The World, the Universe and Us

The World, the Universe and Us

New Scientist

Episodes 444
Avg. Duration 28m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 4.4 (95)
Since Jan 2020
Latest Episode Jun 2026

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Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
47%
Hosting
feeds.megaphone.fm

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About This Podcast

From the evolution of intelligent life, to the mysteries of consciousness; from the threat of the climate crisis to the search for dark matter, The world, the universe and us is your essential weekly dose of science and wonder in an uncertain world. Hosted by journalists Dr Rowan Hooper and Dr Penny Sarchet and joined each week by expert scientists in the field, the show draws on New Scientist’s unparalleled depth of reporting to put the stories that matter into context. Feed your curiosity with the podcast that will restore your sense of optimism and nourish your brain. For more visit newscientist.com/podcasts

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Recent Episodes

Scientists Mapped Earth's Vast Fungal Network - And It's Critical For The Climate

Jun 12, 2026 26m

Episode 376 For the first time, scientists have mapped Earth’s vast underground fungal network - and it’s bigger than anyone imagined. Beneath our feet, plants and fungi have a hidden symbiotic…

Millions of Fossil Whale Bones Found in Deep Ocean Graveyard

Jun 11, 2026 13m

Episode 375 The world’s deepest known whale graveyard has been discovered in the southern Indian Ocean. Located at a depth of seven kilometres, it contains millions of whale bones and has been…

DeepMind Is Simulating Entire Worlds - Ready for AI Robots

Jun 05, 2026 27m

Episode 374 Google DeepMind is simulating entire worlds using AI - that can be interacted with in real time. “World models” simulate the environment and physics of the real world. And DeepMind’s…

Ötzi the Ice Man Contains Still-Living Microbes

Jun 03, 2026 15m

Episode 373 Despite being 5,300-years-old, the gut microbiome of the famous Ötzi the Ice Man appears to be still alive. A mix of ancient and modern bacteria have been found on Ötzi’s mummified…

The Thwaites 'Doomsday' glacier's ice shelf is about to break away

May 25, 2026 16m

Episode 372 Part of the world’s widest glacier is about to collapse – one of the dramatic changes underway that could ultimately trigger a 3 metre rise in sea levels, threatening coastal cities…

Some Scientists Want To Resurrect Extinct Species – Is It Even Possible?

May 22, 2026 26m

Episode 371 The moa was a giant flightless bird from New Zealand that died out around 500 years ago. Are we about to see it brought back from extinction? Colossal Biosciences say they have made an…

The Hidden Methane Time Bomb That Could Accelerate The Climate Crisis

May 20, 2026 18m

Episode 370 The melting ice caps are accelerating global warming and contributing to sea level rise, but could also contribute to a different kind of climate catastrophe. The melting may cause…

Science Reveals Neanderthals Had Dentists 60,000 Years Ago

May 15, 2026 20m

Episode 369 A strange tooth found in a Siberian cave has pushed back the earliest evidence of dentistry by 45,000 years. The weird thing is, the evidence comes from a Neanderthal tooth - upending…

Scientists Concerned By a Sudden Increase in the Rate of Sea Level Rise

May 13, 2026 16m

Episode 368 Scientists are concerned by a sudden increase in the rate of sea level rise. In 2012 it suddenly accelerated and has remained high ever since. From melting glaciers to oceans expanding as…

The Strange Case Of The Man Immune To Alzheimer’s

May 08, 2026 16m

Episode 367 Some people are genetically destined to develop Alzheimer’s disease. But one man who carried the devastating mutation seems to have escaped it entirely - and scientists think it may be…

Astronomers Stunned by a Tiny World With an Atmosphere

May 06, 2026 21m

Episode 366 A Pluto-sized object in the outer solar system has shocked scientists. It’s so tiny that it shouldn’t have an atmosphere - but it does. Object 2002 XV93, known as a plutino, is a small…

Craig Venter’s Legacy: The Most Influential Geneticist Since Watson and Crick

May 01, 2026 26m

Episode 365 Craig Venter, one of the world’s most influential geneticists, has died aged 79. He leaves behind an incredible - and complicated - legacy. Venter is primarily known for playing a leading…

Record Heat, Wildfires and Drought - The Climate Crisis Is About To Accelerate

Apr 30, 2026 24m

Episode 364 Global temperatures are rising faster than ever - and with a strong El Niño on the way, scientists are warning we could temporarily breach 2°C of warming above pre-industrial levels.…

The Wood Wide Web: The Forest Discovery That Sparked a Backlash

Apr 27, 2026 36m

Episode 363 Suzanne Simard is a world-renowned forest ecologist who shot to stardom with her first book Finding the Mother Tree. It tells the story of her life’s work, showing trees and plants are…

Chernobyl 40 Years On: Legacy of the World’s Worst Nuclear Disaster

Apr 23, 2026 32m

Episode 362 It’s been 40 years since the world’s worst nuclear disaster unfolded. Since the explosion at Chernobyl in 1986, the world has feared nuclear power - and the widespread damage it can do.…

A “Super El Niño” Is Coming - And It Could Trigger Global Climate Chaos

Apr 20, 2026 14m

Episode 361 The Earth is about to enter an extremely strong climate phase that could cause major disruption on a planet-wide scale. This “super El Niño” - or “Godzilla El Niño” - threatens to make…

Britain’s First Astronaut on the New Race to the Moon | Helen Sharman

Apr 17, 2026 36m

Episode 360 A new era of space travel is finally upon us. NASA’s Artemis II rocket successfully launched 4 astronauts around the moon and back. Reacting to the historic news is Britain’s first…

How to spot the Lyrid meteor shower: New Scientist's stargazing companion

Apr 16, 2026 5m Bonus

The Lyrid meteor shower hits its peak on the evening of the 22nd April, but you can look for them any time between the 16th and 25th. Listen along with New Scientist's Abby Beall as she guides you…

Genetic analysis reveals how the Neanderthals went extinct

Apr 10, 2026 21m

Episode 359 DNA analysis of 10 Neanderthal people is shedding light on why their populations declined 75,000 years ago - eventually leading to their extinction. After being hit by a cold spell, we…

The Male G-Spot Has Finally Been Found

Apr 06, 2026 12m

Episode 358 The male G-spot exists - and scientists have found it. The most comprehensive study of the human penis has identified one specific location most involved in sexual pleasure - and it’s not…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The World, the Universe and Us have?

The World, the Universe and Us has published 444 episodes since January 2020, covering topics in Education, News.

Is The World, the Universe and Us still active?

The World, the Universe and Us is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 28m.

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