Share
Nature Podcast
What the atomic structure of enamel tells us about tooth decay
•
On this week’s podcast, how the molecular structure of tooth enamel may impact decay, and a mysterious planetary core from a half-formed gas giant.
In this episode:
00:46 Unravelling tooth enamel
Researchers have been looking into the structure and composition of enamel in an effort to better understand tooth decay. Research Article: DeRocher et al.
07:02 Research Highlights
An adhesive patch to help heal heart-attacks, and a new technique to inspect the structure of 2D ‘wonder materials’. Research Highlight: A healing patch holds tight to a beating heart; Research Highlight: A snapshot shows off super-material only two atoms thick
09:21 Unusual planet
In the region close to stars known as the ‘hot Neptune desert’ planets of Neptune’s size are rarely found, but this week scientists have uncovered one and are trying to untangle its mysteries. Research Article: Armstrong et al.
14:52 Briefing Chat
We take a look at some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time we talk about the pitfalls of using CRISPR in human embryos, and renaming of moon craters inadvertently named after Nazi scientists. Nature News: CRISPR gene editing in human embryos wreaks chromosomal mayhem; Prospect Magazine: Astronomers unknowingly dedicated moon craters to Nazis. Will the next historical reckoning be at cosmic level?
More episodes
View all episodes
Briefing Chat: Meet the snakes that cartwheel away from trouble
10:45|In this episode:00:27 The snake that rolls at the first sign of dangerTiktok: This snake does cartwheelsResearch article: Kojima et al.05:10 Evidence of ancient blood cells in a dinosaur fossilScience: Did scientists just find 115-million-year-old dinosaur blood?Nature: Patrick Stewart dies: how Captain Picard inspired today’s science leadersSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.
Ancient DNA charts spread of Celtic and Germanic languages
25:16|Ancient genomes from thousands of individuals show how migrations helped shape Celtic and Germanic languages — plus, how the brain may regulate emotions differently than we thought. 00:49 How Celtic and Germanic languages spread across EuropeResearch Article: McColl et al.Research Article: McColl et al.13:00 Research HighlightsNature: Barn owls’ ancestors made a transatlantic flightNature: Even stupendous black holes can’t explain dark matter15:34 Why part of the brain may not be controlling emotions in the way researchers thoughtResearch Article: Sicorello et al.Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.Correction: This article originally stated Simon Rodway’s name incorrectly. The podcast has now been updated to correct this.
Briefing Chat: Dog years: could longevity science extend your pets' lives?
09:59|Nature staff discuss the emerging field of pet longevity — plus, a researcher decides not to care about their student reviews. Are they wrong? 00:24 Could research help boost your dog’s lifespan?Nature: Can science make your dog live longer? Longevity craze comes to pets05:16 Is it wrong to not care about student reviews?Nature: What students think about my teaching doesn’t matter. Am I wrong?Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.This Arabian desert was once a lush paradise. Why did ancient humans avoid it?
26:05|Expedition revealed that water wasn’t enough for human settlement — plus, proposals to block sunlight get serious. 00:49 A failed desert expedition to find human tools reveals what humans needed to thriveResearch Article: Dellmour et al.12:33 Research HighlightsNature: Sleep declines in rural communities after electricity arrivesNature: AI doctors’ orders come with a sky-high bill15:14 Could satellites help cool the Earth?Nature: Could a giant sunshade in space 'solve global warming'? Scientists are taking the idea seriouslySubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.
Briefing Chat: How physicists successfully trapped the electron's antimatter equivalent
14:59|In this episode:00:21 New experiment looking for mismatch between matter and antimatterNature: A single antimatter particle in a cage opens door to ‘revolutionary’ physics08:32 JAXA's mission to PhobosAerospace America: JAXA’s MMX mission will include the first wheeled rover to drive in ultra-low gravitySubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.Scientists put a salt marsh in a giant wave-machine: here's what they learned
19:53|In this episode:00:46 How salt marshes could protect coastal regions from super-stormsResearch Article: Willemsen et al.10:56 Research HighlightsNature: Orangutan mothers arrange play dates for their babiesNature: Lead-tainted teeth reveal medieval mines’ unequal toll13:30 Putting a face to the DenisovansResearch Article: Xing et al.Nature: This is what the mysterious Denisovans looked likeSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.Audio long read: How to stay smart in the age of AI — the science of critical thinking
16:05|Critical thinking is a skill that is under threat from the AI revolution in large language models. But all is not lost. Specialists in education and cognition have long been studying critical thinking, and some have useful tips on how to stay cognitively sharp in the age of AI.This is an audio version of our Feature: How to stay smart in the age of AI: the science of critical thinking
Briefing Chat: An invisible tattoo that appears under UV light – and then disappears
09:33|In this episode:00:15 An appearing, disappearing tattoo inkNature: Watch this invisible tattoo appear under UV light04:13 How the epigenome could help explain why big dogs age fasterNature: Big dogs age faster than little ones — rogue ‘jumping genes’ might be to blameSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.The world is closer to a major conservation target than scientists thought
21:37|Analysis suggests number of protected areas is hugely underestimated but biodiversity is still in peril — plus, a huge study looking at the health effects of brown fat.00:45 The world may have more conservation areas than previously thoughtResearch Article: O’Neill et al.08:38 Research HighlightsNature: The Solar System could die one billion times earlier than thoughtNature: Chimp and gorilla brains resist weight loss with age — unlike human brains11:19 Giant study expands list of brown fat’s health benefitsResearch Article: Gómez-Banoy et al.Nature: Overlooked 'brown' body fat linked to wide range of health benefitsSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.