Nature Podcast

In this episode, reporter Miryam Naddaf joins us to talk about the big science events to look out for in 2026. We’ll hear about: small-scale AI models that could outcompete Large Language Models in reasoning, clinical trials of gene editing to treat rare human disorders, a sample collection mission from Phobos, and how changes to US policy by the Trump team are expected to impact science. 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.

Anecdotal stories suggesting that weight-loss drugs can help people shake long-standing addictions have been spreading fast in the past few years, through online forums, weight-loss clinics and news headlines. And now, clinical data are starting to back them up. Over a dozen randomized clinical studies testing whether GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic can suppress addiction are now under way, and neuroscientists are working out how these weight-loss drugs act on brain regions that control craving, reward and motivation. Scientists warn that the research is still in its early stages, but some researchers and physicians are excited, as no truly new class of addiction medicine has won approval from regulators in decades. This is an audio version of our Feature: Will blockbuster obesity drugs revolutionize addiction treatment? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:40 What a trove of potato genomes reveals about the humble spud Researchers have created a ‘pangenome’ containing the genomes of multiple potato types, something they believe can help make it easier to breed and sequence new varieties. The potato’s complicated genetics has made it difficult to sequence the plant’s genome, but improvements in technology have allowed the team to combine sequences, allowing them to look for subtle differences in between varieties. Nature Podcast: 16 April 2025 Research Article: Sun et al. 10:28 Hundreds of physicists on a remote island: we visit the ultimate quantum party According to legend, physicist Werner Heisenberg formulated the mathematics behind quantum mechanics in 1925 while on a restorative trip to the remote North Sea island of Heligoland. To celebrate the centenary of this event, several hundred researchers have descended on the island to take part in a conference on all things quantum physics. Nature reporter Lizzie Gibney was also in attendance, and joined us to give an inside track on the meeting. Nature Podcast: ​​​​​​​13 June 2025 19:54 Research Highlights A minuscule robot that can manipulate liquid droplets, and the discovery of ancient puppets on the remains of a large pyramid offers a glimpse into rituals in Mesoamerica. Research Highlight: This tiny robot moves mini-droplets with ease Research Highlight: Ancient puppets that smile or scowl hint at shared rituals 23:03 These malaria drugs treat the mosquitoes — not the people Researchers have developed two compounds that can kill malaria-causing parasites within mosquitoes, an approach they hope could help reduce transmission of the disease. The team showed that these compounds can be embedded into the plastics used to make bed nets, providing an alternative to insecticide-based malaria-control measures, which are losing efficacy in the face of increased resistance. Nature Podcast: ​​​​​​​21 May 2025 Research article: ​​​​​​​Probst et al. 33:49 Briefing Chat The first skeletal evidence that Roman gladiators fought lions. BBC News: Bites on gladiator bones prove combat with lion 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.

Nature: Asteroids, antibiotics and ants: a year of remarkable science In this episode: 1:58 Evidence of ancient brine on an asteroid Samples taken from the asteroid Bennu by NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft suggest the parent body it originated from is likely to have contained salty, subsurface water. This finding provides insights into the chemistry of the early Solar System, and suggests that brines might have been an important place where pre-biotic molecules were formed. News & Views: Asteroid Bennu contains salts from ancient brine Nature Podcast: Asteroid Bennu contains building blocks of life 08:01 How gene expression doesn't always reflect a cell's function Cells are often grouped into categories according to the RNA molecules they produce. However a study of zebrafish (Danio rerio) brains revealed that cells can be functionally diverse even if they appear molecularly similar. This finding adds more nuance to how a cell's ‘type’ is ultimately defined. News & Views: Does a cell’s gene expression always reflect its function? 12:01 The disproportionate mortality risks of extreme rainfall An assessment of death rates in India’s coastal megacity of Mumbai revealed that the impact of extreme rainfall events will be highest for women, young children and residents of informal settlements. This situation is likely to become more pronounced as a result of climate change. News & Views: Extreme rainfall poses the biggest risk to Mumbai’s most vulnerable people 14:46 An AI-designed underwater glue Inspired by animals like barnacles and aided by machine learning, researchers have developed a super-sticky compound that works as an underwater adhesive. To demonstrate its properties, researchers applied it to a rubber duck, which stuck firmly to a rock on a beach despite being battered by the sea. News & Views: AI learns from nature to design super-adhesive gels that work underwater Nature Podcast: Underwater glue shows its sticking power in rubber duck test Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:46 The gifts that sparked a love of science Nature put a call out for readers to tell us about memorable presents that first got them interested in science, or mementos of their life in research. These include telescopes, yeast-themed wedding rings, and... cows’ eyes. Nature: The gift that shaped my career in science 08:12 “I am the Very Model of a Miniature Tyrannosaur” In the first of our annual festive songs celebrating the science of the past year, we tell the story of a diminutive dinosaur that turned out to be its own species. Nature Podcast: Meet the ‘Wee-rex’. Tiny tyrannosaur is its own species Nature Video: Hotly debated dinosaur is not a tiny T. rex after all 11:43 A very scientific quiz An all-star cast competes for the glory or being the winner of the Nature Podcast’s 2025 festive quiz. Nature: Meet the ‘Wee-rex’. Tiny tyrannosaur is its own species Nature: This company claimed to ‘de-extinct’ dire wolves. Then the fighting started Nature Podcast: 3D-printed fake wasps help explain bad animal mimicry Nature Video: ‘Aqua tweezers’ manipulate particles with water waves Nature Podcast: Sapphire anvils squeeze metals atomically-thin Nature Video: Vesuvius volcano turned this brain to glass Nature Podcast: Ancient viral DNA helps human embryos develop Nature Video: Magnetic fibres give this robot a soft grip Nature: These contact lenses give people infrared vision — even with their eyes shut Nature Video: Is this really the world's largest mirror? Researchers put it to the test Nature Podcast: World’s tiniest pacemaker could revolutionize heart surgery Nature Podcast: Earth’s deepest ecosystem discovered six miles below the sea Nature Podcast: Nature goes inside the world’s largest ‘mosquito factory’ — here’s the buzz Nature Podcast: Apocalypse then: how cataclysms shaped human societies Nature Podcast: Honey, I ate the kids: how hunger and hormones make mice aggressive 25:21 “Hard the Hydrogel is Stuck” Our second festive song is an ode to a rubber duck that was stuck to a rock, thanks to a newly designed, super-adhesive hydrogel. Nature Podcast: Underwater glue shows its sticking power in rubber duck test Nature Video: Why did researchers stick a duck to a rock? To show off their super glue 28:42 Nature’s 10 Each year, Nature’s 10 highlights some of the people who have helped shape science over the past 12 months. We hear about a few of the people who made the 2025 list, including: a civil servant who stood up for evidence-based public-health policy; the science sleuth who revealed a retraction crisis at Indian universities; and the baby whose life was saved by the first personalized CRISPR therapy. Nature: Nature’s 10 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.

00:46 Evidence of the earliest fire Baked soil, ancient tools, and materials that could be used to start fires show that Neanderthals were making fire in the UK 400,000 years ago — the earliest evidence of this skill found so far. Ancient humans are known to have used naturally occurring fires, but evidence of deliberate fire-starting has been hard to come by. A new suite of evidence pushes back the date of fire mastery by 350,000 years. The team behind the finding believe it helps create a more nuanced picture of Neanderthals, who perhaps gathered round fires and told stories in ancient Europe. Research Article: Davis et al. News and Views: Oldest known evidence of the controlled ignition of fire 11:31 Research Highlights Machine-learning algorithms can help to identify traces of life in ancient rocks — plus, why paintings containing a vivid green pigment lose their lustre over time. Research Highlight: AI finds signs of life in ancient rocks Research Highlight: The mystery of emerald green — cracked 13:55 How AI chatbots can sway voters with ease Research suggests that artificial-intelligence chatbots can influence voters’ political views and have a bigger effect than conventional campaigning and advertising. One study found that chatbot conversations swung participants’ candidate preferences by up to 15 percentage points, while another revealed that the chatbots’ effectiveness stems from their ability to synthesize a lot of information in a conversational way. Nature: AI chatbots can sway voters with remarkable ease — is it time to worry? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:46 How satellite mega-constellations could ruin space-based astronomy The ability of space-based telescopes to image the distant Universe could be in peril, according to new research investigating the impacts of light-pollution from future satellites. Streaks of reflected light from satellites currently in low-Earth orbit are already seen in telescope images, and planned launches could raise the number of satellites from around 15,000 to over half-a-million. Computer modelling revealed that this drastic increase would result in images taken by instruments like the Hubble Space Telescope becoming unusable by astronomers. The team propose a series of strategies to help mitigate these impacts, preventing this future becoming reality. Research Article: Borlaff et al. 11:08 Research Highlights How researchers have sped up the trapping of antimatter atoms — plus, how hydrogen fuel emission benefits vary considerably from sector to sector. Research Highlight: Laser cooling traps more antimatter atoms than ever before Research Highlight: Hydrogen fuel isn’t always the green choice 13:41 The negative consequences of video call glitches Glitches in video calls are an annoying feature of everyday life, but these brief interruptions could have serious real-world impacts, according to analysis from a team of researchers. In one experiment, the team found that video calls with glitches decreased the likelihood of someone being hired for a job. Analysis of other data suggested glitchy calls were associated with lower chances of individuals being granted parole. The team behind the work think that these visual errors break the illusion that a video call is a real face-to-face conversation, potentially impairing judgements about the quality of the information discussed. Research article: Brucks et al. 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.

CRISPR-based gene editing has revolutionized modern biology, but these tools are unable to access the DNA that resides inside mitochondria. Researchers are eager to access and edit this DNA to understand more about the energy production and the mutations that can cause incurable mitochondrial diseases. Because CRISPR can’t help with these problems, researchers have been looking for other ways to precisely edit the mitochrondrial genome. And the past few years have brought some success — if researchers can make editing safe and accurate enough, it could eventually be used to treat, and even cure, these genetic conditions. This is an audio version of our Feature: Faulty mitochondria cause deadly diseases — fixing them is about to get a lot easier Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:46 Martian ‘micro-lightning’ The sounds of ‘micro-lightning’ have been recorded by NASA’s Perseverance rover, ending a long search for the phenomenon on Mars. A lack of suitable equipment has made it difficult to gather evidence of lightning on the red planet, but a team of researchers realized that a microphone on Perseverance should be able to pick up the characteristic sounds of electrical discharges. In total they found 55 such examples, along with signs of electrostatic interference indicative of the phenomenon. They dubbed the electric bursts ‘micro-lightning’, as they are far smaller than the lighting seen on Earth, due to the thin Martian atmosphere. The team believe this finding could help better understand Martian chemistry and how best to design equipment to explore the planet’s surface. Research Article: Chide et al. News and Views: Is there lightning on Mars? 11:03 Research Highlights How the biology of male seahorses’ brood pouches appears similar to mammalian pregnancy— plus, why Neanderthals’ jaws were so beefy. Research Highlight: The origin of male seahorses’ brood pouch Research Highlight: Neanderthal DNA reveals how human faces form 13:36 The key takeaways from COP30 The UN’s climate conference, COP30, came to a close last week in Brazil. Nature reporter Jeff Tollefson tells us what was and wasn’t agreed during the final negotiations. Nature: What happened at COP30? 4 science take-homes from the climate summit 22:27 Why women may retract less than men A new analysis suggests that female authors retract fewer medical science papers than their male counterparts. Women are known to be underrepresented in the medical sciences, but even accounting for this an AI-tool revealed that female authors featured on far fewer retracted research articles. Reporter Jenna Ahart has been investigating and told us why this might be, and what it means for research more broadly. Nature: Women seem to retract fewer papers than men — but why? 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.

00:45 A molecule that delivers insulin through the skin Researchers have developed a skin-permeable polymer that can deliver insulin into the body, which they say could one day offer an alternative to injections for diabetes management. The skin’s structure presents a formidable barrier to the delivery of large drugs but in this work a team show that their polymer can penetrate though the different layers without causing damage. Insulin attached to this polymer was able to reduce blood glucose levels in animal models for diabetes at a comparable speed to injected insulin. While further research is required on the long-term safety of this strategy, the team hope it could offer a way to non-invasively deliver other large-molecule drugs into the body. Research Article: Wei et al. 09:23 Research Highlights How extreme drought may be humanity’s biggest challenge after a huge volcanic eruption — plus, turning a bacterium into a factory for a colour-changing pigment Research Highlight: Volcano mega-eruptions lead to parched times Research Highlight: Dye or die: bacterium forced to make pigment to stay alive 11:42 How language lights up the brain, whatever the tongue The human brain responds in a similar way to both familiar and unfamiliar languages, but there are some key differences, according to new research — a finding that may explain why learning a language can be difficult. A study looking involving 34 people showed that listening to an unfamiliar language triggers similar neural activity to listening to their native tongue. The finding implies that human speech triggers a common reaction in the brain regardless of understanding. However, there were subtle differences when listening to a known language that may help explain how people actually understand words. Research Article: Bhaya-Grossman et al. Neuron: Zhang et al Sounds used under CC BY 4.0 27:18 Briefing Chat Signs that greenhouse-gas emissions may peak around 2030 — plus, evidence of dog breeding by ancient humans. Nature: Global greenhouse-gas emissions are still rising: when will they peak? Nature: How ancient humans bred and traded the first domestic dogs 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.

Yoshua Bengio, considered by many to be one of the godfathers of AI, has long been at the forefront of machine-learning research . However, his opinions on the technology have shifted in recent years — he joins us to talk about ways to address the risks posed by AI, and his efforts to develop an AI with safety built in from the start. Nature: ‘It keeps me awake at night’: machine-learning pioneer on AI’s threat to humanity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:45 A coronal mass ejection from a distant star Researchers have detected what they say is the strongest evidence yet of a coronal mass ejection (CME) coming from a star other than our Sun. CMEs are massive bursts of fast-moving plasma that can be detected thanks to the characteristic radio signal they produce. However, despite decades of searching, these signals have only been identified from the Sun. Now a team has identified a similar signal coming from a distant star in the Milky Way. They hope their discovery will lead to better understanding of the impact these colossal events might have on the atmospheres of exoplanets, and their chances of being habitable. Research Article: Callingham et al. 12:28 Research Highlights Video footage of a devastating earthquake provides a first-of-its-kind glimpse of a dramatic ground rupture — plus, a flock of comets seen outside our Solar System. Research Highlight: Single video camera tells the story of deadly Myanmar quake Research Highlight: A host of ‘exocomets’ swarms a distant star 14:29 The rare genetic variants that may increase the risk of ADHD Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects around 1 in 20 young people, but its underlying causes are not fully understood. Now, a team of researchers show that three rare genetic variants are implicated in an increased risk of ADHD, which may play a role in the neurons involved in dopamine signalling. While this work provides a better understanding of the complex genetics at play, the authors caution more research is needed to unpick the complex interplay other factors involved in ADHD. Research Article: Demontis et al. 18:41 Briefing Chat A high-resolution digital map for Roman roads, and how speaking more than one language could slow brain ageing. Nature: ‘Google Maps’ for Roman roads reveals vast extent of ancient network Nature: Want a younger brain? Learn another language 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.

00:45 The debate around Nanotyrannus A hotly debated species of dinosaur, assumed by many to be a juvenile T. rex, is actually a separate species, according to new research. Nanotyrannus was a dinosaur anatomically similar to T. rex, but about a tenth of the size, leading many to argue it was a young version of the iconic species. However, examination of the limb bones of a well-preserved Nanotyrannus fossil suggests it was close to finishing its growth and so would never become as large as a T. rex, leading the authors to argue that it is, in fact, a different species. Research Article: Zanno and Napoli News and Views: T. rex debate settled: contested fossils are smaller rival species, not juveniles News: ‘Teenage T. rex’ fossil is actually a different species Video: Hotly debated dinosaur is not a tiny T. rex after all 08:46 Research Highlights An artificial ‘neuron’ could pave the way to build a brain-inspired computer — plus, how bats buck the trend by hunting prey their own size. Research Highlight: Artificial brains with less drain Research Highlight: By the time you hear these bats, it’s too late 11:19 A less invasive way to prevent breast cancer An ‘anti-hormone’ therapy has shown promise in halting the onset of hallmarks associated with breast cancer, in a small trial. Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women worldwide, but preventative measures, such as mastectomies, are invasive. A new study examined the efficacy of a treatment that blocks progesterone, a hormone thought to play an important role in breast cancer progression. The therapy reduced both specific clinical markers of breast cancer and the number of cells that can become cancerous. Larger, longer trials are needed to show that this treatment could ultimately become part of a breast cancer prevention strategy, but the team think that this work shows the promise of this approach. Research Article: Simões et al. 18:41 Briefing Chat A new approach to speed up CRIPSR therapies reaching clinical trials, and how vocal cords could be healed using a tiny 3D printer. Nature: Personalized gene editing helped one baby: can it be rolled out widely? Nature: World’s smallest 3D bioprinter could rebuild tissue during surgery 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.

00:47 How bowhead whales live so long Researchers have uncovered a protein that enhances DNA repair and may explain how bowhead whales can live more than 200 years. The protein, cold-induced RNA-binding protein, was shown to enhance repair of double stranded DNA breaks, a particularly troublesome kind of damage. The team showed that this protein could also extend the lives of Drosophila flies and enhance repair in human cells. More needs to be understood about how this protein works, but the researchers hope that it could, one day, help prevent cancer and ageing in humans. Research Article: Firsanov et al. News: This whale lives for centuries: its secret could help to extend human lifespan 11:22 Research Highlights A precise way to grow crystals, with lasers — plus, the specialist organ that allows stinkbugs to protect their eggs from wasps. Research Highlight: How to grow crystals when and where you want them Research Highlight: Stinkbug ‘ear’ actually hosts parasite-fighting fungi 13:31 An antivenom against a broad range of snakebites Researchers have used ‘nanobodies’ to create an antivenom that works against 17 snake species’ venom. Snakebites kill millions each year, so getting the right antivenom can be life or death. But they are difficult to produce and often are very specific. Now, using nanobodies from llamas, researchers created an antivenom against a broad range of snake species’ venom. The new antivenom can now even be produced without the llamas, and the team hope it will pave the way for a more universal antivenom. Research Article: Ahmadi et al. 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.

Advice on how to get good sleep is everywhere, with the market for sleep aids worth more than US$100 billion annually. However, scientists warn that online hacks and pricey tools aren’t always effective, and suggest that lessons learnt about the workings of a network of biological clocks found in the human body could ultimately lead to improved sleep. This is an audio version of our Feature: How to get the best night’s sleep: what the science says Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:48 How hunger, hormones and aggression interact in mouse brains Researchers have uncovered the neural mechanisms that underlie an aggressive behaviour in mice prompted by hunger and hormonal state. Virgin female mice can become aggressive towards mouse pups when they are food deprived, but it seems that the relevant amounts of pregnancy hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, also played a role. By investigating the neurons involved, neuroscientists showed how hunger and hormones are integrated by the brain to lead to aggressive behaviour. This could help researchers understand more about how multiple stimuli are interpreted by the brain, something much harder to study than single stimulus effects. Research Article: Cao et al. 09:35 Research Highlights The overlooked environmental costs of wastewater treatment facilities — plus, an ancient communal hunting system that lasted well into the eighteenth century. Research Highlight: Wastewater treatment produces surprising amounts of greenhouse gases Research Highlight: Andean peoples hunted and gathered long after they embraced farming 11:53 What generative AI could mean for higher education Around the world, universities and students are scrambling to adapt to the use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. And while there is optimism that these tools could improve education, there are also concerns about the ways they could stifle independent, critical thought. We hear about the studies trying to unpick the potential impact of this new technology. News Feature: Universities are embracing AI: will students get smarter or stop thinking? 21:26 Briefing Chat A blood test for Alzheimer’s, and what should be the next ‘test’ for AI after the Turing test? Nature: Blood tests are now approved for Alzheimer’s: how accurate are they? Nature: AI language models killed the Turing test: do we even need a replacement? 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.

00:46 A multi-variant avian flu vaccine that could enhance pandemic preparedness A vaccine capable of protecting against multiple strains of avian influenza virus may be a step closer, according to new research. The H5 subtype of avian influenza viruses has spilled over into mammals and is particularly concerning to researchers due to the risk of them evolving to cause another pandemic. But because there are multiple variants of these viruses, it has been hard to pre-prepare vaccines. Now, a team have used information on how these viruses evolved over time to design a vaccine that in animal studies provided protection against different H5 strains. They hope their approach could be applied to create stockpiles of vaccine that could be used in the event of a pandemic, regardless of the strain that causes it. Research Article: Kok et al. 10:53 Research Highlights Making muon beams without a huge particle accelerator — plus, the bats hunting migrating birds in mid-air. Research Highlight: Portable muon beam could accelerate archaeology scans Research Highlight: European bats capture migrating birds and eat them on the wing 13:34 Briefing Chat A new search engine that can sift through the staggering volumes of biological data, and the multiple failings revealed by an assessment of 25 years of carbon offsetting data. Nature: ‘Google for DNA’ brings order to biology’s big data The Guardian: Carbon offsets fail to cut global heating due to ‘intractable’ systemic problems, study says​​​​​​​ 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.

00:48 The stereotypes hidden in Internet images Stereotyped assumptions about women’s ages and their perceived job suitability are enhanced by Internet imagery, according to new research. A study of hundreds of thousands of online images shows that women appear younger than men. This stereotype extends to the jobs that people perceive women do, with men being associated with roles such as CEO or head of research, while women were linked to occupations like cook or nurse. The research shows that these biases have been embedded into the training data for AI models and could affect future hiring. The researchers caution that society is at risk of creating a ‘self-fulfilling prophecy’ where these stereotypes shape the real world. Research Article: Guilbeault et al. News and Views: Distorted representations of age and gender are reflected in AI models 13:24 Research Highlights A very hungry planet — plus, how climate change is leading to larger trees in the Amazon. Research Highlight: ‘Rogue’ planet is fastest-growing ever observed Research Highlight: Trees of the Amazon are becoming even mightier 15:49 Astronomers name their favourite exoplanet Thirty years ago, astronomers announced the discovery of the first exoplanet around a Sun-like star, sparking a renewed passion into spotting these planets that lie beyond our Solar System. In celebration, Nature asked researchers to tell us about their favourites. News: These alien planets are astronomers’ favourites: here’s why Hear the music of a distant planetary system 25:51 Nobel news Flora Graham from the Nature Briefing joins us to talk about the winners of this year’s science Nobel prizes. Nature: Medicine Nobel goes to scientists who revealed secrets of immune system ‘regulation’ Nature: Groundbreaking quantum-tunnelling experiments win physics Nobel Nature: Chemistry Nobel for scientists who developed massively porous ‘super sponge’ materials Nature: Will AI ever win its own Nobel? Some predict a prize-worthy science discovery soon 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.

00:50 How ancient viruses drive modern human development Research suggests that ancient viral-DNA embedded in the human genome is playing a key role in early embryo development. Around 8% of our genome consists of endogenous retrovirus DNA — the remnants of ancient infections, but knowledge of their activity is limited. Now, a team show that these sequences are required for the correct development of lab-derived embryo analogues, and for the switching on of human-specific genes. Research Article: Fueyo et al. News and Views: Ancient viral DNA in the human genome shapes early development 10:39 Research Highlights Longer whale mothers are more likely to give birth to daughters — plus, how the stink of the corpse flower waxes and wanes to attract pollinators. Research Highlight: Big mother whales have more daughters than sons Research Highlight: Corpse flowers waft out stinky compounds as fast as landfills do 13:05 How heat can fuel DNA computers Researchers have developed a way to use heat to recharge DNA-based computer circuits, which could help overcome one of the stumbling blocks preventing this technology from being scaled up. Although DNA strands have been used to perform computational tasks for some time, current methods can run out of energy or build up waste products, preventing their continued use. Now, using just heat a team have demonstrated a reuseable neural network based on DNA. They hope that ultimately this could be a step in the development of bigger and more powerful DNA computers that could be used to power targeted clinical therapies. Research Article: Song & Qian 22:20 Briefing Chat A one-time gene therapy for Huntington’s disease show promise at slowing the brain disorder’s progression — plus, how mitochondria throw out ‘tainted’ DNA. Nature: Huntington’s disease treated for first time using gene therapy Nature: Mitochondria expel tainted DNA — spurring age-related inflammation 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.

In April, Robert F. Kennedy Jr held a press conference about rising diagnoses of autism, and said he would soon be announcing a study to find the responsible agent. Although Kennedy said that environmental factors are the main cause of autism, research has shown that genetics plays a bigger part. Also, the rise in prevalence, many researchers say, is predominantly caused by an increase in diagnoses rather than a true rise in the underlying symptoms and traits. Although the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a US$50 million to fund studies on the causes of autism, many researchers were dismayed that these developments seemed to ignore decades of work on the well-documented rise in diagnoses and on causes of the developmental condition. This is an audio version of our Feature: Autism is on the rise — what’s really behind the increase? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.