The World, the Universe and Us

Latest Episodes:

Breakthrough Synthetic Cell Has Just Reproduced - But Is It Alive? Jul 03, 2026

Show notes

Episode 382

Scientists have created a synthetic cell with just 36 genes that can copy DNA and replicate. In an attempt to create a “minimal cell”, a team led by professor Kate Adamala have built “SpudCell” from the ground up, using non-living components.

But is it alive - and is it dangerous? Despite being able to carry out some of the tasks of a normal cell, it’s not clear that it’s capable of evolution - yet. But it is a major breakthrough in the field and could pave the way for the creation of artificial life in the future.

Researchers have made their work open source so the next breakthrough can be fasttracked - and hope it will help provide a solution to the climate crisis by replacing the need for petrochemicals.

To discuss the news - and its implications for the origin of life - Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist reporter Michael Le Page.

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

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The Science of Football: Inside the 2026 World Cup Jul 02, 2026

Show notes

Episode 381

Advances in sports science, data analysis and AI are having a huge impact on the way football is played. With England rated highly in this year’s World Cup, and teams such as Paraguay causing upsets - how will science help give teams an edge?

In the past there was very little data available to help assess player performance - and diet and training were much more rudimentary. But now we can analyse information in an incredibly sophisticated way, which is changing what players can achieve on the pitch.

In this special World Cup episode recorded at the Royal Society in London, we explore the emerging role of data and AI in football, the neuroscience of penalty shootouts, the impact of extreme heat on player performance, differences between the men’s and women’s game - and much more.

Rowan Hooper is joined by a panel of expert guests, including:

Dr Charlotte Cowie, Chief Medical Officer of the British Olympic Association

Dr Ian Graham, Founder of sports advisory business Ludonautics

Holly Bridge, Professor of Neuroscience at University of Oxford

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

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

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Ancient Human DNA Found in Stone Age Cave Art For First Time Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Episode 380

The DNA of ancient humans has been found preserved in cave art that’s more than 40,000 years old. This discovery could open an entirely new avenue for finding out about the lives of our ancient ancestors.

Researchers from the First Art project found these unexpected samples while examining 11 different caves decorated with rock art. Although it’s unclear if the DNA belongs to the original artist, it may soon be possible for researchers to identify the exact person who did the painting - and even uncover traits like their hair and eye colour.

Now this has been done once, the potential for more discoveries is massive. We may even be able to figure out if Neanderthals were also making art like this.

Rowan Hooper is joined by features editor Alison George and Genevieve von Petzinger at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.

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

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A “Super” El Niño May Be Coming - Here’s What It Means Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

Episode 379

El Niño has officially arrived – a natural climate event that raises global temperatures. The difference this time is it looks very likely to become a “Super” El Niño. This is a more extreme warming phase which could lead to record high temperatures.

Coupled with the ongoing impacts of climate change, weather agencies are predicting an increase in extreme weather events around the world. From droughts to floods and devastating coral bleaching, what will this year’s warming bring?

We find out how a “Super” El Niño differs from a normal one, the extent of the damage it could cause and whether it’s responsible for the strange weather we’ve already had this year in the UK.

Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by Emily Black, Climate Professor at the University of Reading and New Scientist climate journalist Alec Luhn.

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

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The Lost Solstice Monument That Predates Stonehenge By 500 Years Jun 18, 2026

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Episode 378

A prototype Stonehenge has been discovered - an even older structure that may have been a first attempt at building the famous megalithic calendar.

A team led by archaeologist Phil Harding, best-known for the TV series ‘Time Team’, discovered a range of artefacts at a site near Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire.

Excavations at Bulford uncovered pottery, animal bones, flints - and something even more telling. Signs of a structure of wooden poles were found, that line up directly with the summer solstice sun.

Phil Harding joins Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet to discuss what he found and why it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

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

Image Credits:

Wessex Archaeology - www.wessexarch.co.uk

Marijane Porter

Dr Fabio Silva

garethwiscombe, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Andrew Dunn, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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If We Can Make Genetically Engineered Designer Babies - Should We? Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

Episode 377

Considered too dangerous and unreliable a few years ago, the technology for gene editing babies is advancing fast. Improved methods of using CRISPR gene editing are making the technique safer and more targeted. But does that mean we should be creating designer babies?

A new, more powerful version of CRISPR has already saved lives by correcting cells in children linked to leukaemia. But editing human embryos is a different story - and less safe. Despite this, researchers have been studying whether it’s possible.

To discuss the obstacles that still need to be overcome and the ethical challenges, Rowan Hooper is joined by reporter Michael Le Page.
To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

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Scientists Mapped Earth's Vast Fungal Network - And It's Critical For The Climate Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

Episode 376

For the first time, scientists have mapped Earth’s vast underground fungal network - and it’s bigger than anyone imagined. Beneath our feet, plants and fungi have a hidden symbiotic relationship, sharing nutrients through fine fungal threads called hyphae.

With these new global maps, we’re now starting to understand just how important the mycorrhizal network is in keeping the Earth’s climate stable - including the extent of the carbon it draws down.

But the ecosystems where these networks exist are being stripped back for agriculture and damaged by fungicides - so how can we protect them?

To explore this topic, Rowan Hooper is joined by some of the researchers behind the project - Toby Kiers, Tom Shimizu and Merlin Sheldrake.

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

Find out more about SPUN, the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks: https://www.spun.earth/

See the Mycorrhizal Infrastructure Map: https://a-hidden-infrastructure.spun.earth

Read Rowan’s symbiosis book ‘Togetherness’: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/459006/togetherness-by-hooper-rowan/9781911717140

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Millions of Fossil Whale Bones Found in Deep Ocean Graveyard Jun 11, 2026

Show notes

Episode 375

The world’s deepest known whale graveyard has been discovered in the southern Indian Ocean. Located at a depth of seven kilometres, it contains millions of whale bones and has been described as a “deep-sea fossil megasite” and a whale necropolis.

Chinese researchers, diving in the crewed Fendouzhe submersible, undertook 32 dives along 1200 kilometres of the seafloor in an area known as the Diamantina Zone. They discovered a vast amount of whale bones of different ages.

Recent carcasses support a thriving ecosystem of invertebrates such as bone eating worms and brittle stars, but there are also fossil bones up to 5 million years old.

Why are the bones collected in this area? Join host Rowan Hooper and reporter James Woodford as they discuss the startling and eerie discovery.
To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

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DeepMind Is Simulating Entire Worlds - Ready for AI Robots Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

Episode 374

Google DeepMind is simulating entire worlds using AI - that can be interacted with in real time.

“World models” simulate the environment and physics of the real world. And DeepMind’s Genie 3 model allows people to create these worlds with basic image and text prompts.

The idea is not just to allow people to explore these worlds, but to serve as a testbed for AI agents to learn how to interact with the world before they are deployed in humanoid robotic bodies.

Could this be the next big step towards artificial general intelligence (AGI)?

Joshua Howgego speaks to Jack Parker Holder, Research Director at Google DeepMind, about the latest developments.

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

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Ötzi the Ice Man Contains Still-Living Microbes Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

Episode 373

Despite being 5,300-years-old, the gut microbiome of the famous Ötzi the Ice Man appears to be still alive. A mix of ancient and modern bacteria have been found on Ötzi’s mummified remains - which are preserved in icy conditions.

Found in 1991 by hikers on a glacier in the Alps, Ötzi has already taught us an incredible amount about the life of humans living in Europe during the Copper Age - and continues to reveal his secrets.

While we unpack this surprising news, we also explore some of the other fascinating discoveries Ötzi has led us to over the years, from the type of food ancient people ate during this period, to the different animal skins they wore as clothing. We also discuss the six tools he was found with - and why he was covered in 61 tattoos.

To discuss the new finding, Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist’s Sam Wong.

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

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