The world, the universe and us New genome of ancient human; 95% of us have a dormant virus that causes disease; Formula E cars faster than F1; Bill Bryson joins the pod!
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Nov 14, 2025 
Bestselling science writer Bill Bryson joins the discussion, sharing insights from revising his acclaimed work, including shocking updates on Denisovans and new astronomical discoveries. Meanwhile, Alec Luhn dives into the race between Formula E and traditional F1 cars, revealing how electric vehicles are closing the performance gap. They explore our dormant Epstein-Barr virus and its surprising links to autoimmune diseases. Bryson’s journey in making science accessible is a highlight, as well as the thrilling advancements in electric motorsport technology.
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Denisovan Diversity Reshapes Human History
- The new Denisovan genome from a 200,000-year-old tooth reveals at least three distinct Denisovan populations with separate histories.
- It shows Denisovans interbred with an unknown hominin group and an unidentified Neanderthal population, complicating our human family tree.
Hidden Hominin Admixture Revealed
- Denisovans left genetic traces from interbreeding with multiple archaic groups, some of which we have not yet identified genetically.
- These hidden admixtures mean substantial parts of ancient hominin diversity remain unknown and detectable only via DNA fragments.
Bryson Finds Human Past Messier Than Expected
- Bill Bryson recalls how discoveries since his first edition made human evolution far messier and more fascinating than he expected.
- He found the interbreeding between ancient human groups remarkably heartwarming and surprising.
