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Weekly: Claims that secret alien technology is held in the US; link between gut bacteria and intelligence; the parasite that makes ants live longer Jun 15, 2023

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New Scientist Weekly #200

Always trust your gut! A recent study shows that the composition of our gut microbiome may be directly linked to our overall intelligence, with certain bacteria, perhaps, influencing brain size; other bacteria, not so much. Alexandra Thompson discusses these remarkable findings with the team.

Cephalopods have some extraordinary capabilities, and new research conducted by Joshua Rosenthal at Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory in Massachusetts reveals that they can even edit their genetic material in order to survive changes in their environment. Amid these findings, Rowan and Clare wonder if gene editing is linked to octopus intelligence…

The secret to a longer life? A parasitic worm - if you are an ant, at least. Parasitologists have discovered a tapeworm that invades its host ant, allowing the latter to live at least three times longer, all whilst being fed and cared for by its uninfected friends. The worm’s ultimate goal, however, is somewhat less appealing.

Just say no? So-called ‘smart drugs’ such as Ritalin are widely prescribed to those suffering from ADHD. They’re also sometimes used by people seeking a mental boost. But as Clare informs Rowan, unless prescribed, Ritalin probably won’t do you any good.

Former US intelligence official David Grusch claims that the US government has retrieved alien spacecraft and is harbouring the bodies of extraterrestrials which piloted it. But the team shares a healthy dose of scepticism.

On the pod are Rowan Hooper, Clare Wilson, Alexandra Thompson, Leah Crane and Michael Le Page. To read about these subjects and much more, you can subscribe to New Scientist magazine at newscientist.com.

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#199 Being Human: Lewis Dartnell on how our biology shapes our actions Jun 13, 2023

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Are humans the product of their environment, or do we shape the world around us? Lewis Dartnell, author of a series of books which explores this very question, sits down with culture and comment editor Alison Flood to discuss his most recent publication, Being Human.

Lewis delves into the extraordinary role played by our biology in driving our behaviours and shaping our history. By re-examining elements of our daily lives that we commonly accept without question, he offers a fresh perspective, viewing them through the prism of our evolutionary journey.

To read about subjects like this and much more, you can subscribe to New Scientist magazine at newscientist.com.

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#198 Giant: An opera about the legacy of the ‘Irish giant’ Charles Byrne and the surgeon John Hunter Jun 08, 2023

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Welcome to CultureLab, from New Scientist podcasts. In this episode, culture and comment editor Alison Flood speaks with composer Sarah Angliss.

Sarah has written a new opera called Giant, which is based on the true story of the 18th-century “Irish giant” Charles Byrne, who had an undiagnosed benign tumour of his pituitary gland which caused him to grow to be 2.31m tall. Byrne’s corpse was stolen and later put on public display by the surgeon John Hunter, despite his explicit wishes to be buried at sea.

Giant premieres in June at the Aldeburgh Festival, 240 years since Byrne’s death.

To read about subjects like this and much more, you can subscribe to New Scientist magazine at newscientist.com.

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#197 Ancient human Homo naledi had advanced culture; AI passes the world’s biggest Turing Test; climate change hits New York Jun 08, 2023

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A species of ancient human with a brain the size of a chimpanzee’s is upending what we thought we knew about human cognition and culture. Recent findings from Lee Berger and his team of palaeontologists suggest our extinct relative, Homo naledi, may have engraved symbols on cave walls and deliberately buried its dead. These people lived some 300,000 years ago and the team discusses the dramatic new findings.

Air quality across northern parts of the United States, including New York City, has reached dangerous levels following record-breaking wildfires in Canada. The team in London chat with New York-based reporter James Dinneen about the implications of climate-change-induced events like these.

Think a flower can’t be scary? Think again! Rowan meets botanical horticulturalist Arnau Ribera-Tort at Kew Gardens in London to discuss the beautiful and ghoulish Ghost Orchid - a plant with no leaves and sheet-white flowers that appear to float in mid-air, and which is blooming in the UK for the first time.

Pregnancy sickness is not just unpleasant, it can be dangerous. But new findings are bringing us closer to putting an end to this nauseating part of pregnancy. A large recent study further supports the idea that the hormone responsible for pregnancy sickness, GDF15, may also be the key to preventing it.

Finally, Clare and Rowan discuss the growing need for AI to self-identify as non-human, with Chatbots becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish from people…

On the pod are Rowan Hooper, Clare Wilson, Alice Klein, Michael Le Page and James Dinneen.

To read more about the stories, subscribe at newscientist.com/podcasts.

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#196 Animal Liberation Now: Peter Singer on eating and living ethically Jun 05, 2023

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What does it mean to eat and live ethically in today’s world?

In 1975, Australian philosopher Peter Singer published his landmark book Animal Liberation, in which he advocated for a vegan diet and the improved treatment of animals, sparking a global movement for animal rights.

Almost 50 years on, amid scientific and ethical advancements, Singer has released an updated version of his book: Animal Liberation Now.

New Scientist reporter Madeleine Cuff asks Singer how his views on eating ethically have changed, particularly as the science around climate change has solidified.

To read about subjects like this and much more, you can subscribe to New Scientist magazine at newscientist.com.

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#195 Breakthrough in suspended animation; treatment using stem cells from umbilical cord; moon dust threat Jun 01, 2023

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Suspended animation - the stuff of science-fiction, or a real-world solution to surviving long voyages into deep space? Actually it’s neither, but researchers have now successfully induced hibernation in mice and rats, suggesting that the same may be possible for humans... The team explores what this could mean for future medical treatments.

Sand martins – known as bank swallows in North America - have returned to their breeding grounds. Ornithologist Bill Haines takes Rowan under his wing at the London Wetland Centre and introduces him to these remarkable tunnel-digging birds…

Wharton earth…? New research shows that Wharton Jelly, the stem-cell-rich goo found in umbilical cords can have important therapeutic benefits for those suffering from certain autoimmune diseases. The team discusses its recent success in treating Type 1 Diabetes.

The Clarion-Clipperton Zone, deep in the Pacific Ocean, is of great interest to biologists and industrialists alike, as it is home to thousands of previously-unknown marine species… and replete with the likes of nickel, cobalt, copper, titanium and rare earth elements. As Matt explains, many of these species could be lost to deep-sea mining before we have a chance to discover them all.

Finally, the team discusses a major nuisance to lunar travel: moon dust! Moon landings will kick up millions of these tiny, razor-sharp particles, even blasting them out of lunar orbit where they could pose a risk to orbiting space stations.

On the pod are Rowan Hooper, Chelsea Whyte, Michael Le Page, Alexandra Thompson and Matt Sparkes.

To read more about the stories, subscribe at newscientist.com/podcasts.

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#194 Rewilding special: a night in the beaver pen at the rewilded Knepp Estate May 26, 2023

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The world is undergoing a catastrophic biodiversity crisis, and the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. The problems are big, but there are solutions. On this special episode of the show, host Rowan Hooper reports from the Knepp Estate in southern England, a large estate owned by Isabella Tree and Charlie Burrell, who have become pioneers in the rewilding movement. Rowan spent the night wild camping in the beaver enclosure and being serenaded by nightingales. He speaks with Isabella and Charlie about their new book, The Book of Wilding; to beaver reintroduction expert Derek Gow about the magic of this keystone species, and to ecologist Andy Hector of the University of Oxford.

To hear a livestream of the sounds of nature from Knepp, listen to Wilding Radio here.

To read about subjects like this and much more, you can subscribe to New Scientist magazine at newscientist.com.

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#193 Drug that could cure obesity; world’s largest organism; octopus dreams; mood-enhancing non-alcoholic drink May 25, 2023

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A new class of drugs that can reliably help you lose weight are generating great excitement in the fight against obesity - and Elon Musk and Hollywood actors have been using them too. Weight-loss scientists have developed hormone-mimicking injections that can reduce body fat by 20 per cent... and the team discuss how it works.

The world’s largest organism is not the blue whale. In fact, Pando the aspen grove in Utah weighs 35 times more than a blue whale and has lived for thousands of years. The team discovers why this incredible life form - a forest of genetically identical, connected trees - may now be at risk, and thanks to sound artist Jeff Rice, we get to experience how it may “hear” the world around it.

We’ve all seen our sleeping pups run in mid-air as they dream of chasing squirrels, but did you know that octopuses dream too? And, as the team learns, by observing one very special octopus, scientists now believe they also have nightmares.

Reaching out to aliens… could we trust them? The team discusses some of the concerns around making contact and suggests some fantastic reads on the subject.

Always struggled with “Dry January”? Your prayers may finally have been answered. Sam Wong tests a new type of non-alcoholic drink… that still gets you tipsy.

On the pod are Rowan Hooper, Clare Wilson, Michael Le Page, Alison Flood and Sam Wong. To read about these subjects and much more, you can subscribe to New Scientist magazine at newscientist.com.

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#192 Life-extending mutation; Kangaroo poo transplant for cows; irregular sleep linked to increased risk of death May 18, 2023

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Want to live 20 percent longer? Well, it may be possible in the future thanks to a new discovery. A life-extending mutation has been found in mice, and the team explains how its benefits can be transferred by transplanting blood stem cells. But will it work in humans?

Cows’ burps are a big problem for global warming - but could kangaroo poo be the solution? We hear about a novel new idea to replace the bacteria in cows’ stomachs.

A special kind of particle that can remember its past has been created using a quantum computer. The team explains the mind-bending qualities of this non-Abelian anyon, and how its creation could serve as a building block for advanced quantum computers.

A new study has linked irregular sleeping patterns with an increased risk of death. The team finds out what’s going on.

Climate change may have broken a link between desert grasslands and the Pacific Ocean. We learn how this severed connection is impacting biodiversity in North America’s Chihuahuan desert.

On the pod are Chelsea Whyte, Sam Wong, Michael Le Page, James Dinneen, Alexandra Thompson and Alex Wilkins. To read about these subjects and much more, you can subscribe to New Scientist magazine at newscientist.com.

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#191 Special episode: the most mind-bending concepts in science May 11, 2023

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On this bonus episode of the podcast we present a guide on how to think about some of the most important and mind-bending concepts in science, from artificial intelligence to mental health, from nutrition to virtual particles. It all comes from a special How To Think About issue of New Scientistthat is out now – the team discuss some of the things it covers. Other topics include consciousness, wormholes, ageing, origins of life, quantum gravity, and even happiness. Make yourself happy subscribing to our podcast and by checking out the special issue.

On the show this week are New Scientist journalists Rowan Hooper, Dan Cossins, Cat de Lange, Abby Beal and Clare Wilson.

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