The World, the Universe and Us

Episode 404

Jonathan the tortoise was born in the year 1832, on a beach in the Seychelles. 194 years later and Jonathan is still alive, celebrating his birthday. How exactly has he managed to survive for so long?

Jonathan is a giant tortoise and the world’s oldest known land animal. His genome has now been sequenced, revealing intriguing hints about longevity. And it seems the key to a long life is all down to mitochondrial function.

From Greenland Sharks to the enigmatic quahog, this also seems to be the case for Earth’s other longest-lived creatures - one of which survived for 507 years.

Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet discuss what these animals tell us about the science of healthy aging, whether there are any takeaways for us humans - and they celebrate the amazing life of Jonathan.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 403

A new species of feathered dinosaur has been discovered - and it looks like a supercharged magpie with teeth. Fossil evidence and an artist’s reconstruction show the dinosaur looks remarkably like a bird - yet it’s not actually an ancestor of modern birds.

Over 100 million years old, Norellraptor barsboldi is named after two famous palaeontologists - one of whom taught palaeontologist Steve Brusatte.

Steve is the author of The Story of Birds and joins the team to discuss this incredible finding, which shows flight may have evolved at least two separate times. He also explains how dinosaurs didn’t go extinct - but still roam among us today.

On the panel are Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 402

The current El Niño is shaping up to cause catastrophe on a global scale. Global temperatures are being pushed up, unleashing extreme weather which could devastate ecosystems. The heat alone is expected to kill half a million people over the next five months.

Sea-surface temperatures are expected to climb 4°C above average in parts of the Pacific - and it’s becoming clear this is an issue that affects us all. From extreme heat in some places to heavy rainfall in others, many countries are bracing for impact. Combined with the threat of “king tides”, California has even declared a state of emergency.

Despite the sweltering heat we’ve just experienced, forecasters now say 2027 will be the hottest year on record - before it’s even begun. So how can we prepare?

To discuss the threat we’re facing and possible solutions (like geoengineering), Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by climate journalists Madeleine Cuff and Alec Luhn.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 401

Anxiety is everywhere. Climate change, political turmoil and a constant stream of alarming headlines can make optimism feel impossible. But to be hopeful you don’t need to ignore reality. What if it’s about paying attention to the breakthroughs that are already changing the world?

In this special episode Penny Sarchet and Rowan Hooper are joined by bestselling author Caitlin Moran, who spent a year chasing hope.

Prompted by her new book How to Be Hopeful, the New Scientist team shares eight recent developments that genuinely make them optimistic about the future. From the explosive growth of solar energy and the possibility of crops that make their own fertiliser, to new classes of medicines, AI-assisted scientific discovery, and even the search for life beyond Earth, this episode is a celebration of progress, curiosity and human ingenuity.

Also on the panel are Madeleine Cuff, Catherine de Lange, and Michael Le Page.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 400

Should we really be afraid of AI? Many headline statements from the likes of Anthrophic, OpenAI and even the King are raising alarm bells over the threat of AI to humanity. AI companies are even calling to be more highly regulated. But does that mean the threats are worth considering - or are there ulterior motives?

Among the apocalyptic or disastrous ways it could go wrong, there are genuine issues we should be thinking about today. Alignment is one of those - how closely AI aligns with human values and whether it continues to obey us. And the threat of supercharged cyber attacks is another. But is extinction really on the cards?

To discuss the reality of the situation we’re facing, Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by Timothy Revell, Matthew Sparkes and Jacob Aron.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

Image credits:

Sam Altman: TechCrunch, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Mark Zuckerberg: Anthony Quintano from Honolulu, HI, United States, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices