Nature Podcast

657
Science #88

The Nature Podcast brings you the best stories from the world of science each week. We cover everything from astronomy to zoology, highlighting the most exciting research from each issue of the Nature journal. We meet the scientists behind the results and provide in-depth analysis from Nature's journalists and editors.


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Recent Episodes
  • Long-awaited ape genomes give new insights into their evolution — and ours
    Apr 9, 2025 – 29:48
  • From Hippocrates to COVID-19: the scientific fight to prove diseases can be airborne
    Apr 7, 2025 – 32:27
  • Trump team removes senior NIH chiefs in shock move
    Apr 4, 2025 – 11:32
  • World’s tiniest pacemaker could revolutionize heart surgery
    Apr 2, 2025 – 37:41
  • Audio long read: How quickly are you ageing? What molecular ‘clocks’ can tell you about your health
    Mar 28, 2025 – 17:56
  • New lasso-shaped antibiotic kills drug-resistant bacteria
    Mar 26, 2025 – 32:45
  • Tiny satellite sets new record for secure quantum communication
    Mar 19, 2025 – 31:05
  • Sapphire anvils squeeze metals atomically-thin
    Mar 12, 2025 – 33:12
  • Earliest crafted bone tools date back 1.5 million years
    Mar 5, 2025 – 29:48
  • Audio long read: Why kids need to take more risks — science reveals the benefits of wild, free play
    Feb 28, 2025 – 16:10
  • If your heart stops, this smartwatch-AI can call for help
    Feb 26, 2025 – 19:58
  • Racist ratings linger in five-star systems — a thumbs up could fix that
    Feb 19, 2025 – 31:45
  • Record-breaking neutrino detected by huge underwater telescope
    Feb 12, 2025 – 34:56
  • From viral variants to devastating storms, how names shape the public's reaction to science
    Feb 7, 2025 – 35:11
  • Kids' real-world arithmetic skills don't transfer to the classroom
    Feb 5, 2025 – 34:47
  • The AI revolution is running out of data. What can researchers do?
    Jan 31, 2025 – 16:31
  • Asteroid Bennu contains building blocks of life
    Jan 29, 2025 – 34:51
  • What's the best way to become a professor? The answer depends on where you are
    Jan 22, 2025 – 32:42
  • AI-designed antivenoms could help treat lethal snakebites
    Jan 15, 2025 – 33:52
  • A new-year round-up of the science stories you may have missed
    Jan 8, 2025 – 25:53
  • Science in 2025: what to expect this year
    Jan 1, 2025 – 11:24
  • Audio long read: How a silly science prize changed my career
    Dec 27, 2024 – 11:55
  • The Nature Podcast highlights of 2024
    Dec 25, 2024 – 49:40
  • Behind the scenes of Nature News and Views in 2024
    Dec 20, 2024 – 24:53
  • The Nature Podcast festive spectacular 2024
    Dec 18, 2024 – 37:29
  • Should offensive species names be changed? The organisms that honour dictators, racists and criminals
    Dec 16, 2024 – 52:40
  • Targeted mRNA therapy tackles deadly pregnancy condition in mice
    Dec 11, 2024 – 28:32
  • Will humans ever speak wolf? A scientist unravels the complexities of animal chatter
    Dec 9, 2024 – 28:18
  • Why breast cancer treatments might work best just after your period
    Dec 4, 2024 – 30:06
  • Audio long read: AI has dreamt up a blizzard of new proteins. Do any of them actually work?
    Nov 29, 2024 – 13:13
  • Fossilised faeces helps explain dinosaurs' rise to dominance
    Nov 27, 2024 – 31:35
  • Squid-inspired pills squirt drugs straight into your gut
    Nov 20, 2024 – 29:19
  • Bone marrow in the skull plays a surprisingly important role in ageing
    Nov 13, 2024 – 35:10
  • ’Rapture and beauty’: a writer's portrait of the International Space Station
    Nov 8, 2024 – 26:23
  • Surprise finding reveals mitochondrial 'energy factories' come in two different types
    Nov 6, 2024 – 27:36
  • REBROADCAST: Talking politics, talking science
    Nov 3, 2024 – 23:49
  • REBROADCAST: Politics of the life scientific
    Nov 2, 2024 – 24:42
  • REBROADCAST: A brief history of politics and science
    Nov 1, 2024 – 28:48
  • How to recover from the trauma of a climate disaster
    Oct 30, 2024 – 35:23
  • Audio long read: Which is the fairest electoral system? Mega-election year sparks debate
    Oct 25, 2024 – 18:39
  • Massive lost mountain cities revealed by lasers
    Oct 23, 2024 – 29:55
  • Star-eating black hole could power cosmic particle accelerator
    Oct 16, 2024 – 29:36
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    Oct 9, 2024 – 38:46
  • Strange gamma-ray flickers seen in thunderstorms for the first time
    Oct 2, 2024 – 30:55
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    Sep 27, 2024 – 20:19
  • Children with Down's syndrome are more likely to get leukaemia: stem-cells hint at why
    Sep 25, 2024 – 21:58
  • Colossal 'jets' shooting from a black hole defy physicists' theories
    Sep 18, 2024 – 34:06
  • Ancient DNA debunks Rapa Nui ‘ecological suicide’ theory
    Sep 11, 2024 – 41:41
  • The baseless stat that could be harming Indigenous conservation efforts
    Sep 6, 2024 – 14:29
  • Long-sought 'nuclear clocks' are one tick closer
    Sep 4, 2024 – 31:24
Recent Reviews
  • Nerdy is cool
    Outstanding science podcast
    It’s one of my favorite podcasts! The hosts not only cover a wide ranging array of topics on science, but also make it fun! Highly recommend!
  • gregofissaquah
    itunes not linking to podcast
    I would like to listen to this podcast, but Itunes does not link to it in their system. I'd give more stars if it was accessible in Itunes
  • Belzurker
    You lost me. This is anti science.
    “It is clear that sex and gender exist beyond a simple binary. This is widely accepted by scientists and it is not something we will be debating in this podcast. But this whole area is full of complexity, and there are many discussions which need to be had around funding, inclusivity or research practices.”
  • hootieman
    Perfect
    I love reading Nature but the publisher has given me lots of issues, not paying $200 for zero customer service - so at this point I just listen
  • fcbgfjhdg
    MS
    Very good
  • FranceJA
    The integrity of its content
    All other podcasts I subscribed to during the pandemic have gone like the wind…this one still endures because I trust the integrity of its knowledge and the information it provides on a consistent basis.
  • ersmed
    A must listen to Podcast if you like to stay informed on the latest in Scientific Discovery!
    If you consider yourself a scientist who stays informed, this is an essential and you know and listen already. So, for those that want to improve their level of staying informed with what’s new in science, start listening!
  • brainzmatter
    Great science—terrible presentation
    Awful attempt to make the material more “relatable”. Pathetic. This podcast used to be better. The intro is way too long and the presenters lack professionalism and, frankly, the talent to pull off this feeble attempt to jazz up the science. It’s insulting to a well-respected journal to trivialize it in this way and to any listener with half a brain. Update-I’ve tuned in periodically in spite of the above criticisms. Today I tried one of the “long reads”. Read by the girl on the team-Shamini—with the voice of a toddler who consumed way too much sugar. I couldn’t get through five minutes and just went to the site and read the piece for myself. One of the guys has a speech issue (can we still say impediment?) and the other sounds odd. Please get some real presenters.
  • GrantGiesbrecht
    Best Science Podcast
    They do a great job presenting cutting edge research in a fascinating and precise, yet easy to understand way. I’d definitely suggest giving Nature a try
  • Ain Stolkiner
    not as good as it used to be
    The reporters give biased personal opinions on science that make it hard to tell fact from opinion
  • Optimist runner
    Used to be much better
    Still a good source of science news. But the presentation is irritating and distracting. Does every story have to include cute wordplay? You audience is looking for news, not entertainment. And please, retire the annoying opening jingle; after a dozen listenings it becomes really irritating.
  • Kam♣︎♣︎777
    Terse & unintelligible
    From the bastion of scientific research publishing, this podcast is an uninspired sampling of random scientific news, that presents little to no context or depth aside from plugs to visit the publishers website. Also, if you have trouble with pedantic Cockney accents, then forget it.
  • uhoh7
    Was great, now awful
    Highly affected word play and soundtracks distract from over-edited stories to the point I can no longer stand this once great podcast.
  • tastytomato
    Twitter sourcing
    Is Heidi able to report a story without talking about Trump and getting political? Her reporting seems to consist of talking about what she reads on twitter and other news reports. Where is the original sourcing I value from nature?
  • Ple4s4nt
    Went political
    We came to you for new scientific research stories. Not here any more.
  • ccshatz
    Evolving
    Heidi clear new voice in addition to stalwarts. Good editing.
  • Celeq
    So valuable
    It is truly a breath of fresh air. No BS, just clear, well crafted information on very interesting topics. Sometimes a little over my head, but it is a great stretch. Thanks
  • J-🐱
    Nature rules
    Nature is my favorite! This podcast is much needed for science lovers and the sci-curious, who might not seek out the research journals themselves, alike :)
  • einstein ornii tegshitgel
    So interesting and informative
    Please keep going. Much needed interesting podcast.
  • sk8trdude
    Research paper long read
    I really enjoy the long read because it is nice to hear about research without having to always read a research paper since they are not the most approachable thing to read all the time.
  • raulat
    Best podcast !
    I am glad that I get to listen to nature podcast as I get to work. Love it! You guys are awesome.
  • Daov2a
    Good Wrapup
    This podcast is an excellent wrapup of Nature’s news and general science related news as well as other topics that may relate to a particular science discipline. My only complaint would be its length: I could listen to this all day and I am a subscriber to Nature magazine. Maybe offer a longer news podcast for subscribers? On any case, do not pass up this podcast for neat science news!
  • Cross011088
    Excellent
    This podcast has been extremely educational and enjoyable! I am always eager for the next episode to come out!
  • Gina Marie's ipod
    Excellent science reporting
    This is my one stop podcoast to keep up with all the latst in areas of science beyond the molecular biology I deal with daily. The information is provided in a way that I can clearly understand articles ranging from particle physics to astronomy or quantum chemistry! Love the Brit accents as well!!
  • a non y-mous
    Love it
    This is my favorite Podcast by far. I am a research scientist, and this is real science. The production may not be as polished as you’re used to from your favorite news source, but that’s because the hosts are chosen for their extensive background. The topics presented here are legitimate and drawn directly from the primary sources. To know what’s really cutting edge and relevant in science, look no further!
  • James VonHesinbagg
    Good Podcast
    Good Podcast
  • Erin Ber
    Great information.
    As a scientist I listen to this show to get inspiration and keep up with what's going on in other disciplines. Approachable!
  • Organa57
    Informative
    A fun, interesting way to keep up with some of what’s going on in the science world.
  • Billc60
    Billc60
    My favorite podcast. Funny interesting and informative.
  • isaac_beyond
    Happy lab technician!
    The Nature podcast is my companion on many late nights in the lab. The hosts have a goofy sense of humor combined with impressive knowledge of science and are excellent at distilling the week’s science into an enjoyable 23 minutes. Many generations of bacteria in my lab have grown up listening to the podcast and I like to think they like it too!
  • Hmsdavid
    Excellent source of current scientific discovery
    I love this podcast and look forward to listening to it each week. It helps to keep me current on many different branches of scientific research and discovery of interest. It’s also a good primer for reading the journal.
  • Mkmow
    Super fun
    I spent most of my 2-hour commute today listening to this podcast, and every 5 minutes i was yelling “no way!” out loud in my car. Granted, I have only listened to 1.5 episodes. BUT the full episode I listened to was about soft microbots and manipulable holograms. Thanks for keeping alive the part of science that feels like magic.
  • macdryfrog
    Light lively profound
    LLP
  • Lala10499101
    Topical
    Well presented, not a surface look but also not bogged down with the entirety of tech speak without accompanying explanation. Easy to listen to.
  • Fanatic hambo kid
    Fantastic!
    Broad range of science and science policy topics that is informative, interesting, and well produced.
  • Dylan Fair
    Professional and informative
    Professionally presented and full of interesting information. Basically the audio equivalent of reading Nature magazine, which is very convenient, because I can absorb the content while multitasking instead of setting aside time in the day to read a magazine.
  • A Casual User
    THE ONLY SCIENCE PODCAST
    This is the only science podcast on earth. I am so grateful to the team behind this, who make my daily commute bearable. I wish it could be possible to release it daily. I would be glad to pay for it. I can't believe all other news outlets and science journals don't have their science podcasts. The ones they call science are really not.
  • lfullerton
    The Perfect Science Podcast
    I listen to dozens of science podcasts and this is my favorite. It is the perfect combination of interesting topics, entertaining presentation, and moderate duration. I listen while cycling to and from work and I never miss an episode. I am sorry, though, that the hostess (Kerri Smith) is moving on to other things. I have really enjoyed her style these past several years.
  • forvalaka
    Perfect level
    I'm a middle school science teacher - a science fanboy rather than a practitioner - and this podcast is right at my level; never so technical as to lose me, but rarely oversimplified. And the low-key, and very British, wit that occurs throughout is a much-appreciated aspect.
  • ctsluna
    Essential Listening
    This show is one of my required podcasts each week. The summaries of exciting new scientific stories, interesting perspectives on natural science, and thoughtful applied science pieces are all wonderful. The lovely rapport between the hosts is just a magnificent bonus. I'm always happy to download the latest episode and see what science has been up to this week. Please keep up the excellent work.
  • kangro102
    Best Science Podcast Available
    This review is short, I have listened to pretty most every science podcast available, and this is the best podcast available. It is comprehensive, well produced, great quality sound, fun to listen to, and has enough detail and complexity to keep a well informed lay-person interested.
  • michael.kavanaugh
    A wonderful report on scientific advances
    This is a first-rate program that explains but does not oversimplify scientific news in the fashion of many media outlets. It assumes that its listeners possess intelligence, curiosity and a sense of humor. It makes my commute time fly by.
  • Neuro cat
    Keeps me up to date on science news!
    These guys are funny and entertaining, and make keeping up with the latest news in science highly accessible, especially for a busy grad student working in the lab who doesn't have time to sit down and read the news!
  • kmos1
    Great
    Well done and funny. I love learning more about the world with such guides.
  • whirlaway25
    Catch up on all the latest research while walking to class!
    An indispensable tool for any scientist
  • Labroides
    Look forwad to it every week
    This is a great podcast. I am a research scientist in ecology and too often find it difficult to keep up with what's new and important outside of my own field. However every week I know I can download the Nature Podcast, and by the time my run is over I feel like I've got a good sense about what's exciting outside of my narrow corner of the ivory tower. Well done!
  • djdgdjckebsy fonev
    Interesting Show Covering a Variety of Topics
    Does a good job of breaking down scientific news into general layman's terms, and most importantly, explaining why it matters.
  • KarmaLee1235678975445775467
    Weekly listener
    Great way to keep up with some major scientific highlights each week! I also love the 'futures' science fiction slot!
  • tylerjarbour
    Love you Nature podcast
    Sorry it took me so long to give you these well-deserved stars! Four years this has been and remains my favorite weekly science podcast. I swear it's the British humor and wit that set it apart, not just the great science coverage and journalism. ;)
  • War Rabbits
    If you're interested top quality science news this is the best podcast around
    The length of each episode is just perfect. I imagine it takes the right amount of time if you're washing dishes, driving to work, or working out to listen to a full episode. The research highlights are nice as are the interviews with actual scientists from around the world. I love the science fiction episodes once a month. These come in handy when I need to sleep or take a nap after a long day at the lab. Thanks to everyone who works on the podcast and especially the hosts.
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