Share
Nature Podcast
COVID deaths: three times the official toll
In this episode:
This week, a team of researchers working with the World Health Organization have used statistical modelling to estimate the number of excess deaths associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. The work estimates that there were almost 15 million deaths either directly or indirectly attributed to the pandemic, almost three times higher than the official toll.
Research article: Msemburi et al.
News and Views: Global estimates of excess deaths from COVID-19
Editorial: Missing data mean we’ll probably never know how many people died of COVID
Why dinosaurs' tail clubs may actually have been used to battle rivals, and the ancient images that make up the earliest known narrative scene.
Research Highlight: Dinosaurs bashed each other with built-in tail clubs
Research Highlight: Prehistoric carvings are oldest known story sequence
Stark figures show that the representation of scientists from minority ethnic groups dwindles at each stage of UK academia. To get a sense of the issue and what can be done to tackle it, we spoke to Mahrukh Shameem, a PhD student and an advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion.
News Feature: How UK science is failing Black researchers — in nine stark charts
We discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, how the text-generating AI OpenGPT could spell the end for student essays, and what the successful test of NASA’s Orion capsule means for the Artemis programme.
Nature News: AI bot ChatGPT writes smart essays — should professors worry?
Nature News: NASA’s Orion Moon capsule splashes down! Here’s what’s next
More episodes
View all episodes
Briefing Chat: How 1,000 pairs of buried underpants helped measure soil health
12:24|In this episode:00:21 Our picks of this year’s Ig Nobel prizesNature: Buried underpants and a new definition of kissing win 2026 Ig Nobel prizes07:47 Massive xenon experiment detects tantalizing hint of dark matterNature: Is this the first glimpse of dark matter? Data point excites physicistsSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.
Audio long read: Could mending damaged DNA prolong life?
18:16|Scientists are amassing evidence that unrepaired or poorly repaired DNA damage underlies many of the hallmarks of ageing. This has led to research into whether boosting DNA repair can keep people healthy for longer.This is an audio version of our Feature: Could mending damaged DNA prolong life?Briefing Chat: How Dolly Parton left her mark on science
14:05|In this episode:00:18 Researchers celebrate Dolly Parton's contributions to scienceNature: Dolly Parton dies aged 80 — researchers celebrate her contributions to science08:40 Phase III trial of melanoma vaccine shows promiseNature: Moderna cancer vaccine stops melanoma returning: what’s next for personalized treatments?Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.Highest-ever ocean temperatures recorded as El Niño intensifies
19:00|Why extreme temperatures are expected to weaken ocean carbon sinks — plus, how mitochondrial injections could treat vision loss.00:46 The world’s oceans reach a record temperatureNature: Ocean temperatures set to break all-time record: what’s next?10:05 Research HighlightsNature: Astronaut vest cuts radiation exposure in halfNature: Earth-shaking thunder probes underground geology12:54 How mitochondrial injections could treat vision lossNature: Patient’s own mitochondria injected into eyes in attempt to restore visionSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.
Briefing Chat: New narcolepsy drug could unlock host of novel brain therapies
12:25|Nature staff discuss how an FDA-approved drug for narcolepsy could have promise beyond the condition, and the longest-lived human brain organoids yet.00:28 The promise of a new narcolepsy drugNature: First-of-its-kind narcolepsy drug opens door to new therapies for the brain05:53 Human brain organoids kept alive for over five yearsNature: Human organoids that mimic brain development grown for years in labSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.A black hole's spin could finally be measured by a high-speed star
29:11|Star orbiting close to Sagittarius A* could reveal its spin — plus, how exoskeletons might change the way humans move.00:46 The star that could reveal a black hole’s spinResearch article: Dayem et al.13:23 Research HighlightsNature: Rattlesnakes’ own antivenom could protect humans tooNature: Shipping on rivers packs a surprisingly large climate punch15:40 Commercial exoskeletons are hitting the market — what now?Nature: Will you be wearing an exoskeleton in ten years? The tech that could change how we moveSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.
Briefing Chat: Anthropic rolls out new AI watermark — will it make a difference?
16:52|In this episode:00:29 What does Anthropic’s new watermark mean for research?Nature: Can Anthropic’s invisible watermarks curb ‘AI slop’? Researchers remain sceptical10:57 Ticklishness is a distinct, specialized body sensation, research findsNature: Where are you ticklish? Researchers map the sensation across culturesSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.The probiotic bacteria engineered to treat diabetes
19:37|Genetically modified bacteria lower high blood-sugar in animal trials — plus, how to safely watch a solar eclipse.00:45 A living diabetes treatmentResearch article: Guan et al.08:03 Research HighlightsNature: Pumas are drivers’ guardian angelsNature: How a steady drip-drip can erode the hardest stone10:29 What eclipses might reveal about the Sun’s coronaNature: Solar eclipse offers rare chance to solve Sun’s magnetic-field mysteriesSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.
Briefing Chat: Is DNA repair the secret to a long life? Whales and mole-rats offer tantalizing hints
13:52|Nature staff discuss how animal studies are starting to uncover how DNA repair could prolong life, and how COVID-19 can reawaken dormant viruses.00:25 Could reawakened viruses have a link to long-COVID?Nature: COVID can wake up a slew of dormant viruses inside you05:57 DNA damage can cause ageing, could boosting repair boost longevity?Nature: Could mending damaged DNA prolong life?Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.