Share

cover art for Feeling the heat: fossil-fuel producers linked to dozens of heatwaves

Nature Podcast

Feeling the heat: fossil-fuel producers linked to dozens of heatwaves

00:45 Attributing extreme heat events to major energy producers

Major energy producers increased the likelihood and intensity of heatwaves, according to research published in Nature. Using data from an international disaster database, a team developed a methodology to investigate how much anthropogenic climate change had influenced heatwaves. They conclude that many of these events would have been “virtually impossible” without climate change, and that nearly a quarter of the heatwaves recorded from 2000 to 2023 can be directly linked to the greenhouse-gas emissions from individual energy giants.


Research Article: Juvé et al.

News and Views Forum: Heatwaves linked to emissions of individual fossil-fuel and cement producers

News: Dozens of heatwaves linked to carbon emissions from specific companies


10:47 Research Highlights

How shifting coastal tides may have spurred the rise of the world’s oldest civilization — plus, the liquid crystal lenses that can refocus in a flash.


Research Highlight: Changing tides ushered in the world’s first civilization

Research Highlight: Liquid-crystal specs refocus with the push of a button


12:40 The growing resistance to the US war on science

Science in the United States is facing an increasing crisis, in the face of swinging cuts and President Donald Trump’s ongoing attack on anything with a connection to diversity, equity and inclusion. In the face of this crisis, many researchers are fighting back — we hear about some of their efforts, and what they think about their chances of success.


News Feature: Scientists take on Trump: the researchers fighting back


27:28 Briefing Chat

How CRISPR-edited pancreas cells could offer new hope for those with type 1 diabetes, and what brain scans reveal about how we process colour.


Nature: Hope for diabetes: CRISPR-edited cells pump out insulin in a person — and evade immune detection

Nature: My blue is your blue: different people’s brains process colours in the same way


Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 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.
  • Junk plastic turns into high-value commodity with chemistry trick

    13:01|
    Researchers untangle the chemistry behind turning PVC into high-grade motor lubricant — plus, how engineered yeast can help make a cancer drug.00:45 The chemistry behind converting PVC into lubricantResearch article: Munyaneza et al.09:15 Research HighlightsNature: ​​​​​​​Engineered yeast that make cancer drugs could spare a rare flowerNature: ​​​​​​​Sickle-cell disease linked to prematurely aged stem cells in mice​​​​​​​Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.
  • Briefing Chat: Orcas smashed a sunfish to bits — researchers aren't sure why

    14:18|
    In this episode:00:24 The quest to count the Amazon's insectsNature: Tiny patch of Amazon likely holds 40,000 insect species — many new to science07:31 The orcas that exploded a sunfishThe Guardian: Orcas seen ramming prey so hard it explodes may be playing gameTiktok: Orcas vs sunfishSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.
  • Earthworks spotted in the Amazon hint at huge ancient civilization

    20:30|
    In this episode:00:45 Ancient structures hidden beneath the Amazon’s canopyResearch article: Pärssinen et al.09:15 Research HighlightsNature: It’ll grow on you: live fungi formed into sustainable fashionPhysical Review Fluids: Gourmandie et al.11:48 Tiny fossils represent the earliest-known squid ancestorResearch article: Song et al.Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.
  • Briefing Chat: Baby T. rex were killers from birth, suggest new fossils

    12:43|
    Nature staff discuss the young but deadly dinosaur kings, the prowess of ancient Egyptian princesses, and how London is becoming the world’s AI safety capital.00:34 London is transforming into an AI-safety hubNature: A global capital for AI safety is emerging — and it’s not in Silicon Valley05:52 Bones reveal that ancient Egyptian princesses weren’t pamperedScientific American: Ancient Egyptian princesses were ‘powerful’ weapon users, new analysis suggests9:30 T. rex was born ready to killDiscover magazine: Fossil Evidence Indicates Baby T. rex Were Tiny, but DeadlySubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.
  • What counts as a moon? Huge ‘exosatellite’ sparks debate

    23:50|
    00:45 The discovery of a moon-like object in a distant star systemResearch article: Hoy et al.10:34 Research HighlightsNature: Moving floors keep buildings from swaying with the windNature: Wearable sensors on the face are invisible to the eye13:07 A discovery of a new type of rare transmissible-cancerResearch article: Curd et al.Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.
  • Briefing Chat: Sweet! Elusive sugar molecules found in space

    09:55|
    In this episode:00:24 A sweet discovery near the Milky Way’s centreNature: First ‘true sugar’ molecule found in space — offering hints to life’s origins05:05 Mathematical texts give insights into Maya mathematical prowessNature: Mathematics formula found on Maya wall rivals insights of ancient mastersSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.