In this episode:
To understand when, and how, the Milky Way formed, researchers need to know when its stars were born. This week, a team of astronomers have precisely aged nearly a quarter of a million stars, revealing more about the sequence of events that took place as our galaxy formed.
Research article: Xiang and Rix
News and Views: A stellar clock reveals the assembly history of the Milky Way
Archaeologists reveal an ancient lake was actually a ritual pool, and how the Moon’s phase affects some birds' altitude.
Research Highlight: Ancient ‘harbour’ revealed to be part of fertility god’s lavish shrine
Research Highlight: These birds fly high when the full Moon hangs in the sky
Yellowstone National Park’s iconic geothermal geysers and volcanic landmarks are well studied, but very little was known about the ‘plumbing system’ that feeds these features. Now a team of researchers have mapped the underground hydrothermal system, showing the specific faults and pathways that supply the park.
Research article: Finn et al.
We discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, 0why an Australian university has been suspended from winning a research foundation’s fellowships, and the ongoing debate about the cause of ‘COVID toes’.
Nature: Funder bars university from grant programme over white-male award line-up
Nature: Are ‘COVID toes’ actually caused by the coronavirus?
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Smoking changes your immune system, even years after quitting
Why we need to rethink how we talk about cancer
Cancer's power harnessed — lymphoma mutations supercharge T cells
Cervical cancer could be eliminated: here's how
Ancient DNA solves the mystery of who made a set of stone tools
Audio long read: Long COVID is a double curse in low-income nations — here’s why
Toxic red mud could be turned into 'green' steel
This AI just figured out geometry — is this a step towards artificial reasoning?
The science stories you missed over the holiday period
Science in 2024: what to expect this year
Audio long read: A new kind of solar cell is coming — is it the future of green energy?
The Nature Podcast highlights of 2023
How AI works is often a mystery — that's a problem
The Nature Podcast Festive Spectacular 2023
Navigating planets, plays and prejudice — a conversation with Aomawa Shields
Inhaled vaccine prevents COVID in monkeys
Cat parasite Toxoplasma tricked to grow in a dish
The world’s smallest light-trapping silicon cavity
Sanitary products made from plants could help tackle period poverty
Why COP28 probably won't keep the 1.5 degree dream alive
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