Science In Action

John Pettersson, a researcher from Uppsala University, delves into alarming findings from China regarding viruses in fur-farmed animals like minks and raccoon dogs. He highlights their potential to cross species barriers and pose serious threats to humans. The conversation also covers the innovative Pathoplexus virus database designed for faster gene sequence sharing. Additionally, the podcast discusses a promising new monkeypox vaccine from Moderna and intriguing insights into how parental communication shapes the behavior of gull chicks.

Jerry Ehman, the astronomer famous for discovering the Wow! signal in 1977, joins astrophysicist Abel Méndez to discuss the implications of this mysterious radio transmission. They explore a new hypothesis linking the Wow! signal to environmental phenomena. The conversation also touches on the alarming potential of ecological disasters, like ongoing oil spills, and highlights the interconnectedness of cosmic signals and environmental science. Their insights reveal how much more there is to discover in both the cosmos and our own planet.

Rainer Froese, a researcher at GEOMAR - Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, reveals that fishery assessment models may significantly overestimate the sustainability of global fisheries. He emphasizes the urgency for improved fisheries management to combat alarming declines in fish populations. The discussion also touches on the positive implications of sustainable practices and the dire consequences of overfishing. This engaging dialogue highlights the intricate balance needed for marine ecosystems to thrive.

Professor Wanda Markotter, a leading expert at the Centre for Viral Zoonoses, discusses the alarming emergence of rabies among Cape fur seals, triggered by a seal biting a dog. She shares insights into the complexities of zoonotic disease transmission and stresses the urgent need for preventive measures to protect wildlife and humans. Wanda highlights the collaborative research efforts addressing this outbreak, revealing the ecological implications and the challenges of sampling live and deceased seals in the field.

Amy Maxmen, an investigative health reporter, discusses alarming undetected bird flu cases among farm workers, highlighting poor surveillance and health response challenges. Bradley Moore, a Marine Chemical Biology professor, shares insights on the toxic golden alga Primnesium parven and its ecological impacts. Jonathan Amos, a BBC science correspondent, updates on stranded astronauts who may miss summer in space. Lastly, innovative research using sea lions with cameras is explored, providing new ways to study ocean habitats in southern Australia.

Nasa's Perseverance Rover has found a fascinating rock on Mars that may indicate it hosted microbial life billions of years ago. Abigail Allwood, exobiologist at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Lab, is on the team scrutinising the new Martian data. And a couple of newly discovered, approximately 500 year old fossils from the ‘Cambrian explosion’ of complexity caught presenter Roland Pease’s eye this week. First Martin Smith from Durham University tells us about a tiny grub that is ancestor to worms, insects, spiders and crustaceans. Then Ma Xiaoya, who has positions at both Yunnan University in China and Exeter University in the UK, tells us about a spiny slug that was also discovered in a famous fossil site in China. And the first sightings of the landscapes on the underside of the ice shelves that fringe Antarctica. These float atop the ocean around the frozen continent but effectively hold back the glaciers and ice sheets on the vast landmass. Their physical condition therefore is pretty critical in this warming world, Anna Wåhlin of Gothenburg University tells us. Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Jonathan Blackwell Production co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth (Photo: Nasa’s Perseverance Mars rover taking a selfie on Mars. Credit: Nasa/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)

Anant Sudarshan, an environmental economist at Warwick University, reveals the staggering impact of vulture decline in India on human health, linking it to an increase in mortality due to the toxic effects of diclofenac. Mariana Nabais from the Catalan Institute explores Neanderthal butchering techniques, shedding light on ancient culinary practices and dietary habits. The conversation extends to fascinating parallels between human and chimpanzee communication, suggesting shared evolutionary traits in conversational behavior. This blend of ecology, history, and anthropology paints a vivid picture of our interconnectedness.

There’s an update from asteroid expert Patrick Michel about the European Space Agency’s Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety. The ESA have received permission to begin preparatory work for the planetary defence mission which will rendezvous with the asteroid Apophis, that will be passing by the Earth on Friday, April 13th 2029. And in news from the Moon this week – a massive cave has been discovered on its surface that might be a window into the body’s sub-surface, and even a ready-made lunar base for future astronauts to use. The claim was made in Nature Astronomy by a team of Italian planetary scientists, and two experts in remote sensing who have been re-interpreting radar data from a NASA orbiter - Leonardo Carrer and Lorenzo Bruzzone from University of Trento in Italy. In the magazine Science, there’s a call for a re-doubling of efforts to tackle malaria in Africa as signs grow that a leading treatment, Artemisinin, is becoming less effective. Deus Ishengoma, a malaria expert with the Tanzanian National Institute for Medical Research, is worried, having seen the transformation Artemesinin made in the past. Tiny solar-powered flying robots - an ultra-lightweight, solar-powered micro aerial vehicle capable of sustained flight is described in a paper published in Nature. Peng Jinzhe of the School of Energy and Power Engineering at Beihang University was part of the team behind the 8 millimetre robot. Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Jonathan Blackwell Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth (Image: ESA’s Ramses mission to asteroid Apophis. Credit: The European Space Agency)

The 2024 north Atlantic hurricane season has started with a bang, with Hurricane Beryl traversing the whole ocean, and leaving a trail of destruction across the Caribbean, into Mexico and Texas. Presenter Roland Pease speaks to climate expert Michael Mann of Pennsylvania University about this hurricane season and the role of climate change.And Roland speaks to Amie Eisfeld of the Influenza Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, who has been looking at the infection and transmission of bovine H5N1 influenza (bird flu). The virus is shown to be transmitted through the milk of cows with bovine flu to mice and by intranasal exposure to mice and ferrets. The findings are published in Nature this week.Ancient genomics: Neolithic farmers hit hard by the plague. Repeated outbreaks of plague may have contributed to the decline in Neolithic populations in Scandinavia, a Nature paper suggests. The analysis of ancient DNA from more than 100 individuals sheds light on the fate of these farmers around 5000 years ago. Roland speaks to geneticist Frederik Seersholm of the Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre in Copenhagen.And a cheap coating that can be painted easily onto the glass of greenhouses converts part of the sunlight spectrum into red light that should boost the rate at which plants grow. Roland joins the chemists and crop scientists to see if there really is a difference with tomatoes and strawberries.Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Jonathan Blackwell Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth (Image: Hurricane Beryl batters northern Jamaica after killing 7 people in southeast Caribbean. Credit: Anadolu/Getty Images)

Science in Action is at the UK's Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, hunting for dark matter, melting ancient ice, cleaning up disused mines and looking for the batteries of the future. Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Alex Mansfield Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth(Image: Pile of used batteries ready for recycling. Credit: Mindful Media via Getty Images)