The World, the Universe and Us

Weekly conversations with scientists on current discoveries and mysteries AI summary

New Scientist Visit website › Science · EN · 477 episodes · latest 2026-11-13

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What it is about

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

Publisher’s own description, taken unchanged from the podcast feed.
© 2026 New Scientist Podcasts

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Latest episodes

The Gene That Could Explain Why Autism Is More Common in Boys

2026-11-13 · 25 min

Episode 411 Why may now have an answer as to why autism is less common in women and girls. And it’s all to do with ZFX, a gene that may explain the so-called “female protective effect”. A new study found a set of genes…
COP31: Are the World's Climate Summits Actually Working Anymore?

2026-11-05 · 30 min

Episode 409 COP31 is about to take place against the backdrop of a year of accelerating climate disasters, plus a record breaking October and confirmation that we’ve exceeded the Paris climate agreement. This year's UN…
Climate Overshoot Is Here - And Antarctica Is in Trouble

2026-10-29 · 22 min

Episode 407 The latest UN climate report is out and we’ve blown past 1.5 degrees of warming. We’re now in “overshoot” - an acknowledgement that global temperatures will rise beyond 1.5 degrees, but can theoretically be…
How Your Brain Cleans Itself - And What Happens When It Goes Wrong

2026-10-22 · 24 min

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…
If the AMOC Collapses - Could We Reverse the Damage?

2026-10-16 · 31 min

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…
Secrets of the World’s Longest-Lived Animals

2026-10-09 · 12 min

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?…
New Fossil Shows Birds Weren’t the Only Dinosaurs to Evolve Flight

2026-10-02 · 28 min

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 -…
This El Niño Is About To Cause a Global Catastrophe

2026-09-25 · 22 min

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…
How to Be Hopeful: Caitlin Moran and New Scientist Look to the Future

2026-09-21 · 49 min

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…
THIS Is What You Need To Worry About With The Rise Of AI

2026-09-18 · 31 min

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…

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Publisher details

Oldest episode in feed: 01/2020 · over 6 years
Typical length: 28 min
Format: Episodic Newest first, episodes stand alone

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