Claim OwnershipScience Weekly
Subscribed: 61,388Played: 1,549,974
Subscribe
© 2025 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.
Description
Twice a week, the Guardian brings you the latest science and environment news
860 Episodes
Reverse
2Madeleine Finlay and Ian Sample discuss three intriguing science stories from the week. From two private moon landings to the controversy over Elon Musk’s continued membership of the Royal Society, and a new study making a link between men’s health and their sperm quality. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
Beavers were once abundant in the UK, but hunting them for their fur, meat and scent oil drove them to extinction. Now they’re back, with the news that the release of beavers into English waterways is to be allowed for the first time in centuries. To understand why this is seen as a huge win for the environment, Madeleine Finlay hears from the Guardian’s environment reporter Helena Horton.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
When the palaeontologists of the future search for clues to understand how we lived, what might they find? Two scientists exploring this question have suggested that ‘technofossils’ will be our lasting imprint on the Earth. To find out exactly what these are and what they could reveal about our lives, Madeleine Finlay hears from the Guardian’s environment editor, Damian Carrington, and from Sarah Gabbott, a professor of palaeontology at the University of Leicester and one of the scientists behind the new book Discarded: How Technofossils Will Be Our Ultimate Legacy. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
In his first month in office the US president has thrown science in the US into chaos, delaying projects and casting the future of research funding and jobs into doubt. To understand everything that has happened in the month since he took office and what its impact could be, Madeleine Finlay hears from science editor Ian Sample and Prof Harold Varmus, a Nobel prize winner and former director of the National Institutes of Health under Bill Clinton. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
Science editor Ian Sample joins co-host Madeleine Finlay to discuss some of the most intriguing science stories of the week. From a concerning rise in hospital diagnoses of constipation in children, to research suggesting that the environment is far more important for ageing and longevity than our genes, and how squeaks from genetically engineered mice are providing insight into how human language may have emerged. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
The Scottish first minister, John Swinney, was recently forced to deny plans to ban cats after a report from independent experts said the species was a threat to Scotland’s wildlife. In the UK, it is estimated that cats kill or bring home 57 million mammals and 27 million birds every year. Ian Sample hears from cat-owner Madeleine Finlay and the ecologist Prof Robbie McDonald about the best ways to reduce our feline companions’ impact on wildlife without affecting welfare. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
Recently, a group of world-leading scientists called for a halt on research to create ‘mirror life’ microbes amid concerns that the synthetic organisms would present an ‘unprecedented risk’ to life on Earth. Ian Sample tells Madeleine Finlay about why this work initially seemed exciting for scientists and what the risks of it continuing could be. And Kate Adamala, assistant professor of genetics, cell biology and development at the University of Minnesota, describes what made her change her mind about pursuing her own research on mirror cells. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
In a case of life imitating art, a 100-metre-wide asteroid has triggered global planetary defence procedures for the first time, after telescope observations revealed it had a chance of colliding with Earth in 2032. To find out what happens now and how worried we should be, Ian Sample hears from Richard Binzel, a professor of planetary sciences at MIT and inventor of the Torino scale, which is used to categorise the threat posed by objects such as asteroids and comets. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
From the shockwaves caused by DeepSeek’s launch, to fears of a new AI arms race, and the continued questions over the technology’s energy use, AI continues to throw up new challenges. As world leaders gather for the Paris AI summit, the Guardian’s global technology editor, Dan Milmo, joins Madeleine Finlay to discuss what will be top of the agenda. And young people attending the Alan Turing Institute’s Children’s AI summit explain what their hopes and fears for the technology are. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
Senators are scheduled to vote today on whether to advance Robert F Kennedy Jr’s nomination as Secretary of State for Health and Human Services. RFK Jr is known for his vaccine skepticism and Make America Healthy Again slogan, which has won him support from everyone from wellness fans and ‘crunchy moms’ to traditional Republicans. US health reporter Jessica Glenza tells Ian Sample about how he fared at last week’s confirmation hearings, and what he might do if he takes a seat in Trump’s cabinet. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
In the second episode of our listener questions special, Ian Sample tells Madeleine Finlay what he has uncovered about who the exercise guidelines were created for and whether they apply to all of us, which exercises are best for keeping us strong, whether we should be eating particular foods when we exercise, and how much protein we need to consume if we’re packing in the hours at the gym. With contributions from Jason Gill, professor of cardiometabolic health at the University of Glasgow; Benjamin Wall, professor of nutritional physiology at the University of Exeter; Clyde Williams, emeritus professor of sports science at Loughborough University; Victoria Taylor, head of clinical support at the British Heart Foundation and I-Min Lee, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
We asked for your questions on getting healthy in 2025 and you delivered. In the first episode of our listener questions special, Madeleine Finlay tells Ian Sample what she has uncovered about the scientifically proven ways to cut down on sugar, the truth behind the panic over seed oils, and why it is that some of us seem to have bullet proof immune systems, while others succumb to every bug they encounter. With contributions from Wendy Wood, provost professor emerita of psychology and business at USC Dornsife, John Trowsdale, emeritus professor of immunology at the University of Cambridge and Katherine Appleton, professor of psychology at Bournemouth University. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
Ian Sample speaks to Keon West, a professor of social psychology at the University of London, whose new book, The Science of Racism, explores what science can reveal about racism, the inventive methods scientists have used to study it and the scientifically proven ways of tackling racism and discrimination. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
A podcast promoting claims that non-verbal autistic children can read minds briefly knocked Joe Rogan off the top of the charts this month, which made the Science Weekly team wonder, how has science attempted to prove or disprove the existence of mind reading? To find out, Ian Sample speaks to Chris French, emeritus professor of psychology at Goldsmiths University. They discuss how scientists have tested this phenomenon, what else could be behind the apparent ability of some people to read minds, and why the idea is still so popular. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
Last year was full of unexpected science news, from a new strain of Mpox emerging in the DRC, to artificial intelligence dominating the Nobel prizes and two astronauts getting ‘stuck’ in space. So what will this year bring? Ian Sample and science correspondent Hannah Devlin discuss the big stories likely to hit the headlines and share their predictions for 2025. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
As wildfires continue to cause devastation in Los Angeles, Madeleine Finlay speaks to Albert van Dijk, professor of water science and management at the Australian National University, about how rising temperatures are causing rapid swings in extreme weather. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
The Oxford English Dictionary announced its word of the year at the end of 2024: brain rot. The term relates to the supposedly negative effects of consuming social media content, but it struck a chord more widely with many of us who feel we just don’t have the mental capacity we once did. Gloria Mark, a professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine, has been studying our waning attention spans for 20 years. She tells Madeleine Finlay why she believes our powers of concentration are not beyond rescue, and reveals her top tips for finding focus. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
Scientists are increasingly finding that behaviours once seen as depraved often have a direct physical cause. To find out more, Ian Sample hears from Guy Leschziner, a consultant neurologist and sleep physician at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital in London. His new book, Seven Deadly Sins: The Biology of Being Human, looks at the neurological basis of behaviours often dismissed as evidence of bad character or lack of willpower. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
You might have noticed that everyone has recently become a bit obsessed with blood sugar, or glucose. Wellness firms such as Zoe in the UK – as well as Nutrisense, Levels and Signos – claim to offer insights into how our bodies process food based on monitoring our blood glucose, among other things. But many researchers have begun to question the science behind this. In this episode from July, Ian Sample talks to the philosopher Julian Baggini, the University of Oxford academic dietician Dr Nicola Guess, and Zoe’s chief scientist the King’s College London nutrition expert Prof Sarah Berry to find out what we know about blood glucose levels and our health, and whether the science is nailed down on personalised nutrition. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
For the regular drinker, the studies that say a daily tipple is better for a longer life than avoiding alcohol completely are a source of great comfort. But a new analysis challenges that thinking and says it was based on flawed research that compares drinkers with people who are sick and sober. In this episode from August, Madeleine Finlay hears from the study’s lead author, Tim Stockwell, a scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria, to find out why scientists (including him) were so convinced, and what the actual risks of alcohol are. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
Top Podcasts
The Best New Comedy Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best News Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best New Business Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best New Sports Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best New True Crime Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best New Joe Rogan Experience Podcast Right Now – June 20The Best New Dan Bongino Show Podcast Right Now – June 20The Best New Mark Levin Podcast – June 2024
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States
the ring and pointer finger length fact showing how much testosterone you've been open to in the womb is fascinating
How can I access the audioscrip??
NOAA will be defunded under Trump 2.0. Appalling.
Hi I just started to listen to your podcast. It first one was interesting. I'll continue listening Thank you
from my understanding, the Denmark study recorded a very significant drop in sperm motility, over a short period of time. this sounds like it's not properly discussed during the podcast.
That was some faulty logic there! We’re mammals so we need mammal protein?! So cows and horses should start eating eggs and each other I guess for all that muscle they have! Also the concept of low quality protein comes from a paper in the 40s or 50s which was later used rejected and retracted. So what is your source?
what about hydrogen cars?
I think one of the issues is that the people that have "bad" dogs are the irresponsible ones who will not learn or take dogs to classes or care. The owners who will take up these course are the ones who will be more careful and responsible. Very sad. Some people shouldn't own animals.
i searching for english podcast to improve my english efficiency and accidently i see this podcast and this episode first of all thank you for being our iranian women , even now the internet has been blocked and it didn't turn to normal we don't access to international sites or even youtube , iranian people are killed in silence even children sadly.don't forget us we are still in deprivation
IRAN 💔 thanks for supporting 🙏
Thank you for your coverage and support. ❤️ More importantly thank you for inviting an unbiased journalism who reflected the true spirit of these demonstrations despite New York Times' partiality for regime.
This podcast is far too short. A fifteen-minute podcast is not worth listening to. Why don't you have extra guests or talk about more topics each week?
as someone who identifies as Bi thanks for making me feel heard and seen. binerasure exists bit in the straight and queer worlds and has stopped me from referring of myself as bi for along time.
I have never had a posative test for covid I have never had any symptoms but my doctor did a blood test and said I had the antibodies is testing antibodies a sure test I have lived in African all my life in Kenya and Zimbabwe and I have never had maleria or bilharzia
Great podcast ❤
Great episode 👏 ❤
daylight savings time has never had any effect on me. I've been self-employed all my life. I start work when I'm ready, and I stop when I'm tired. I could never live like a robot or a slave.
I am not bothered by appropriate swearing... LOL. I'm not sure what defines appropriate, but when somebody over-seasons their speech with swear words, I am turned off.
in your conclusion you say, fingers crossed. LOL. I don't think you could have said anything less scientific.
why you making a difference betwwen black and white peope who get cancer but you Dont mention Asians???