Parasites and parasitoids are large drivers of evolutionary change. We hear from Peter Hambäck (Stockholm University) about his work on how beetle larvae combat a parasitoid wasp that wants to lay its eggs inside them.

In this episode, Geoff Marsh speaks to Dr. Steven Miller about our Collection on Epilepsy and Seizures.

We often hear that invasive species are bad for the ecosystems they invade, but the consequences can seem remote and hard to grasp. In this episode we hear from Nitin Ravikanthachari and Carol Boggs about their study system where an invasive plant has very tangible effects for a native butterfly.

Worry seems like something most people do from time to time, but for some people, severe worry can become an overwhelming sensation, and for older adults later in life, severe worry has been associated with an increased risk of stroke and coronary heart disease. Carmen Andreescu is a professor of psychiatry and bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She says mild worry is useful evolutionarily, to help us make plans or adapt behavior.

Read the full study here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41386-025-02193-1

Listen to September's Pediapod episode: What's hot in pediatric AI research, with Brynne Sullivan.

Organisms are sensitive to temperature, but reproduction is likely to be affected at lower temperatures than survival. We're joined by Jessica McNeill & Caiti Smukowski Heil to talk about their work on meiosis in yeasts.

This episode features a conversation with Professor Bonnie Ramsey, a pediatric pulmonologist from Seattle Children's, who has dedicated her research and clinical career to treating patients with cystic fibrosis.

The genomes of organisms can tell us about evolutionary processes in the past - but can they also give clues about the future? André Yves and Fernanda Werneck tell us about their work on climate adaptation in Amazonian lizards.

Listen to July's Pediapod episode with ECI Katie Strobel, discussing her recent paper looking into the effect of early antibiotic exposure on necrotizing enterocolitis and growth in extremely preterm infants.

Many Anolis lizards have a sail of colourful skin on their throats which they use to communicate, but how does something like that evolve? Find out with researchers Renata Pirani, Carlos Arias and Mike Logan.