Nature Podcast

An ancient solar storm helps pinpoint when Vikings lived in the Americas, and using magnets to deftly move non-magnetic metals.In this episode:00:53 Pinpointing Viking presence in North AmericaIt’s well-understood that Vikings went to North America around a thousand years ago. However, working out a precise date has proven difficult. Now, thanks to an ancient solar storm, researchers have been able to identify an individual year when Vikings were definitely living on the continent.Research article: Kuitems et al.14:57 Research HighlightsHow shoulder muscles gave Pterosaurs an aerodynamic edge, and mysterious radio waves coming from near the centre of the Milky Way.Research Highlight: How ancient reptiles were streamlined for flightResearch Highlight: A mysterious radio signal object is beaming radio waves into the Milky Way17:45 Magnets move non-magnetic metalsScientists have created an array of magnets capable of moving non-metallic objects in 6 dimensions. They hope their new approach could one day be used to clean up debris in space.Research article: Pham et al.News and Views: Non-magnetic objects induced to move by electromagnets27:06 What Francis Collin’s retirement means for the US NIHAfter 12 years, Francis Collins announced plans to retire from his role as Director of the United States National Institutes of Health. We discuss his legacy and what this means for the world’s biggest public funder of biomedical research.Editorial: COVID, racism, China: three tests for the next NIH leaderNews: Francis Collins to step down at NIH: scientists assess his legacySubscribe 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.

Hundreds of scientists have responded to a survey asking about harassment and abuse during the pandemic. The results paint a picture which is as concerning as it is shocking. In this episode of Coronapod we discuss the kinds of abuse scientists are facing, try to pick apart where it is comes from and ask what can be done about it?News Feature: ‘I hope you die’: how the COVID pandemic unleashed attacks on scientistsCareers feature: Real-life stories of online harassment — and how scientists got through itSurvey data tableSubscribe 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.

The neurons behind acupuncture’s effect on inflammation, and how antibiotics affect gut bacteria.In this episode:00:54 The neuronal basis for acupuncture’s effect on inflammationIn mice, electroacupuncture has been shown to reduce inflammation, but only when certain points on the body are stimulated. Why this is has puzzled scientists, but now, researchers have identified the specific neurons that are involved. They hope that this knowledge could be used in future to help treat certain inflammatory-related diseases.Research article: Liu et al.News and Views: Electroacupuncture activates neurons to switch off inflammation07:28 Research HighlightsThe Aztec origins of an obsidian ‘spirit mirror’, and the damage done by a Soviet plutonium complex.Research Highlight: A ‘spirit mirror’ used in Elizabeth I’s court had Aztec rootsResearch Highlight: Cold-war spy pictures reveal a Soviet nuclear ‘cloud generator’10:18 Assessing antibiotics’ collateral damage.Antibiotics are known to cause damage to the communities of bacteria that live in our guts. To better understand why this happens, a team has mapped the effects that different antibiotics have on individual gut-bacteria species, which may offer new insights into preventing this collateral damage.Research article: Maier et al.17:32 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, the latest species to be declared extinct in the US, and a potential planet that orbits three stars.New York Times: Protected Too Late: U.S. Officials Report More Than 20 ExtinctionsNew York Times: This May Be the First Planet Found Orbiting 3 Stars at OnceSubscribe 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.

New data suggests that inexpensive, high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can effectively scrub SARS-CoV-2 particles from the air in hospital COVID wards. The result validates previous studies carried out in controlled conditions. Currently, HEPA filters are not routinely used in hospital settings, but researchers suggest they could could help mitigate the risk of tramission of airborne viruses.In addition a new study has demonstrated the effectiveness of mask wearing, with surgical masks proving more effective than those made of cloth. The trial, which involved 350,000 participants in Bangladesh, is the latest in a long line of studies demonstrating mask efficacy - but this is the first randomised control trial of its kind. We ask if this gold-standard trial will prove to be the final word on the effectiveness of masks.News: Real-world data show that filters clean COVID-causing virus from airNews: Face masks for COVID pass their largest test yetSubscribe 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.

AI weather forecasters, mapping the human brain and the 2021 science Nobel prizes.In this episode:00:52 Improving the accuracy of weather forecasts with AIShort-term rain predictions are a significant challenge for meteorologists. Now, a team of researchers have come up with an artificial-intelligence based system that weather forecasters preferred to other prediction methods.Research article: Ravuri et al.08:02 Research HighlightsThe vaping robot that could help explain why some e-cigarettes damage lungs, and the sea-slugs that steal chloroplasts to boost egg production.Research Highlight: This robot vapes for scienceResearch Highlight: Solar-powered slugs have a bright reproductive future10:29 A map of the motor cortexA group of researchers are undertaking an enormous task: to make a cellular atlas of the entire brain. This week, they publish a suite of papers that has accomplished this feat for one part of the brain — the motor cortex.Research Article: BRAIN Initiative Cell Census NetworkNews and Views: A census of cell types in the brain’s motor cortexEditorial: Neuroscientists make strides towards deciphering the human brain17:58 Nobel NewsFlora Graham from the Nature Briefing joins us to talk about the winners of this year’s science Nobels.News: Medicine Nobel goes to scientists who discovered biology of sensesNews: Climate modellers and theorist of complex systems share physics NobelNews: ‘Elegant’ catalysts that tell left from right scoop chemistry NobelSubscribe 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.

Starting up in science: behind the scenesIn this bonus episode, the four Nature reporters behind Starting up in science discuss how the project came about, what it was like to follow two scientists for three years, and what the series has achieved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 4Ali interviews for a critical grant. While she is waiting for the result, the pandemic throws their labs into chaos. Then comes a personal crisis.Read a written version of Starting up in science Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 3As newly-minted principal investigators, Ali and Dan have grand plans for their research – but science is slow, especially when other demands loom large: hiring staff, mentoring and teaching students and, of course, the race to secure funding.Read a written version of Starting up in science Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 2Ali and Dan have landed positions as the heads of their very own labs. But how did they get to the starting line? Every scientist’s journey is different, and in this episode we hear Ali and Dan’s, which covers years, thousands of miles, and some very difficult decisions.Read a written version of Starting up in science Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every year, thousands of scientists struggle to launch their own labs. For three years, a reporting team from Nature documented the lives of married couple Alison Twelvetrees and Daniel Bose as they worked to get their fledgling research groups off the ground.Frustrations over funding, a global pandemic, and a personal trauma have made this journey anything but simple for Ali and Dan. Listen to their story in Starting up in science.Episode 1What does it take to start up in science? Meet two biologists fighting the odds to build their careers and break new ground. But their first priority is getting grants – without them, their labs might not stay afloat.Read a written version of Starting up in science Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.