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The World, the Universe and Us: Daily Summaries Delivered
by New Scientist
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.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 3 weeks ago24 min
How Your Brain Cleans Itself - And What Happens When It Goes Wrong
Episode 406 The glymphatic system is the brain’s waste disposal system - responsible for clearing out harmful toxins that build up during the day. Now a new mouse study has connected reduced glyphatic flow to Alzheimer’s disease. And because this glymphatic system cleans the brain during sleep, it’s thought poor sleep may contribute to this reduction in brain function. Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by science writer Michael Marshall, who explains the study in detail, what we know about the effects in humans and the steps we can take to improve our own glymphatic flow. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 4 weeks ago30 min
If the AMOC Collapses - Could We Reverse the Damage?
Episode 405 The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a major system of ocean currents that plays a vital role in Earth’s climate. If it collapses, the consequences could be catastrophic. We could see ice-age level winters in Europe, coupled with scalding hot summers - and impacts on food production around the world. The trouble is it’s already weakening. That’s why scientists are building an early warning system that'll warn us of imminent AMOC collapse. But will a warning come soon enough for us to act - and will anyone actually listen? The team explains how the warning system would work, what happens if the AMOC does collapse and how soon it could happen. Plus they look at new research which suggests the AMOC may not be a classic tipping point - because we may be able to resuscitate it even if it stops. To discuss this, Penny Sarchet and Rowan Hooper are joined by climate reporters Alec Luhn and Madeleine Cuff. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Image Credit: Tipping Points: CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=148459736 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Oct 9, 202612 min
Secrets of the World’s Longest-Lived Animals
Episode 404 Jonathan the tortoise was born in the year 1832, on a beach in the Seychelles. 194 years later and Jonathan is still alive, celebrating his birthday. How exactly has he managed to survive for so long? Jonathan is a giant tortoise and the world’s oldest known land animal. His genome has now been sequenced, revealing intriguing hints about longevity. And it seems the key to a long life is all down to mitochondrial function. From Greenland Sharks to the enigmatic quahog, this also seems to be the case for Earth’s other longest-lived creatures - one of which survived for 507 years. Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet discuss what these animals tell us about the science of healthy aging, whether there are any takeaways for us humans - and they celebrate the amazing life of Jonathan. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Oct 2, 202627 min
New Fossil Shows Birds Weren’t the Only Dinosaurs to Evolve Flight
Episode 403 A new species of feathered dinosaur has been discovered - and it looks like a supercharged magpie with teeth. Fossil evidence and an artist’s reconstruction show the dinosaur looks remarkably like a bird - yet it’s not actually an ancestor of modern birds. Over 100 million years old, Norellraptor barsboldi is named after two famous palaeontologists - one of whom taught palaeontologist Steve Brusatte. Steve is the author of The Story of Birds and joins the team to discuss this incredible finding, which shows flight may have evolved at least two separate times. He also explains how dinosaurs didn’t go extinct - but still roam among us today. On the panel are Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Sep 25, 202621 min
This El Niño Is About To Cause a Global Catastrophe
Episode 402 The current El Niño is shaping up to cause catastrophe on a global scale. Global temperatures are being pushed up, unleashing extreme weather which could devastate ecosystems. The heat alone is expected to kill half a million people over the next five months. Sea-surface temperatures are expected to climb 4°C above average in parts of the Pacific - and it’s becoming clear this is an issue that affects us all. From extreme heat in some places to heavy rainfall in others, many countries are bracing for impact. Combined with the threat of “king tides”, California has even declared a state of emergency. Despite the sweltering heat we’ve just experienced, forecasters now say 2027 will be the hottest year on record - before it’s even begun. So how can we prepare? To discuss the threat we’re facing and possible solutions (like geoengineering), Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by climate journalists Madeleine Cuff and Alec Luhn. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Sep 21, 202648 min
How to Be Hopeful: Caitlin Moran and New Scientist Look to the Future
Episode 401 Anxiety is everywhere. Climate change, political turmoil and a constant stream of alarming headlines can make optimism feel impossible. But to be hopeful you don’t need to ignore reality. What if it’s about paying attention to the breakthroughs that are already changing the world? In this special episode Penny Sarchet and Rowan Hooper are joined by bestselling author Caitlin Moran, who spent a year chasing hope. Prompted by her new book How to Be Hopeful, the New Scientist team shares eight recent developments that genuinely make them optimistic about the future. From the explosive growth of solar energy and the possibility of crops that make their own fertiliser, to new classes of medicines, AI-assisted scientific discovery, and even the search for life beyond Earth, this episode is a celebration of progress, curiosity and human ingenuity. Also on the panel are Madeleine Cuff, Catherine de Lange, 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
- Sep 18, 202631 min
THIS Is What You Need To Worry About With The Rise Of AI
Episode 400 Should we really be afraid of AI? Many headline statements from the likes of Anthrophic, OpenAI and even the King are raising alarm bells over the threat of AI to humanity. AI companies are even calling to be more highly regulated. But does that mean the threats are worth considering - or are there ulterior motives? Among the apocalyptic or disastrous ways it could go wrong, there are genuine issues we should be thinking about today. Alignment is one of those - how closely AI aligns with human values and whether it continues to obey us. And the threat of supercharged cyber attacks is another. But is extinction really on the cards? To discuss the reality of the situation we’re facing, Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by Timothy Revell, Matthew Sparkes and Jacob Aron. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Image credits: Sam Altman: TechCrunch, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 via Wikimedia Commons Mark Zuckerberg: Anthony Quintano from Honolulu, HI, United States, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 via Wikimedia Commons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Sep 16, 202623 min
The Mystery of Childbirth Is Finally Being Unravelled
Episode 399 Some aspects of childbirth have remained surprisingly mysterious - and scientists haven’t been able to agree on what actually kicks off the labour process. But they’ve finally worked out what’s going on - and the discovery could turn birth into a much more predictable occasion. The labour process in humans is much more complex than in other mammals. But researchers have now worked out the driving force that kicks it all off is the immune system - a special type of inflammatory macrophage sending mitochondria to the uterus just before birth. To explain this new discovery and why it might be game-changing for avoiding pre-term births, Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by Australia reporter Alice Klein. 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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About The World, the Universe and Us
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.
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