Nature Podcast

This week, improving computers’ image identification, and a new method for growing crystals. 00:44 Upgrading computer sight Researchers have designed a sensor that allows machines to assess images in nanoseconds.  Research Article:  Mennel et al. ;  News and Views:  In-sensor computing for machine vision 06:51 Research Highlights Calorie restriction’s effects on rat cells, and...

In this edition of Backchat we take a deep dive into Nature's coverage of coronavirus. As cases climb, what are some of the challenges involved in reporting on the virus? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the brain pathways of egg laying in fruit flies, and preventing fractures in metallic glass. In this episode: 00:46 Working out the wiring behind fruit fly behaviour Researchers have identified a neural circuit linking mating and egg laying in female fruit flies.  Research Article:  Wang et al. 06:01 Research Highlights Ancient, cave-dwelling cockroaches, and hairy moths dampe...

In recent days, the number of coronavirus cases have surged in South Korea. In this Podcast Extra Nick Howe speaks to Bartosz Gryzbowski, a researcher based in the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, which is just 60km away from epicentre of the South Korean outbreak. He explains how the outbreak has affected his research and what the atmosphere is like there at the moment. Hosted...

This week, machine learning helps batteries charge faster, and using bacterial nanowires to generate electricity from thin air. In this episode: 00:46 Better battery charging A machine learning algorithm reveals how to quickly charge batteries without damaging them.  Research Article:  Attia et al. 07:12 Research Highlights Deciphering mouse chit-chat, and strengthening soy glue.  R...

This week, uncovering the structure of materials with useful properties, and quantum entanglement over long distances. In this episode: 00:45 Analysing Prussian blues Analogues of the paint pigment Prussian blue are used in a variety of chemical processes. Now, researchers have uncovered their atomic structure.  Research Article:  Simonov et al. ;  News and Views:  Ordered abse...

This week, how setting an out-of-office email could help promote a kinder academic culture. In this episode: 00:47 Being truly out of office Last year, a viral tweet about emails sparked a deeper conversation about academics’ work-life-balance. Could email etiquette help tip the balance?  Careers Article:  Out of office replies and what they can say about you 09:35 Research Highlights Fi...

This week, establishing the role of climate change in Australian bushfires, and revisiting Isaac Asimov’s ethical rules for robots. In this episode: 00:46 Behind the bushfires Researchers are working to establish the role that climate change is playing in the bushfires that are raging across Australia.  News Feature:  The race to decipher how climate change influenced Australia’s record...

This week, why stress makes mice turn grey, and how to think about climate change. In this episode: 00:45 Going grey Anecdotal evidence has long suggested stressas a cause of grey hair. Now, a team of researchers have showed experimental evidence to suggest this is the case.  Research Article:  Zhang et al. ;  News & Views:  How the stress of fight or flight turns hair whit...

In this episode:   00:45 Observing the centre of the galaxy Researchers have uncovered a population of dust-enshrouded objects orbiting the supermassive black hole at the centre of the galaxy. Research Article: Ciurlo et al.   06:34 Research Highlights A London landmark’s height lends itself to a physics experiment, and generous behaviour in parrots. Research Highlight: An iconic structu...

In this episode of the podcast, Nature reporter Davide Castelvecchi joins us to talk about the big science events to look out for in 2020. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special round-up episode of the Nature Podcast , our reporters choose their favourite podcast piece of 2019. In this episode: 00:33 A sole sensation A study of people who do and don't wear shoes looks into whether calluses make feet less sensitive. Nature Podcast: 26 June 2019 ; Research article: Holowka et al. ; News and Views: Your sensitive sole 08:56 The make up of the far side of the...

This year, Nature celebrates its 150th birthday. To mark this anniversary we’re rebroadcasting episodes from our PastCast series, highlighting key moments in the history of science. In this episode, we’re heading back to the early twentieth century, when physicists had become deeply entangled in the implications of the quantum theory. At its smallest scales was the world continuous? Or built of di...

2019 will likely go down as a pivotal year for public discourse on climate change. It was the year of Greta Thunberg, the climate school strikes, and Extinction Rebellion. The global activist movement has gained support from a range of influential people, including renowned environmental lawyer Farhana Yamin. In this Podcast Extra, Nature's Chief Opinion Editor Sara Abdulla meets with Farhana...

As part of  Nature's  150th anniversary celebrations, Nick Howe dives into the topic of epigenetics. Since its origin in 1942, the term 'epigenetics' has been repeatedly defined and redefined. There's always been hype around the field, but what actually is epigenetics and how much does it influence our genes? In this Podcast Extra, Nick Howe speaks to Edith Heard, Director General of the...

We’ve launched our 2019 listener survey. We want to know what you think of the show to help us make a great podcast. You can find the survey  here . Thanks! This week, a solution to a centuries-old physics problem, and holiday shenanigans. In this episode: 00:51 Disentangling three bodies Researchers have been working to unpick a problem that has stumped scientists since the 1600s. Research A...

Research groups around the world are exploring new ways of protecting coral reefs from climate change. This is an audio version of our feature: These corals could survive climate change — and help save the world’s reefs , written by Amber Dance and read by Kerri Smith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We recently launched our 2019 listener survey. We want to hear your views on the show to help us make it even better, so please help us by filling in the survey , thanks! In this episode: 00:45 What’s next for social priming? How might a branch of psychological research move forward in the face of replication failures?  News Feature:  What’s next for psychology’s embattled field of socia...

We recently launched our 2019 listener survey. We want to hear your views on the show to help us make it even better. You can find the survey here . Thanks! In this episode:   00:45 The GenomeAsia 100k project Researchers have released the first data from an ambitious project to sequence the genomes of 100,000 people from populations across Asia. Research Article: GenomeAsia100K Consortium &n...

This year, Nature celebrates its 150th birthday. To mark this anniversary we’re rebroadcasting episodes from our PastCast series, highlighting key moments in the history of science. In this episode, we’re heading back to 4 November 1869, when Nature ’s story began. The first issue of the journal looked very different from the way it does now and, to the dismay of the editor, it was not immediately...

This week, delving into the results of the latest graduate student survey, and assessing ageism in science fiction literature. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, an antibiotic that targets hard-to-treat bacteria, and a roundup of the latest science news. In this episode: 00:49 Discovering darobactin Researchers looked inside nematode guts and have identified a new antibiotic with some useful properties.  Research Article:  Imai et al. 05:45 Research Highlights Using urine as a health metric, and sniffing out book decay with an electron...

This week, a new 3D printer allows quick shifting between many materials, and understanding the link between gut microbes and liver disease. 00:46 A new dimension for 3D printers A new nozzle lets a 3D printer switch between materials at a rapid rate, opening the door to a range of applications.  Research Article:  Skylar-Scott et al. ;  News and Views:  How to print multi-mate...

This week marks 150 years since the first issue of Nature was published, on 4 November 1869. In this anniversary edition of Backchat , the panel take a look back at how the journal has evolved in this time, and discuss the role that Nature can play in today's society. The panel also pick a few of their favourite research papers that Nature has published, and think about where science might be head...

This week, insights into the evolution of walking upright, how science needs to change in the next 150 years, and the unfinished agenda for vaccines. In this episode: 00:50 Early ape locomotion The discovery of a fossil of a new species of ape gives new insights on how bipedalism may have evolved.  Research Article: Böhme et al. ;  News and Views:  Fossil ape hints at how walking on...