Nature Podcast8 Des 2021

How 'megastudies' are changing behavioural science

Speeding up comparisons of behavioural interventions, and what to expect from the James Webb Space Telescope.

In this episode:

00:45 Identifying effective interventions with a 'megastudy'

Comparing single behavioural interventions and identifying which is most effective can be difficult and time consuming, hampering policy-making decisions. This week, a team demonstrate a ‘megastudy’, which allows researchers to compare multiple interventions within the same group of people.

Research article: Milkman et al.

News and Views: Benefits of megastudies for testing behavioural interventions

10:36 Research Highlights

The feeding habits of a giant, extinct eagle, and the relatively undisturbed life of a group of exoplanets.

Research Highlight: This enormous eagle could have killed you, probably

Research Highlight: Famous space family has a surprisingly peaceful history

13:07 What to expect from the Webb Telescope

Decades in the making, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is finally due to launch later this month. We discuss the telescope’s mission and what it might reveal about the Universe.

Feature: The $11-billion Webb telescope aims to probe the early Universe

News: NASA won’t rename James Webb telescope — and astronomers are angry

20:27 Briefing Chat

We discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, the supermassive black holes headed for impact (in 250 million years), and a new dinosaur with an unusual tail weapon.

New Scientist: A pair of nearby supermassive black holes are heading for a collision

New York Times: Spike-tailed ankylosaur was built like a tank

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