Nature Podcast

The science stories you missed over the holiday period

Jan 10, 2024

29:42

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Researchers develop polar bear-inspired aerogel fibers for insulation. Fossilized remains reveal young Tyrannosaurus's diet. OSIRIS-REx's sample container opening challenges scientists. High number of retractions in scientific publishing in 2023. Surprising survey on cats that fetch.

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Quick takeaways

Researchers have created a high-performance insulating fiber inspired by polar bear fur, offering a potential alternative for high-insulation clothing.

A study on the stomach contents of a juvenile Gorgosaurus Liberatus dinosaur reveals its preference for consuming oviraptorosaur legs, raising questions about the feeding behavior of other Tyrannosaur species.

NASA's Osiris-Rex spacecraft successfully collected a sample from the asteroid Bennu but struggles to open the sample container, hindering valuable insights into the composition and geology of asteroids.

Deep dives

Innovative research develops insulating fiber inspired by polar bear fur

Researchers have created a high-performance insulating fiber by mimicking the structure of polar bear fur. The fiber, made using a technique called freeze spinning, combines an aerogel core known for its superior insulation properties with a tough and flexible outer layer made of a common thermoplastic. The resulting fiber, which maintains its insulating properties even when stretched or wet, outperforms materials like wool and cotton, offering a potential alternative for high-insulation clothing.

Introduction

5min

Innovative Fiber and Fossilized Remains

7min

Successful Sample Collection from Asteroid Bennu

5min

Retractions in Scientific Publishing

9min

Cats that Fetch: A Surprising Survey

5min

In this episode of the Nature Podcast, we catch up on some science stories from the holiday period by diving into the Nature Briefing.

We chat about: an extra-warm sweater inspired by polar bear fur; the fossil find revealing what a juvenile tyrannosaur liked to snack on; why scientists are struggling to open OSIRIS-REx’s sample container; how 2023 was a record for retractions; and how cats like to play fetch, sometimes.

Nature News: Polar bear fur-inspired sweater is thinner than a down jacket — and just as warm

Scientific American: Tyrannosaur’s Stomach Contents Have Been Found for the First Time

Nature News: ‘Head-scratcher’: first look at asteroid dust brought to Earth offers surprises

Nature News: More than 10,000 research papers were retracted in 2023 — a new record

Scientific American: Cats Play Fetch, Too—But Only on Their Own Terms

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