The world, the universe and us Podcast By New Scientist cover art

The world, the universe and us

The world, the universe and us

By: New Scientist
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 From the evolution of intelligent life, to the mysteries of consciousness; from the threat of the climate crisis to the search for dark matter, The world, the universe and us is your essential weekly dose of science and wonder in an uncertain world. Hosted by journalists Dr Rowan Hooper and Dr Penny Sarchet and joined each week by expert scientists in the field, the show draws on New Scientist’s unparalleled depth of reporting to put the stories that matter into context. Feed your curiosity with the podcast that will restore your sense of optimism and nourish your brain. For more visit newscientist.com/podcasts© 2025 New Scientist Podcasts Politics & Government Science
Episodes
  • First full genome of Ancient Egyptian sequenced; Wild killer whales offer gifts to humans; First demonstration of interstellar navigation

    First full genome of Ancient Egyptian sequenced; Wild killer whales offer gifts to humans; First demonstration of interstellar navigation
    Jul 4 2025
    Episode 310 An ancient Egyptian's complete genome has been read for the first time. The DNA of a man who lived in Egypt over 4500 years ago offers a new window into the ancient society and hints at surprising genetic connections with Mesopotamia. Based on forensic analysis of the man's skeleton and preserved images of different Egyptian occupations, the researchers think his most likely occupation was a potter. The team discusses what the breakthrough means for our understanding of early Egypt and even for the origin of writing. Wild orcas, or killer whales, have been seen giving gifts to humans - things like pieces of liver, rays and dead birds. This is the first time these apparent acts of altruism have been documented. Does this prove whales are capable of showing compassion or kindness? Images beamed back from the New Horizons spacecraft, which has left the solar system, have enabled the first test of interstellar navigation. By measuring the distance between two stars that it snapped images of, astronomers have been able to pinpoint its location in the galaxy. And in other interstellar news, we also just spotted an object hurtling towards our solar system. Recently named ‘Atlas’, this object will be whizzing by in October, close enough for us to study. Chapters: (00:42) Ancient Egyptian genome sequenced (12:33) Killer whales give humans gifts (18:59) First demonstration of interstellar navigation Hosted by Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet, with guests Mike Marshall, Alex Wilkins, Joel Irish and Lori Marino. 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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    30 mins
  • This breakthrough could let gay couples have biological kids

    This breakthrough could let gay couples have biological kids
    Jun 27 2025
    A groundbreaking experiment in reproductive biology has resulted in mice being born from two biological fathers. By fusing sperm and putting them into an emptied egg cell, researchers in China have produced healthy and fertile offspring from two male mice. While it’s early days and the technique requires hundreds of embryos to get results, it opens up the possibility of same-sex reproduction in mammals, including humans, in the future. New insights into the power of sleep reveal how short naps can boost creativity. A study found that reaching a certain stage of sleep, known as N2, significantly increased people’s chances of having an “aha!” moment. It’s more evidence of how deeply intertwined sleep is with problem-solving and innovation, and why naps might be more productive than we thought. One ancient lizard family managed to survive the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs, and they’re still around today! Scientists have traced the lineage of night lizards back to over 90 million years ago. Their ability to shelter underground and survive on little energy may have helped them live through one of Earth’s biggest disasters. Chapters: (00:38) Same-sex reproduction breakthrough (12:09) Power naps and creativity (22:37) Ancient lizard survives dinosaur-killing asteroid Hosted by Rowan Hooper, Penny Sarchet, and Michael Le Page. 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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    30 mins
  • First skull of mysterious human ancestor; Decoding whale language; Heatwaves 20x more likely to happen

    First skull of mysterious human ancestor; Decoding whale language; Heatwaves 20x more likely to happen
    Jun 20 2025
    Episode 308 An ancient skull discovered in China has been confirmed to belong to a Denisovan. It’s been tough to study this mysterious human ancestor, as we’ve only ever found a finger and jaw bone - so this new discovery could reshape our understanding of them. After being kept secret for decades, the “dragon man” skull is opening up a new window into our past. We’ve unlocked another clue in our quest to decode whale language. Analysis of 15 sperm whales in the Caribbean suggest their language may contain vowels, used in a similar way to human language. Using their various clicks, researchers have discovered interesting patterns in the way they communicate. Feeling hot and sweaty? Well, strap in - because these heatwaves are set to continue…and get worse. Summers are evolving fast as a result of climate change and weather events that would’ve once been rare are becoming much more common. Find out how the UK could be in for a string of long 40C summers in the very near future. The winner of The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction has been revealed - Dr Rachel Clarke claims the title for her book “The Story of a Heart”. The book explores the history of heart transplants and tells the story of a nine year old girl whose heart saved two other children and two adults. Rachel explains why she chose to write this story and the surprising things she learnt along the way. Chapters: (00:41) Denisovan skull discovery (14:02) Deconding whale language (18:14) Hot summers becoming more common (26:16) Winner of The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction Hosted by Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet, with guests Madeleine Cuff, Mike Marshall, Gillian Kay, Alison Flood and Rachel Clarke. 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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    36 mins
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Interesting topics, guests who are knowledgable and speak in plain language. The hosts have a sense of humor and nice chemistry with each other.

Interesting stories, charming hosts with good chemistry!

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