Science Weekly

Discussions at the first African climate summit include attendance controversy, green growth and climate finance dilemmas, drafting the Nairobi declaration and global financial reform, and the political situation in Kenya.

Discussion on the government's response to the new variant, current state of testing and surveillance, the emergence of the BA 2.86 variant and its comparison to Omicron, availability and potential cost of private COVID vaccines in the UK, concerns over vaccine costs and importance of vaccination in preventing COVID and long COVID.

Explore the potential of the vagus nerve in transforming physical and mental health. Discover how it controls inflammation, disease, and bodily functions. Learn about electrical stimulation to treat epileptic seizures. Find out how the vagus nerve can activate immune cells, reduce inflammation, and control the immune system. Exciting research on rheumatoid arthritis and long covid-associated fatigue.

Hibaq Farah, technology reporter at The Guardian, discusses Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency offering tokens in exchange for eyeball scans, exploring the motives behind the company and government responses. Topics include the problem of proof of personhood, ethical concerns of trusting private companies with personal data, potential risks of a global financial network, and controversies surrounding World Coin.

Mark Jobling, professor of genetics, discusses the sequencing of the Y chromosome and its role in male development, health, fertility, and forensics. Challenges in sequencing due to repeated sequences and degeneration are explored. The importance of the Y chromosome in forensics and surname tracing is highlighted. Unanswered questions about genes in sperm production, gene editing technology, and studying other organisms' sex determination systems are discussed.

Carol Johnston, a professor studying vinegar, discusses the health claims of apple cider vinegar gummies. Topics include vinegar's impact on blood glucose levels for individuals with type 2 diabetes, limited research on weight loss and belly fat, various types of vinegars and the rise of gummies, and the importance of cautious supplement purchases and skepticism towards nutritional advice.

In this episode of Science Weekly, guest Susie, a victim of raptor persecution, shares her experiences. The podcast explores the economic benefits and moral concerns surrounding bird killing, the challenges faced by gamekeepers, the police investigation into wildlife crime, efforts to combat raptor persecution, and the importance of protecting birds like the hen harrier.

Investigating crimes against birds of prey, difficulties in gathering evidence, arranging an interview, the mysterious death of Susie and her chicks, and the mystery of the bird's nest camera.

Susie, a hen harrier whose chicks were killed, is the guest on this episode. They discuss the illegal killing of birds of prey on grouse moors and why it is difficult to solve these crimes. The episode explores the persecution of birds of prey, the impact on conservation, and the personal costs of campaigning on this issue. It also touches on the insults, harassment, and safety concerns faced by activists.

In this episode from March 2023, Ian Sample hears from Scotland’s Astronomer Royal, Prof Catherine Heymans, about her experience of long Covid and how it has affected her life. He also speaks to Prof Danny Altmann, an immunologist at Imperial College London, about the scientific understanding of the condition, and whether we’re any closer to a treatment. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod