The World, the Universe and Us cover art
Podcast · 94 episodes

The World, the Universe and Us, page 3

by New Scientist · English

From the evolution of intelligent life, to the mysteries of consciousness; from the threat of the climate crisis to the search for dark matter, The world, the universe and us is your essential weekly dose of science and wonder in an uncertain world. Hosted by journalists Dr Rowan Hooper and Dr Penny Sarchet and joined each week by expert scientists in the field, the show draws on New Scientist’s unparalleled depth of reporting to put the stories that matter into context. Feed your curiosity with the podcast that will restore your sense of optimism and nourish your brain. For more visit newscientist.com/podcasts

All episodes, page 3

Scientists Can Now Preserve a Brain After Death - What’s Next?A New Scientist podcast episode about Nectome’s method to preserve a brain after death, aiming to keep the connectome (3D neuron connections) intact for hundreds of years so a future technology might…25 Mar 2026 · 18 min · 9 chapters
The Dangerous Bias Shaping the Future of AIThe World, the Universe and Us23 Mar 2026 · 17 min · 9 chapters
Rebecca Solnit On Why the Future Isn’t as Dark as It LooksDr. Rowan Hooper & Dr. Penny Sarchet21 Mar 2026 · 51 min · 15 chapters
Why The Iran War Is Speeding The End Of The Fossil Fuel EraThe World, The Universe and Us19 Mar 2026 · 21 min · 11 chapters
Mathematics is Undergoing the Biggest Change in its HistoryThe world, the universe and us13 Mar 2026 · 24 min · 13 chapters
The Radical Theory That Could Force Us To Rethink Alzheimer’sThe World, The Universe and Us11 Mar 2026 · 18 min · 9 chapters
We Now Have Early Warning Signal Of Ocean Current CollapseThe World, the Universe and Us9 Mar 2026 · 25 min · 11 chapters
Two 'Extinct' Mammals Species Have Been Discovered in New GuineaDr. Rowan Hooper and Dr. Penny Sarchet5 Mar 2026 · 19 min · 8 chapters
How Ukraine Became a Drone Factory - and Changed Warfare ForeverThe world, the universe and us27 Feb 2026 · 20 min · 8 chapters
The world is running out of water - can cloud-seeding save us?; Why some people get stuck in grief; Is our black hole actually a clump of dark matter?The World, The Universe and Us20 Feb 2026 · 31 min · 11 chapters
How ancient humans crossed the vast ocean; Brain training for dementia; Life of science legend Maggie AderinThe world, the universe and us13 Feb 2026 · 40 min · 22 chapters
Why Elon Musk plans to put 1 million satellites in orbit; Should we be giving sleep drugs to kids?; Why global pesticide risk is not improvingIn this episode, hosts Dr. Rowan Hooper and Dr. Penny Sarchet discuss three significant topics:6 Feb 2026 · 38 min · 18 chapters
Mini human brain grows blood vessels; The geoengineering risk of termination shock; Trove of ancient fossils discoveredMini Human Brain Grows Blood Vessels; The Geoengineering Risk of Termination Shock; Trove of Ancient Fossils Discovered30 Jan 2026 · 40 min · 14 chapters
The 5 worst ideas of the 21st century – and how they went wrongIn this episode, hosts Dr. Rowan Hooper and Abby Beall explore five significant ideas from the 21st century that started with good intentions but have resulted in negative consequences.23 Jan 2026 · 41 min · 22 chapters
Rutger Bregman on the crisis of moral ambition; Why primates have same-sex relationships; Living longer is easier than you think; Bizarre method to fight climate changeThe episode features Rutger Bregman, a Dutch historian and best-selling author (Humankind, Utopia for Realists, and Moral Ambition).16 Jan 2026 · 54 min · 17 chapters
Why does America want Greenland?; Mystery of dark DNA; Ozempic weight reboundUS interest in Greenland (national security, rare minerals, oil, speculative “network/freedom city” plans), Greenland ice melt and sea-level rise, “dark/junk DNA” research using human–plant hybrid…9 Jan 2026 · 31 min · 11 chapters
Humans are finally heading back to the moon; Cheaper weight loss drugs are coming; Milestone for LSD trials; Promise of new carbon tax2026 science predictions covering: Artemis 2 lunar mission; cheaper GLP-1 weight-loss drugs; first phase 3 LSD anxiety trials; EU carbon border tariff.2 Jan 2026 · 33 min · 11 chapters
Best science TV, film and books of 2025 | The New Scientist culture reviewThis New Scientist culture review episode (festive edition) highlights 2025’s best science TV, film, and books, with heavy emphasis on climate change and how societies respond.26 Dec 2025 · 24 min · 13 chapters
Top Science Stories of 2025 | The New Scientist Features SpecialThis episode is a New Scientist “Top Science Stories of 2025” roundup, featuring four main science features plus a brief archaeology/AI segment.19 Dec 2025 · 1 h · 17 chapters
Orcas and dolphins are now hunting together; Genetic root of psychiatric conditions; Black hole stars and cosmic ecologyThe episode covers three science stories: (1) Orcas and dolphins hunting together in the Pacific to kill Chinook (king) salmon.12 Dec 2025 · 33 min · 11 chapters
How exercise shrinks tumours and starves cancer; Weird molecules found on comet 3I/ATLAS; Einstein v Bohr on the nature of lightThe episode (The World, The Universe and Us, New Scientist) covers three science stories. Topic 1: Exercise and cancer.5 Dec 2025 · 25 min · 11 chapters
The evolution of sperm and the enduring mystery of the scrotum; How our brain rewires itself 4 times in life; The (real) disaster scenarios of imminent climate breakdownEvolution of sperm (including “last universal common sperm” predating animals), why mammal testes are often in a scrotum (scrotum evolved twice; temperature, display, and pressure hypotheses), four…28 Nov 2025 · 39 min · 16 chapters
The origin and evolution of music: Steve Pretty plays the conchThe origin and evolution of music, using conch shells (and other early instruments) to explain how humans developed creativity, sound-making, and musical functions like ceremony and communication.21 Nov 2025 · 31 min · 11 chapters
New genome of ancient human; 95% of us have a dormant virus that causes disease; Formula E cars faster than F1; Bill Bryson joins the pod!This episode of The World, The Universe and Us covers three science stories and a guest interview. Topic 1: Denisovan human evolution.14 Nov 2025 · 45 min · 19 chapters