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Artwork for The world, the universe and us

The world, the universe and us

New Scientist
Cannabis
Climate Change
THC
Microbial Fermentation
Dolphins
Endocannabinoid System
Royal Flying Doctor Service
COP28
Environmental Impact
Cannabinoid Research
Environmental Activism
Folded Landscapes
Fungi
Wilderness
Dark Matter
Kilogram
Space Exploration
Lichen
Carbon
Symbiosis

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 u... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes391Founded6 years ago
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NewsScience

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Artwork for The world, the universe and us

Latest Episodes

Episode 324

The legendary primatologist Jane Goodall died last week aged 91, leaving behind a remarkable legacy. Her work studying tool use in chimpanzees completely reshaped the way we view animal intelligence. Fiercely protective of the natural wo... more

Episode 323

Temperatures in Antarctica have soared by over 35°C. Scientists are concerned about how quickly things are changing on the continent as these warmer temperatures impact the polar vortex. Coupled with record lows in sea ice cover over the... more

Episode 322

An ancient skull discovered in China may have just rewritten the story of human evolution. It’s widely accepted that the common ancestor of Homo sapiens, Denisovans and Neanderthals came out of Africa. But this skull upends that assumpti... more

Episode 321

Humans live a lot longer than other primates - and much of that is down to our immune system. But there’s a price we pay for the capacity to fight off infections: inflammation. Chronic inflammation is to blame for a range of health issue... more

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Recent Guests

Michael Marshall
Science writer who discusses the skull discovery
Episode: Skull rewrites story of human evolution; Autism and Tylenol; discovery of wind coming from black hole
Sanjeev Gupta
Extraterrestrial geologist at Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Episode: Why we can't announce life on Mars (yet); The Romans' impact on the British economy; Link between exercise and your microbiome
Kate Marvel
Climate scientist investigating science-based solutions to climate change
Episode: Climate special: How to fix the climate crisis with Tim Lenton and Kate Marvel
Tim Lenton
Professor of climate change and earth system science
University of Exeter
Episode: Climate special: How to fix the climate crisis with Tim Lenton and Kate Marvel
Ilana Seid
UN ambassador for Palau and chair of the Alliance of Small Island States
UN
Episode: Scientists test engineered microbes to fight disease; Has 1.5 degrees failed?; New theory why we’ve not found aliens
Robert Stern
Geologist discussing the relationship between tectonics and life evolution
University of Texas at Dallas
Episode: Scientists test engineered microbes to fight disease; Has 1.5 degrees failed?; New theory why we’ve not found aliens
Taras Gerya
Geoscientist focusing on plate tectonics
ETH Zurich
Episode: Scientists test engineered microbes to fight disease; Has 1.5 degrees failed?; New theory why we’ve not found aliens
Mike Marshall
Writer covering the first ancient Egyptian genome
New Scientist
Episode: First full genome of Ancient Egyptian sequenced; Wild killer whales offer gifts to humans; First demonstration of interstellar navigation
Steve Brussate
Professor of paleontology at the University of Edinburgh and author
Episode: Mice with two dads; perfect your sleep with science; how lizards survived dinosaur-killing asteroid

Hosts

Dr Rowan Hooper
Co-host focused on enlightening audiences about current scientific discoveries and their societal implications.
Dr Penny Sarchet
Co-host with a role in deepening discussions around science and contemporary issues, bringing in expert viewpoints.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 872 ratings
  • One of the best podcasts overall!

    Looking forward to it every week! Love the hosts, I could listen to them talking about science and being super fun and witty for hours. I recommend listening to everyone -- keeps you informed, questioning, and lifts the mood!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dausmaus
    Canadaa month ago
  • Surprisingly luddite

    I’ve been listening on and off for a few years and in that time I’ve been consistently surprised by a luddite, sceptical undercurrent in these discussions. Take for example a recent episode on LLMs, where the bulk of the time focused on how poorly they function and how unethical it is to use them. I can imagine if this were set 140 years ago, we would be hearing about how unreliable the automobile functions compared to horses or the velocipede and how unethical it is to even try driving one.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ssabo
    United States4 months ago
  • Love the refresh

    I love the revamped show. Still keeps the New Scientist integrity, but also sets itself apart. Two thumbs up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BARRYFAN12
    United States5 months ago
  • Excellent - as always

    Always informative and fun. And btw - since this weeks episode was on the subject - listening to NS is one of the best ways to use your smartphone or tablet

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AMLMN
    Canada6 months ago
  • Not really scientific!

    Just listen to the rant about Trump’s “attack on science”. First you attacked NOAA data missing! Then admitted that it was routine maintenance! (Not Trump) Then you attacked the review of health related grants. But “admitted” that they were running again. Finally you said that you don’t know why programs and grants were being reviewed. 77 million voters in the US have asked why we are $37TRILLION in debt! Is there any reason why programs are being reviewed? USAID is still flowing to true humanit... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    BillHilly51
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the engaging and informative nature of the content, often highlighting how it fosters curiosity and optimism about scientific advancements.
There are mixed reactions to the show's political undertones, with some criticizing the perceived bias while others value the broader discourse on societal implications of science.
The hosts are praised for their ability to convey complex topics in an accessible manner, enhancing understanding and interest among a diverse audience.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#118
United States/Science
Spotify
#15
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#14
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#79
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#50
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#245
France/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Mice with two dads; perfect your sleep with science; how lizards survived dinosaur-killing asteroid
Q: So, Michael, this was a team in China, wasn't it? Can you tell us what they did, how they created this mouse that has two fathers?
A team in China took mice eggs, removed the DNA, and then added two sperm to create an embryo with two sets of chromosomes, which had to be reprogrammed to develop normally.
Weekly: Have we really just found the strongest evidence for alien life yet?
Q: What is the skepticism around the claims of life on K2-18b?
Some astronomers believe the results are not definitive and emphasize the importance of further observations and the complexity of data analysis.
Weekly: Have we really just found the strongest evidence for alien life yet?
Q: What's the significance of the discovery of DMS in the atmosphere of K2-18b?
The detection of DMS suggests potential signs of life, as the molecule is uniquely produced by life on Earth, primarily by marine phytoplankton.
Weekly: Is bird flu spreading between people? Plus 2024’s best science books
Q: What was the response from delegates at COP29 regarding the climate financing deal?
There was substantial unhappiness with the deal, as poorer countries requested significantly more funding than was agreed upon.
CultureLab: The Royal Flying Doctors - Saving lives in the Australian outback
Q: What did they do for you? Do they give you pain relief?
They provided pain relief and set me up with a drip since I was losing blood.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The world, the universe and us

What is The world, the universe and us about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Episodes focus on a wide array of scientific explorations, ranging from climate change and health advancements to the latest discoveries in neuroscience and space exploration. The discussion often highlights contemporary issues like the implications of human emotions towards climate action and the intersection of science with societal challenges. Unique aspects include the emphasis on storytelling and the emotional responses that drive public engagement with scientific topics. This blend of rigorous science and relatable narrative aims to inspire curiosity and optimism while tackling complex global issues.

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To see how many followers or subscribers The world, the universe and us has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The world, the universe and us?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The world, the universe and us:

1. BBC Inside Science
2. Science Weekly
3. Science In Action
4. CrowdScience
5. The Naked Scientists Podcast

How many episodes of The world, the universe and us are there?

The world, the universe and us launched 6 years ago and published 391 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on The world, the universe and us?

Recent guests on The world, the universe and us include:

1. Michael Marshall
2. Sanjeev Gupta
3. Kate Marvel
4. Tim Lenton
5. Ilana Seid
6. Robert Stern
7. Taras Gerya
8. Mike Marshall

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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