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 journalists and editors.

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20 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes20

Newest first

Friday · 14 min
Briefing Chat: Orcas smashed a sunfish to bits — researchers aren't sure why
Nature staff discuss a massive survey of insects in the Amazon, and unusual orca behaviour caught on video.
Wednesday · 20 min
Earthworks spotted in the Amazon hint at huge ancient civilization
Discovery of almost 400 structures may help to redefine the true scale of the Aquiry civilization — plus, tiny fossils of the earliest fossil squid ancestor.
July 24 · 12 min
Briefing Chat: Baby T. rex were killers from birth, suggest new fossils
Nature staff discuss the young but deadly dinosaur kings, the prowess of ancient Egyptian princesses, and how London is becoming the world’s AI safety capital. 00:34 London is transforming into an AI-safety hub Nature: A global capital for AI safety is emerging — and it’s not in Silicon Valley 05:52 Bones reveal that ancient Egyptian princesses weren’t pampered Scientific American: Ancient Egyptian princesses were ‘powerful’ weapon users, new analysis suggests 9:30 T. rex was born ready to kill Discover magazine: Fossil Evidence Indicates Baby T. rex Were Tiny, but Deadly 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.
July 22 · 23 min
What counts as a moon? Huge ‘exosatellite’ sparks debate
Discovery of a distant Jupiter-mass object could pave the way for detection of exomoons — plus, a rare transmissible cancer found in catfish.
July 17 · 9 min
Briefing Chat: Sweet! Elusive sugar molecules found in space
Nature staff discuss the discovery of a four carbon ‘true sugar’ in interstellar space — plus, a formula inscribed on a wall reveals a Maya mathematician’s name.
July 15 · 22 min
‘Holy grail’ of naked mole-rat research reveals how queens rule
The simple chemical that keeps a mole-rat queen atop her throne — plus, how people approach new games.
July 10 · 10 min
Briefing Chat: The 30 year-legacy of a science icon – Dolly the sheep
Nature staff discuss the landmark moment when a mammal was first cloned from an adult cell — plus, the first direct observation of ocean-floor crust being created.
July 8 · 25 min
Nukes in space? Orbital detector could sniff out warheads
A shoebox-sized detector satellite could identify the telltale signal of a hidden nuclear device — plus, how indigenous plant knowledge is under threat.
July 1 · 31 min
Togetherness: How co-operation built the world
Science journalist Rowan Hooper joins us to talk about symbiosis and the importance of organisms working together.
June 29 · 16 min
Audio long read: Is the peptide craze backed by science? The promise behind the hype
The market for unregulated peptides is huge. Has the hottest trend in wellness got ahead of the science?
June 26 · 11 min
Briefing Chat: What tickling a chimpanzee can tell us about the evolution of speech
Nature staff discuss how apes share a rhythm of laughter, and how AI use may degrade skills in medicine and computer science. 00:32 Early evidence suggests that AI use causes skills to atrophy Nature: Is AI ruining our skills? Early results are in — and they’re not good 06:42 Humans and chimps share a laugh Nature: Oo oo, ha ha: why humans and great apes giggle alike when tickled 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.
June 24 · 19 min
Medical records could be revealed by AI training-data vulnerability
Identification risks are more severe for underrepresented groups in the data — plus, evidence that the Universe is more uneven than assumed.
June 19 · 12 min
Briefing Chat: Testosterone and sperm may get a boost from obesity drugs
Nature staff discuss preliminary data on the effects of GLP-1 drugs on male fertility plus a two-year trial of a brain-computer interface. 00:18 Brain-computer interface makes a life-changing impact Nature: At-home brain implant gives man with motor neuron disease his daily life back 05:39 The possible benefits of obesity drugs on testosterone Nature: The latest benefit of obesity drugs: boosting testosterone and sperm quality 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.
June 17 · 26 min
DNA from hunter-gatherer teeth reveals secrets of ancient plague
Analysis shows evidence of deadly outbreaks 5,500 years ago — plus, a prototype dark-matter detector.
June 12 · 11 min
Briefing Chat: The epic journey of Stonehenge’s central stone
Nature staff discuss some of the week’s top science news.
June 10 · 21 min
Newly-discovered whale graveyard dates back millions of years
Submarine dives reveal complex deep-sea ecosystems living on whale remains — plus, a way to turn plant material into nylon.
June 5 · 11 min
Briefing chat: Spinosaurs with salt glands could have lived in marine environments
Nature staff discuss some of the week's top science news.
June 3 · 18 min
Your phone can use tiny skin-colour changes to measure your heart rate
Passive heart-rate monitoring during regular phone use could provide early-warning of health issues — plus, testing Richard Feynman’s solution to the ‘restaurant dilemma’ problem.
May 29 · 17 min
Briefing Chat: When to trust eyewitness memory – according to science
Nature staff discuss memory in the legal system plus the benefits of Registered Reports.
May 22 · 12 min
Major Ebola outbreak is escalating: what happens next
Nature staff discuss ongoing efforts to curb the Bundibugyo virus outbreak.

Nature Podcast

Briefing Chat: Orcas smashed a sunfish to bits — researchers aren't sure why

Earthworks spotted in the Amazon hint at huge ancient civilization

Briefing Chat: Baby T. rex were killers from birth, suggest new fossils

What counts as a moon? Huge ‘exosatellite’ sparks debate

Briefing Chat: Sweet! Elusive sugar molecules found in space

‘Holy grail’ of naked mole-rat research reveals how queens rule

Briefing Chat: The 30 year-legacy of a science icon – Dolly the sheep

Nukes in space? Orbital detector could sniff out warheads

Togetherness: How co-operation built the world

Audio long read: Is the peptide craze backed by science? The promise behind the hype

Briefing Chat: What tickling a chimpanzee can tell us about the evolution of speech

Medical records could be revealed by AI training-data vulnerability

Briefing Chat: Testosterone and sperm may get a boost from obesity drugs

DNA from hunter-gatherer teeth reveals secrets of ancient plague

Briefing Chat: The epic journey of Stonehenge’s central stone

Newly-discovered whale graveyard dates back millions of years

Briefing chat: Spinosaurs with salt glands could have lived in marine environments

Your phone can use tiny skin-colour changes to measure your heart rate

Briefing Chat: When to trust eyewitness memory – according to science

Major Ebola outbreak is escalating: what happens next