Best Springer Nature Limited Podcasts (2025)

1
Audio long read: Do smartphones and social media really harm teens’ mental health? 17:33

1d ago17:33

17:33

Research shows that, over the past two decades, rates of mental illness have been increasing in adolescents in many countries. While some scientists point to soaring use of smartphones and social media as a key driver for this trend, others say the evidence does not show a large effect of these technologies on teenagers’ psychological health. At th…

1
A brand-new colour created by lasers, a pig-liver transplant trial gets the green light, and a nugget-sized chunk of lab-grown meat 20:27

3d ago20:27

20:27

00:27 Five people see ‘olo’, a brand-new colour Using a laser system to activate specific eye cells, a team has allowed five study participants to perceive a vibrant blue-greenish hue well outside the natural range of colours seen by humans. Although the setup required to accomplish this feat is currently complicated, this finding could provide mor…

1
‘Dark matter’, 'Big Bang' and ‘spin’: how physics terms can confuse researchers 33:11

4d ago33:11

33:11

Categorizing things is central to science. And there are dozens of systems scientists have created to name everything from the trenches on the sea bed to the stars in the sky. But names have consequences. What’s in a name is a series exploring naming in science and how names impact the world. We look at whether the system of naming species remains …

1
What a trove of potato genomes reveals about the humble spud 32:41

10d ago32:41

32:41

In this episode: 00:46 A potato pangenome Researchers have created a ‘pangenome’ containing the genomes of multiple potato types, something they believe can help make it easier to breed and sequence new varieties. The potato's complicated genetics has made it difficult to sequence the plant's genome, but improvements in technology have allowed the …

1
Long-awaited ape genomes give new insights into their evolution — and ours 29:48

17d ago29:48

29:48

00:46 Complete sequencing of ape genomes Researchers have sequenced the complete genomes of six ape species, helping uncover the evolutionary history of our closest relatives and offering insights into what makes humans human. The genomes of chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, Bornean orangutan, Sumatran orangutan and siamang have been sequenced end-to-en…

1
From Hippocrates to COVID-19: the scientific fight to prove diseases can be airborne 32:27

19d ago32:27

32:27

Science writer and New York Times columnist Carl Zimmer's latest book Air-Borne: The Hidden History of the Life we Breathe dives into the invisible maelstrom of microbial life swirling in the air around us — examining how it helped shape our world, and the implications that breathing it in can have on human health. Carl joined us to discuss histori…

1
Trump team removes senior NIH chiefs in shock move 11:32

22d ago11:32

11:32

In this Podcast Extra, we hear the latest on how decisions by the Trump administration are affecting science in the US. Most recently, a purge of National Institutes of Health (NIH) leadership has seen the chiefs of multiple institutes and centres removed from their posts. Plus, after cancelling nearly all NIH projects studying transgender health, …

1
World’s tiniest pacemaker could revolutionize heart surgery 37:41

24d ago37:41

37:41

00:46 Millimetre-sized pacemaker fits inside syringe Researchers have developed a tiny, temporary pacemaker that dissolves when no longer needed, helping to overcome some of the challenges associated with current devices. Temporary pacemakers are often required after heart surgery but implanting them can require invasive procedures. This new device…

1
Audio long read: How quickly are you ageing? What molecular ‘clocks’ can tell you about your health 17:56

29d ago17:56

17:56

With money pouring in and an unprecedented level of public attention and excitement, scientists are publishing a steady stream of papers on ways to measure how rapidly a person’s body is declining. However, there are mixed feelings of enthusiasm and apprehension among researchers about efforts to develop tests that measure the impact of ageing on t…

1
New lasso-shaped antibiotic kills drug-resistant bacteria 32:45

1M ago32:45

32:45

In this episode: 00:46 Newly discovered molecule shows potent antibiotic activity Researchers have identified a new molecule with antibiotic activity against a range of disease-causing bacteria, including those resistant to existing drugs. The new molecule — isolated from soil samples taken from a laboratory technician’s garden — is called lariocid…

1
Tiny satellite sets new record for secure quantum communication 31:05

1M ago31:05

31:05

00:46 Microsatellite makes messaging secure A tiny satellite has enabled quantum-encrypted information to be sent between China and South Africa, the farthest distance yet achieved for quantum communication. Using a laser-based system, a team in the city of Hefei was able to beam a ‘secret key’ encoded in quantum states of photons, to their colleag…

1
Sapphire anvils squeeze metals atomically-thin 33:12

1M ago33:12

33:12

00:46 2D metals made using sapphire press Taking inspiration from industrial forging, researchers have demonstrated a way to squeeze molten metals into atomically-thin layers, creating relatively large flakes of 2D metals. Using a hydraulic press containing two sapphire anvils, a team was able to create sub-nanometer thick sheets of different metal…

1
Earliest crafted bone tools date back 1.5 million years 29:48

2M ago29:48

29:48

00:46 Ancient humans made bone tools 1.5 million years ago A 1.5-million-year-old cache of animal-bone tools reveals that ancient humans systematically crafted with this material much earlier than previously thought. Researchers uncovered 27 bone artefacts in Tanzania honed into sharp tools almost 40 cm long. This discovery pushes back the dedicate…

1
Audio long read: Why kids need to take more risks — science reveals the benefits of wild, free play 16:10

2M ago16:10

16:10

Over the past two decades, research has emerged showing that opportunities for risky play are crucial for children's healthy physical, mental and emotional development. However, because play is inherently free-form it has been difficult to study. Now, scientists are using innovative approaches, including virtual reality, to probe the benefits of ri…

1
If your heart stops, this smartwatch-AI can call for help 19:58

2M ago19:58

19:58

00:47 A ‘smart’ way to quickly detect cardiac arrest Google researchers have developed an AI for a smartwatch that will call for help if its wearer is having a cardiac arrest. Trained, in part, on data gained when patients had their hearts deliberately stopped during a medical procedure, the team’s machine learning algorithm can automatically detec…

1
Racist ratings linger in five-star systems — a thumbs up could fix that 31:45

2M ago31:45

31:45

01:14 A simple switch to reduce racist ratings A study of almost 70,000 ratings showed that racial discrimination could be eliminated from an online platform by switching from a five-star rating system to a thumbs up or down. The platform connected customers to workers who performed home repair jobs, and prior to the shift people categorised by the…

1
Record-breaking neutrino detected by huge underwater telescope 34:56

2M ago34:56

34:56

In this episode: 00:45 An elusive, cosmic neutrino with a record-breaking energy An enormous array of detectors, deep under the Mediterranean Sea, has captured evidence of the highest-energy neutrino particle ever recorded, although researchers aren’t sure exactly where in the cosmos it originated. Calculations revealed this particle had over 30 ti…

1
From viral variants to devastating storms, how names shape the public's reaction to science 35:11

3M ago35:11

35:11

In episode 2 of 'What's in a name' we look how choosing names can help, or hinder, attempts to communicate important messages. Categorizing things is central to science. And there are dozens of systems scientists have created to name everything from the trenches on the sea bed to the stars in the sky. But names have consequences. In our series What…

1
Kids' real-world arithmetic skills don't transfer to the classroom 34:47

3M ago34:47

34:47

In this episode: 00:45 How arithmetic skills don’t transfer between applied and academic environments Mathematics skills learnt in real-world situations may not translate to the classroom and vice versa, according to a new study. A team surveyed children in India who work in markets, to see whether the skills they learnt there transferred to the cl…

1
The AI revolution is running out of data. What can researchers do? 16:31

3M ago16:31

16:31

The explosive improvement in artificial intelligence (AI) technology has largely been driven by making neural networks bigger and training them on more data. But experts suggest that the developers of these systems may soon run out of data to train their models. As a result, teams are taking new approaches, such as searching for other unconventiona…

1
Asteroid Bennu contains building blocks of life 34:51

3M ago34:51

34:51

In this episode: 00:46 Evidence of ancient brine reveals Bennu’s watery past Analysis of samples taken from the asteroid Bennu reveal the presence of organic compounds important for life, and that its parent asteroid likely contained salty, subsurface water. Collected by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, these rocks and dust particles give insights into t…

1
What's the best way to become a professor? The answer depends on where you are 32:42

3M ago32:42

32:42

00:56 How the paths to professorship vary A huge analysis of hiring practices has revealed that criteria to get a promotion to full professorship is hugely variable around the world. The authors suggest that this variability results in researchers from countries that value one type of metric being locked out of professor positions in others. They h…

1
AI-designed antivenoms could help treat lethal snakebites 33:52

3M ago33:52

33:52

00:46 Designing new antivenoms to treat snakebites Researchers have shown that machine learning can quickly design antivenoms that are effective against lethal snake-toxins, which they hope will help tackle a serious public health issue. Thousands of people die as a result of snakebites each year, but treatment options are limited, expensive and of…

1
A new-year round-up of the science stories you may have missed 25:53

4M ago25:53

25:53

In this episode of the Nature Podcast, we catch up on some science stories from the holiday period by diving into the Nature Briefing. 00:53 The retraction of a controversial COVID study that promoted unproven treatment A much-critiqued study demonstrating the now-disproven idea that hydroxychloroquine can treat COVID-19 has been retracted — more t…

1
Science in 2025: what to expect this year 11:24

4M ago11:24

11:24

In this episode, reporter Miryam Naddaf joins us to talk about the big science events to look out for in 2025. We’ll hear about: the latest Moon missions, 30 years of the United Nations' COP climate summits, the return of Donald Trump, and more. Nature: Science in 2025: the events to watch for in the coming year Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Springer Nature Limited Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Nature Podcast

Springer Nature Limited

1
Audio long read: Do smartphones and social media really harm teens’ mental health? 17:33

1
A brand-new colour created by lasers, a pig-liver transplant trial gets the green light, and a nugget-sized chunk of lab-grown meat 20:27

1
‘Dark matter’, 'Big Bang' and ‘spin’: how physics terms can confuse researchers 33:11

1
What a trove of potato genomes reveals about the humble spud 32:41

1
Long-awaited ape genomes give new insights into their evolution — and ours 29:48

1
From Hippocrates to COVID-19: the scientific fight to prove diseases can be airborne 32:27

1
Trump team removes senior NIH chiefs in shock move 11:32

1
World’s tiniest pacemaker could revolutionize heart surgery 37:41

1
Audio long read: How quickly are you ageing? What molecular ‘clocks’ can tell you about your health 17:56

1
New lasso-shaped antibiotic kills drug-resistant bacteria 32:45

1
Tiny satellite sets new record for secure quantum communication 31:05

1
Sapphire anvils squeeze metals atomically-thin 33:12

1
Earliest crafted bone tools date back 1.5 million years 29:48

1
Audio long read: Why kids need to take more risks — science reveals the benefits of wild, free play 16:10

1
If your heart stops, this smartwatch-AI can call for help 19:58

1
Racist ratings linger in five-star systems — a thumbs up could fix that 31:45

1
Record-breaking neutrino detected by huge underwater telescope 34:56

1
From viral variants to devastating storms, how names shape the public's reaction to science 35:11

1
Kids' real-world arithmetic skills don't transfer to the classroom 34:47

1
The AI revolution is running out of data. What can researchers do? 16:31

1
Asteroid Bennu contains building blocks of life 34:51

1
What's the best way to become a professor? The answer depends on where you are 32:42

1
AI-designed antivenoms could help treat lethal snakebites 33:52

1
A new-year round-up of the science stories you may have missed 25:53

1
Science in 2025: what to expect this year 11:24