The world, the universe and us

This podcast explores India's climate change challenges and initiatives, animal communication among wolves and gibbons, the creation of self-assembling devices using quantum fluctuations, and the mapping of a 'tree of life' for over 9500 species of flowering plants.

How much faith should we be putting in artificial intelligence? As large language models and generative AI have become increasingly powerful in recent years, their makers are pushing the narrative that AI is a solution to many of the world’s problems.But Meredith Broussard says we’re not there yet, if we even get there at all. Broussard is the author of More than a Glitch: Confronting Race, Gender, and Ability Bias in Tech. She coined the term “technochauvinism,” which speaks to a pro-technology bias humans often have, where we believe technological solutions are superior to anything else. In this episode, she tells New Scientist’s Sophie Bushwick that our trust in AI systems could have devastating consequences.From discriminatory mortgage-approval algorithms, to the racial biases of facial recognition technology, to the misinformation that appears in chatbots like ChatGPT, Broussard explains why there’s no such thing as trustworthy AI. And she discusses the need for greater education about AI, to help us separate reality from marketing.To read about subjects like this and much more, visit newscientist.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This podcast explores the challenges of meeting carbon storage targets for climate change, while also discussing Intel's neuromorphic computer technology. It features an experimental musician's journey with tinnitus and the intriguing question of whether birds dream about singing.

How do you destroy a black hole? Turns out they're pretty tough cookies.Kicking off a brand new series of Dead Planets Society, Chelsea Whyte and Leah Crane take on the universe's most powerful adversaries. With the help of their cosmic toolbelt and black hole astronomer Allison Kirkpatrick at the University of Kansas, they test all the destructive ideas they can think of.Whether it’s throwing masses of TNT at it, blasting it with a t-shirt gun full of white holes, loading it up with a multiverse worth of matter, or sending it back in time – they try everything to kill a black hole. Will they succeed?Dead Planets Society is a podcast that takes outlandish ideas about how to tinker with the cosmos – from punching a hole in a planet to unifying the asteroid belt to destroying the sun – and subjects them to the laws of physics to see how they fare.Your hosts are Leah Crane and Chelsea Whyte.If you have a cosmic object you’d like to figure out how to destroy, email the team at deadplanets@newscientist.com. It may just feature in a later episode… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#245The multiverse may be bigger than we thought. The idea that we exist in just one of a massive collection of alternate universes has really captured the public imagination in the last decade. But now Hugh Everett’s 60-year-old “many worlds interpretation”, based on quantum mechanics, has been upgraded.The northern white rhino is on the brink of extinction but we may be able to save it. Scientists plan to use frozen genes from 12 now dead rhinos to rebuild the entire subspecies. But how do you turn skin cells into actual rhinos and will it work?A single-celled alga has done something thought to have happened just three times in the entire history of life on Earth. Braarudosphaera bigelowii has formed a unique bond with a bacterium living inside it and has developed a new cellular structure. This organelle may be why this alga became so successful and widespread.We’ve got a new way of looking for aliens without having to go planet hopping. The method involves scouting the universe for planets that are close together and look similar to each other – hinting that an advanced civilisation may have colonised them.We’ve had the orbits of the planets turned into music, we’ve heard the sonification of data and even heard what a black hole sounds like. This time, it’s the turn of mushrooms. Musician and artist Brian D’Souza has used a process called biosonification to produce musical tones from Shiitake and Reishi mushrooms. Learn more about Brian D’Souza here. And get details of his live performance on April 19th here.Plus, we mark the passing this week of Peter Higgs, who first proposed the existence of the Higgs boson and later won the Nobel Prize for his efforts.Hosts Timothy Revell and Rowan Hooper discuss with guests Karmela Padavic-Callaghan, Michael Le Page and Corryn Wetzel. To read more about these stories, visit newscientist.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gynecologist Jen Gunter discusses the taboo science of menstruation by exploring the biology and health aspects of periods. Topics include the evolution of menstruation in humans, debunking menstrual myths, breaking the silence surrounding periods, and advocating for menstrual equality and support in society.

Researchers turn lymph nodes into mini livers for transplants. Climate crisis hits Great Barrier Reef even on remote island. Russia suspected of GPS jamming attack. Snakes show signs of self-awareness like humans.

From explosive beetles to deep-sea free diving, this podcast episode explores various forms of escape. Learn about the defense mechanisms of beetles, escape velocity in space, and the legacy of mathematician Katherine Johnson. Dive into the world of free diving and underwater escapism, highlighting the extreme pressures and challenges faced by divers.

Scientists rejuvenate old mice's immune systems, new detailed black hole image raises questions, unexploded bombs becoming more dangerous, possible sighting of graviton particle. Plus: Sleep affects aging, therapy horses stressed without choice, and innovative paper airplane-testing robot.

Exploring strange creatures and technology on the alien planet Vesta in 'Scavengers Reign'. Discussing bio-inspired engineering and the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature. Delving into the intersection of science, fiction, and creativity. Uncovering real-life wonders where nature meets science fiction. Exploring the interconnectedness of nature and heartfelt farewell exchange.