Best Springer Nature Limited Podcasts (2025)

1
Audio long read: Three ways to cool Earth by pulling carbon from the sky 15:59

3d ago15:59

15:59

With the world looking likely to blow past the temperature targets laid out in the 2015 Paris climate agreement, a growing number of voices are saying that carbon removal technologies will be necessary if humanity is to achieve its long-term climate goals. If these approaches succeed, they could help nations and corporations to meet their climate c…

1
AI linked to boom in biomedical papers, infrared contact lenses, and is Earth's core leaking? 20:11

5d ago20:11

20:11

00:33 Was a boom in papers driven by AI? A spike in papers formulaically analysing a public data set has sparked worries that AI is being used to generate low quality and potentially misleading analyses. Nature: AI linked to explosion of low-quality biomedical research papers 08:07 Lenses that give humans infrared vision Researchers in China have c…

1
These malaria drugs treat the mosquitos — not the people 31:40

12d ago31:40

31:40

00:45 Treating mosquitoes for malaria Researchers have developed two compounds that can kill malaria-causing parasites within mosquitoes, an approach they hope could help reduce transmission of the disease. The team showed that these compounds can be embedded into the plastics used to make bed nets, providing an alternative to insecticide-based mal…

1
How to transport antimatter — stick it on the back of a van 30:31

18d ago30:31

30:31

00:46 An antimatter delivery van takes its first road trip Researchers have developed a portable antimatter containment device and tested it by putting it in a truck and driving it around CERN. Their system could represent a big step forward in efforts to take particles made at CERN’s ‘antimatter factory’ and transport them to other labs, something…

1
NSF terminates huge number of grants and stops awarding new ones 11:15

20d ago11:15

11:15

In this Podcast Extra, we examine recent developments US National Science Foundation, which has seen significant numbers of research grants terminated. In addition, there have been freezes on funding for new grants and any additional money to existing ones. We also discuss US President Donald Trump’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026, which call…

1
Herring population loses migration 'memory' after heavy fishing 37:34

26d ago37:34

37:34

00:46 How fishing activity altered the migration pattern of Herring Selective fishing of older herring has resulted in a large shift in the migration pattern of these fish, according to new research. For years, herring have visited sites on the south coast of Norway to spawn, but in 2020 a rapid shift was seen, with the fish instead visiting areas …

1
The dismantling of US science: can it survive Trump 2.0? 27:52

1M ago27:52

27:52

In this episode: 00:46 What will be left of US science after Trump 2.0? 100 days into his term, President Donald Trump and his administration have already caused the biggest shakeup in modern scientific history, slashing funding, bringing large swathes of US research to a standstill and halting many clinical trials. But many fear these actions are …

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

1M 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

1M 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

1M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

4M 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

4M 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…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Springer Nature Limited Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Nature Podcast

Springer Nature Limited

1
Audio long read: Three ways to cool Earth by pulling carbon from the sky 15:59

1
AI linked to boom in biomedical papers, infrared contact lenses, and is Earth's core leaking? 20:11

1
These malaria drugs treat the mosquitos — not the people 31:40

1
How to transport antimatter — stick it on the back of a van 30:31

1
NSF terminates huge number of grants and stops awarding new ones 11:15

1
Herring population loses migration 'memory' after heavy fishing 37:34

1
The dismantling of US science: can it survive Trump 2.0? 27:52

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