The world, the universe and us

Episode 341 "The best minds of my generation are thinking about how to make people click ads. That sucks." A compelling quote that sums up the thesis of Rutger Bregman’s new book. In Moral Ambition, the Dutch historian and the best-selling author argues that smart people need to stop wasting their lives in “BS” jobs - and turn their skills to causes that benefit humanity. By reflecting on the history of the abolitionist and women’s rights movements, he explains why it’s never too late to take action on major issues - like climate change or the exploitation of animals. He also explores how AI experts are preparing for a massive shift in the way we live, that we need to pay attention to. Same-sex sexual behaviour in primates is incredibly common - despite seemingly having no evolutionary advantage. But scientists have now noticed something counterintuitive. This behaviour happens more often in high-stress environments, where food is scarce, suggesting it may aid with social cohesion. It may even improve the success of straight sex - increasing the number of offspring in a group. If you want to live a longer, healthier life - it may be way easier than you think. Most modern longevity advice is about optimising every aspect of your life - and can feel overwhelming for many people. But a new study shows you can add a full year to your life, just by making very minor tweaks to things like sleep and exercise. Find out how. For three years in a row, average global temperatures have exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial temperatures. As we fail to get a handle on rising global heating, scientists are exploring a new - slightly odd - way of managing carbon levels. The idea is to protect Earth’s climate from future wildfires, but cutting down vast swathes of forest and sinking the trees in the Arctic ocean. But will it work - or make things worse? Hosted by Rowan Hooper with guests Rutger Bregman, Michael Le Page, Carissa Wong and Alec Luhn. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn about New Scientist CoLab and ViiV Healthcare’s roundtable discussion here: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 340 Acquiring Greenland has been deemed a national security priority by America. President Trump wants to use the country to deter adversaries in the Arctic, have control over its rare minerals and oil - and maybe even build experimental cities. But with the challenges of a changing climate, difficulty actually extracting any natural resources and the fact that Greenland isn’t free to occupy, how realistic are Trump's goals?  Human-plant hybrid cells are being used to answer the mystery of “dark DNA”. Also known as “junk DNA”, this refers to the fact that much of the human genome seems to be inactive. And this new experiment may have proven this claim, showing that only about 10 per cent of our DNA is useful…the rest is just rubbish. What does that mean for the story of evolution, or the future of genetic modification? The team explores two major ways to interpret the results. And two diet-related stories this week. First, that fibre seems to have a beneficial effect on sleep quality, according to a large observational study review. And second, how people who stop taking GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy, tend to regain the weight they lost within less than two years. Hosted by Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet, with guests Michael Le Page, Alexandra Thompson, Anna Merril, Ruth Mottram and Martin Stendel.To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 339 Humans 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 mark 2026 as the year that kick-started our spread off planet? GLP-1 weight loss drugs are set to get cheaper this year. The patent on semaglutide - the active ingredient in drugs like Ozempic - is about to run out, meaning more people will be able to access these hugely impactful medications. A pill version is also on the horizon, plus one upcoming drug that can cut body weight by a whopping 24 per cent. The first phase 3 trials of LSD are taking place this year. 55 years after being banned, the psychedelic drug is being tested once again for its ability to reduce anxiety and treat mental health conditions. Research suggests LSD can rewire your brain and relieve moderate to severe anxiety for at least three months. But will the trials prove its benefits outweigh any side effects? A carbon border tariff is being imposed by the EU - taxing imports of materials like steel from countries that aren’t doing enough to keep their emissions down. The policy is a positive step for climate action and will help to make EU industries more competitive. And it looks like countries around the world are soon to follow suit. Hosted by Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet, with guests Jacob Aron, Michael Le Page and Alexandra Thompson. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 336 Looking 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 House Effect Human with Ella al-Shamahi Pluribus My Husband the Cyborg Severance Season 2 Books Every Version of You by Grace Chan The Story of CO2 is the Story of Everything by Peter Brannen Clearing the Air by Hannah Ritchie Positive Tipping Points by Tim Lenton The Last Neanderthal by Ludovic Slimak Hello Cruel World by Melinda Moyer Hosted by Rowan Hooper with guests Bethan Ackerley and Alison Flood. Sign up to our book club for more recommendations, discussion and author interviews https://www.newscientist.com/bookclub/  To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 337 As 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 wrong for years. If you’re interested in living a longer life, you may have heard the name Bryan Johnson. He’s the tech millionaire who’s doing everything in his power to live as long as possible. From a 6.5 hour morning routine, to experimental gene treatments and hypoxia therapy - we dig into the life of the man whose slogan is “Don’t Die”. There is no space, no time, no particles. This is the radical new quantum vision of reality proposed by physicist Vlatko Vedral. He argues that our current lens for looking at reality is full of problems, especially concerning observers - this idea that reality is somehow contingent on us looking at it. So what really lies beyond quantum theory? Over tens of thousands of years, waves of Homo sapiens set out across Europe and Asia, only for their societies and cultures to mysteriously vanish. At last, ancient DNA from fossils is revealing why. We shed light on the lives of the LRJ people, a group of a few hundred ancient humans who roamed across Europe 43,000 years ago. There are new hints that the fabric of space-time may be made of "memory cells" that record the whole history of the universe. If true, it could explain the nature of dark matter and much more. But how could pure emptiness ever remember, or store information? We discuss how Florian Neukart, the feature writer, has tested this theory inside a quantum computer. Most of us see body fat as something we need to attack or get rid of. But we’re beginning to figure out just how important fat is for shaping our health and mind. The fat in our bodies is a communicative organ with a role in everything from bone health to mood. And it isn’t just one thing - it comes in various forms and colours, each with distinct functions and found in different locations. So do we need to respect fat a bit more? A whole library’s worth of papyri owned by Julius Caesar’s father-in-law were turned to charcoal by the eruption of Vesuvius. But nearly 2000 years later, we can at last read these lost treasures. Discover how a particle accelerator is being used to decode messages once thought completely lost. Our emotions can often get the better of us, taking control over our feelings and actions. But what if there were a way to harness your emotions for a happier, calmer life? Researcher Ethan Kross has found ways to do just that. Based on his own experience of his Grandmother’s resilience, who endured the trauma of Nazi occupation, he’s developed an actionable guide for anyone to master how they feel. Hosted by Penny Sarchet, with guests Cat de Lange, Joshua Howgego and Claudia Canavan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices