in the running of the house  The messages that young girls receive about their bodies from a young age Heading off into the woods to go on adventures  The lessons learned from her grandmother  Muscles and bone density for women and why puberty is such an important age for girls  Puberty in girls and athletics  The knowledge gap for women in sports Women, endurance and the longer races Differences between all human beings  The science and muscle and getting surprising results Women's body fat and location  Visiting Japan to research longevity  How women's body handle diseases The risks that men take  Finding purpose in life and figuring out your life goal  Making changes in her own life Starting to weigh lift 3 years ago Can you grown bone once you are at the stage where you have more extreme bone loss Bone loss in women during menopause Prof Belinda Beck  Feeling empowered by lifting heavy weights Becoming a stronger runner and dancer Starre's ultimate life goal and purpose  Using AI in scientific ways Wanting to be as strong as her grandmother How to connect with Starre online  Starting a new newsletter—Palimpsest of Flesh Vodcast Words of advice and wisdom for the stronger sex  Reflecting back on life in her 20s Listen to your body and the wisdom it holds   Social Media Website: starrevartan.com Instagram: @starrevartan Bluesky: @starrevartan.bsky.social Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/starrevartan/membership    

Often in the history of science, myths overrun scientific findings and take hold with such force that they are difficult or nearly impossible to dislodge from public understanding. Perhaps no example of this phenomenon is more pronounced than that of the societal collapse of Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui. With us to unravel the myth from the science is Mike Pitts. Mike is a writer and broadcaster (a frequent voice on BBC radio), archaeologist (directing excavations at Stonehenge), and one-time museum curator. He has written for The Times, Telegraph, Sunday Times, Observer, and Guardian, and many magazines including New Scientist, Archaeology, and BBC History. He edited British Archaeology magazine for 20 years and has written books on topics ranging from the discovery of Richard III's grave to How to Build Stonehenge. His original research has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Nature, World Archaeology, and Antiquity. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

The space science world is buzzing. In the next few days, NASA is expected to begin the rollout of its Artemis II rocket to the launch pad with the launch itself expected as early as February. Science journalist Jonathan Amos explains why NASA is interested in travelling around the moon now? And what we will learn from sending humans further into space than ever before. Penny Sarchet, Managing Editor at New Scientist brings Tom Whipple her pick of the best new science this week. And why are scientists shipping ice cores from around the world to a frozen cave in Antarctica? Dr Liz Thomas, head of ice core research at the British Antarctic Survey explains the science behind the Ice Memory Sanctuary as it officially opens.To discover more fascinating science content, head to bbc.co.uk, search for BBC Inside Science and follow the links to The Open University. Presenter: Tom Whipple Producer: Kate White, Katie Tomsett, Tim Dodd and Clare Salisbury Editor: Martin Smith Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

We live in an ever-changing world, but it is not always obvious what kinds of evolutionary change we are seeing in the broader web of life: in physiology, behaviour, language - and human responses to these.  How plastic is the natural world? How resilient?  How capable - or not - of adapting to the chaos of the climate emergency, the cascade of toxins in our air, soil and water, to the plastics, heavy metals and other detritus we throw out into the world as if the entire planet were one vast sewer for waste we forget about as soon as we've had the dopamine drip that acquiring it evoked? How thin is the ice on which we are skating?  And how can we change the ways we do things so we don't fall into the void of extinction. Our guest this week spends his life exploring these questions. David Farrier is Professor of Literature and the Environment at the University of Edinburgh. David's first book, Footprints: In Search of Future Fossils, looked at the marks we are leaving on the planet and how these might appear in the fossil record in the deep future. It was named by both The Times and Telegraph as a book of the year, earned praise from Robert Macfarlane and Margaret Atwood, and has been translated into ten other languages. His most recent book is the one we're going to be exploring today - Nature's Genius: Evolution's Lessons for a Changing Planet is one of the few non-fiction books I've come across that is capable both of going deep into the science of the anthropocene - the full genetic, chemical, noise-pollution havoc of it and going deep into how we can engage with indigenous cultures, languages and ways of thought so that we in the western trauma culture might become something new.  As he says early in the book, 'We pollute because we see ourselves as separate from the rest of the living world, but…learning to coordinate our time with nature's rhythms…could revolutionise our politics.'  The whole quote is in the episode. What you need to know now is that this is a genuinely ground-breaking, mind-opening book and I cannot imagine better reading as we step into 2026.  If you need to know I'm not alone in thinking this, it has been shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Conservation Writing, and the Saltire Award (Scotland's national book awards) for non-fiction. For the New Scientist and Waterstone's bookshop, it is 'Best popular Science Book of 2025'.  You do need to read this.  And in the meantime, enjoy a conversation that left me buzzing for long after we stopped recording. David's booksFootprints: In Search of Future Fossils https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/footprints-david-farrier/6489943Nature's Genius: Evolution's Lessons for a Changing Planet https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/nature-s-genius-evolution-s-lessons-for-a-changing-planet-david-farrier/7811885David on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/david-farrier.bsky.socialDavid on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/proffarrier/If you'd like to support us, the best way is to come and join the Accidental Gods Membership: that way you can share in the ideas, the programme that will help you connect to the Web of Life in ways that will last—and you can come to the Gatherings half price. Or if that doesn't appeal, come along to one of the Gatherings. Or buy a subscription/Gathering for a friend... do something that feels like a good exchange of energy and minimises our connection with old economic paradigm. Remember that if any of this is difficult, contact us and we'll find something that works for you. Details below: What we offer: Accidental Gods, Dreaming Awake and the Thrutopia Masterclass If you'd like to join our next Open Gathering offered by our Accidental Gods Programme, it's 'Honouring Fear as your Mentor' on Sunday 8th February 2026 from 16:00 - 20:00 GMT - details are here You don't have to be a member -but if you are, all Gatherings are half price.If you'd like to join us at Accidental Gods, this is the membership where we endeavour to help you to connect fully with the living web of life. If you'd like to train more deeply in the contemporary shamanic work at Dreaming Awake, you'll find us here. If you'd like to explore the recordings from our last Thrutopia Masterclass, the details are here

Moheb Costandi is a neuroscientist turned science writer who spends his life exploring one of the biggest mysteries we all live inside - the human brain. He's written for Nature, Science, New Scientist, Scientific American (all a big deal in Academia) and The Guardian, and he's the author of books like Neuroplasticity, '50 Human Brain Ideas You Really Need to Know' and 'Body Am I’, which look at how the brain builds our sense of self, identity, and reality. Moheb has a gift for taking complex neuroscience and turning it into stories that actually make sense - stories about why we feel the way we do, why change is so hard, and how our brains quietly shape our entire experience of being human. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re bringing you something special this week in place of our usual daily show. Every day, we are making one of the stories that listeners loved this year free for everyone. Today it is from New Scientist on the rising life expectancy of humans and the evolving science behind how we measure aging, written by Graham Lawton and narrated by Mike Cooper for Apple News+.

Episode 336 Looking for something great to read or watch on TV over the festive period? We've got you covered. In a special edition of the podcast, we share our favourite books, TV and films of 2025 - for those moments when you need a break from the festivities. From pure science fiction to books exploring climate change and the history of our early ancestors, we have something for everyone. Below is a list of our top picks. Films and TV Ocean with David Attenborough Andor Season 2 The White House Effect Human with Ella al-Shamahi Pluribus My Husband the Cyborg Severance Season 2 Books Every Version of You by Grace Chan The Story of CO2 is the Story of Everything by Peter Brannen Clearing the Air by Hannah Ritchie Positive Tipping Points by Tim Lenton The Last Neanderthal by Ludovic Slimak Hello Cruel World by Melinda Moyer Hosted by Rowan Hooper with guests Bethan Ackerley and Alison Flood. Sign up to our book club for more recommendations, discussion and author interviews https://www.newscientist.com/bookclub/  To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I'm joined by two pioneers at the forefront of reshaping our understanding of human consciousness - Professor Donald Hoffman and Dr Iain McGilchrist. Despite coming from very different backgrounds, they've both arrived at surprisingly similar conclusions about some of life's biggest questions and the nature of reality. This conversation explores the parallels—and differences—in their thinking, covering topics like: — The growing scientific evidence that consciousness may be fundamental — The shockingly complex structures that physicists are now discovering beyond spacetime and what this implies — The power of silence for creating breakthroughs in scientific and creative work — The need for both a rigorous scientific and embodied approach to understanding consciousness. And more. You can dive deeper into Iain's work through his book: The Matter with Things, and Don's via his book: The Case Against Reality. — Dr Iain McGilchrist is a Psychiatrist and Writer, who lives on the Isle of Skye, off the coast of North West Scotland. He is committed to the idea that the mind and brain can be understood only by seeing them in the broadest possible context, that of the whole of our physical and spiritual existence, and of the wider human culture in which they arise – the culture which helps to mould, and in turn is moulded by, our minds and brains. He was formerly a Consultant Psychiatrist of the Bethlem Royal and Maudsley NHS Trust in London, where he was Clinical Director of their southern sector Acute Mental Health Services. Dr McGilchrist has published original research and contributed chapters to books on a wide range of subjects, as well as original articles in papers and journals, including the British Journal of Psychiatry, American Journal of Psychiatry, The Wall Street Journal, The Sunday Telegraph and The Sunday Times. He has taken part in many radio and TV programmes, documentaries, and numerous podcasts, and interviews on YouTube, among them dialogues with Jordan Peterson, David Fuller of Rebel Wisdom, and philosopher Tim Freke. His books include Against Criticism, The Master and his Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World, The Divided Brain and the Search for Meaning, and Ways of Attending. He published his latest book: The Matter With Things, a book of epistemology and metaphysics. You can keep up to date with his work at https://channelmcgilchrist.com. – Prof. Donald Hoffman, PhD received his PhD from MIT, and joined the faculty of the University of California, Irvine in 1983, where he is a Professor Emeritus of Cognitive Sciences. He is an author of over 100 scientific papers and three books, including Visual Intelligence, and The Case Against Reality. He received a Distinguished Scientific Award from the American Psychological Association for early career research, the Rustum Roy Award of the Chopra Foundation, and the Troland Research Award of the US National Academy of Sciences. His writing has appeared in Edge, New Scientist, LA Review of Books, and Scientific American and his work has been featured in Wired, Quanta, The Atlantic, and Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman. You can watch his TED Talk titled “Do we see reality as it is?” and you can follow him on Twitter @donalddhoffman. --- Interview Links: — Dr McGilchirst's website - https://channelmcgilchrist.com — Dr McGilchirst's book - https://amzn.to/3oOSFIW — Prof Hoffman's profile - https://sites.socsci.uci.edu/~ddhoff/ — Prof Hoffman's book - https://bit.ly/3SCwTTA

Episode 337 As we reach the end of the year, catch up on some of New Scientist's most exciting and thought-provoking features of the past twelve months.  For decades we've got autism in girls all wrong. Symptoms present quite differently in girls to boys, meaning they often go undiagnosed. So why have we failed to see the differences - and why are girls so often neglected by autism research? We review a feature written by Gina Rippon - one of the scientists studying autism who admits to getting it wrong for years. If you're interested in living a longer life, you may have heard the name Bryan Johnson. He's the tech millionaire who's doing everything in his power to live as long as possible. From a 6.5 hour morning routine, to experimental gene treatments and hypoxia therapy - we dig into the life of the man whose slogan is “Don't Die”. There is no space, no time, no particles. This is the radical new quantum vision of reality proposed by physicist Vlatko Vedral. He argues that our current lens for looking at reality is full of problems, especially concerning observers - this idea that reality is somehow contingent on us looking at it. So what really lies beyond quantum theory? Over tens of thousands of years, waves of Homo sapiens set out across Europe and Asia, only for their societies and cultures to mysteriously vanish. At last, ancient DNA from fossils is revealing why. We shed light on the lives of the LRJ people, a group of a few hundred ancient humans who roamed across Europe 43,000 years ago. There are new hints that the fabric of space-time may be made of "memory cells" that record the whole history of the universe. If true, it could explain the nature of dark matter and much more. But how could pure emptiness ever remember, or store information? We discuss how Florian Neukart, the feature writer, has tested this theory inside a quantum computer. Most of us see body fat as something we need to attack or get rid of. But we're beginning to figure out just how important fat is for shaping our health and mind. The fat in our bodies is a communicative organ with a role in everything from bone health to mood. And it isn't just one thing - it comes in various forms and colours, each with distinct functions and found in different locations. So do we need to respect fat a bit more? A whole library's worth of papyri owned by Julius Caesar's father-in-law were turned to charcoal by the eruption of Vesuvius. But nearly 2000 years later, we can at last read these lost treasures. Discover how a particle accelerator is being used to decode messages once thought completely lost. Our emotions can often get the better of us, taking control over our feelings and actions. But what if there were a way to harness your emotions for a happier, calmer life? Researcher Ethan Kross has found ways to do just that. Based on his own experience of his Grandmother's resilience, who endured the trauma of Nazi occupation, he's developed an actionable guide for anyone to master how they feel. Hosted by Penny Sarchet, with guests Cat de Lange, Joshua Howgego and Claudia Canavan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, a world first gene therapy treats rare Hunter syndrome. Could these personalised medicines be used more widely? We speak to Claire Booth, professor in Gene Therapy at Great Ormond Street Hospital. And high in the Chilean desert, the last bit of 13 billion year old light has hit the mirror of the Atacama Cosmology Telescope for the last time. Dr Jenifer Millard, a science communicator and host of the Awesome Astronomy podcast, tells us what it's been up to for the past 20 years.And Penny Sarchet, managing editor at New Scientist brings her pick of the latest new discoveries.Think you know space? Head to bbc.co.uk, search for BBC Inside Science, and follow the links to the Open University to try The Open University Space Quiz. Presenter: Tom Whipple Producers: Alex Mansfield, Ella Hubber, Jonathan Blackwell, Tim Dodd and Clare Salisbury Editor: Martin Smith Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

Machine learning using neural networks has led to a remarkable leap forward in artificial intelligence, and the technological and social ramifications have been discussed at great length. To understand the origin and nature of this progress, it is useful to dig at least a little bit into the mathematical and algorithmic structures underlying these techniques. Anil Ananthaswamy takes up this challenge in his book Why Machines Learn: The Elegant Math Behind Modern AI. In this conversation we give a brief overview of some of the basic ideas, including the curse of dimensionality, backpropagation, transformer architectures, and more.Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2025/11/24/336-anil-ananthaswamy-on-the-mathematics-of-neural-nets-and-ai/Support Mindscape on Patreon.Anil Ananthaswamy received a Masters degree in electrical engineering from the University of Washington, Seattle. He is currently a freelance science writer and feature editor for PNAS Front Matter. He was formerly the deputy news editor for New Scientist, a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT, and journalist-in-residence at the Simon Institute for the Theory of Computing, University of California, Berkeley. He organizes an annual science journalism workshop at the National Centre for Biological Sciences at Bengaluru, India.Web siteAmazon author pageWikipediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pelle Neroth Taylor is a Swedish-British journalist, filmmaker, and political writer based in Sweden, renowned for his investigative work on geopolitics, propaganda, political assassinations, and the rise of European populism. Educated at Westminster School and Bristol University, he began his career in the early 1990s reporting for The Economist from the post-communist Baltic States, later editing and contributing to outlets like The Guardian, The Independent on Sunday, The Times, Financial Times, Sunday Times, New Scientist, and The Lancet. As founder of Two Raven Films, he has produced documentaries such as Sweden, Dying to Be Multicultural, a critical examination of Sweden's immigration policies that has garnered over 2 million views on platforms like Amazon Prime and Blckbx TV, and Cancel Nation, addressing censorship and cancel culture. Kari Poutiainen is a Swedish physicist and one of Sweden's most persistent independent investigators of the 1986 assassination of Prime Minister Olof Palme. Together with his brother Pertti, he wrote the influential 1995 book Inuti labyrinten (“Inside the Labyrinth”), a meticulous critique of the official police investigation that became a bestseller and a classic reference work in the Palme case. For over three decades Poutiainen has continued his research, publishing additional books and appearing in documentaries and interviews. In recent years he has strongly advocated the theory that the murder was carried out by or with the involvement of Sweden's secret Cold War “Stay Behind” network, motivated by Palme's independent foreign policy and his contacts with Mikhail Gorbachev. Tickets to Cornerstone Forum 26': https://www.showpass.com/cornerstone26/Tickets to the Mashspiel:https://www.showpass.com/mashspiel/Silver Gold Bull Links:Website: https://silvergoldbull.ca/Email: SNP@silvergoldbull.comText Grahame: (587) 441-9100Bow Valley Credit UnionBitcoin: www.bowvalleycu.com/en/personal/investing-wealth/bitcoin-gatewayEmail: welcome@BowValleycu.com Use the code “SNP” on all ordersProphet River Links:Website: store.prophetriver.com/Email: SNP@prophetriver.comGet your voice heard: Text Shaun 587-217-8500

This week the UK government set out its vision for a world where the use of animals in science is eliminated in all but exceptional circumstances. Animal experiments in the UK peaked at 4.14 million in 2015 driven mainly by a big increase at the time in genetic modification experiments. By 2020, the number had fallen sharply to 2.88 million as alternative methods and technologies were developed. But since then that decline has plateaued. Could we see the end of animals being used in science labs? Presenter Tom Whipple is joined by Dr. Chris Powell, Director of Cambridge BioPharma Consultants Ltd. and honorary visiting scientist at Cambridge University and Dr. Natalie Burden, head of New Approach Methodologies at the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs). And as world leaders gather for the COP30 climate conference in Brazil, we speak to glaciologist Dr. Matthias Huss. In the past decade, his data has shown that a quarter of Swiss ice has been lost, with hundreds of glaciers having disappeared entirely. But part of one of those glaciers remains in the freezer of his basement... Also Penny Sarchet, managing editor at New Scientist, brings us her take on the new science that matters this week. To discover more fascinating science content, head to bbc.co.uk, search for BBC Inside Science and follow the links to The Open University. Presenter: Tom Whipple Producers: Clare Salisbury, Tim Dodd, Alex Mansfield, Jonathan Blackwell Editor: Martin Smith Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

Episode 331 This week sees the broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK of a documentary called Hitler's DNA: Blueprint of a dictator. Geneticists have managed to find a DNA sample from Adolf Hitler and have sequenced it and verified it, and now we have his genome. The big question is what does this really tell us – what can we tell from someone's genome?  In this special episode of the podcast, Rowan Hooper is joined by two of the lead figures on the documentary. Turi King is a geneticist at the University of Bath and is best known for the identification of the remains of Richard III, and Alex Kay is a historian of Nazi Germany based at Potsdam University in Germany.  Rowan also discusses the documentary with New Scientist reporter Michael Le Page. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

News broke this week that rocks picked up by NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars may have found chemical signatures left by living organisms. With the search for life on the red planet capturing our imaginations for decades, Victoria Gill is joined by science journalist Jonathan Amos to look at what we know about the history of life on Mars, and what could be different about this discovery.As commemorations take place this week for the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, we hear about the project helping to protect birds in New York from the effects of a giant annual light display in memory of the victims of the tragedy.Dr Andrew Farnsworth, from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, tells us how they're working with the organisers of the Tribute in Light memorial to help save the lives of a wide range of birds.Victoria is joined by managing editor of the New Scientist, Penny Sarchet, to look through this week's most exciting scientific discoveries.And in our series profiling the six books shortlisted for this year's Royal Society Trivedi Book Prize, we speak to neuroscientist and clinical neurologist Professor Masud Husain about his book Our Brains, Our Selves, and what his encounters with patients reveal about how our brains make up who we are.Presenter: Victoria Gill Producers: Clare Salisbury, Dan Welsh, Jonathan Blackwell, Tim Dodd Editor: Martin Smith

This week the Trump administration indicated that it would seek to roll back a key EPA finding that allows the agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from things like cars and power plants. The 16-year-old rule, known as the “endangerment finding,” states that six greenhouse gases pose a threat to human health. Sophie Bushwick, news editor at New Scientist, joins Host Ira Flatow to discuss the proposed change, along with news about exoplanet life, Russian drones, rust-based batteries, hexagonal diamonds, quantum entanglement, and extra-old honey.Plus, a robot performed surgery by itself for the first time, on a pig cadaver. Medical roboticist Axel Krieger joins Ira to discuss how he was able to train the surgical robot.Guests:Sophie Bushwick is senior news editor at New Scientist in New York.Dr. Axel Krieger is an associate professor in the department of mechanical engineering at Johns Hopkins University.Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.