Nature Podcast1 Okt 2025

Ancient viral DNA helps human embryos develop

00:50 How ancient viruses drive modern human development

Research suggests that ancient viral-DNA embedded in the human genome is playing a key role in early embryo development. Around 8% of our genome consists of endogenous retrovirus DNA — the remnants of ancient infections, but knowledge of their activity is limited. Now, a team show that these sequences are required for the correct development of lab-derived embryo analogues, and for the switching on of human-specific genes.

Research Article: Fueyo et al.

News and Views: Ancient viral DNA in the human genome shapes early development

10:39 Research Highlights

Longer whale mothers are more likely to give birth to daughters — plus, how the stink of the corpse flower waxes and wanes to attract pollinators.

Research Highlight: Big mother whales have more daughters than sons

Research Highlight: Corpse flowers waft out stinky compounds as fast as landfills do

13:05 How heat can fuel DNA computers

Researchers have developed a way to use heat to recharge DNA-based computer circuits, which could help overcome one of the stumbling blocks preventing this technology from being scaled up. Although DNA strands have been used to perform computational tasks for some time, current methods can run out of energy or build up waste products, preventing their continued use. Now, using just heat a team have demonstrated a reuseable neural network based on DNA. They hope that ultimately this could be a step in the development of bigger and more powerful DNA computers that could be used to power targeted clinical therapies.

Research Article: Song & Qian

22:20 Briefing Chat

A one-time gene therapy for Huntington’s disease show promise at slowing the brain disorder’s progression — plus, how mitochondria throw out ‘tainted’ DNA.

Nature: Huntington’s disease treated for first time using gene therapy

Nature: Mitochondria expel tainted DNA — spurring age-related inflammation

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16 Okt 9min

The world is closer to a major conservation target than scientists thought

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14 Okt 21min

Briefing Chat: Top researchers are being misled by sham academic societies

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9 Okt 12min

Nobel Prizes 2026: ‘ghost’ particles, mirror molecules and light switches in the brain

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7 Okt 23min

‘Learning about physics changed my life’: author Hernan Diaz on his new novel Ply

In this episode, we speak with Hernan Diaz whose most recent novel Ply blends a vision of a dystopian future with questions about selfhood and asks whether advanced physics could be used to unravel th...

2 Okt 32min

These optical illusions are why butterflies are so hard to catch

High-speed footage of takeoffs reveal that the butterfly markings mislead the eye, making them harder to catch.00:45 Butterflies in flight create confusing motion cues that baffle birdsResearch Articl...

30 Sep 18min

Briefing Chat: Why scientists made papyrus scrolls, then burnt them

In this episode00:23 How detecting lead could help researchers read damaged Roman scrollsNature: Watch scientists decipher burned scrolls without unrolling them06:42 A biodegradeable, paper-inspired b...

25 Sep 11min

Bank accounts reveal the fingerprints of abusive financial control

00:45 Investigating the day-to-day impacts of Financial AbuseNature: Trendl et al.Support organizationsUK: Surviving Economic AbuseUS: National Domestic Violence Helpline12:14 Research HighlightsNatur...

23 Sep 24min