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Nature Podcast

Springer Nature Limited

The Nature Podcast brings you the best stories from the world of science each week. We cover everything from astronomy to zoology, highlighting the most exciting research from each issue of the Nature journal. We meet the scientists behind the results and provide in-depth analysis from Nature's award-winning journalists.

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49 episodes
Avg 17 min
English

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Friday · 10 min
Briefing Chat: Meet the snakes that cartwheel away from trouble
Nature staff discuss an acrobatic reptile defence strategy — plus, evidence of fossilized dinosaur blood cells.
Wednesday · 25 min
Ancient DNA charts spread of Celtic and Germanic languages
Ancient genomes from thousands of individuals show how migrations helped shape Celtic and Germanic languages — plus, how the brain may regulate emotions differently than we thought. 00:49 How Celtic and Germanic languages spread across Europe Research Article: McColl et al. Research Article: McColl et al. 13:00 Research Highlights Nature: Barn owls’ ancestors made a transatlantic flight Nature: Even stupendous black holes can’t explain dark matter 15:34 Why part of the brain may not be controlling emotions in the way researchers thought Research Article: Sicorello et al. Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Correction: This article originally stated Simon Rodway’s name incorrectly. The podcast has now been updated to correct this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 30 · 9 min
Briefing Chat: Dog years: could longevity science extend your pets' lives?
Nature staff discuss the emerging field of pet longevity — plus, a researcher decides not to care about their student reviews. Are they wrong? 00:24 Could research help boost your dog’s lifespan? Nature: Can science make your dog live longer? Longevity craze comes to pets 05:16 Is it wrong to not care about student reviews? Nature: What students think about my teaching doesn’t matter. Am I wrong? Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 28 · 26 min
This Arabian desert was once a lush paradise. Why did ancient humans avoid it?
Expedition revealed that water wasn’t enough for human settlement — plus, proposals to block sunlight get serious. 00:49 A failed desert expedition to find human tools reveals what humans needed to thrive Research Article: Dellmour et al. 12:33 Research Highlights Nature: Sleep declines in rural communities after electricity arrives Nature: AI doctors’ orders come with a sky-high bill 15:14 Could satellites help cool the Earth? Nature: Could a giant sunshade in space 'solve global warming'? Scientists are taking the idea seriously Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 23 · 14 min
Briefing Chat: How physicists successfully trapped the electron's antimatter equivalent
Nature staff discuss how precisely measuring a positron could shed light on one of physics’ greatest mysteries — plus, the latest on an ambitious mission to a Martian moon.
October 21 · 19 min
Scientists put a salt marsh in a giant wave-machine: here's what they learned
Experiment shows how these ecosystems could protect coastlines from huge storms — plus, new evidence hints at what Denisovans might have looked like.
October 19 · 16 min
Audio long read: How to stay smart in the age of AI — the science of critical thinking
Although worries are growing about AI's potential to blunt reasoning skills, research has uncovered ways to keep the brain sharp.
October 16 · 9 min
Briefing Chat: An invisible tattoo that appears under UV light – and then disappears
Nature staff discuss a new ink that could be useful for medical tattooing — plus, an insight into why small dogs live longer than big ones.
October 14 · 21 min
The world is closer to a major conservation target than scientists thought
Analysis suggests number of protected areas is hugely underestimated but biodiversity is still in peril — plus, a huge study looking at the health effects of brown fat.
October 9 · 12 min
Briefing Chat: Top researchers are being misled by sham academic societies
Nature staff discuss a network of organizations that have been building their ranks through deceptive practices.
October 7 · 23 min
Nobel Prizes 2026: ‘ghost’ particles, mirror molecules and light switches in the brain
Nature rounds up the Nobel Prizes for science — plus, hints of the ancestral human gut microbiome.
October 2 · 32 min
‘Learning about physics changed my life’: author Hernan Diaz on his new novel Ply
The Pulitzer-Prize-winning author joins us to talk about his time visiting CERN and communicating quantum physics in fiction.
September 30 · 18 min
These optical illusions are why butterflies are so hard to catch
High-speed footage of takeoffs reveal that the butterfly markings mislead the eye, making them harder to catch. 00:45 Butterflies in flight create confusing motion cues that baffle birds Research Article: Hancock et al. 14:09 Research Highlights Research Article: Menezes and Podos Research Highlight: Huge hoard of metal bars hints at vast Iron Age trade Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 25 · 11 min
Briefing Chat: Why scientists made papyrus scrolls, then burnt them
Nature staff discuss a technique that could help researchers read charred Herculaneum scrolls — plus, a biodegradeable, edible battery.
September 23 · 24 min
Bank accounts reveal the fingerprints of abusive financial control
Analysis of anonyized banking data could help inform strategies to support victim-survivors of financial abuse — plus, how opposing forces within the Earth can alter the length of a day.
September 18 · 12 min
Briefing Chat: Evidence mounts for hidden chambers beyond Tutankhamun's tomb
Nature staff discuss data that could point to Nefertiti’s burial place — plus, the implant that translates brain activity into speech and gestures.
September 16 · 28 min
Transplanted human brain-tissue takes root in mice without a cortex
Extensive cellular integration may provide platform for in vivo testing of new therapies — plus, the AI tool that turns papers into “virtual corresponding authors”.
September 11 · 15 min
Briefing Chat: The Bunsen burner myth that turns out to be just hot air
Nature staff discuss an AI tool that can assess the impact of nine billion mutations — plus, how the Bunsen burner’s reputation for sterilization may be based on tradition alone. 00:21 Deepmind’s new tool helps scientists find the impact of mutations Nature: DeepMind’s new genome ‘atlas’ charts effects of all nine billion human gene mutations 07:10 Bacteria can still contaminate plates near to active Bunsen burners Nature: Bunsen burners’ reputation for sterilizing workplaces flames out Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 9 · 21 min
Phone tutoring boosts math scores when schools are forced to close
Evidence suggests that regular calls can keep kids learning when schooling is disrupted — plus, why a familiar world map may be about to change.
September 4 · 12 min
Briefing Chat: How 1,000 pairs of buried underpants helped measure soil health
Nature staff discuss the winners of the 2026 Ig Nobel prizes — plus, the isolated energy flash that could be the first glimpse of dark matter.

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