The World, the Universe and Us

Latest Episodes:

Wildfires Changed Human Evolution - Is It Happening Again? Aug 17, 2026

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Episode 392

Ancient wildfires may have shaped the course of human evolution. A reconstruction of the environment in East Africa 1.75 million years ago suggests a particularly volatile period of climate change made our species adapt rapidly.

Climate swings may have led our species to develop sophisticated tools. Ancient hominins may have also learnt to control fire thanks to frequent wildfires during this period.

As wildfires become increasingly common, currently devastating parts of Europe including the UK, will humans have to adapt again? Could it even force rapid evolution in our species?

Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by Sam Wong and Michael Le Page to discuss the finding and what it means for humans today.

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

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New Treatment Saves Children With Terminal Brain Cancer Aug 11, 2026

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Episode 391

Brain tumours are the most common and most deadly form of solid tumours in children. But a brand new kind of immunotherapy has shown incredible promise, saving four terminally ill children.

By using a child’s own immune cells, this new treatment seems to work better than existing immunotherapies and causes fewer adverse side effects. Although it saved just 4 out of 33 participants, it’s still encouraging and researchers hope to continue trials.

Join James Woodford and Alice Klein to find out how this new therapy works, how researchers plan to improve it, why brain tumours are so common and difficult to treat and what the future of treatment looks like.

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

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Latitude Special: Why Festivals Make You Live Longer; Clearing Alzheimer’s Proteins from the Brain;Clouds Made of Rocks and Rubies; Orcas Blow Up Giant Fish Aug 05, 2026

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Episode 390

In a special episode recorded live at Latitude Festival in England, we open with the finding that orcas in the Gulf of California have been making fish explode like piñatas. Sunfish are too large for orcas to get their teeth around, but they’ve been seen working together to tackle them - another amazing display of their ability to coordinate.

We also discuss a surprising new way to clear proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease from the brain. An early-stage experiment shows that inhaling carbon dioxide could boost your brain’s waste disposal system and clear out harmful proteins. But don’t try this at home.

Also on the agenda, the clouds on distant exoplanets are now being studied - and they are made of incredible materials. Some are made of sand, molten iron and even rubies and sapphires. As we explain how materials like this can stay suspended in the air, we also discuss the importance of clouds on Earth.

And we wrap up with the finding that festivals protect the brain and help keep us young. A study involving 3500 people found that those who attended social gatherings like festivals and concerts showed clear reductions in their biological age. Discover why this happens, plus the wider benefits of music on brain health.

Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by:

Astrophysicist Hannah Wakeford

Neuropsychologist Catherine Loveday

Musician Steve Pretty

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

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Climate 2026: Record Heat, Tens of Thousands Dead, Mass Evacuations Jul 31, 2026

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Episode 389

Europe is burning through another summer of extreme heat. Temperatures are soaring across the continent, wildfires are forcing mass evacuations in France and Spain, and scientists warn that heatwaves are becoming more frequent, more intense and longer-lasting as the climate warms.

The fires are changing too. Hotter, drier conditions are creating larger and more destructive wildfires. Some are even generating their own weather systems, pyrocumulonimbus thunderstorms, in regions we’d never seen before.

Find out what is driving Europe’s escalating heat and wildfire crisis, and whether district cooling networks could help cities stay livable in a much hotter future.

Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by Alec Luhn and Michael Le Page.

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

Image credit: Death Valley: Mikenorton, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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Scientists Pioneer Surgical Methods for Human Head and Eye Transplants Jul 27, 2026

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Episode 388

Two extraordinary breakthroughs have been made in transplant surgery. First, scientists have found a way of keeping human eyes alive for up to 10 hours after death, opening up the possibility of eye transplants in the future.

And in a second controversial surgery, another team has managed to restore severed spinal cords in pigs, allowing them to walk again after being paralysed. While it’s hoped this will eventually allow people with spinal injuries to walk again, one of the scientists involved is a proponent of human head transplants - or body transplants as they should really be known. Is that the ultimate goal?

Find out how the scientists achieved these feats - and what’s required to take both surgeries to the next level.

Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by Alexandra Thompson.

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

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The Most Promising Alien Planet We've Ever Found? Jul 20, 2026

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Episode 387

Two big interstellar discoveries have hit the headlines. One is the discovery of the first atmosphere ever found on a small, rocky exoplanet that could host alien life.

The planet LHS 1140b is about 50 light years from Earth and sits in the “Goldlocks” zone, meaning it’s close enough to its star to be habitable. So what do we know about its atmosphere – and could it be just like Earth?

The second story is of sugar molecules discovered in interstellar space for the first time – detected in a cosmic cloud nearly 27 light years away. Researchers believe this sugar could have formed before the solar system itself.

Find out more with Senior Editor Chelsea Whyte and Space Reporter Leah Crane.

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

Image credits:

Chester Harman, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

ESO/spaceengine.org, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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Climate Crisis Is Triggering Global Food Shortages - New Predictions Are Devastating Jul 17, 2026

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Episode 386

The climate crisis is having a significant impact on yields of crucial food crops. Losses of maize, wheat and soybeans alone are costing $20 billion a year due to heat and drought. New estimates expect this to rise to $160 billion per year by 2100 - although that could be an underestimate.

While this means food prices will keep on rising in developed countries, the majority of the population in the world’s least developed regions work in farming, so crop losses have the potential to destabilise them, creating social unrest and increased migration.

But beyond getting emissions under control, do we need to completely rethink how we produce food globally in order to combat this?

Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by Michael Le Page to discuss this new prediction and the action needed to stop it coming true.

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

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7 Essential Lessons We Can Learn From Homer’s Odyssey Jul 13, 2026

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Episode 385

What can Homer’s Odyssey teach us about psychology and human nature? Locked up in this 2,500-year-old text are a host of profound lessons and ancient wisdom.

In her new book The Odyssey Mindset, Oxford classicist and clinical psychologist Sam Akbar draws on seven essential lessons from this classic piece of Greek literature. She showcases what it teaches us about issues like grief, ego and dealing with trauma - translating The Odyssey into a toolkit for modern life.

The book is out just as Christopher Nolan’s film The Odyssey hits the big screen. So if you want to have a deeper appreciation of Homer’s work before you visit the cinema, this one’s for you.

Rowan Hooper speaks to Sam Akbar about the incredible influence this work has had on Western culture, and Homer’s lessons for clinical psychology.

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

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Chris Packham on the Untold Story of Evolution Jul 09, 2026

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Episode 384 The story of evolution is being brought to life in a new way. BBC series Evolution tells the story of 5 iconic animals, from elephants to ostriches, using CGI to reimagine ancient fossils.

And this isn’t just about the animals that came before them, but also explores the intricacies of how locomotion, intelligence, feeding, and reproduction emerged.

The series is hosted by broadcaster, natural history legend, and New Scientist superfan Chris Packham, who hopes Evolution will remind viewers that we are all connected on a deep and fundamental level.

Penny Sarchet sits down with Chris to discuss why they've chosen to tell the story in this way and explore some of his series highlights.

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

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Heatwaves Are Getting Deadlier - And It’s Going To Get Worse Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

Episode 383

As another heatwave takes hold, figures are now showing just how deadly the last one was. With one early estimate suggesting as many as 25,000 people may have died in Europe as a result of June’s extreme heat.

Heatwaves across Europe, Asia, Australia and the US hit record highs last month and wildfires are now spreading across southern Europe. And as the effects of climate change increase the intensity year on year, can we be better prepared for the next ones coming our way?

In this episode we discuss the urgent need to adapt homes and infrastructure to deal with a warming climate, the impact of extreme heat on the human body - and how you can become better adapted for the coming hot weather.

Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist reporters Michael Le Page and Alec Luhn.

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

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