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How humans adapted to digest lactose — after thousands of years of milk drinking
Humans have been drinking milk for thousands of years, but it seems that they were doing so long before the ability to digest it became prevalent. Then around 2000 years ago, this ability became common in Europe, presenting a mystery to researchers – why then? Now by analyzing health data, ancient DNA, and fats residues from thousands of ancient pots, scientists have worked out what caused this trait to suddenly spread throughout Europe.
Research Article: Evershed et al.
News and Views: The mystery of early milk consumption in Europe
08:56 Research Highlights
How genes stolen from outside the animal kingdom have altered insects’ abilities, and a dormant black hole beyond the Milky Way gives insights into these objects' origins.
Research Highlight: Genes purloined from across the tree of life give insects a boost
Research Highlight: A quiet black hole whispers its origin story
11:21 Assessing the addiction potential for therapeutic ketamine
Ketamine has shown great promise as a fast-acting antidepressant, but there have been concerns about the risks of addiction relating to this therapeutic use. Now, a team have looked in mice to see whether ketamine causes the behavioural and neuronal changes characteristic of addictive substances. They find that ketamine likely has a low addiction risk, which could inform future prescribing decisions in humans.
Research article: Simmler et al.
News and Views: A short burst of reward curbs the addictiveness of ketamine
17:51 Briefing Chat
We discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, a report shows a significant decline in Australia’s environment and ecosystems, and how adding a gene greatly increases rice yield.
The Conversation: This is Australia’s most important report on the environment’s deteriorating health. We present its grim findings
Science: Supercharged biotech rice yields 40% more grain
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Red-light therapy is all the rage — does it work?
21:56|In this episode:00:42 Is red-light therapy all hype?Disclaimer: The opinions and assertions expressed herein by Juanita Anders are those of the speaker and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences or the Department of War.Nature: The surprising science behind red-light therapy — and how it really works10:52 Research HighlightsNature: Trafficked pangolins can be traced to their source by DNA — even to a specific forestNature: A wispy wrapper for a chilly, Pluto-like world13:11 The complex story of global obesity ratesResearch article: NCD Risk Factor CollaborationSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.Audio long read: The air is full of DNA — here’s what scientists are using it for
19:06|Although scientists have long been able to gather DNA from water and soil, it's only recently that they've started to see the air as a source of genetic information.Airborne DNA is already being used to monitor individual species, but researchers hope its abundance could have multiple uses, including judging the success of conservation efforts or attacks with biological weapons.However, there remains much to understand, such as how far DNA travels in the air, and the ethics involved in the potential identification of a person's genetic information.This is an audio version of our Feature: The air is full of DNA — here’s what scientists are using it for
Briefing Chat: Can't focus? It's not your attention span, it's your notifications
10:53|00:31 The science of attention spansNature Feature: Are attention spans really shrinking? What the science says04:54 Data centres in space?Nature News Explainer: AI data hubs in space: when will they take flight?Nature Comment: Space diplomacy: bridging the operating gaps between myriad missionsSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.Anaesthetized brains can still process podcasts
15:00|In this episode:00:42 Probing the unconscious brain’s processing abilityResearch Article: Katlowitz et al.Nature: Even the unconscious brain can learn — and predict what you’ll say next12:32 Research HighlightsNature: An electrifying test to find a good coffeeNature: Forest pests hit trees hard as temperatures rise
Briefing Chat: Stressed mitochondria spawn new 'organelles' in cells
12:55|In this episode:00:27 How a parasite unveiled a mitochondrial secretNature: Mitochondria can spawn new ‘organelles’ — hinting at how modern cells evolved06:13 The extinct cephalopods that could have been enormousNature: Did kraken-like octopuses rule Cretaceous seas? Massive jaw fossils offer cluesSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.Immunity gets a boost from a surprising place — breakfast
20:36|In this episode:00:45 How eating can boost the immune systemResearch Article: Kumar et al.08:28 Research HighlightsNature: Cosmic-ray detection heralds era of mega-observatories for neutrinosNature: Little ants groom big ones in a desert spa10:53 The pressing need to plan for future nuclear disastersWorld View: Forty years after Chornobyl, more nuclear disasters are inevitable — plan for themSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.
Inside the evidence revolution — how decision-making became data driven
26:23|In this episode of Nature hits the books, we speak with Nature's Helen Pearson whose book Beyond Belief: How Evidence Shows What Really Works looks at the history of using evidence, rather than opinion, in decision making.The book traces the course of the movement in various disciplines, such as the rise of evidence-based medicine in the 90s, looking at the rebels who led the charge, the barriers they faced, and why the use of evidence is crucial at a time when misinformation is rife.Beyond Belief: How Evidence Shows What Really Works Helen Pearson Princeton University Press (in the press)Music supplied by SPD/Triple Scoop Music/Getty ImagesMeet Ace, the table-tennis robot that can beat elite players
26:10|In this episode:00:45 The table-tennis robot that can mix it with the prosResearch Article: Dürr et al.News and Views: Robot can beat elite players at table tennisVideo: This robot can beat you at table tennis14:13 Research HighlightsNature: Venus’s impenetrable haze could be made of cosmic dustNature: Graves reveal plague’s inequitable toll16:21 Why physicists can’t agree on the strength of Big GNature: How big is Big G? Mystery deepens after ten-year effort to measure gravity’s strengthResearch Article: Schlamminger 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: Penguins pick up PFAS pollution
15:01|In this episode:00:30 The penguins measuring environmental PFASScience: Penguins become marine detectives, thanks to pollutant-detecting anklets05:14 Treating autoimmune diseases with CAR-TNature: One woman, three autoimmune diseases: CAR-T therapy vanquishes ultra-rare disease trio10:34 Why an anglerfish’s lure might have two usesScience: Why do anglerfish have glowing lures? It might be sexSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.