00:46 The very cool experiment looking for a proposed particlePhysics tells us that when matter is created, antimatter should be as well. But while the Universe is full of matter, there’s surprisingly little antimatter to be found. To try and understand this imbalance, a team have built a detector kept just above absolute zero which they are using to look for a hypothesised, ultra-rare type of particle decay that could create matter without antimatter.Research article: The CUORE CollaborationNews and Views: Cryogenic mastery aids bid to spot matter creation09:43 Research HighlightsSubsidence of coastal cities makes them more vulnerable to sea-level rise, and tackling ‘crazy ants’ with a parasitic fungus.Research Highlight: Global cities are sinking — and humans are partly to blameResearch Highlight: Marauding crazy ants come to grief when a fungus comes to call12:17 Solving the puzzle of the missing plasmidsBacteria are well known for their ability to share genes, which they often do using small circles of DNA called plasmids. But while plasmids are common in bacteria, a long-standing mystery has been why they are absent in a group of cholera-causing strains of Vibrio cholerae. Now, a team might have solved this mystery, by discovering two previously unknown DNA defence systems that eliminate plasmids, hidden in the bacteria's genomes.Research article: Jaskólska et al.News and Views: Bacterial defence systems degrade plasmid invaders18:41 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, what smelling jars from an Egyptian tomb has revealed about ancient burial practices, and the latest report from the IPCC.Science: Ancient smells reveal secrets of Egyptian tombNature: IPCC’s starkest message yet: extreme steps needed to avert climate disasterSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While current maps of the human genome provide researchers with a wealth of information, many argue that they do not adequately capture humanity’s vast diversity.Now, a team are trying to build a more complete and representative map that shows the varieties of sequence that can be found in different populations. However, given the failings of other projects, some geneticists focused on the needs of Indigenous communities are wary of the initiative.This is an audio version of our Feature: A more-inclusive genome project aims to capture all of human diversity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:47 Your ability to find your way may depend on where you grew upResearchers have long been trying to understand why some humans are better at navigating than others. This week, researchers show that where someone grew up plays an important role in their ability to find their way; the more winding and disorganised the layouts of your childhood were, the better navigator you’ll be later in life.Research article: Coutrot et al.08:57 Research HighlightsHow boas can squeeze without suffocating themselves, and why being far from humans helps trees live a long life.Research Highlight: How boa constrictors squeeze and breathe at the same timeResearch Highlight: Where are Earth’s oldest trees? Far from prying eyes11:39 How coastal storminess is changingCoastal flooding causes billions of dollars in damage each year. Rising sea levels are known to be a key driver, but the importance of another factor, storm surges, is less clear. Typically after accounting for increasing sea level, they’re not thought to make much of an impact. However new research suggests that this may not be the case.Research article: Calafat et al.16:10 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, a brain implant allows a person who is completely paralysed to communicate, and penguin-like bone density suggests Spinosaurus may have hunted underwater.Science: In a first, brain implant lets man with complete paralysis spell out thoughts: ‘I love my cool son.’National Geographic: Spinosaurus had penguin-like bones, a sign of hunting underwaterVideo: A swimming dinosaur: The tail of SpinosaurusSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode:00:45 Accurately ageing stars reveals the Milky Way’s historyTo understand when, and how, the Milky Way formed, researchers need to know when its stars were born. This week, a team of astronomers have precisely aged nearly a quarter of a million stars, revealing more about the sequence of events that took place as our galaxy formed.Research article: Xiang and RixNews and Views: A stellar clock reveals the assembly history of the Milky Way09:53 Research HighlightsArchaeologists reveal an ancient lake was actually a ritual pool, and how the Moon’s phase affects some birds' altitude.Research Highlight: Ancient ‘harbour’ revealed to be part of fertility god’s lavish shrineResearch Highlight: These birds fly high when the full Moon hangs in the sky12:34 Uncovering Yellowstone’s hot water plumbingYellowstone National Park’s iconic geothermal geysers and volcanic landmarks are well studied, but very little was known about the ‘plumbing system’ that feeds these features. Now a team of researchers have mapped the underground hydrothermal system, showing the specific faults and pathways that supply the park.Research article: Finn et al.19:27 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, 0why an Australian university has been suspended from winning a research foundation’s fellowships, and the ongoing debate about the cause of ‘COVID toes’.Nature: Funder bars university from grant programme over white-male award line-upNature: Are ‘COVID toes’ actually caused by the coronavirus?Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A handful of states around the world have pursued 'COVID zero' strategies. Through a combination of intensive lockdowns, travel restrictions and comprehensive test and trace systems, regions like Tonga, New Zealand, Taiwan, mainland China and Western Australia managed to keep the virus at bay. But now many of these countries are facing new outbreaks on a scale they have not yet seen, and it is being driven in part by vaccine hesitancy. In this episode of Coronapod we discuss how a successful public health campaign can breed new problems when it comes to public perception of risk, and ask how vaccine complacency might be avoided in the future.News: ‘COVID zero’ regions struggle with vaccine complacencySubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marty Reiswig is fit and healthy, but every two weeks he is injected with the experimental drug gantenerumab and has monthly MRI scans. He submits to this because a rare genetic mutation runs in his family that predisposes them to early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.We spoke to him about his experience on the trial, and why he chose to continue trialling the drug even after formal clinical trials were discontinued.Produced and narrated by Lorna Stewart.More on this story:News Feature: Could drugs prevent Alzheimer’s? These trials aim to find outResources for those affected by Alzheimer's:Alzheimer's associationAlzheimers.govAlzheimer's society Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:45 A flexible, wearable, fabric microphoneInspired by the ear, a team of researchers have developed an acoustic fibre that can be woven into fabrics to create a sensitive microphone. This fabric microphone is capable of detecting human speech and heartbeats, and the team think it could be used to develop new, wearable sensors for long-term health monitoring.Research article: Yan et al.News and Views: A smart sensor that can be woven into everyday life08:38 Research HighlightsHow a shark’s posture lets you know if it’s asleep, and the desert dust that helps cirrus clouds form.Research Highlight: The secrets of shark sleepResearch Highlight: Wispy clouds are born of dust in the wind11:31 How AI helped Togo target financial aidEarly in the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of Togo needed to distribute financial aid to citizens most in need of assistance. As running a nationwide survey to find out people’s financial situations was impossible, they turned to machine learning to discover how best to distribute aid.Research article: Aiken et al.19:02 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. Using machine learning to find meteorite fragments in a desert, and using radiocarbon dating to detect forged paintings.Physics World: ‘Huge leap’ as scientists report first drone-assisted space rock recovery after observed meteorite fallNature: Police rely on radiocarbon dating to identify forged paintingsSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:46 The AI helping historians read ancient textsResearchers have developed an artificial intelligence that can restore and date ancient Greek inscriptions. They hope that it will help historians by speeding up the process of reconstructing damaged texts.Research article: Assael et al.News and Views: AI minds the gap and fills in missing Greek inscriptionsVideo: The AI historian: A new tool to decipher ancient textsIthaca platform08:53 Research HighlightsPollinators prefer nectar with a pinch of salt, and measurements of a megacomet’s mighty size.Research Highlight: Even six-legged diners can’t resist sweet-and-salty snacksResearch Highlight: Huge comet is biggest of its kind11:10 Rewilding ArgentinaThis week Nature publishes a Comment article from a group who aim to reverse biodiversity loss by reintroducing species to areas where they are extinct. We speak to one of the Comment’s authors about the project and their hopes that it might kick start ecosystem restoration.Comment: Rewilding Argentina: lessons for the 2030 biodiversity targets21:02 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, giant bacteria that can be seen with the naked eye, and how record-breaking rainfall has caused major floods in Australia.Science: Largest bacterium ever discovered has an unexpectedly complex cellNew Scientist: Record flooding in Australia driven by La Niña and climate changeThe Conversation: The east coast rain seems endless. Where on Earth is all the water coming from?Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As many countries start to ease or even remove COVID restrictions entirely, there are growing concerns from researchers that this will lead governments to take their eye off the ball and crucially stop collecting and reporting vital data. In this episode of Coronapod we discuss calls from two researchers to improve COVID testing and data reporting. What do they want done differently? Why does it matter? And what could such changes mean for the future of the pandemic and public health more broadly?World View: Tracking COVID-19 infections: time for changeWorld View: Commit to transparent COVID data until the WHO declares the pandemic is over Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:47 G20 nations fail to cut emissions in COVID stimulus packagesThe G20 economies spent $14 trillion dollars on recovery packages to escape the global recession driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many governments made pledges to deliver emissions reductions as part of these packages. This week, a team of researchers have analysed the spending to see if these promises were kept.Comment: G20’s US$14-trillion economic stimulus reneges on emissions pledges09:34 Research HighlightsAn artificial nerve cell triggers a Venus flytrap’s snap, and a fossil shows that pterosaurs in the Jurassic period were larger than previously thought.Research Highlight: Venus flytrap snaps shut at synthetic neuron’s commandResearch Highlight: The surprisingly huge reptile that prowled the Jurassic skies12:10 How knowing a little about someone changes how anonymous you feelThis week, a team of researchers have used lab-based studies to show how learning a little about a stranger makes a person feel that the stranger knows something about them. The team took this work out of the lab and into New York City, where they showed that providing residents with knowledge about community police officers temporarily reduced crime.Research article: Shah & LaForestNews and Views: Letters and cards telling people about local police reduce crime23:18 The experiences of Ukrainian researchers following the Russian invasionFollowing Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, we hear about the experiences of Ukranian researchers as the conflict continues, and the outpouring of condemnation from the wider academic world.News: Global research community condemns Russian invasion of UkraineSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.