New Scientist Podcasts

Weekly: World’s Oldest Ritual; Quantum Wi-Fi; Report from the Arctic

Jul 5, 2024

Discoveries of the world's oldest ritual and storytelling, mining nickel with flowers, quantum Wi-Fi advancements. Insights from an Arctic trip on melting glaciers. Carpenter ants' amputation behavior, lunar time zone creation, and eggshells for bone regeneration.

37:13

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Quick takeaways

Discoveries of ancient rituals in Australia provide insights into continuous cultural practices over millennia.

Innovative phyto-mining using plants for nickel extraction offers a sustainable, eco-friendly alternative to traditional mining methods.

Deep dives

Ancient Rituals Unveiled Through Unique Archaeological Discovery

Archaeologists in Australia unearthed 12,000-year-old timber artifacts and ceremonial fireplaces, shedding light on a continuous ritual practice. The sticks, crafted by humans, were smeared with fats and tied to ancient traditions, linking them to a ritual observed for millennia. The discovery, combined with historical accounts, revealed a deep connection to indigenous practices that endured for generations, serving as a window into ancient cultural practices.

Intro

2min

Ancient Ritual Practices Uncovered in Australia and Indonesia

15min

Advances in Quantum Encryption and Supply Chain Management

4min

Kayaking in the Arctic and Microbial Ecosystems Under Glaciers

8min

Fascinating Behavior of Carpenter Ants: Amputating Nest Mates' Limbs for Survival

2min

Creating a Coordinated Lunar Time Zone and the Importance of Accurate Timekeeping on the Moon

2min

Innovative Use of Eggshells for Bone Regeneration

3min

#257

Two extraordinary findings have been unearthed about our ancient ancestors. The first is a discovery from a cave in Australia – evidence of what could be the world’s oldest ritual, practised continuously for 12,000 years. And the second is the discovery that the world’s oldest evidence of storytelling may be even older than we thought.

We may be able to mine for nickel using flowers. The method is much more sustainable than traditional mining and is actually being used by some companies. Is it enough to turn mining green?

Quantum communication is going wireless. The new chip responsible for this quantum Wi-Fi is a huge step forward for the technology and could speed up the creation of safer, unhackable internet networks.

From onboard a kayak roaming the Arctic Ocean, Rowan Hooper brings a report from his trip to Svalbard, where he saw first-hand the retreating glaciers that have been melting rapidly due to climate change. As these glaciers disappear, soil is being exposed for the first time. What impact is this having on the landscape? Rowan speaks to arctic biogeochemist James Bradley of Queen Mary University, London.

Plus: The first non-human animal to perform medical amputations; giving the moon a time-zone; and how eggshells can help regrow broken bones.

Hosts Timothy Revell and Christie Taylor discuss with guests James Woodford, James Dinneen, Karmela Padavic-Callaghan, Rowan Hooper and James Bradley.

To read more about these stories, visit newscientist.com.

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New Scientist Podcasts

Weekly: World’s Oldest Ritual; Quantum Wi-Fi; Report from the Arctic

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Ancient Rituals Unveiled Through Unique Archaeological Discovery

Earliest Figurative Rock Art Unveiled in Indonesia

Revolutionizing Nickel Mining with Plant-Based Approach

Future of Quantum Wireless Communication Unveiled

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts