The race to understand mpox
Last month the World Health Organization declared the recent mpox outbreak that began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo a public health emergency of international concern. As scientists race to ...
5 Sep 202416min
The arrest of Telegram’s founder, and what it means for social media
The arrest of Telegram’s founder and CEO in Paris last month has thrown the spotlight on the messaging app and its approach to content moderation. Madeleine Finlay hears from Russian affairs reporter ...
3 Sep 202417min
Summer picks: the science of ‘weird shit’
The psychologist Chris French has spent decades studying paranormal claims and mysterious experiences, from seemingly impossible coincidences to paintings that purportedly predict the future. In this ...
29 Aug 202418min
Summer picks: what can our dogs teach us about obesity?
Labradors are known for being greedy dogs, and now scientists have come up with a theory about the genetic factors that may be behind their behaviour. In this episode from April 2024, the Guardian’s s...
27 Aug 202420min
Summer picks: why are so many science papers being retracted?
A record 10,000 research papers were retracted in 2023. In this episode from February 2024, Ian Sample speaks to Ivan Oransky, whose organisation Retraction Watch has been monitoring the growing numbe...
22 Aug 202419min
Summer picks: what does the science say about birth order and personality?
We all know the cliches about older siblings being responsible, younger ones creative, and middle children being peacemakers. But is there any evidence our position in the family affects our personali...
20 Aug 202416min
What’s happened to all the butterflies?
Butterfly numbers in the UK appear to be at the lowest on record after a wet spring and summer dampened their chances of mating. This comes on top of a long and worrying trend of decline. To find out ...
15 Aug 202416min
Just how bad is alcohol for us?
For the regular drinker it is a source of great comfort: the fat pile of studies that say a daily tipple is better for a longer life than avoiding alcohol completely. But a new analysis challenges tha...
13 Aug 202416min
