Nature Podcast

By Springer Nature Limited

News & Politics Technology Science & Medicine

What's Nature Podcast about?

The Nature Podcast brings you the best stories from the world of science each week. We cover everything from astronomy to zoology, highlighting the most exciting research from each issue of Nature journal. We meet the scientists behind the results and provide in-depth analysis from Nature's journalists and editors.

For complete access to the original papers featured in the Nature Podcast, subscribe to Nature.

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17 October 2019: Mapping ch...

10.16.2019

This week, investigating child mortality rates at a local level, and building genes from non-coding DNA. In this episode: 00:43 A regional view of childhood mortality Researchers map countries' progress towards the UN’s Sustainable Developmental Goals. Research Article: Burstein et ...

Nature Podcast episodes:

10.16.2019 17 October 2019: Mapping childhood mortality, and evolving ‘de novo’ genes This week, investigating child mortality rates at a local level, and building genes from non-coding DNA. In this episode: 00:43 A regional view of childhood mortality Researchers map countries' progress towards the UN’s Sustainable Developmental Goals. Research Article: Burstein et ...
10.09.2019 10 October 2019: Estimating earthquake risk, and difficulties for deep-learning This week, a method for predicting follow-up earthquakes, and the issues with deep learning systems in AI. In this episode: 00:47 Which is the big quake? A new technique could allow seismologists to better predict if a larger earthquake will ...
10.09.2019 Podcast Extra: Q&A with Nobel Prize winner John B Goodenough In this Podcast Extra, we speak to John B Goodenough, from the University of Texas at Austin in the US. Today, John was announced as one of the joint winners of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Reporter Benjamin Thompson ...
10.08.2019 Podcast Extra: Q&A with Nobel Prize winner Didier Queloz In this Podcast Extra, we speak to physicist Didier Queloz, who was announced today as one of the joint winners of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics. Shortly after the winners were announced, Didier took part in a press conference ...
10.02.2019 03 October 2019: Leapfrogging speciation, and migrating mosquitoes This week, how new species may form by sexual imprinting, and a previously unknown way for mosquitoes to migrate. In this episode: 00:43 New species by sexual imprinting? A Central American frog chooses mates resembling its parents, a possible route ...
09.27.2019 Nature PastCast, September 1963: Plate tectonics – the unifying theory of Earth sciences 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. Earthquakes, volcanoes, the formation of mountains; we understand all these phenomena in terms of ...
09.25.2019 26 September 2019: Mysteries of the ancient mantle, and the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy This week, diamond-containing rocks may help uncover secrets of the Earth’s mantle, and a reflection on science since the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy was published. In this episode: 00:46 Earth’s Evolution Explosive eruptions have allowed researchers to study Earth’s ...
09.21.2019 Podcast Extra: Absurd scientific advice How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems is the new book from XKCD cartoonist Randall Munroe. In this Podcast Extra, Randall talks about the book, its inspiration and the bizarre thought experiments it contains. For information regarding your ...
09.19.2019 Backchat: Covering Climate Now In this episode: 00:44 A global media collaboration This week, Nature is taking part in the Covering Climate Now project. What is it, and why has Nature joined? Editorial: Act now and avert a climate crisis 05:49 ‘Climate change’ vs ...
09.18.2019 19 September 2019: XKCD, and Extinction Rebellion This week, absurd advice from XKCD’s Randall Munroe, and a conversation climate lawyer turned activist Farhana Yamin. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
09.11.2019 12 September 2019: Modelling early embryos, and male-dominated conferences This week, modelling embryonic development, and an analysis of male dominated conferences. In this episode: 00:44 Imitating implantation Researchers have created a system that uses stem cells to model the early stages of pregnancy. Research article: Zheng et al.; News ...
09.04.2019 05 September 2019: Persistent antibiotic resistance, and modeling hot cities This week, Salmonella spreading antibiotic resistance, and the drivers of urban heat islands. In this episode: 00:46 Antibiotic resistance reservoirs Researchers have identified how Salmonella ‘persister’ cells can spread antibiotic resistance genes in mice intestines. Research article: Bakkeren et al. ...
08.30.2019 Nature PastCast, August 1975: Antibodies’ ascendency to blockbuster drug status 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. They’re found in home-testing kits for pregnancy, hospital tests for MRSA, and in six ...
08.28.2019 29 August 2019: Carbon-based computing, and depleting ancient-human genomes This week, a computer chip based on carbon nanotubes, and the potential pitfalls of sequencing ancient-human remains. In this episode: 00:45 A nanotube microprocessor Scientists are looking beyond silicon, by constructing a computer chip using carbon nanotubes. Research article: Shulaker ...
08.21.2019 22 August 2019: Combating online hate speech, and identifying early fossils This week, the resilience of internet hate groups, and searching for early life. In this episode: 00:46 Tackling internet hate Researchers have been modelling how hate groups interact online, and have come up with suggestions to combat this activity. Research ...
08.14.2019 15 August 2019: Atomic espionage in the Second World War, and exploring the early Universe This week, spilling nuclear secrets, and a mysterious period in the Universe’s history. In this episode: 00:46 "The most dangerous spy in history" We hear the story of Klaus Fuchs, who gave away the details of building an atomic bomb. ...
08.07.2019 08 August 2019: A mindset for success, and mercury in fish This week, a mindset to improve school performance, and the complex story of how mercury accumulates in fish. In this episode: 00:46 Growth Mindset How a one hour course could improve academic achievement. Research article: Yeager et al. 11:47 Research ...
07.31.2019 01 August 2019: The placental microbiome, and advances in artificial intelligence This week, whether the placenta is lacking microbes, and new hardware for artificial intelligence. In this episode: 00:43 Microbe-free placentas? New research suggests that the placenta is sterile. Research article: de Goffau et al.; News and Views: No bacteria found ...
07.26.2019 Nature PastCast, July 1942: Secret science in World War 2 This episode was first broadcast in July 2013. 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. During the Second World War, scientists ...
07.24.2019 25 July 2019: The history of climate change, and making vaccines mandatory This week, how the climate has changed throughout history, and why enforcing vaccination should be done with care. In this episode: 00:39 Climate through time Researchers have modelled how climate has changed throughout the past 2000 years. Research article: Neukom ...
07.19.2019 Backchat July 2019: Breaking news, audience-led journalism and human gene editing In this episode: 01:01 Breaking News The first image of a black hole took the world by storm, but what was it like reporting such a quickly developing story? News: Black hole pictured for first time — in spectacular detail; ...
07.17.2019 18 July 2019: Quantum logic gates in silicon, and moving on from lab disasters This week, a new advance in silicon based quantum computing and experiences of how to recover when disaster strikes. In this episode: 00:45 Quantum logic A fast and accurate two-qubit logic gate has been designed in silicon. Research article: Simmons ...
07.10.2019 11 July 2019: The moon, past, present, and future This week, an extended chat about all things lunar with Alex Witze. Instead of a regular edition of the Nature Podcast, this week we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of humans walking on the Moon. Nick Howe catches up with planetary ...
07.03.2019 04 July 2019: Machine learning in materials science, and sand’s sustainability This week, using an algorithm to find properties in materials science, and the global consequences of sand-mining. In this episode: 00:47 Predicting properties A word-association algorithm is reading millions of abstracts to discover new properties of materials. Research article: Tshitoyan ...
06.28.2019 Nature PastCast, June 1876: Gorillas, man-eating monsters? 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. According to the fables of early explorers, the gorilla was a terrible, man-eating monster. ...
06.26.2019 27 June 2019: Callused feet, and protein-based archaeology This week, how wearing shoes might affect foot sensitivity, and uncovering history with ancient proteins. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
06.19.2019 20 June 2019: Non-native species, and a blood-inspired robot battery This week, what makes birds invasive, and a robotic fish powered by a blood-like battery. In this episode: 00:44 How do alien bird species establish themselves? Researchers have been looking at how bird species settle in non-native locations. Research article: ...
06.12.2019 13 June 2019: Mighty magnets, and aerosols in the atmosphere This week, a record-breaking magnetic field, and aerosols’ potential effects on the atmosphere. In this episode: 00:45 Making massive magnets Researchers have created the world’s strongest direct current magnetic field. 08:38 Research Highlights Macaques’ musicality and human consumption of microplastics. ...
06.05.2019 06 June 2019: Microbes modifying medicine and kickstarting plate tectonics This week, how gut microbes might be affecting drugs, and a new theory on the beginning of plate tectonics. In this episode: 00:45 Microbes metabolising drugs Researchers are investigating whether the gut microbiota can alter the activity of medicinal drugs. ...
05.31.2019 Nature PastCast May 1983: Discovering the ozone layer hole 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. The discovery of the ozone hole in the mid-1980s was a shock. Scientists suspected ...
05.30.2019 30 May 2019: Cold fusion, gender parity in universities, and studying wildfires This week, looking back at cold fusion, a ranking of gender balance in universities, and measuring the impact of wildfires. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
05.22.2019 23 May 2019: Pre-industrial plankton populations, European science, and ancient fungi. This week, how climate change has affected plankton, the future of European science, and evidence of an ancient fungus. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
05.15.2019 16 May 2019: Recoding genomes, and material from the Moon's far side This week, rewriting the script of life, and a trip to the far side of the Moon. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
05.08.2019 09 May 2019: Urban vs Rural BMI, and the health of rivers This week, body mass increases around the world, and river connections in decline. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
05.01.2019 02 May 2019: China's growing science network, and talking brain signals This week, China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and translating brain patterns into speech. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
04.26.2019 Nature PastCast April 1953: The other DNA papers 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. Over 60 years ago, James Watson and Francis Crick published their famous paper proposing ...
04.25.2019 25 April 2019: Tiny earthquakes, the genetics of height, and how US-China politics is affecting research This week we’ve got an extended News Chat between presenter Benjamin Thompson and Nature's European Bureau Chief Nisha Gaind. They discuss a new way to identify tiny earthquakes, new insights into the heritability of height, and how political tensions between ...
04.17.2019 18 April 2019: Reviving brains, lightning, and spring books This week, restoring function in dead pig brains, spring science books, and the structure of lightning. If you have any questions about the partly-revived brains study, then the reporters at Nature are keen to answer them. You can submit them ...
04.11.2019 Podcast Extra: The first image of a black hole This week, researchers released the first image of a black hole at the centre of the M87 galaxy. In this special News Chat, Nature reporter Davide Castelvecchi, who was at a press conference in Brussels where the image was announced, ...
04.10.2019 11 April 2019: Heart failure and vacuum field fluctuations. This week, a new mouse model for heart failure and characterising energy fluctuations in empty space. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
04.03.2019 04 April 2019: MDMA and the malleable mind, and keeping skin young This week, why MDMA could make social interactions more rewarding, and how your skin keeps itself youthful. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
03.29.2019 Backchat March 2019: Calls for a research moratorium, and the evolution of science reporting In this month’s roundtable, our reporters discuss calls to pause heritable genome-editing research, and how science journalism has changed in the past 20 years. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
03.27.2019 28 March 2019: Human impacts on Mount Kilimanjaro, sex differences in pain, and a crystal-based cooling method This week, how humans are affecting Kilimanjaro's ecosystems, differences in pain based on biological sex, and refrigerating with crystals. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
03.20.2019 21 March 2019: Antibiotics in orchards, and rethinking statistical significance This week, a plan to spray antibiotics onto orange trees, and is it time to retire statistical significance? For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
03.15.2019 Nature Pastcast March 1918: The eclipse expedition to put Einstein to the test This year, Nature celebrates its 150th birthday. To mark this anniversary we’re rebroadcasting episodes from our Pastcast series, bringing to life key moments in the history of science. As the First World War draws to an end, astronomer Arthur Eddington ...
03.14.2019 14 March 2019: Ebola in DRC, a new HIV treatment, and the proposed US budget. Instead of a regular edition of the Nature Podcast, this week we’ve got an extended News Chat between Benjamin Thompson and Amy Maxmen. They discuss the ongoing Ebola outbreak in DRC, an injectable treatment for HIV, and how the proposed ...
03.06.2019 07 March 2019: Coastal carbon-sinks, mobile health, and Mileva Marić This week, wetlands' ability to store carbon, mobile health, and the story of Mileva Marić. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
02.27.2019 28 February 2019: Cuckoo parasitism, topological materials, and cannabinoids in yeast. This week, the parenting strategies of a tropical cuckoo, increasing the number of topological materials, and growing cannabinoids in yeast. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
02.20.2019 21 February 2019: Mouse cell atlases and cataloguing viruses This week, mapping every cell in a mouse embryo and the benefits of cataloguing all the viruses on Earth. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
02.13.2019 14 February 2019: Atherosclerosis and disruptive science This week, the links between atherosclerosis and sleep-deprivation, and how team size affects research outputs. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Older episodes

Nature Podcast

What's Nature Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Nature Podcast episodes:

17 October 2019: Mapping childhood mortality, and evolving ‘de novo’ genes

10 October 2019: Estimating earthquake risk, and difficulties for deep-learning

Podcast Extra: Q&A with Nobel Prize winner John B Goodenough

Podcast Extra: Q&A with Nobel Prize winner Didier Queloz

03 October 2019: Leapfrogging speciation, and migrating mosquitoes

Nature PastCast, September 1963: Plate tectonics – the unifying theory of Earth sciences

26 September 2019: Mysteries of the ancient mantle, and the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

Podcast Extra: Absurd scientific advice

Backchat: Covering Climate Now

19 September 2019: XKCD, and Extinction Rebellion

12 September 2019: Modelling early embryos, and male-dominated conferences

05 September 2019: Persistent antibiotic resistance, and modeling hot cities

Nature PastCast, August 1975: Antibodies’ ascendency to blockbuster drug status

29 August 2019: Carbon-based computing, and depleting ancient-human genomes

22 August 2019: Combating online hate speech, and identifying early fossils

15 August 2019: Atomic espionage in the Second World War, and exploring the early Universe

08 August 2019: A mindset for success, and mercury in fish

01 August 2019: The placental microbiome, and advances in artificial intelligence

Nature PastCast, July 1942: Secret science in World War 2

25 July 2019: The history of climate change, and making vaccines mandatory

Backchat July 2019: Breaking news, audience-led journalism and human gene editing

18 July 2019: Quantum logic gates in silicon, and moving on from lab disasters

11 July 2019: The moon, past, present, and future

04 July 2019: Machine learning in materials science, and sand’s sustainability

Nature PastCast, June 1876: Gorillas, man-eating monsters?

27 June 2019: Callused feet, and protein-based archaeology

20 June 2019: Non-native species, and a blood-inspired robot battery

13 June 2019: Mighty magnets, and aerosols in the atmosphere

06 June 2019: Microbes modifying medicine and kickstarting plate tectonics

Nature PastCast May 1983: Discovering the ozone layer hole

30 May 2019: Cold fusion, gender parity in universities, and studying wildfires

23 May 2019: Pre-industrial plankton populations, European science, and ancient fungi.

16 May 2019: Recoding genomes, and material from the Moon's far side

09 May 2019: Urban vs Rural BMI, and the health of rivers

02 May 2019: China's growing science network, and talking brain signals

Nature PastCast April 1953: The other DNA papers

25 April 2019: Tiny earthquakes, the genetics of height, and how US-China politics is affecting research

18 April 2019: Reviving brains, lightning, and spring books

Podcast Extra: The first image of a black hole

11 April 2019: Heart failure and vacuum field fluctuations.

04 April 2019: MDMA and the malleable mind, and keeping skin young

Backchat March 2019: Calls for a research moratorium, and the evolution of science reporting

28 March 2019: Human impacts on Mount Kilimanjaro, sex differences in pain, and a crystal-based cooling method

21 March 2019: Antibiotics in orchards, and rethinking statistical significance

Nature Pastcast March 1918: The eclipse expedition to put Einstein to the test

14 March 2019: Ebola in DRC, a new HIV treatment, and the proposed US budget.

07 March 2019: Coastal carbon-sinks, mobile health, and Mileva Marić

28 February 2019: Cuckoo parasitism, topological materials, and cannabinoids in yeast.

21 February 2019: Mouse cell atlases and cataloguing viruses

14 February 2019: Atherosclerosis and disruptive science

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