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World’s tiniest pacemaker could revolutionize heart surgery
Researchers have developed a tiny, temporary pacemaker that dissolves when no longer needed, helping to overcome some of the challenges associated with current devices. Temporary pacemakers are often required after heart surgery but implanting them can require invasive procedures. This new device is injectable, requires no external power and is controlled using light shone through the skin. The tiny pacemaker has shown promise in animal and heart models, and the team think it could also be used in other situations where electrical stimulation is needed, like the brain.
Research Article: Zhang et al.
Measurements show that global warming is causing lakes to lose their oxygen, and a massive, 30-year analysis showing that a diet of plant-rich foods is associated with healthy ageing
Research Highlight: Life-giving oxygen is wafting out of lakes worldwide
Research Highlight: The best foods for healthy ageing ― and the worst
A large-scale population study suggests that getting a shingles vaccine reduces the probability of someone getting dementia by around one-fifth. By taking advantage of the way a shingles vaccine was rolled out in Wales, a team were able to compare dementia outcomes in vaccine-eligible people to those born just a few weeks earlier who were ineligible. Although more tests will be needed to confirm this finding and to understand the mechanisms behind it, the team hope that vaccination against this viral infection could represent a cost-effective way to for preventing or delaying dementia.
Research article: Eyting et al.
Data suggests that racial profiling plays a role in whether someone receives a traffic citation or fine, and studies suggest that paying researchers who review manuscripts could speed up the peer-review process, without affecting the quality of reviews.
Ars Technica: Study of Lyft rideshare data confirms minorities get more tickets
Nature: Publishers trial paying peer reviewers — what did they find?
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Briefing Chat: Why scientists made papyrus scrolls, then burnt them
11:32|In this episode00:23 How detecting lead could help researchers read damaged Roman scrollsNature: Watch scientists decipher burned scrolls without unrolling them06:42 A biodegradeable, paper-inspired batteryNature: Edible batteries power medical devices in the bodySubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the Nature Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music or your favourite podcast app. An RSS feed for the Nature Podcast is available too.
Bank accounts reveal the fingerprints of abusive financial control
24:12|00:45 Investigating the day-to-day impacts of Financial AbuseNature: Trendl et al.Support organizationsUK: Surviving Economic AbuseUS: National Domestic Violence Helpline12:14 Research HighlightsNature: Mercury is shrinking with age — faster than thoughtNature: Cognitive resilience helps to predict Alzheimer’s dementia14:55 How opposing forces in the Earth's core alter how the planet spinsNature: Gravitational tug-of-war inside Earth is changing the length of our daysSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the Nature Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music or your favourite podcast app. An RSS feed for the Nature Podcast is available too.- 12:34|In this episode:00:22 Could secret rooms lie beyond Tutankhamun's tomb?Nature: Exclusive: New evidence for hidden chambers beyond Tutankhamun’s tomb05:55 A multifunctional brain–computer interfaceNature: ‘Multifunctional’ brain implant translates speech and gestures in real timeSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.
Transplanted human brain-tissue takes root in mice without a cortex
28:10|In this episode:00:46 Human brain-organoids transplanted into mice missing their cortexNature: Human brain cells transplanted into mice in ‘most extensive’ integration ever13:51 Research HighlightsNature: Ruins of ancient Asian city show engineering prowess and organizationNature: Distant sensors announced a fearsome tsunami’s birth16:16 Paper2Agent: the AI tool that lets researchers talk to papersNature: AI tool turns any paper into an ‘agent’ that can collaborate and answer complex queriesSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.
Briefing Chat: The Bunsen burner myth that turns out to be just hot air
15:55|Nature staff discuss an AI tool that can assess the impact of nine billion mutations — plus, how the Bunsen burner’s reputation for sterilization may be based on tradition alone.00:21 Deepmind’s new tool helps scientists find the impact of mutationsNature: DeepMind’s new genome ‘atlas’ charts effects of all nine billion human gene mutations07:10 Bacteria can still contaminate plates near to active Bunsen burnersNature: Bunsen burners’ reputation for sterilizing workplaces flames out Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.Phone tutoring boosts math scores when schools are forced to close
21:10|In this episode:00:46 How telephone teaching could boost education during school shutdownsNature: Pick up the phone! Phone calls with tutors keep kids learning when schools shut down11:42 Research HighlightsNature: Super-precise optical clocks in four nations tick in harmonyNature: These greenhouse-gas sources have trotters and snouts14:15 Why atlases might need an updateNature: Hello Equal Earth: what the UN’s new world map will changeSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.
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.
