Science Weekly

Chris Stokel-Walker, tech journalist and author on AI and policy, discusses the militarisation of artificial intelligence. He outlines Anthropic’s safeguards and the Pentagon split, the swift pivot to OpenAI, and how AI is reportedly shaping recent strikes. The conversation explores why this may mark a dangerous turning point for future conflicts.

Jason Hickel, political economist at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and degrowth advocate, and Nick Stern, LSE economist known for the Stern Review and green growth work, debate pathways for climate-safe societies. They discuss whether growth can be decoupled from emissions. They outline investments, policy shifts, taxation and systemic changes needed to meet climate goals.

Declan O’Regan, professor of cardiovascular AI and consultant radiologist, explains how fat is an active, communicating tissue. He discusses visceral fat’s role in inflammation and cardiovascular ageing. Conversation highlights different fat types, why hip and thigh fat can help, limits of BMI and quick fixes, and how fitness interacts with dangerous fat.

Nicola Davis, science correspondent at The Guardian known for toxicology reporting, discusses a potent psychedelic trial for depression. She explains epibatidine detection and its role in the Navalny case. The conversation also tackles why humans have chins, highlighting evolutionary byproduct ideas. Short, sharp stories spanning psychiatry, poison forensics and human anatomy.

Katherine Tucker, Distinguished university professor and founder of the Center for Population Health at UMass Lowell, explains magnesium’s role in the body. They cover what magnesium does, how common shortfalls may be, why modern diets are lower in magnesium, and the pros and cons of supplements versus getting it from food.

In late January a new social media site took a certain corner of the internet by storm. Moltbook was conceived as a space where AI assistants could let off steam, chat and compare notes on their bosses, but it quickly became the focus of breathless claims that the singularity had arrived as the bots started badmouthing their humans and plotting an uprising. So what’s the truth about Moltbook? Madeleine Finlay hears from Aisha Down about what it tells us about AI, and about us.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Dan Vergano, senior editor at Scientific American and investigative science journalist, explains how Jeffrey Epstein infiltrated the scientific world. He discusses Epstein’s funding routes, salons and island gatherings. He outlines ties to brain science, AI, longevity and eugenic ideas. He also covers who associated with Epstein and how reputations were shaped.

Phoebe Weston, a biodiversity reporter for The Guardian who covers invasive species, recounts Lake Geneva’s rapid takeover by quagga mussels. She describes their biology and spread. She outlines control attempts, experimental fixes and the controversial idea of moving species as climates shift. The conversation reflects on ecosystem change and whether nature can adapt.

Professor Susan Davis, an endocrinologist who studies women’s hormones, and Linda Geddes, a science journalist sharing her personal experience of taking testosterone. They explore what testosterone does in women. They discuss testing limits, libido improvements, dosing workarounds, access challenges, safety concerns and the gaps in long term research.

Prof Channa Jayasena, clinical professor in reproductive endocrinology and andrology at Imperial College London and chair of the Society for Endocrinology, explains how social media is fueling a craze for testosterone. Short segments cover targeted clinic marketing, testing pitfalls, when treatment is truly needed, fertility and health risks, and how lifestyle changes can restore levels.