Nature Podcast

Strange gamma-ray flickers seen in thunderstorms for the first time

Oct 2, 2024

Physicists have made an exciting discovery of new gamma-ray emissions from thunderstorms, challenging previous assumptions about their frequency and complexity. This research could shed light on the origins of lightning. Archaeological insights reveal that Europe's oldest interregional battle involved diverse warriors. Additionally, groundbreaking work on the fruit fly's brain unveils a detailed connectome, enhancing our understanding of neuronal interactions. These topics highlight the intersection of nature, history, and neuroscience.

30:55

Creator website

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Researchers discovered new flickering gamma-ray flashes in thunderstorms that could significantly influence the initiation of lightning.

Analysis of ancient arrowheads suggests that Europe's oldest known battle involved warriors from diverse regions, indicating complex prehistoric interactions.

Deep dives

Gamma Rays in Thunderstorms

Gamma rays, a type of invisible radiation produced by powerful forces such as black holes and thunderstorms, have been observed to be more common in storm clouds than previously thought. Researchers identified previously unknown flickering gamma ray flashes, which could play a significant role in initiating lightning activity. By studying high convective thunder clouds in regions like the Caribbean and Central America, the team utilized a specialized aircraft to capture real-time gamma ray data, demonstrating substantial enhancements in gamma ray levels during their flights. This groundbreaking research suggests a closer connection between gamma rays and lightning, prompting deeper investigations into their interactions.

Intro

3min

Gamma Rays in Thunderstorms

7min

Unveiling Ancient Battles and Outer Space Mysteries

2min

Mapping the Fruit Fly Brain

9min

Mapping Complexity: From Brain Connectomes to Chatbots

9min

Exploring AI Confidence and Research Access

2min

00:46 Physicists spot new types of high-energy radiation in thunderstorms

Physicists have identified new forms of γ-ray radiation created inside thunderclouds, and shown that levels of γ-ray production are much higher on Earth than previously thought.

Scientists already knew about two types of γ-ray phenomena in thunderclouds — glows that last as long as a minute and high-intensity flashes that come and go in only a few millionths of a second. Now, researchers have identified that these both occur more frequently than expected, and that previously undetected γ-ray types exist, including flickering flashes that share characteristics of the other two types of radiation.

The researchers hope that understanding more about these mysterious phenomena could help explain what initiates lightning, which often follows these γ-ray events.

Research Article: Østgaard et al.

Research Article: Marisaldi et al.

Nature: Mysterious form of high-energy radiation spotted in thunderstorms

10:00 Research Highlights

Ancient arrowheads reveal that Europe's oldest battle likely featured warriors from far afield, and why the dwarf planet Ceres’s frozen ocean has deep impurities.

Research Highlight: Bronze Age clash was Europe’s oldest known interregional battle

Research Highlight: A dwarf planet has dirty depths, model suggests

12:09 A complete wiring diagram of the fruit fly brain

Researchers have published the most complete wiring diagram, or ‘connectome’ of the fruit fly’s brain, which includes nearly 140,000 neurons and 54.5 million connections between nerve cells.

The map, made from the brain of a single female fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), reveals over 8,400 neuron types in the brain, and has enabled scientists to learn more about the brain and how it controls aspects of fruit fly behaviour.

The FlyWire connectome: neuronal wiring diagram of a complete fly brain

Nature: Largest brain map ever reveals fruit fly's neurons in exquisite detail