The World, the Universe and Us

Latest Episodes:

China’s carbon emissions fall; norovirus vaccine; chaotic breakup of the solar system May 16, 2025

Show notes

Episode 303

China is becoming a de facto leader in the fight against climate change. Right now it’s the world’s biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, but after years of keeping its emissions steady, they have finally begun to fall. And this is all while China’s power demands have increased - suggesting its efforts to build clean energy are paying off. But is this enough to make a realistic dent on curbing global warming? And how will the uncertainty of President Trump’s administration impact this trend?

A vaccine for the dreaded norovirus is in the works - and it’s already proving effective. Known as the winter vomiting bug, this nasty gastrointestinal illness affects 685 million people a year. Thanks to a company in San Francisco and some heroic people who served as test subjects, we may be closer than ever to staving it off.

At some point, in a few billion years, our solar system may break up in the most spectacular fashion, simply because of random chaos and instability. But now researchers have found a bigger threat to the survival of our solar system - passing stars. Less random and chaotic, stars actually pass by our sun fairly regularly, and could dislodge planets like Pluto, flinging them out of orbit and impacting the other planets.

Do you find yourself teary eyed when cutting onions? Well, you’re in luck. Scientists have found the perfect way to cut an onion without crying. We provide a live demonstration for your amusement.

Chapters:

(00:47) Decline of China’s carbon emissions

(11:05) Norovirus vaccine

(17:52) Catastrophic break-up of our solar system

(23:26) Scientific way to cut an onion without crying

Hosted by Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet, with guests James Dinneen, Carissa Wong, Alex Wilkins, Lauri Myllivirta, Chris Packham and Sean Raymond.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

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Ocean wonders and the new arguments against deep-sea mining; biophotons emitted from living things; drumming chimps and the origin of religion May 09, 2025

Show notes

We dive into the mysterious world of the deep sea, sparked by a recent executive order aiming to ramp up offshore mineral extraction, as well as new research revealing that 99.999 per cent of the seabed remains unexplored. Experts discuss the surprising lack of deep-sea exploration, the ecological wonders already discovered, like hydrothermal vents and bizarre deep-sea creatures, and the debate over mining nodules from the ocean floor. With new battery tech on the horizon and mounting environmental concerns, questions grow about whether deep-sea mining is driven by necessity or a disregard for the ecosystems we barely understand.

Researchers have captured the faint glow emitted by living things to explore what happens when life ends. First theorised a century ago by Russian physicist Alexander Gurwitsch, biophotons are ultraweak light emissions which appear to track metabolism and fade dramatically at death. Could this eerie glow one day help detect disease, or even confirm the moment of death?

Chimpanzees across Africa have been observed rhythmically drumming on trees, but what are they trying to say? A new study spanning 11 chimp communities reveals that these drum beats may be individual signatures, offering fresh insight into the roots of musicality and communication. The team discuss how chimps may even show signs of awe or ritual, with their unique responses to storms, fire, and waterfalls. Could drumming mark not just the evolution of rhythm, but the first flickers of spiritual thought?

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:33 The mysterious deep sea and the race to mine its resources

13:43 The science of biophotons: what happens when we die?

20:27 Chimpanzee drumming: Rhythm, awe, and the roots of musicality

Hosted by Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet, with guests Alex Wilkins. Maddie Cuff, Dustin Mulvaney, Olive Heffernan, Alasdair Mackenzie, Catherine Hobaiter, and Jessica Battle.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

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Is our understanding of light completely wrong? Two consciousness theories go head-to-head; decoding dolphin whistles May 02, 2025

Show notes

Episode 301

Our understanding of the nature of light might be completely wrong. The double-slit experiment is one of the most famous experiments in physics and is how we’ve understood light for over 200 years. But a team is now suggesting we’ve got the interpretation all wrong - that light is in fact not a wave and is only made up of particles. If true, this is major. The authors of this study were left scrambling as “all hell broke loose” when they made the discovery. And the best part? Dark photons may be involved.

A 7 year study into the nature of consciousness has reached its conclusion - pitting two major theories against one another. Integrated information theory suggests levels of consciousness exist in any system, including rocks and fetuses. Global neuronal workspace theory claims specific brain regions are responsible for consciousness. After 256 brain scans - are we any closer to an answer?

A decades-long study involving 170 wild dolphins has allowed biologists to decode their whistles. Hear dolphins recorded in the waters of Sarasota, Florida, which show how the animals communicate in various ways - and even give themselves names.

Chapters:

(00:45) Dark photons and our understanding of light

(11:07) Major theories of consciousness go head-to-head

(21:05) Decoding whale language

Hosted by Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet, with guests Chelsea Whyte, Celso Villas-Boas, Gerhard Rempe, Christof Koch, Anil Seth and Laela Sayigh.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

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Weekly: Why the climate crisis is an issue of injustice and inequality Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

Episode 299

In a climate justice special episode of the podcast, the biggest issue of the century is up for discussion. Find out the true impact of climate change on our planet and who should be paying to fix the crisis.

Rowan Hooper and Madeleine Cuff are joined by two climate experts - Friederike Otto and Joyce Kimutai from the World Weather Attribution project at Imperial College London.

This episode is dedicated to answering three questions - starting with the issue of climate attribution. To what extent can we blame climate change for extreme weather events like hurricanes, droughts, heatwaves, floods and wildfires? Find out how climate attribution began as a fringe science and how it has evolved to become a firm part of public consciousness.

The next question is one of climate justice - how can we make sure rich countries pay for the loss and damage caused to poorer countries by climate change? The argument is that poorer nations are least responsible for climate change, yet they are most affected by its impacts. So at the latest UN climate summit, COP28, a lot of money was pledged - yet hardly any of it has actually materialised. So what’s going on?

And the third question is about litigation - can climate attribution be used to achieve justice, by forcing climate polluters to pay up? A trial is ongoing where a company in Germany is being sued for its role in damaging the climate - but it’s still unclear whether the case will be successful. The hope is with climate attribution, it’ll be easier to bring cases like this forward and offer up a more detailed picture of how much damage has been done - and how much money is owed.

Chapters:

(01:16) Weather attribution

(19:58) Climate justice

(32:52) Climate litigation

To read more about stories like this, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

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Weekly: First brain engineering in a mammal; landmark in fossil fuel lawsuits, the legacy of Pope Francis Apr 25, 2025

Show notes

Episode 300

The first genetically engineered synapses have been implanted in a mammal’s brain. Chemical brain signals have been bypassed in the brains of mice and replaced with electrical signals, changing their behaviour in incredible ways. Not only did they become more sociable, they were also less anxious and exhibited fewer OCD-like symptoms. This work has sparked hope that one day we could use this technology to help humans with mental health conditions. But would you want someone making permanent edits to your brain?

For the first time, climate scientists can now link specific fossil fuel companies to climate-related economic damages in particular places. A new method has been developed that can show the exact impact these companies are having on our environment - which the world’s top five emitters linked to trillions of dollars of economic losses. Find out how scientists have managed to piece this together - and whether these companies are about to face massive lawsuits.

As we reflect on the death of Pope Francis, we explore his legacy on scientific issues and his transformative stance on climate change. As the spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics, he became an influential figure in advocating for better care to be taken of our planet. Will his legacy continue with the next Pope?

Chapters:

(00:28) First brain engineering in a mammal

(10:57) Landmark in fossil fuel lawsuits

(19:33) Climate legacy of Pope Francis

Hosted by Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet, with guests Alexandra Thompson, James Dinneen, William Schafer, Chris Callahan, Justin Mankin and Miles Pattenden.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

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Weekly: Have we really just found the strongest evidence for alien life yet? Apr 17, 2025

Show notes

Episode 298

Big news has just broken - astronomers claim they’ve detected the strongest evidence for alien life yet. The news has got the world’s media fired up with excitement - but is this really a “revolutionary moment”?

Astronomers studying the atmosphere of a distant planet called K2-18b say they have detected a molecule called DMS that is only produced on Earth by living organisms, so it’s thought life might be producing it there too. Hear from the lead researcher on this project, Nikku Madhusudhan of the University of Cambridge, who says “these are the first hints of an alien world that is possibly inhabited”.

But even if this biosignature detection is confirmed, would it be the slam dunk everyone thinks it is? In this episode, Alex Wilkins and Rowan Hooper offer a bit of balance to the discussion and explore how far this is from definitive evidence of alien life. We also hear the views of Laura Kreidberg, managing director of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy.

To read more about stories like this, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

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Weekly: Dire wolves (not) brought back from extinction; US science in existential crisis; how to pour the perfect coffee Apr 11, 2025

Show notes

Episode 297

The “de-extinction company” Colossal Biosciences claims to have brought dire wolves back from extinction. This is an ancient animal that roamed Earth 10,000 years ago and famously is depicted in Game of Thrones. After gene editing grey wolves, three pups have been born. But is it right to call them dire wolves, or are these just grey wolves in dire wolf clothing?

It’s a turbulent time for US science, with massive and sweeping cuts being made to jobs and budgets. Departments like the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration have been affected – raising major concerns about the future of public health in the country and beyond.

Physicists have discovered the perfect way to pour a cup of coffee. Hot on the heels of the perfect cacio e pepe recipe and how to make the perfect boiled egg, this discovery is yet another hilarious hack that works in principle but is a massive faff.

Chapters:

(00:31) Return of the dire wolf

(08:58) Turbulent time for US science

(16:36) Perfect way to brew a cuppa coffee

Hosted by Penny Sarchet and Timothy Revell, with guests Michael Le Page and Chelsea Whyte.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

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Weekly: How plant skin transplants could supercharge crops; China’s pollution win spikes global temperatures; the oldest ivory tools ever found Apr 04, 2025

Show notes

Episode 296

There’s a strange phenomenon in the plant world that we’ve known about for ages - but have only just figured out how to make use of it. Thanks to a process that sometimes happens during plant grafting, we can give plants skin transplants. This process produces ‘graft chimeras’, which have been seen as mere curiosities for many years. But now one company in the Netherlands is now planning to do something more with them, creating a whole new world of plant combinations that could produce more pest resistant crops or more delicious fruits.

Air pollution in China has been a hot topic for many years, especially since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. But China has been successful in bringing emissions from aerosols down drastically - a massive win for the health of people in the country. However, there’s been an unintended consequence, as their efforts to clean the air have caused a spike in the rate of global warming. What’s going on? Find out how this all links to the subject of geoengineering.

The oldest ivory tools ever found have been discovered in Ukraine. Thought to be created by our ancient ancestor, Homo heidelbergensis, these tools made from mammoth tusks are 400,000 years old. They give a surprising window into the lives of ancient humans - who may have been more intelligent than we realised.

Chapters:

(00:31) Giving plants skin transplants

(07:16) How China’s pollution win has spiked global temperatures

(16:34) The oldest ivory tools ever found

Hosted by Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet, with guests Michael Le Page, Madeleine Cuff, Jeroen Stuurman and Vadim Stepanchuk.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

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Weekly: A remarkable view of pregnancy; how to waste less time on your smartphone; superacid diamond rain Mar 28, 2025

Show notes

Episode 295

The changes the body goes through during and after pregnancy have been examined in more detail than ever before. A landmark study is finally helping us to piece together some of the mysteries and myths surrounding this time – from how long it takes the body to go back to “normal” after birth to the extended periods of nutrient deficiency. This comes after a flurry of studies have given us the clearest picture yet of how the brain changes – and is dramatically remodelled – throughout pregnancy.

Are you worried about your smartphone habit? Science is upending our understanding of phone use and just how damaging the urge to doom-scroll can be. Are smartphones really killing our sleep and distracting us more than ever? And is it really impacting the mental health of children? The answers are not what many people assume.

One of the weirdest substances in our universe is one we very much take for granted – water. Not only does it perform impressive feats that we see every day, but water can also transform into a superacid, potentially resulting in diamond rain falling on planets in our solar system. Find out how it could be doing this somewhere in the cosmos right now.

Chapters:

(00:28) The effects of pregnancy

(07:16) How bad is smartphone use?

(16:34) Surprising facts about water

Hosted by Penny Sarchet and Timothy Revell, with guests Carissa Wong and Alexandra Thompson.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

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Weekly: Life on Mars; biggest dark energy discovery in decades; the mystery of dark oxygen Mar 21, 2025

Show notes

Episode 294

Markings discovered on rocks from Mars look to be good evidence that microbial life once existed on the Red Planet. NASA’s Perseverance rover spotted little speckles on rocks in part of Jezero crater, and minerals usually formed in the presence of water. New analysis suggests these markings also contain signs of organic compounds. Presented with the possibility of microbial Martians, can we now say Mars really did once have life?

Dark energy, the mysterious force thought to be driving the expansion of the universe, might be getting weaker. If it is, that completely upends our understanding of the universe - from one that’s getting bigger and bigger, to one that could eventually collapse in a “big crunch”. Results from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) in Arizona may be the biggest discovery about dark energy we’ve had in 25 years.

Last year we had the controversial discovery that “dark” oxygen may be produced by metallic nodules on the seafloor. But it was widely contested and the exact mechanism unknown. But researchers in China now think they’ve figured out what’s going on - dark oxygen could be key to keeping deep sea creatures alive, with implications for life beyond Earth.

Chapters:

(00:31) Suggestions of past life on Mars

(7:42) Dark energy and how the universe might end

(11:56) Solving the mystery of dark oxygen

Hosted by Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet, with guests Jacob Aron and Michael Le Page.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

Video credit: Perseverance Explores the Jezero Crater Delta

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