A sustainable, reversible adhesive inspired by mussels and oysters offers environmental benefits. Scientists explore safe alternatives to BPA in plastics and estimate the brightness of the historic Carrington Flare. Progress towards meeting UN sustainable development goals, focusing on malnutrition, is discussed. Controversy surrounds the origins of stone balls found at ancient sites. Researchers analyze spherical objects and speculate about their use, including ball sports.

900,000 years ago, human ancestors faced extinction with a population crash, impacting genetic diversity and driving the evolution of modern humans. Antarctica's research stations have left high levels of pollution, but the extent of the impact is unknown. Melting sea-ice around Antarctica is causing emperor penguins to abandon breeding colonies, resulting in the deaths of many chicks. AI is being trained to describe smells, with potential applications in perfumes and food products.

Physicists observe the elusive oxygen isotope 28 and question current theories of atomic nuclei. Venus flytraps use molecular heat sensors to protect themselves from wildfires. Researchers develop a ballpoint pen that can write LEDs. An AI beats human champions in drone racing, improving drone efficiency. ISRO's successful moon landing and the challenges of landing on the moon's poles are discussed.

The podcast discusses the prevalence of flawed or faked clinical trials in medicine and the potential dangers they pose. It explores specific examples of flawed trials in maternal health and the impact of fraudulent studies on clinical practice. The podcast also highlights the challenges of reproducibility and research integrity in medicine, emphasizing the need for improved oversight and checks to ensure trustworthiness in medical research.

Brain-computer interfaces are transforming communication for those with paralysis, with improved devices converting brain activity into speech. The podcast also covers research on marathon running, bird coloration, and the impact of heat on tropical forests. It discusses the need to protect tropical forests and mitigate climate change, as well as Russia's challenges in lunar exploration.

Researchers cast doubt on fruit flies' ability to sense magnetic fields, potentially impacting understanding of sensory biology. Other topics include the closure of the Arecibo Observatory, deforestation's effect on Bronze Age Europe's climate, and the importance of studying soil diversity for food production and climate change.

Leading academics and experts discuss the racism in the US healthcare system that contributes to the Black maternal mortality crisis. They explore the historical links between slavery and gynaecology, the erasure of Black midwives, and the potential impact of overturning Roe v. Wade. The podcast also delves into the mistreatment and health disparities faced by people of color, the racial disparities in maternal care and mortality, and the need to challenge the medical system and address racial disparities in healthcare.

In this episode:00:46 A measure of refugees’ welcome in EuropeWith repeated humanitarian crises displacing millions of people, researchers have been considering how this might affect acceptance of refugees. Will some refugees be more welcome than others? Will continued movements erode support for refugees overall? To answer these questions, a huge study looks at the attitudes of 33,000 people from 15 European countries towards refugees. They find that overall support for refugees has slightly increased, although some characteristics, such as ability to speak the language of the country they’re settling in, are preferred. They hope this research will help policymakers to respond to stresses on the asylum system.Research article: Bansak et al.11:26 Research HighlightsThe unusual feeding grounds of the pygmy right whale, and the JWST spots a possible quasar from the early Universe.Research Highlight: An enigmatic little whale’s habits, from its own mouthResearch Highlight: JWST spots what could be a quasar from the early Universe13:44 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, how designing shapes to roll down wiggly lines has implications for quantum physics, and a settlement for the family of Henrietta Lacks.Research Article: Sobolev et al.Video: These shapes roll in peculiar ways thanks to new mathematicsNature News: How the ‘groundbreaking’ Henrietta Lacks settlement could change researchSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the Nature Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast app. An RSS feed for the Nature Podcast is available too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of Nature hits the books, physicist Athene Donald joins us to discuss her book Not just for the boys, why we need more women in science. We discuss how science has historically excluded women, the barriers to entry and retention that remain prevalent, and what could be done to improve the situation for female scientists today.Not Just for the Boys: Why We Need More Women in Science, Athene Donald, Oxford University Press (2023)Music supplied by Airae/Epidemic Sound/Getty images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neuroscientists are creating more naturalistic experiments that they hope will provide a more nuanced understanding of animal — and human — behaviour.These set-ups differ from the classic laboratory experiments that have been used for decades, and may help in the understanding of behaviours such as escaping a predator or finding scarce food. By studying these natural actions, scientists are hoping to glean lessons about the brain and behaviour that are more holistic and more relevant to everyday activity than ever before.This is an audio version of our Feature: Lab mice go wild: making experiments more natural in order to decode the brain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.