Afleveringen
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Episode 385What can Homer’s Odyssey teach us about psychology and human nature? Locked up in this 2,500-year-old text are a host of profound lessons and ancient wisdom. In her new book The Odyssey Mindset, Oxford classicist and clinical psychologist Sam Akbar draws on seven essential lessons from this classic piece of Greek literature. She showcases what it teaches us about issues like grief, ego and dealing with trauma - translating The Odyssey into a toolkit for modern life.The book is out just as Christopher Nolan’s film The Odyssey hits the big screen. So if you want to have a deeper appreciation of Homer’s work before you visit the cinema, this one’s for you.Rowan Hooper speaks to Sam Akbar about the incredible influence this work has had on Western culture, and Homer’s lessons for clinical psychology.To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Episode 384
The story of evolution is being brought to life in a new way. BBC series Evolution tells the story of 5 iconic animals, from elephants to ostriches, using CGI to reimagine ancient fossils.
And this isn’t just about the animals that came before them, but also explores the intricacies of how locomotion, intelligence, feeding, and reproduction emerged.
The series is hosted by broadcaster, natural history legend, and New Scientist superfan Chris Packham, who hopes Evolution will remind viewers that we are all connected on a deep and fundamental level.
Penny Sarchet sits down with Chris to discuss why they've chosen to tell the story in this way and explore some of his series highlights.
To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
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Episode 383As another heatwave takes hold, figures are now showing just how deadly the last one was. With one early estimate suggesting as many as 25,000 people may have died in Europe as a result of June’s extreme heat.Heatwaves across Europe, Asia, Australia and the US hit record highs last month and wildfires are now spreading across southern Europe. And as the effects of climate change increase the intensity year on year, can we be better prepared for the next ones coming our way?In this episode we discuss the urgent need to adapt homes and infrastructure to deal with a warming climate, the impact of extreme heat on the human body - and how you can become better adapted for the coming hot weather. Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist reporters Michael Le Page and Alec Luhn. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Episode 382
Scientists have created a synthetic cell with just 36 genes that can copy DNA and replicate. In an attempt to create a “minimal cell”, a team led by professor Kate Adamala have built “SpudCell” from the ground up, using non-living components.
But is it alive - and is it dangerous? Despite being able to carry out some of the tasks of a normal cell, it’s not clear that it’s capable of evolution - yet. But it is a major breakthrough in the field and could pave the way for the creation of artificial life in the future.
Researchers have made their work open source so the next breakthrough can be fasttracked - and hope it will help provide a solution to the climate crisis by replacing the need for petrochemicals.
To discuss the news - and its implications for the origin of life - Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist reporter Michael Le Page.
To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
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Episode 381
Advances in sports science, data analysis and AI are having a huge impact on the way football is played. With England rated highly in this year’s World Cup, and teams such as Paraguay causing upsets - how will science help give teams an edge?
In the past there was very little data available to help assess player performance - and diet and training were much more rudimentary. But now we can analyse information in an incredibly sophisticated way, which is changing what players can achieve on the pitch.
In this special World Cup episode recorded at the Royal Society in London, we explore the emerging role of data and AI in football, the neuroscience of penalty shootouts, the impact of extreme heat on player performance, differences between the men’s and women’s game - and much more.
Rowan Hooper is joined by a panel of expert guests, including:
Dr Charlotte Cowie, Chief Medical Officer of the British Olympic Association
Dr Ian Graham, Founder of sports advisory business Ludonautics
Holly Bridge, Professor of Neuroscience at University of Oxford
To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
Image credit: Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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Episode 380
The DNA of ancient humans has been found preserved in cave art that’s more than 40,000 years old. This discovery could open an entirely new avenue for finding out about the lives of our ancient ancestors.
Researchers from the First Art project found these unexpected samples while examining 11 different caves decorated with rock art. Although it’s unclear if the DNA belongs to the original artist, it may soon be possible for researchers to identify the exact person who did the painting - and even uncover traits like their hair and eye colour.
Now this has been done once, the potential for more discoveries is massive. We may even be able to figure out if Neanderthals were also making art like this.
Rowan Hooper is joined by features editor Alison George and Genevieve von Petzinger at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.
To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
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Episode 379
El Niño has officially arrived – a natural climate event that raises global temperatures. The difference this time is it looks very likely to become a “Super” El Niño. This is a more extreme warming phase which could lead to record high temperatures.
Coupled with the ongoing impacts of climate change, weather agencies are predicting an increase in extreme weather events around the world. From droughts to floods and devastating coral bleaching, what will this year’s warming bring?
We find out how a “Super” El Niño differs from a normal one, the extent of the damage it could cause and whether it’s responsible for the strange weather we’ve already had this year in the UK.
Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by Emily Black, Climate Professor at the University of Reading and New Scientist climate journalist Alec Luhn.
To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
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Episode 378
A prototype Stonehenge has been discovered - an even older structure that may have been a first attempt at building the famous megalithic calendar.
A team led by archaeologist Phil Harding, best-known for the TV series ‘Time Team’, discovered a range of artefacts at a site near Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire.
Excavations at Bulford uncovered pottery, animal bones, flints - and something even more telling. Signs of a structure of wooden poles were found, that line up directly with the summer solstice sun.
Phil Harding joins Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet to discuss what he found and why it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
Image Credits:
Wessex Archaeology - www.wessexarch.co.uk
Marijane Porter
Dr Fabio Silva
garethwiscombe, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Andrew Dunn, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Episode 377
Considered too dangerous and unreliable a few years ago, the technology for gene editing babies is advancing fast. Improved methods of using CRISPR gene editing are making the technique safer and more targeted. But does that mean we should be creating designer babies?
A new, more powerful version of CRISPR has already saved lives by correcting cells in children linked to leukaemia. But editing human embryos is a different story - and less safe. Despite this, researchers have been studying whether it’s possible.
To discuss the obstacles that still need to be overcome and the ethical challenges, Rowan Hooper is joined by reporter Michael Le Page.To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
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Episode 376
For the first time, scientists have mapped Earth’s vast underground fungal network - and it’s bigger than anyone imagined. Beneath our feet, plants and fungi have a hidden symbiotic relationship, sharing nutrients through fine fungal threads called hyphae.
With these new global maps, we’re now starting to understand just how important the mycorrhizal network is in keeping the Earth’s climate stable - including the extent of the carbon it draws down.
But the ecosystems where these networks exist are being stripped back for agriculture and damaged by fungicides - so how can we protect them?
To explore this topic, Rowan Hooper is joined by some of the researchers behind the project - Toby Kiers, Tom Shimizu and Merlin Sheldrake.
To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
Find out more about SPUN, the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks: https://www.spun.earth/
See the Mycorrhizal Infrastructure Map: https://a-hidden-infrastructure.spun.earth
Read Rowan’s symbiosis book ‘Togetherness’: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/459006/togetherness-by-hooper-rowan/9781911717140
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Episode 375
The world’s deepest known whale graveyard has been discovered in the southern Indian Ocean. Located at a depth of seven kilometres, it contains millions of whale bones and has been described as a “deep-sea fossil megasite” and a whale necropolis.
Chinese researchers, diving in the crewed Fendouzhe submersible, undertook 32 dives along 1200 kilometres of the seafloor in an area known as the Diamantina Zone. They discovered a vast amount of whale bones of different ages.
Recent carcasses support a thriving ecosystem of invertebrates such as bone eating worms and brittle stars, but there are also fossil bones up to 5 million years old.
Why are the bones collected in this area? Join host Rowan Hooper and reporter James Woodford as they discuss the startling and eerie discovery.To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
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Episode 374
Google DeepMind is simulating entire worlds using AI - that can be interacted with in real time.
“World models” simulate the environment and physics of the real world. And DeepMind’s Genie 3 model allows people to create these worlds with basic image and text prompts.
The idea is not just to allow people to explore these worlds, but to serve as a testbed for AI agents to learn how to interact with the world before they are deployed in humanoid robotic bodies.
Could this be the next big step towards artificial general intelligence (AGI)?
Joshua Howgego speaks to Jack Parker Holder, Research Director at Google DeepMind, about the latest developments.
To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
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Episode 373
Despite being 5,300-years-old, the gut microbiome of the famous Ötzi the Ice Man appears to be still alive. A mix of ancient and modern bacteria have been found on Ötzi’s mummified remains - which are preserved in icy conditions.
Found in 1991 by hikers on a glacier in the Alps, Ötzi has already taught us an incredible amount about the life of humans living in Europe during the Copper Age - and continues to reveal his secrets.
While we unpack this surprising news, we also explore some of the other fascinating discoveries Ötzi has led us to over the years, from the type of food ancient people ate during this period, to the different animal skins they wore as clothing. We also discuss the six tools he was found with - and why he was covered in 61 tattoos.
To discuss the new finding, Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist’s Sam Wong.
To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
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Episode 372
Part of the world’s widest glacier is about to collapse – one of the dramatic changes underway that could ultimately trigger a 3 metre rise in sea levels, threatening coastal cities around the world.
Thwaites is a massive glacier in Antarctica – the size of Florida. A key part of the glacier could break away any day now -– an ice shelf that helps protect the main glacier from warm ocean water.
Scientists are shocked by the speed at which these changes have happened. Is there anything we can do to stop it?
To discuss the news, Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist’s Alison George – former British Antarctic Survey scientist.
To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
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Episode 371
The moa was a giant flightless bird from New Zealand that died out around 500 years ago. Are we about to see it brought back from extinction?
Colossal Biosciences say they have made an artificial egg shell that is a step towards recreating the massive eggs of moas (and dodos). This is huge news… if it works. Is this really enough to bring them back to life - and should we even be trying?
We discuss the news and wider ethical implications of de-extinction - including Colossal’s headline goal of bringing back the woolly mammoth to assist in the climate crisis.
Rowan Hooper is joined by New Scientist’s Michael Le Page and palaeontologist Victoria Herridge.
To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
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Episode 370
The melting ice caps are accelerating global warming and contributing to sea level rise, but could also contribute to a different kind of climate catastrophe. The melting may cause massive amounts of frozen methane to bubble up into the atmosphere. It happened thousands of years ago - and scientists are concerned it’s about to happen again.
Methane is a greenhouse gas which is 86 times more potent than CO2. Some estimates suggest this frozen methane - methane hydrates - contain twice as much warming potential as all the coal, oil and gas on Earth.
Scientists have now discovered a new way for methane in Greenland to be unleashed. It’s not a threat that has been taken seriously as the evidence has been inconclusive. But perhaps it’s time for us to take notice?
Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist’s Alec Luhn to discuss the news.
To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
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Episode 369
A strange tooth found in a Siberian cave has pushed back the earliest evidence of dentistry by 45,000 years. The weird thing is, the evidence comes from a Neanderthal tooth - upending what we thought these ancient humans were capable of.
Markings on the 60,000-year-old molar show Neanderthals may have used stone tools to “drill” the tooth to treat dental decay. A team of scientists has recreated the experience - and it sounds gruesome.
And that’s not all for Neanderthal news - as archaeologists have discovered an ancient kneeprint made in clay around 175,000 years ago. It was found in a cave containing a mysterious stalagmite circle that may have been deliberately constructed. Could this suggest Neanderthals were engaging in some sort of religious practice?
Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist’s Sam Wong and Michael le Page to discuss these two discoveries
Listen to Change Your Mind, the new podcast from New Scientist: https://podfollow.com/1896636265 To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
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Episode 368
Scientists are concerned by a sudden increase in the rate of sea level rise. In 2012 it suddenly accelerated and has remained high ever since.
From melting glaciers to oceans expanding as they warm, global sea levels have risen by more than 0.2 metres over the past 15 years. Places like Venice and New Orleans are already under threat - and this fast pace of change is only set to make things worse.
So what’s causing this sudden shift? As sea level rise is now moving faster than we expect, is there something else driving up the tides? We also look to the future, when we could face truly catastrophic change.
Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist climate reporter Michael le Page to discuss the latest research.To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
Further reading:
Jump in rate of sea level rise - https://www.newscientist.com/article/2525773-there-has-been-a-sudden-increase-in-the-rate-of-sea-level-rise/
Global warming is accelerating - https://www.newscientist.com/article/2518362-earth-is-now-heating-up-twice-as-fast-as-in-previous-decades/
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Episode 367
Some people are genetically destined to develop Alzheimer’s disease. But one man who carried the devastating mutation seems to have escaped it entirely - and scientists think it may be because of his job.
Doug Whitney inherited the rare variant of a gene that should have caused early-onset Alzheimer’s in his mid-40s. Many of his family members died from it. Instead, he is now 76 years old with no memory problems and no trace of the disease. Researchers investigating his case uncovered a surprising clue: his inadvertent heat exposure while working as a mechanic in ship engine rooms.
Could heat exposure really help shield the brain from Alzheimer’s? What does Doug’s case reveal about the disease? And should we all build a sauna in our backyard?
Rowan Hooper is joined by New Scientist reporter Alice Klein to discuss Doug Whitney’s extraordinary case and what it could mean for the future of Alzheimer’s research.
To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
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Episode 366
A Pluto-sized object in the outer solar system has shocked scientists. It’s so tiny that it shouldn’t have an atmosphere - but it does.
Object 2002 XV93, known as a plutino, is a small rock floating about in the Kuiper belt - a doughnut-shaped region of icy objects out near Pluto. What’s surprising is that many dwarf planets bigger than this object can’t hold an atmosphere, so it’s a mystery how this is even possible.
This discovery comes as the decades-long debate about Pluto begins to bubble up again. Pluto was demoted from its planet status in 2006. But now NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is reigniting the debate - on a controversial mission to make Pluto a planet again.
So with this mysterious object and its unexpected atmosphere, plus the chance of Pluto being reinstated, do we need to change how we define planets? Is everything just a planet now?
Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by Jacob Aron and James Woodford to discuss the many ramifications of this new finding.
To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
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