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PODCAST

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

science

All Episodes

32:30

Humans are finally heading back to the moon; Cheaper...

The world, the universe and us ·

2026/01/02

Episode 339Humans are finally going back to the moon. NASA’s Artemis II mission is set to launch in April, taking four astronauts in a loop around the moon. If it goes well, it’ll set the stage for a lunar landing by Artemis III - bringing us closer to creating permanent settlements on the surface. And that’s not all - SpaceX is planning to visit Mars this year as part of its plans to colonise the Red Planet. Plus, in May we might see the launch of a new American space station. Will these missions

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24:03

Best science TV, film and books of 2025 | The New...

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/12/26

Episode 336Looking for something great to read or watch on TV over the festive period? We’ve got you covered. In a special edition of the podcast, we share our favourite books, TV and films of 2025 - for those moments when you need a break from the festivities. From pure science fiction to books exploring climate change and the history of our early ancestors, we have something for everyone. Below is a list of our top picks. Films and TV Ocean with David Attenborough Andor Season 2 The White

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59:57

Top Science Stories of 2025 | The New Scientist...

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/12/19

Episode 337As we reach the end of the year, catch up on some of New Scientist’s most exciting and thought-provoking features of the past twelve months. For decades we’ve got autism in girls all wrong. Symptoms present quite differently in girls to boys, meaning they often go undiagnosed. So why have we failed to see the differences - and why are girls so often neglected by autism research? We review a feature written by Gina Rippon - one of the scientists studying autism who admits to getting it

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33:02

Orcas and dolphins are now hunting together; Genetic...

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/12/12

Episode 336In an unlikely turn of events, orcas and dolphins have been observed teaming up - to hunt and kill massive chinook salmon in the pacific. Given that orcas sometimes prey on dolphins, what’s going on? Despite the promising signs of cooperation between these two species, there may be something less heartwarming at play. We dig into the findings and discuss other surprising ways animals cooperate with each other. From schizophrenia to bipolar disease, autism to OCD, many mental conditions

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25:25

How exercise shrinks tumours and starves cancer;...

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/12/05

Episode 335Exercise has been shown to shrink tumours by 60 per cent. A new study shows another link between regular exercise and cancer prevention, this time revealing that muscle cells may outcompete cancer cells for energy - basically starving them. We explore the links between metabolism and glucose - with the caveat that so far this has only been demonstrated in mice, in a small study. The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS may be even weirder than we thought. Ever since we spotted this comet from

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39:11

The evolution of sperm and the enduring mystery of...

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/11/28

Episode 334Which sperm is the oldest sperm - the ancestor sperm that came before all others? Well, you might think it links back to an ancient animal that came before us, but the oldest sperm may actually predate animals altogether. We explore this plus the enduring mystery of the scrotum - and why a male’s most important body part is so delicate and…exposed. The team hears about the variation in scrotum morphology across mammals, and the evolution of “non-scrotality”. Our brains undergo four

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30:43

The origin and evolution of music: Steve Pretty plays...

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/11/21

Episode 333It’s not often you get to see or hear someone playing music on a conch shell. So prepare yourself for a musical treat with musician and podcaster Steve Pretty, who brings into the studio a trumpet and a collection of his favourite conches, rigged up to some modern electronics. Steve is best known as the bandleader of the Hackney Colliery Band, and also hosts the Steve Pretty On the Origin of the Pieces podcast. Performing live on the show and recreating the acoustics of prehistoric

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45:02

New genome of ancient human; 95% of us have a dormant...

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/11/14

Episode 332For only the second time, the genome of an ancient Denisovan has been sequenced - thanks to the discovery of a 200,000-year-old tooth found in a Siberian cave. This ancient member of the human family has long been a mystery, so this genome is being described as a bombshell moment, revealing an early stage of Denisovan history. We explore how this reshapes our understanding about the origins of our species. Some 95 per cent of us have a dormant virus, lurking in our bodies - waiting to

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27:15

Why the claims about Hitler’s genome are misleading

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/11/13

Episode 331This week sees the broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK of a documentary called Hitler’s DNA: Blueprint of a dictator. Geneticists have managed to find a DNA sample from Adolf Hitler and have sequenced it and verified it, and now we have his genome. The big question is what does this really tell us – what can we tell from someone’s genome? In this special episode of the podcast, Rowan Hooper is joined by two of the lead figures on the documentary. Turi King is a geneticist at the

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31:30

COP30: The world's climate future hinges on this meeting

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/11/07

Episode 330COP30 is nearly upon us - and this climate conference may be the most crucial so far. In a year where we’ve seen the first major global tipping point reached, destructive wildfires raging in Los Angeles and much more, joint action has never been more urgent. But as hope starts to wane and climate goals continue to be missed, many are questioning the value of the COPs. Even legendary figure Christiana Figueres is showing signs of doubt. So 10 years on from Paris, in a year that

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23:51

The collapse of America’s health data system; How...

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/10/31

Episode 329America’s health data system is in crisis. The US government has been bleeding public health experts – many of whom run crucial public health surveys and databases which help identify, monitor and respond to health threats across the country. From drug use to food security and birth data, discover the 5 surveys most critically hit by the axing of over 20,000 jobs. If nothing is done to address this, vital health information will be missed and the results could be catastrophic. Do you

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29:20

How mRNA vaccines teach your body to kill cancer;...

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/10/24

Episode 328Not only has the mRNA covid vaccine saved 14 million lives, it may also help our bodies fight off cancer. A study of cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy treatment showed those who received an mRNA vaccine lived nearly twice as long - and this effect was discovered by accident. In a trial of cancer vaccines, Elias Sayour’s team at the University of Florida used standard mRNA vaccines as a control - they weren’t meant to do anything. Except they did - and the effect was huge. It’s

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28:29

Neuroscience of reality; Quest for dark matter;...

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/10/20

Episode 327 A special episode recorded on October 18 at New Scientist Live in London, featuring experts in geoscience, dark matter and neuroscience. Anjana Khatwa is an Earth scientist and TV presenter. In her new book, The Whispers of Rock, she brings together Western scientific knowledge about the evolution of our Earth and indigenous knowledge and stories. She demonstrates this connection by exploring the volcanic formation of the Hawaiian islands, and the fascinating folklore attached to their

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34:00

First climate tipping point triggered; Man controls...

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/10/17

Episode 326The world’s first major climate tipping point has been triggered. The decimation of warm water coral populations caused by rising temperatures is now irreversible - passing the point of no return. The global consequences of widescale coral dieback could be catastrophic, so experts are sounding the alarm. But is anyone listening? A man with paralysis has telepathically controlled the hands of another person. Keith Thomas is unable to move or feel through his hands. But thanks to a new

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53:35

Space 2075: How Humanity Will Live, Work and Make...

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/10/13

A special episode all about the future of space exploration, recorded in front of a live audience at the Royal Society in London. Earlier this year, the Royal Society published ‘The Space: 2075 report’, which recognises the huge changes we’re seeing in space exploration, and urges for action to be taken to make sure the next 50 years of activity in space is sustainable and benefits all of humanity. We brought together a panel of space experts to discuss the accelerated advances we’re seeing. Helen

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43:27

How Jane Goodall changed the world; How the universe...

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/10/10

Episode 324The legendary primatologist Jane Goodall died last week aged 91, leaving behind a remarkable legacy. Her work studying tool use in chimpanzees completely reshaped the way we view animal intelligence. Fiercely protective of the natural world, she was also responsible for a huge amount of advocacy during her life. Primatologist Alejandra Pascual-Garrido worked directly with Jane and shares the story of her life and work. Will the universe end with a bang, or a quiet whimper? Katie Mack

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30:56

Emergency in Antarctica; How movement changes the...

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/10/02

Episode 323Temperatures in Antarctica have soared by over 35°C. Scientists are concerned about how quickly things are changing on the continent as these warmer temperatures impact the polar vortex. Coupled with record lows in sea ice cover over the last decade, this could be a sign that Antarctic weather patterns have shifted permanently. What’s driving this change - and what happens if we have reached a tipping point of no return? Many mammals, including cats, can pivot their ears to focus on a

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33:57

Skull rewrites story of human evolution; Autism and...

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/09/26

Episode 322An ancient skull discovered in China may have just rewritten the story of human evolution. It’s widely accepted that the common ancestor of Homo sapiens, Denisovans and Neanderthals came out of Africa. But this skull upends that assumption - potentially showing human evolution began in Asia. Discover how a new reconstruction of the Yunxian fossil skull could push back human origins by 400,000 years. Tylenol does not cause autism. The US government has made headlines with claims that

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32:59

The evolutionary price we pay for longer lives; the...

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/09/19

Episode 321Humans live a lot longer than other primates - and much of that is down to our immune system. But there’s a price we pay for the capacity to fight off infections: inflammation. Chronic inflammation is to blame for a range of health issues, especially those related to older age. And now research has revealed exactly why inflammation is good for longevity but bad for health. Find out how proteins called death-fold domains often malfunction - and what this could mean for the future of drug

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29:59

Why we can't announce life on Mars (yet); The Romans'...

The world, the universe and us ·

2025/09/12

Episode 320Was Mars once home to alien life? The evidence is stronger than ever, since NASA’s discovery of rocks marked by patterns similar to those made by microbes on Earth. Found in an area now named Bright Angel, these rocks give us a tantalising insight into Mars’ ancient past - but just how definitive is this finding? It’s long been thought that when the Roman Empire withdrew from Britain in the early 400s, the result was chaos and economic collapse. But a new archaeological discovery

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366 results

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