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The World, the Universe and Us

New Scientist
Climate Change
Mars
Dark Matter
Alzheimer's Disease
Artificial Intelligence
Chimpanzees
Microbiome
Sleep
Cancer
Human Evolution
Neuroscience
Geoengineering
Loneliness
Antarctica
Coral Reefs
Health Conditions
Black Holes
Dark Energy
Neanderthals
Global Warming

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes477Founded7 years ago
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Artwork for The World, the Universe and Us

Latest Episodes

Episode 411

Why may now have an answer as to why autism is less common in women and girls. And it’s all to do with ZFX, a gene that may explain the so-called “female protective effect”.

A new study found a set of genes that appear to be linked to a... more

Episode 409

COP31 is about to take place against the backdrop of a year of accelerating climate disasters, plus a record breaking October and confirmation that we’ve exceeded the Paris climate agreement.

This year's UN climate meeting isn’t planned... more

Episode 407

The latest UN climate report is out and we’ve blown past 1.5 degrees of warming. We’re now in “overshoot” - an acknowledgement that global temperatures will rise beyond 1.5 degrees, but can theoretically be brought back down again throug... more

Episode 406

The glymphatic system is the brain’s waste disposal system - responsible for clearing out harmful toxins that build up during the day.

Now a new mouse study has connected reduced glyphatic flow to Alzheimer’s disease. And because this g... more

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Recent Guests

Michael Marshall
Science writer
New Scientist
Episode: The Gene That Could Explain Why Autism Is More Common in Boys
Madeleine Cuff
Environment reporter
New Scientist
Episode: COP31: Are the World's Climate Summits Actually Working Anymore?
Mark Maslin
Professor of Earth System Science at University College London
University College London
Episode: COP31: Are the World's Climate Summits Actually Working Anymore?
Alison George
New Scientist features editor and former British Antarctic Survey microbiologist
New Scientist
Episode: Climate Overshoot Is Here - And Antarctica Is in Trouble
Alec Luhn
Climate reporter
New Scientist
Episode: If the AMOC Collapses - Could We Reverse the Damage?
Enrique Rodriguez
Researcher on mitochondria
University College London
Episode: Secrets of the World’s Longest-Lived Animals
Steve Brusatte
Paleontologist, University of Edinburgh; author
University of Edinburgh
Episode: New Fossil Shows Birds Weren’t the Only Dinosaurs to Evolve Flight
Caitlin Moran
Author of How to Be Hopeful
Author, How to Be Hopeful
Episode: How to Be Hopeful: Caitlin Moran and New Scientist Look to the Future
Jacob Aron
Journalist contributing to AI and tech coverage
New Scientist
Episode: THIS Is What You Need To Worry About With The Rise Of AI

Hosts

Rowan Hooper
Science journalist and New Scientist editor
Penny Sarchet
Science journalist and New Scientist editor

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 963 ratings
  • mostly advertising

    This is science journalism 10% of the time, ads and advertorials for the rest. You don't do science by press release.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    amcqu
    Australia4 months ago
  • Misleading disinformation

    The nuclear energy episode so blatantly skews facts as to be disinformation. At one point it compared wind turbine engineer risk to nuclear waste. This channel is disinformation presented as impartial scientific information. Unfortunately I can’t give less than one star. Shame on the presenters and shame on the staff involved.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Dadai5m
    Australia7 months ago
  • A BS publication full of propaganda

    A company that has taken sponsorship from BP and Shell Oil has the gall to be Bitcoin bashing over extremely out dated arguments about Bitcoin and energy consumption. They know better, but they are owned by The Daily Mail who stand as an extreme right wing publication with interests in supporting the legacy banking and financial institutions. This publication cannot be trusted, full of bias and biased outside interests. Purposefully using all the outdated tropes and ignoring all the current fact... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    OG yes indeed
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • Much too light and opinion-based

    A show with science in the title shouldn’t be presenting opinions backed up with anecdotal or no evidence. Who cares what books the presenters have been reading, how they think the world is, and how they’d like it to be. I’ve read and enjoyed the magazine for years and this is a poor representation of it.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    td14573
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • Love it

    This is a great podcast for anyone wanting to get a clear and accessible introduction to the latest developments in science. The hosts do a wonderful job of guiding listeners through complex ideas in a way that’s both engaging and entertaining. I especially enjoy listening to Dr Penny’s sweet voice, which makes the experience even more delightful. Keep up the excellent work! ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nipuna (Nix)
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners criticize advertising and advertorials for interrupting the editorial content.
Many value the wide range of current science topics and the concise, accessible explanations.
Listeners praise the hosts for making complex science clear, engaging and humorous.
Some reviewers want more context, rigor and balance, and object to what they see as political framing.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#94
United States/Science
Spotify
#20
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#10
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#71
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#25
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#136
Italy/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

COP31: Are the World's Climate Summits Actually Working Anymore?
Q: You're not going to this one yourself, but some of your team are, aren't they? Tell us what you make of the whole process. They've been called, it's not fit for purpose, it's not working fast enough. What's your thinking around it?
Mark Maslin argues that COP remains an important forum where countries meet on equal terms, pursue climate goals, and make progress through working groups and side agreements, though it is not limited to headline negotiations.
COP31: Are the World's Climate Summits Actually Working Anymore?
Q: What's the mood going into this one in Turkey and what should we expect?
Madeleine Cuff says COP31 is a mid-cycle technical summit rather than a major deal-making COP, with no major agreement expected and muted enthusiasm for climate action.
The Gene That Could Explain Why Autism Is More Common in Boys
Q: Does it mean that if you say you could accurately diagnose everyone, we would perhaps still expect there to be fewer women diagnosed with autism?
Marshall says the difference may remain, but the often-cited four-to-one rate is likely inaccurate and the disparity is probably smaller. Underdiagnosis in women is real, but equal rates cannot be assumed.
The Gene That Could Explain Why Autism Is More Common in Boys
Q: Can you talk a little bit perhaps about that? And let's get into this women protective effect thing.
Marshall explains that autism involves many genes with effects of varying strength. A study found that autism-associated genes interact and identified ZFX as a possible regulator that may help explain a female protective effect, although the hypothesis needs direct experimental testing.
Climate Overshoot Is Here - And Antarctica Is in Trouble
Q: What's the latest news about this glacier?
Thwaites is retreating and thinning, and its bedrock lies below sea level, making it unstable. Its ice shelf is cracked, while modelling suggests melting may continue for 150 years and a broad grounding zone could accelerate destabilization.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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?

Weekly conversations make complex science accessible, connecting new research to questions about health, climate, technology, evolution and the wider universe. Science journalists Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet guide interviews and roundtable discussions with researchers, specialist reporters and occasional authors. Guests explain what a finding means, how strong the evidence is and where uncertainty remains, from climate risks and artificial intelligence to brain health, ancient humans and particle physics. The mix of expert context, current reporting and lighter moments gives the discussions an informed but approachable tone. Episodes often relate scientific discoveries to public policy, everyday life or possible future applications, whil... more

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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. Unexpected Elements
4. The Naked Scientists Podcast
5. The Life Scientific

How many episodes of The World, the Universe and Us are there?

The World, the Universe and Us launched 7 years ago and published 477 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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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. Madeleine Cuff
3. Mark Maslin
4. Alison George
5. Alec Luhn
6. Enrique Rodriguez
7. Steve Brusatte
8. Caitlin Moran

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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