Podcasts

Skin-permeable polymer shows promise at insulin delivery in animal experiments — plus, how the brain responds to unfamiliar languages.

Yoshua Bengio talks about the dangers to humanity that he believes AI could represent.

Characteristic radio burst is evidence of a coronal mass ejection from outside our Solar System — plus, understanding the complex genetics of ADHD.

Growth rings in fossilized bones suggest the diminutive dinosaur, Nanotyrannus, would never grow up to become a T. rex — plus, a small breast cancer prevention trial shows promise.

Cold-induced RNA-binding protein was shown to enhance DNA repair — plus, a more universal snakebite venom.

Lessons learnt from research into the body’s internal clock could be key to unlocking blissful slumber.

Researchers unpick the neural mechanisms of how hunger and hormones lead to aggressive behaviours in mice — plus, what gen-AI could mean for universities and students’ education.

Having too rigid a plan could result in exciting opportunities passing you by, warns Ottoline Leyser.

Evolutionary map of viral proteins used to design vaccine that provides broad immunity — plus, reviewing 25 years of carbon offsetting.

Funding crises, bereavement and a supervisor’s relocation can derail your career path, but you can overcome them.

Images from across the web portray women as being younger than men, despite the underlying reality — plus, astronomers’ favourite exoplanets, and the 2025 Nobel prizes.

Julie Gould learns of a career-planning framework that can help pinpoint what you love about your current role, and how that can influence future job moves.

Infections particular to our genome might have helped drive human-specific traits — plus, using heat to power DNA computers.

Claims about what is responsible are ignoring answers from decades of research, scientists say.

Julie Gould asks two mid-career researchers to reflect on how closely their professional paths have followed their original goals and ambitions.

Protein on the surface of brain cells appears to play a key role in disease progression — plus, a bot explores what might have happened to research if the Trump’s teams funding cuts had happened 10 years ago.

Science journalist Lizzie Wade joins us to talk about her new book investigating the seismic events that humans have faced through history.

Should you book a session with a careers advisor or go solo with an individual development plan? Here are the pros and cons of each approach.

Trained on 400,000 medical records, the system can predict risks 20 years in advance — plus, how AIs could make you more likely to cheat.

Julie Gould explores some of the theories and frameworks to help identify future work goals and achieve them.