Nature Podcast

Hosted by Springer Nature Limited

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922

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Aug 2026

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About the show

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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60 recent

October 2, 202632 min

‘Learning about physics changed my life’: author Hernan Diaz on his new novel Ply

In this episode, we speak with Hernan Diaz whose most recent novel Ply blends a vision of a dystopian future with questions about selfhood and asks whether advanced physics could be used to unravel the fabric of spacetime itself. Ply Hernan Diaz Picador (2026) Music supplied by SPD/Triple Scoop Music/Getty Images 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 30, 202618 min

These optical illusions are why butterflies are so hard to catch

High-speed footage of takeoffs reveal that the butterfly markings mislead the eye, making them harder to catch. 00:45 Butterflies in flight create confusing motion cues that baffle birds Research Article: Hancock et al. 14:09 Research Highlights Research Article: Menezes and Podos Research Highlight: Huge hoard of metal bars hints at vast Iron Age trade Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 25, 202611 min

Briefing Chat: Why scientists made papyrus scrolls, then burnt them

In this episode 00:23 How detecting lead could help researchers read damaged Roman scrolls Nature: Watch scientists decipher burned scrolls without unrolling them 06:42 A biodegradeable, paper-inspired battery Nature: Edible batteries power medical devices in the body Subscribe 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 23, 202624 min

Bank accounts reveal the fingerprints of abusive financial control

00:45 Investigating the day-to-day impacts of Financial Abuse Nature: Trendl et al. Support organizations UK: Surviving Economic Abuse US: National Domestic Violence Helpline 12:14 Research Highlights Nature: Mercury is shrinking with age — faster than thought Nature: Cognitive resilience helps to predict Alzheimer’s dementia 14:55 How opposing forces in the Earth's core alter how the planet spins Nature: Gravitational tug-of-war inside Earth is changing the length of our days Subscribe 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 18, 202612 min

Briefing Chat: Evidence mounts for hidden chambers beyond Tutankhamun's tomb

In this episode: 00:22 Could secret rooms lie beyond Tutankhamun's tomb? Nature: Exclusive: New evidence for hidden chambers beyond Tutankhamun’s tomb 05:55 A multifunctional brain–computer interface Nature: ‘Multifunctional’ brain implant translates speech and gestures in real time Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 16, 202628 min

Transplanted human brain-tissue takes root in mice without a cortex

In this episode: 00:46 Human brain-organoids transplanted into mice missing their cortex Nature: Human brain cells transplanted into mice in ‘most extensive’ integration ever 13:51 Research Highlights Nature: Ruins of ancient Asian city show engineering prowess and organization Nature: Distant sensors announced a fearsome tsunami’s birth 16:16 Paper2Agent: the AI tool that lets researchers talk to papers Nature: AI tool turns any paper into an ‘agent’ that can collaborate and answer complex queries Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 11, 202615 min

Briefing Chat: The Bunsen burner myth that turns out to be just hot air

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 mutations Nature: DeepMind’s new genome ‘atlas’ charts effects of all nine billion human gene mutations 07:10 Bacteria can still contaminate plates near to active Bunsen burners Nature: 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 9, 202621 min

Phone tutoring boosts math scores when schools are forced to close

In this episode: 00:46 How telephone teaching could boost education during school shutdowns Nature: Pick up the phone! Phone calls with tutors keep kids learning when schools shut down 11:42 Research Highlights Nature: Super-precise optical clocks in four nations tick in harmony Nature: These greenhouse-gas sources have trotters and snouts 14:15 Why atlases might need an update Nature: Hello Equal Earth: what the UN’s new world map will change Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 4, 202612 min

Briefing Chat: How 1,000 pairs of buried underpants helped measure soil health

In this episode: 00:21 Our picks of this year’s Ig Nobel prizes Nature: Buried underpants and a new definition of kissing win 2026 Ig Nobel prizes 07:47 Massive xenon experiment detects tantalizing hint of dark matter Nature: Is this the first glimpse of dark matter? Data point excites physicists Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 2, 202618 min

Audio long read: Could mending damaged DNA prolong life?

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? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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