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

The World, the Universe and Us, page 4

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 4

Why the claims about Hitler’s genome are misleadingThe episode discusses the UK documentary Hitler’s DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator and argues the public claims about what Hitler’s genome proves are misleading.13 Nov 2025 · 29 min · 11 chapters
COP30: The world's climate future hinges on this meetingCOP30 in Brazil (starting 10 Nov) and whether the UN climate process can still deliver; discussion of the Paris “ratchet” for stronger emissions pledges, rising warming projections (about 2.5°C;…7 Nov 2025 · 32 min · 13 chapters
The collapse of America’s health data system; How sleep affects your focus; Life on Mars in liquid veins?The episode covers three science/news threads: (1) the Trump administration’s health-data cuts and layoffs at HHS, threatening long-running surveys and databases used to monitor veteran health,…31 Oct 2025 · 24 min · 12 chapters
How mRNA vaccines teach your body to kill cancer; Grim state of climate action; Why birds sing the dawn chorusThis episode covers three science stories. First, a new study and supporting mouse work suggest mRNA vaccines may have an anti-cancer effect beyond COVID prevention.24 Oct 2025 · 29 min · 10 chapters
Neuroscience of reality; Quest for dark matter; Folklore of geoscience (New Scientist Live Special)This New Scientist Live Special episode of The World, the Universe and Us covers three themes: how brains construct “reality,” the search for dark matter, and how indigenous geoscience stories…20 Oct 2025 · 28 min · 10 chapters
First climate tipping point triggered; Man controls another person's body by brain implant; health worries over sumo wrestlersThe episode covers three science stories. Topic 1: Climate tipping point—warm-water coral dieback has been declared widespread over the last two years, affecting over 80% of the world’s corals.17 Oct 2025 · 34 min · 13 chapters
Space 2075: How Humanity Will Live, Work and Make Drugs off-planet | Live Recording at the Royal SocietySpace 2075—how humans may live and work off-planet, and how microgravity affects the body and mind.13 Oct 2025 · 54 min · 19 chapters
How Jane Goodall changed the world; How the universe ends; How “selfish sperm” affect male fertilityThe episode covers three science topics: Jane Goodall’s impact on primatology and conservation; how the universe might end; and how “selfish sperm” mutations affect male fertility and children’s…10 Oct 2025 · 43 min · 20 chapters
Emergency in Antarctica; How movement changes the brain; Why women live longer than menThe episode covers three science topics: an “emergency” in Antarctica, how movement changes brain processing of sound, and why women (and many female mammals) live longer than men.2 Oct 2025 · 31 min · 18 chapters
Skull rewrites story of human evolution; Autism and Tylenol; discovery of wind coming from black holeThe episode covers three science stories: (1) A Chinese skull (Yun Shan 2) dated to about 0.94–1.1 million years old, reclassified from Homo erectus, is argued to fit Denisovans/“Denisovan-like”…26 Sep 2025 · 34 min · 17 chapters
The evolutionary price we pay for longer lives; the asteroid coming VERY close to Earth; how dinosaurs shaped the ecosystemThis episode covers three science stories. First, “inflammaging”: chronic, low-grade inflammation that persists as immune defenses stay on a hair-trigger, increasing risk of heart disease, type 2…19 Sep 2025 · 33 min · 17 chapters
Why we can't announce life on Mars (yet); The Romans' impact on the British economy; Link between exercise and your microbiomeThree-part news episode from New Scientist: (1) whether Mars shows chemical signs consistent with past life, (2) how Roman-era metal production affected the British economy after Rome withdrew, and…12 Sep 2025 · 30 min · 9 chapters
First complete map of brain activity; Queen ant lays eggs of another species; The perils of scrolling while on the toiletThis episode of New Scientist’s “World, Universe and Us” covers three stories.5 Sep 2025 · 31 min · 17 chapters
Scientists discovered a 100,000-year-old organism; Breakthrough brain implant uses AI to treat pain; How climate change leads to revolutions(1) A 100,000-year-old microbe found in Siberian permafrost that appears to have stayed alive without dividing; (2) a UCSF deep brain stimulation (DBS) implant that uses machine learning to detect…29 Aug 2025 · 26 min · 12 chapters
Could we end winter illness?; Cold fusion’s comeback; The delicious microbiome of chocolateA three-part episode on (1) an early-stage universal antiviral approach using mRNA to trigger a subset of interferon defenses, aiming to blunt many winter respiratory viruses; (2) a revived…22 Aug 2025 · 21 min · 11 chapters
Climate special: How to fix the climate crisis with Tim Lenton and Kate MarvelA climate special arguing that the crisis can be met with “usable hope” and “positive tipping points,” while also validating emotions (anger, fear, grief, wonder, pride, hope, love).14 Aug 2025 · 44 min · 22 chapters
80 years since Hiroshima: Forgotten victims of the atomic bombThis New Scientist “World, the Universe and Us” special marks 80 years since Hiroshima (Aug 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (Aug 9), arguing the Manhattan Project’s harm extends beyond immediate deaths to…5 Aug 2025 · 34 min · 20 chapters
Ozempic and Wegovy slow down biological ageing; creation of synthetic bacterium; geology of the Russian earthquakeSemaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) clinical trial evidence suggests it slows biological aging via epigenetic clocks; creation of SYN57, a synthetic E.1 Aug 2025 · 28 min · 5 chapters
AI wins first gold at maths Olympic games; How mitochondria are linked to sleep; Famous psychology trick works on octopuses tooAI and biology news. AI: Two AI systems won gold at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Australia for the first time, raising AGI hopes; details are opaque, with only reinforcement…25 Jul 2025 · 29 min · 6 chapters
Scientists test engineered microbes to fight disease; Has 1.5 degrees failed?; New theory why we’ve not found aliensThe episode covers three science news stories. Topic 1: engineered microbes for disease.18 Jul 2025 · 30 min · 9 chapters
How geoengineering could save us from climate disaster; Have we broken mathematics?; Why exercise reduces cancer riskGeoengineering (solar radiation management) as a potential way to prevent climate “tipping points,” especially collapse of the AMOC ocean current; a math segment on Busy Beaver numbers and the “edge”…11 Jul 2025 · 33 min · 12 chapters
First full genome of Ancient Egyptian sequenced; Wild killer whales offer gifts to humans; First demonstration of interstellar navigationThree “firsts” in science news—(1) sequencing the first complete ancient Egyptian genome; (2) first documented cases of wild killer whales offering food gifts to humans; (3) a first demonstration of…4 Jul 2025 · 30 min · 11 chapters