Episódios

  • Craig Venter’s Legacy: The Most Influential Geneticist Since Watson and Crick

    Craig Venter’s Legacy: The Most Influential Geneticist Since Watson and Crick
    May 1 2026
    Episode 365 Craig Venter, one of the world’s most influential geneticists, has died aged 79. He leaves behind an incredible - and complicated - legacy. Venter is primarily known for playing a leading role in the sequencing of the human genome. Later he pioneered the field of synthetic biology, creating what was described as the first synthetic life form - a feat that was not without controversy. So what drove Venter? And why was he so compelled to promote the idea of science as a competitive race? We discuss his many achievements, including his work in marine biology - and explore the pioneering methods behind it all. Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by science writer Mike Marshall, and former New Scientist editor Roger Highfield. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Image Credits: Marjorie McCarty, CC BY 2.5 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5, via Wikimedia Commons Arienette22, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons The original uploader was Bruno Comby at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 1.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0, via Wikimedia Commons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    27 minutos
  • Record Heat, Wildfires and Drought - The Climate Crisis Is About To Accelerate

    Record Heat, Wildfires and Drought - The Climate Crisis Is About To Accelerate
    Apr 30 2026
    Episode 364 Global temperatures are rising faster than ever - and with a strong El Nino on the way, scientists are warning we could temporarily breach 2°C of warming above pre-industrial levels. While other models suggest it may only hit 1.75°C, either option is bad news for the climate. The European state of the climate report has just been released, painting a picture of a rapidly warming world. Temperatures in Europe are rising faster than any other continent - and places like Iceland, Norway and the UK have all experienced record breaking years. As we’re already watching the impacts of this heat on biodiversity, wildfires, harvests and more - can we handle a 2°C rise in temperatures? And does this signal the end of the Paris goal to limit warming to 1.5°C? Despite the gloom, there is one glimmer of hope. One species of warm water corals seems to have adapted to these extreme surges in heat - and is surviving against the odds. Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist reporters Alec Luhn and James Woodford. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    25 minutos
  • The Wood Wide Web: The Forest Discovery That Sparked a Backlash

    The Wood Wide Web: The Forest Discovery That Sparked a Backlash
    Apr 27 2026
    Episode 363 Suzanne Simard is a world-renowned forest ecologist who shot to stardom with her first book Finding the Mother Tree. It tells the story of her life’s work, showing trees and plants are connected through fungal networks, demonstrating a kind of wisdom and intelligence. Now, with the release of her latest book When the Forest Breathes, she’s keen to highlight the destructive and extractive forestry practices of the modern age - and why Western science needs an update. Rowan Hooper sits down with Simard under the famous Lucombe Oak in London’s Kew Gardens. Together they explore the concept of the ‘wood wide web’, the name given to her breakthrough work showing communication between forest trees via an underground fungal network. They discuss the scientific backlash that came when she popularised this work and how it all came at a particularly difficult time in her life. And they explore her time spent with indigenous peoples in the Amazon rainforest. As Simard aims to make us view forest ecosystems in a more holistic and regenerative way - what will it take to truly change the industry?To read more stories like this, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 minutos
  • Chernobyl 40 Years On: Legacy of the World’s Worst Nuclear Disaster

    Chernobyl 40 Years On: Legacy of the World’s Worst Nuclear Disaster
    Apr 23 2026
    Episode 362 It’s been 40 years since the world’s worst nuclear disaster unfolded. Since the explosion at Chernobyl in 1986, the world has feared nuclear power - and the widespread damage it can do. But are we right to fear it? Though it’s left a lasting scar on the region, nuclear power is still safer than fossil fuels - which kill millions of people each year. So what will it take to change public opinion? We examine the lasting impact of nuclear fallout on Chernobyl - and how things have changed in the exclusion zone over four decades. Rowan Hooper is joined by New Scientist reporter Matt Sparkes, who shares news of his recent visit where he met the families who still live there. And Professor Jim Smith, author of Chernobyl: Catastrophe and Consequences, explains how the ecosystem and wildlife are thriving - and how he’s been making Atomik Brandy out of radioactive apples from the region. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ To buy Atomik drinks and help support communities in Ukraine affected by Chernobyl and the war, see www.atomikvodka.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 minutos
  • A “Super El Niño” Is Coming - And It Could Trigger Global Climate Chaos

    A “Super El Niño” Is Coming - And It Could Trigger Global Climate Chaos
    Apr 20 2026
    Episode 361 The Earth is about to enter an extremely strong climate phase that could cause major disruption on a planet-wide scale. This “super El Niño” - or “Godzilla El Niño” - threatens to make 2027 the hottest year on record. If it’s as strong as scientists fear, the weather event will bring droughts to some areas of the world and floods to others, causing food shortages and billions of pounds of damage. And with the world already warming faster due to human activity, the effects will only be intensified. To discuss what we can expect from the near future, Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist climate reporter Alec Luhn. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    15 minutos
  • Britain’s First Astronaut on the New Race to the Moon | Helen Sharman

    Britain’s First Astronaut on the New Race to the Moon | Helen Sharman
    Apr 17 2026
    Episode 360 A new era of space travel is finally upon us. NASA’s Artemis II rocket successfully launched 4 astronauts around the moon and back. Reacting to the historic news is Britain’s first astronaut, Helen Sharman. The high tech space race sees countries, once again, scrambling to be the first to land people on the lunar surface - but this time to set up a permanent base of operations. Artemis II has now tested the capabilities of the space craft. But Artemis III and IV are already in the works, with dozens of other launches planned, to get cargo and rovers to the moon. Unlike the space race of the 1960s, this one is very clearly between the US and China. And it’s clear that no matter who lands first, each country will continue their efforts to reach the surface and benefit from the so-called “lunar economy”. Rowan Hooper and Helen Sharman reflect on the success of the launch, nervousness about the spacecraft’s heatshields on reentry - and what it all signals for the future. She also explains why we need cooperation now, more than ever, to ensure international collaboration when we do finally start building on the lunar surface. Chapters (00:00) Intro - A new space race is now underway (00:22) Introduction to Astronaut Helen Sharman (01:09) Helen’s reaction to the Artemis II splashdown (02:06) Problems with the heatshield (04:33) What this mission means for new generations (06:29) Will this actually lead to a sustained presence on the moon? (10:47) Are private space companies a problem for the moon? (11:52) The plan for Artemis III (12:54) Why put nuclear reactors on the moon? (14:56) What was Artemis II really trying to achieve? (17:40 What did the astronauts see? (20:34) Do we know what the landing site will be now? (22:36) The many planned launches ahead (24:57) Will we soon have holidays to the moon? (27:08) Helen’s 35th astronaut anniversary (29:58) Vision for an international future base on the moon To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Image Credits: NASA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 minutos
  • How to spot the Lyrid meteor shower: New Scientist's stargazing companion

    How to spot the Lyrid meteor shower: New Scientist's stargazing companion
    Apr 16 2026
    The Lyrid meteor shower hits its peak on the evening of the 22nd April, but you can look for them any time between the 16th and 25th. Listen along with New Scientist's Abby Beall as she guides you through what a meteor shower is, when to see the Lyrids and how to look for them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    6 minutos
  • Genetic analysis reveals how the Neanderthals went extinct

    Genetic analysis reveals how the Neanderthals went extinct
    Apr 10 2026
    Episode 359 DNA analysis of 10 Neanderthal people is shedding light on why their populations declined 75,000 years ago - eventually leading to their extinction. After being hit by a cold spell, we can see Neanderthals lost a lot of genetic diversity as their numbers dwindled. Living in small, isolated groups, we see evidence in both genetic and archaeological evidence that this pushed the human species to die out. One exception to this trend is Thorin - known as the last Neanderthal. We explore why his tribe may have been able to cling onto existence for longer than the rest of their species. It wasn’t long ago this kind of understanding about ancient human species was well out of reach. Now the field is moving forward rapidly. What will we find next? To discuss this new finding - and to look at the genetic history of interbreeding between humans and Neanderthals - Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by Alison George and Michael Marshall. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Image Credit: Neanderthal-Museum, Mettmann, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    21 minutos