New Scientist Podcast
New Scientist's weekly podcast on all the latest science and technology news and features, including guests from the world of science.
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Sputnik's Legacy
Fifty years ago, the launch of Russia's Sputnik satellite kick-started the space age. In this special edition podcast, we reflect on half a century of space exploration, hear from veteran astronaut Jeff Hoffman about what it's like to blast into space, and find out why our future might not lie on pl …
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Climate Change USA
The US is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and the nation that can do the most to slow the impact of global warming. In this special edition podcast we explore American attitudes to climate change and bust some common climate myths.
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Quirkology
Professor Richard Wiseman takes us on a tour of the weird, the wonderful and the human mind. Also this week: Uncovering the true story behind America's origins, and just how do our dogs perceive us?
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How To Make Up Your Mind
New developments in brain science shed light on how our minds grapple with decisions, large and small. Also this week, astronomers have another chance to witness the great supernovae of history and why "carbs" (like bread, rice and potatoes) are white, while carbon is black.
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Rock Steady!
What can the precariously balanced boulders of California and Nevada tell us about predicting the next big earthquake there? Also this week: astronomers discover the most Earth-like exoplanet yet, and our Last Word column considers an evolutionary explanation for why sheep are notorious road hogs
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A War of Numbers
Epidemiologist Gilbert Burham ignited controversy after publishing figures suggesting the number of people killed by the war in Iraq is far higher than coalition forces have acknowledged - he defends his survey. Also this week: teen transexuals helped and sterile neutrinos hunted.
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Cosmic Axis of Evil
New evidence suggests the universe may have a preferred direction - the so-called axis of evil. If it's real, the feature puts a bizarre new twist into current cosmological models. Also this week: a real life test for Australia's tsunami warning system, and why cold bananas go black
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Darwin's Descendant
Author Matthew Chapman recounts his experience as a great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin covering a court case that pitted evolutionary biologists against proponents of Intelligent Design. Also this week: an unlicensed cancer drug fuels a dangerous trend and a live performance celebrating New Scie …
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I Am a Strange Loop
Cognitive scientist Douglas Hofstadter recounts his life-long journey into the nature of the self: "the illusion that feels like the most real thing of all." Also this week: scientists head to Mount Everest to study how the body adapts to low oxygen, and the physics of plastic wrap.
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A New State of Matter
An oddly named mineral (herbertsmithite) could contain a bizarre new state of matter and bring us closer to a working quantum computer. Also this week: a war of worms in the Minnesota woods and a space toilet that offers thirsty astronauts a "re-flushing" solution.
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Chimp culture
In the Fongoli region of Senegal chimps have been observed hunting prey with spears and taking shelter in caves. Also this week, an innovative device turns jarring street noise into evocative musical sounds, and we debate whether being cold makes it easier to catch a cold.
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Good and evil
Is there a biological basis for our sense of right and wrong? Author and cognitive evolution researcher Marc Hauser believes the answer is "yes". We devote a full episode to exploring Hauser's work on the "moral organ" and what it means to our notions of justice and fair play.
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Science in San Francisco
Bio-engineering better biofuels, recalling infant memory, stalking killer asteroids and more! SciPod goes on location to bring you stories from the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Francisco.
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Dark dilemma
We grapple with dark energy, the biggest mystery in the universe. Also this week, was the genome of many Europeans shaped by the Black Death 650 years ago? And why do stale biscuits go soft while stale baguettes go hard?
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Hearing voices
A new approach to voice synthesis puts the emphasis on personality rather than the sound behind the voice. Also this week: Behind the scenes at the Paris climate change meeting, and how to unstick cereal from the side of the bowl.
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Brains and games
In two separate stories we look at recent progress in simulating the behaviour of neurons and the behaviour of American football players in a championship game. Also this week: Why every breath you take contains a little of Leonardo da Vinci
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Born to be fat?
A scientist puts his research subjects on Morgan Spurlock's "supersize" diet - the results are surprisingly diverse. Also this week: tapping into the Earth's reservoir of geothermal energy and a taste test for tea made with twice-boiled water
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Gold rush!
A novel contraption to sample deep, geothermally heated water allows scientists to solve a long standing mystery about how fast gold deposits can form. Also this week: rethinking schizophrenia and an explanation of the "hot chocolate effect".
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Deep space special
Stories from beyond the solar system, including a new map that reveals the universe's hidden scaffolding, a fast track plan to reach interstellar space and a search for the echoes of a giant black hole's last meal. Also this week: the hot chocolate effect.
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New Scientist Live!
Three renowned thinkers converge to discuss what the next 50 years will bring for physics, life sciences and the interaction of society with technology. This podcast includes excerpts from a special New Scientist Live programme hosted by the New York Academy of Sciences, featuring guest speakers EO …
New Scientist Podcast
