Nature Podcast-logo

Nature Podcast

Environment

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 the Nature journal. We meet the scientists behind the results and provide in-depth analysis from Nature's journalists and editors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Location:

United States

Description:

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 the Nature journal. We meet the scientists behind the results and provide in-depth analysis from Nature's journalists and editors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Language:

English


Episodes
Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Giant cancer study reveals effectiveness of 'off label' treatments

4/15/2026
In this episode: 00:46 A massive trial assessing the outcomes of ‘off label’ cancer treatment Research Article: Verkerk et al. 12:49 Research Highlights Nature: Microbial hockey: bacteria can spin a ‘puck’ just by swimming Nature: Regular physical activity in midlife cuts risk of early death 15:14 10,000 years of western Eurasian evolution Nature: Landmark ancient-genome study shows surprise acceleration of human evolution Research Article: Akbari et al. Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the Nature Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music or your favourite podcast app. An RSS feed for the Nature Podcast is available too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:27:11

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Behind the scenes with Artemis II’s scientists during the historic Moon fly-by

4/10/2026
In this episode: On Monday, reporter Alexandra Witze was in the heart of the Artemis II mission’s science operations. She tells us about the experience and what NASA’s researchers have learnt from the mission so far. Nature: I was with Artemis II’s scientists during the Moon fly-by. Here’s what I saw Nature: First photos from Artemis II: see stunning ‘Earthset’ and more Nature: Historic Artemis II Moon fly-by — Nature’s live coverage as it happened Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:13:40

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Briefing Chat: The tongue trick that helps sunbirds suck

4/8/2026
In this episode: 00:41 Exosome therapies could deliver drugs to hard to reach places Nature: Eye drops made from pig semen deliver cancer treatment to mice 5:08 The impact of parenthood on women’s academic careers Nature: Motherhood derails women’s academic careers — these data reveal how and why 10:34 The unusual suction that lets Sunbirds drink Science: These birds suck—literally Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:13:52

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Artemis II is go: humans head to the Moon after half-century absence

4/2/2026
In this podcast we'll talk about NASA's Artemis II launch, which has ushered in a new era of lunar exploration. Nature: Lift off! Artemis II mission sends humans to the Moon — opening a new era of exploration Nature: Artemis II mission is about to fly humans to the Moon — here’s the science they’ll do Nature: Humanity is heading back to the Moon — why aren’t more scientists thrilled? Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:15:20

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

These scientists chased a jet to learn more about ‘lean-burn’ contrails

4/1/2026
In this episode: 00:46 Collecting contrails at 30,000 feet Research Article: Voigt et al. 11:23 Research Highlights Nature: Sunken Soviet nuclear submarine’s radioactive release Nature: History of ‘forever’ chemicals is written in Antarctic snow 13:34 Fakery in science April Fakes Day Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:24:48

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Briefing Chat: ‘Zombie cells’ resurrected with new genes

3/27/2026
Nature staff discuss some of the week's top science news. 00:18 ‘Zombie cells’ revived with genome transplant Nature: ‘Zombie cells’ return from the dead — after a genome transplant 05:27 A limit to cloning, in mice Nature: Can a mouse be cloned indefinitely? Decades-long experiment has answers Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:11:01

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Why insects aren't huge: a new challenge to a decades-old idea

3/25/2026
00:44 Why insects aren’t massive Research Article : Snelling et al. 11:39 Research Highlights Nature: Faster ticking of ‘biological clock’ predicts shorter lifespan Nature: Mighty mini-magnet is low in cost and light on energy use 14:05 CRISPR creates CAR-T cancer therapy inside mice Research Article: Nyberg et al. News & Views: A gene-editing method generates immunotherapeutic CAR T cells in the body Nature: CRISPR makes enhanced cancer-fighting immune cells inside mice Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:22:42

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Briefing Chat: Are scientists funny? The evidence is in — and it's no joke

3/20/2026
In this episode: 00:22 Exploring how gut microorganisms contribute to ageing Nature: Memory loss is fuelled by gut microbes in ageing mice 04:30 How good jokes are in short supply during academic conferences Nature: Knock knock, no one’s there. Study finds scientists’ jokes mostly fall flat Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:09:52

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Botanical mystery solved: how plants make a crucial malaria drug

3/18/2026
In this episode: 00:46 Piecing together a biochemical puzzle Research Article : Lombe et al. 12:26 Research Highlights Nature: Electric-vehicle batteries toughen up to beat the heat Nature: Live parrots were carried across the Andes before the Incas’ rise Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:15:55

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

‘Can it run Doom?’ — why scientists got brain cells and a satellite to play the classic game

3/13/2026
00:26 Why researchers keep using Doom in their research Nature: How the classic computer game Doom became a tool for science Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:10:34

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

This fish shouldn’t exist — the weird genetics of clonal vertebrates

3/11/2026
A study reveals how the asexual Amazon molly defies evolutionary expectations — plus, evidence of what may be powering superluminous supernovae. In this episode: 00:46 Unravelling the genetics of an asexual fish that should be extinct Research Article: Ricemeyer et al. News and Views: How an all-female fish species defies evolutionary expectations 10:19 Research Highlights Nature: ​​​​​​​Jam-packed star system is most compact of its kind ever found Nature: ​​​​​​​Peanut-processing microbes ward off dangerous allergic shock 11:31 How a superluminous supernova got so bright Research Article : ​​​​​​​Farah et al. News and Views: ​​​​​​​Ultra-bright supernova wobbles like a spinning top Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday: https://www.nature.com/briefing/signup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:23:22

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Briefing chat: What Galileo’s scribbled margin notes reveal about his scientific journey

3/6/2026
In this episode: 00:25 How paediatricians’ antibodies could treat serious viral infections New Scientist: Paediatricians’ blood used to make new treatments for RSV and colds 04:22 Galileo’s annotations in an ancient text Science: Galileo’s handwritten notes found in ancient astronomy text Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:09:35

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Heart surgery with quick-setting magnetic fluid could prevent strokes

3/4/2026
Injectable fluid safely fills area in which blood clots can form, in animal trials — plus, strong evidence that an elusive form of diamond has been made in the lab. 00:47 A magnetic seal to stop clots forming in the heart Research Article : Wang et al. News and Views: Magnetic fluid offers better seal in heart-plugging medical procedure 07:02 Research Highlights Nature: Sewage systems secretly waft pollution into the air Nature: This ant species is composed of only queens — no workers or males 11:31 Making hexagonal diamond Research Article: Lai et al. Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:18:12

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Audio long read: Many people have no mental imagery. What’s going on in their brains?

3/2/2026
This is an audio version of our Feature: Many people have no mental imagery. What’s going on in their brains? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:18:23

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Briefing chat: Pokémon turns 30 — how Pikachu and pals inspired generations of researchers

2/27/2026
In this episode: 00:15 How Pokémon inspired fields as diverse as evolution, biodiversity and research integrity. Nature: Pokémon turns 30 — how the fictional pocket monsters shaped science Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:11:05

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

How earthquakes and lightning help explain squeaky sneakers

2/25/2026
High-speed footage reveals shoe squeaks can start with a tiny bolt of lightning — plus, evidence that a debated brain phenomenon exists in humans. 00:44 The science of squeaky shoes Research Article : Djellouli et al. Basketball sound effects via Bradley Kanaris/Getty. 09:05 Research Highlights Nature: Runaway black hole leaves a trail of stars Nature: Super-sticky feet help a robot to climb the walls 11:31 Evidence of hippocampal neurogenesis Research Article: Disouky et al. Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:19:35

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Briefing chat: How hovering bumblebees keep their cool

2/20/2026
00:25 How brains differ by sex and age Nature: Brain differences between sexes get more pronounced from puberty 07:14 Bumblebees ‘fan themselves’ during flight to keep cool Science: How do busy bees avoid overheating from flying? Video: Birds gliding through bubbles reveal aerodynamic trick Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:13:59

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

This chunk of glass could store two million books for 10,000 years

2/18/2026
00:46 Data stored in glass Nature: Microsoft Research Project Silica Team Nature: Microsoft team creates 'revolutionary' data storage system that lasts for millennia 08:09 Research Highlights Nature: Parasitic wasps use tamed virus to castrate caterpillars Nature: Flexible joints: robot morphs into a range of cyborg species 10:10 An mRNA vaccine for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Nature: Sahin et al. Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:21:40

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Briefing Chat: Caffeine slows brain ageing, suggests decades of data

2/13/2026
In this episode: 00:26 Moderate caffeine intake might reduce dementia risk, study suggests Nature: Coffee linked to slower brain ageing in study of 130,000 people 04:15 Using AI to work out the rules of a long-forgotten board game Scientific American: Rules of mysterious ancient Roman board game decoded by AI Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:09:52

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

These hungry immune cells tidy sleeping flies' brains

2/11/2026
In this episode: 00:46 The immune cells that eat waste fats from fruit flies’ brains Nature: Cho et al. 10:21 Research Highlights Nature: Beetle is locked into an eternal dance ― with an ant Nature: Super-sniffer aeroplane finds oil fields’ hidden emissions 12:41 Ancient DNA evidence reveals a nuanced story of the Bell Beaker Expansion Nature: Olalde et al. Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:25:02