Best How Is Health Being Affected By The Changes In Technology Podcasts (2025)

1
Orcas and dolphins are now hunting together; Genetic root of psychiatric conditions; Black hole stars and cosmic ecology 33:02

Play Pause

3d ago33:02

33:02

Episode 336 In 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 fi…

1
Double the Premium, Half the Security? 43:18

8d ago43:18

43:18

In this episode, we dive into the growing instability across today’s insurance markets and what it really means for your wallet, your home, and your health. The conversation begins with the looming health insurance crisis in the United States, where the possible expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies threatens to send premiums skyrocketing for…

1
How exercise shrinks tumours and starves cancer; Weird molecules found on comet 3I/ATLAS; Einstein v Bohr on the nature of light 25:25

10d ago25:25

25:25

Episode 335 Exercise 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 b…

1
AI and the Future of Work: What You Need to Know 45:28

12d ago45:28

45:28

No matter where you sit within the economy, whether you're a CEO or an entry level worker, everyone's feeling uneasy about AI and the future of work. Uncertainty about career paths, job security, and life planning makes thinking about the future anxiety inducing. In this episode, Daniel Barcay sits down with two experts on AI and work to examine wh…

1
Premium Pressure and Policy Shocks in Modern Insurance 44:31

14d ago44:31

44:31

Premium Pressure and Policy Shocks in Modern Insurance takes listeners inside the fault lines of today’s insurance system, where rising costs, political battles, and rapid technological change are colliding in real time. This episode maps out the contemporary insurance landscape from the perspective of both consumers under strain and an industry sc…

1
The evolution of sperm and the enduring mystery of the scrotum; How our brain rewires itself 4 times in life; The (real) disaster scenarios of imminent climate breakdown 39:11

17d ago39:11

39:11

Episode 334 Which 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 …

1
The origin and evolution of music: Steve Pretty plays the conch 30:43

24d ago30:43

30:43

Episode 333 It’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 Collier…

1
New genome of ancient human; 95% of us have a dormant virus that causes disease; Formula E cars faster than F1; Bill Bryson joins the pod! 45:02

1M ago45:02

45:02

Episode 332 For 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 explor…

1
Why the claims about Hitler’s genome are misleading 29:00

1M ago29:00

29:00

Episode 331 This 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? …

1
Feed Drop: "Into the Machine" with Tobias Rose-Stockwell 1:04:59

1M ago1:04:59

1:04:59

This week, we’re bringing you Tristan’s conversation with Tobias Rose-Stockwell on his podcast “Into the Machine.” Tobias is a designer, writer, and technologist and the author of the book “The Outrage Machine.” Tobias and Tristan had a critical, sobering, and surprisingly hopeful conversation about the current path we’re on AI and the choices we …

1
COP30: The world's climate future hinges on this meeting 31:30

1M ago31:30

31:30

Episode 330 COP30 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 qu…

1
Session 32: The Story of Davy — Changing How You Think 16:50

1M ago16:50

16:50

By Glenn Ostlund

1
What if we had fixed social media? 16:54

1M ago16:54

16:54

We really enjoyed hearing all of your questions for our annual Ask Us Anything episode. There was one question that kept coming up: what might a different world look like? The broken incentives behind social media, and now AI, have done so much damage to our society, but what is the alternative? How can we blaze a different path? In this episode, T…

1
The collapse of America’s health data system; How sleep affects your focus; Life on Mars in liquid veins? 23:51

2M ago23:51

23:51

Episode 329 America’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 th…

1
Session 31: Davy and the Four R’s 16:50

2M ago16:50

16:50

By Glenn Ostlund

1
How mRNA vaccines teach your body to kill cancer; Grim state of climate action; Why birds sing the dawn chorus 29:20

2M ago29:20

29:20

Episode 328 Not 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 t…

1
Session 30: The River of Anger — Davy’s Journey Toward Calm 16:50

2M ago16:50

16:50

By Glenn Ostlund

1
Ask Us Anything 2025 40:53

2M ago40:53

40:53

It's been another big year in AI. The AI race has accelerated to breakneck speed, with frontier labs pouring hundreds of billions into increasingly powerful models—each one smarter, faster, and more unpredictable than the last. We’re starting to see disruptions in the workforce as human labor is replaced by agents. Millions of people, including vul…

1
Neuroscience of reality; Quest for dark matter; Folklore of geoscience (New Scientist Live Special) 28:29

2M ago28:29

28:29

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 a…

1
Session 29: Brain Change and The Iceberg Metaphor (Mind-Body-Spirit) 16:50

2M ago16:50

16:50

By Glenn Ostlund

1
First climate tipping point triggered; Man controls another person's body by brain implant; health worries over sumo wrestlers 34:00

2M ago34:00

34:00

Episode 326 The 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 w…

1
Space 2075: How Humanity Will Live, Work and Make Drugs off-planet | Live Recording at the Royal Society 53:35

2M ago53:35

53:35

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…

1
How Jane Goodall changed the world; How the universe ends; How “selfish sperm” affect male fertility 43:27

2M ago43:27

43:27

Episode 324 The 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 …

1
Session 28: Ray's Story of Brain Change 16:50

2M ago16:50

16:50

By Glenn Ostlund

1
Session 27: Taking 100% Responsibility for Your Actions Then and Now 16:47

2M ago16:47

16:47

By Glenn Ostlund

1
Emergency in Antarctica; How movement changes the brain; Why women live longer than men 30:56

2M ago30:56

30:56

Episode 323 Temperatures 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 d…

1
Skull rewrites story of human evolution; Autism and Tylenol; discovery of wind coming from black hole 33:57

3M ago33:57

33:57

Episode 322 An 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 Yunx…

1
Session 26: Values Clarification and Values Conflict 16:47

3M ago16:47

16:47

By Glenn Ostlund

1
The evolutionary price we pay for longer lives; the asteroid coming VERY close to Earth; how dinosaurs shaped the ecosystem 32:59

3M ago32:59

32:59

Episode 321 Humans 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 g…

1
Session 25: Jealousy and Insecurity 16:47

3M ago16:47

16:47

By Glenn Ostlund

1
Session 24: Positive Parenting 16:47

3M ago16:47

16:47

By Glenn Ostlund

1
Why we can't announce life on Mars (yet); The Romans' impact on the British economy; Link between exercise and your microbiome 29:59

3M ago29:59

29:59

Episode 320 Was 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 …

1
The Crisis That United Humanity—and Why It Matters for AI 51:47

3M ago51:47

51:47

In 1985, scientists in Antarctica discovered a hole in the ozone layer that posed a catastrophic threat to life on earth if we didn’t do something about it. Then, something amazing happened: humanity rallied together to solve the problem. Just two years later, representatives from all 198 UN member nations came together in Montreal, CA to sign an a…

1
Session 23: Oppositionality vs. Cooperation – Training Your Brain 16:47

3M ago16:47

16:47

By Glenn Ostlund

1
First complete map of brain activity; Queen ant lays eggs of another species; The perils of scrolling while on the toilet 31:10

3M ago31:10

31:10

Episode 319 Scientists have created the first complete activity map of a mouse’s brain. Combining brain images from multiple mice, researchers recorded more than 650,000 neurons while these mice manipulated little Lego steering wheels in a driving game. This complex behaviour has allowed scientists to examine the interplay between various parts of …

1
Scientists discovered a 100,000-year-old organism; Breakthrough brain implant uses AI to treat pain; How climate change leads to revolutions 25:50

4M ago25:50

25:50

Episode 318 An ancient organism has been discovered that has been alive for at least 100,000 years. Found in the Siberian permafrost, this lifeform doesn’t appear to have just remained dormant - but instead has actually been growing extremely slowly. Our understanding of life is already quite fuzzy, and this finding adds to the idea that life itsel…

1
Session 22: Sex, Intimacy, and Healing from Abuse 15:50

4M ago15:50

15:50

By Glenn Ostlund

1
How OpenAI's ChatGPT Guided a Teen to His Death 45:12

4M ago45:12

45:12

Content Warning: This episode contains references to suicide and self-harm. Like millions of kids, 16-year-old Adam Raine started using ChatGPT for help with his homework. Over the next few months, the AI dragged Adam deeper and deeper into a dark rabbit hole, preying on his vulnerabilities and isolating him from his loved ones. In April of this ye…

1
Could we end winter illness?; Cold fusion’s comeback; The delicious microbiome of chocolate 20:41

4M ago20:41

20:41

Episode 317 Winter bugs are notoriously hard to vaccinate against. But as cold, flu and covid season is about to descend on us once more, one group researchers are working on an entirely new solution to the misery. A team out of Columbia University has been testing an mRNA-based treatment that could prime our immune systems to fight against any kin…

1
Session 21: Fair Fighting Do's and Don'ts 15:50

4M ago15:50

15:50

By Glenn Ostlund

1
Session 20: Mindfulness 15:50

4M ago15:50

15:50

By Glenn Ostlund

1
Climate special: How to fix the climate crisis with Tim Lenton and Kate Marvel 44:25

4M ago44:25

44:25

Episode 316 “All of the other planets out there are just complete garbage. The Earth is the only good place.” – Kate Marvel The climate crisis can leave many of us feeling hopeless and overwhelmed. But, as climate scientists Kate Marvel and Tim Lenton say, there are many reasons to be optimistic.Both have new books out that hope to reframe the way …

1
“Rogue AI” Used to be a Science Fiction Trope. Not Anymore. 42:11

4M ago42:11

42:11

Everyone knows the science fiction tropes of AI systems that go rogue, disobey orders, or even try to escape their digital environment. These are supposed to be warning signs and morality tales, not things that we would ever actually create in real life, given the obvious danger. And yet we find ourselves building AI systems that are exhibiting the…

1
Session 19: Walking in Their World 15:50

4M ago15:50

15:50

By Glenn Ostlund

1
80 years since Hiroshima: Forgotten victims of the atomic bomb 34:06

4M ago34:06

34:06

Episode 315 It’s been 80 years since the first and only use of nuclear weapons in war - events that altered the course of history. The consequences of the widespread destruction, deaths and nuclear fallout are still being dealt with today. On 6th August 1945, a bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in Japan, and three days later Nagasaki was also bombed. T…

1
Session 18: Growing Love Through Friendship 15:50

5M ago15:50

15:50

By Glenn Ostlund

1
Ozempic and Wegovy slow down biological ageing; creation of synthetic bacterium; geology of the Russian earthquake 28:24

5M ago28:24

28:24

Episode 314 Weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy have been shown to slow down - or even reverse - the ageing process. In a trial of 84 people taking semaglutide, their biological age dropped by 3.1 years on average, with some organs becoming almost 5 years younger. Based on this new research, this finding could make these some of the most impactful…

1
AI is the Next Free Speech Battleground 49:11

5M ago49:11

49:11

Imagine a future where the most persuasive voices in our society aren't human. Where AI generated speech fills our newsfeeds, talks to our children, and influences our elections. Where digital systems with no consciousness can hold bank accounts and property. Where AI companies have transferred the wealth of human labor and creativity to their own …

1
AI wins first gold at maths Olympic games; How mitochondria are linked to sleep; Famous psychology trick works on octopuses too 28:48

5M ago28:48

28:48

Episode 313 AI has won gold at the world’s hardest maths event. For the first time, AI programs that use entirely natural language like ChatGPT, have used general reasoning to solve incredibly difficult tests at the International Maths Olympiad in Australia. Humans are still in the lead…for now. But could this be a big leap forward in the quest for…

1
Session 17: Meeting the Fire – Understanding Rage 15:50

5M ago15:50

15:50

By Glenn Ostlund