The World, the Universe and Us

Thylacines, extinct carnivorous marsupials from the early 20th century, have had their RNA extracted for the first time. The hard problem of consciousness is discussed, with Integrated Information Theory coming under scrutiny. The Kuiper Belt objects Eris and Makemake may have liquid water, challenging previous assumptions. Caribbean box jellyfish with no brains can still learn, possibly through their eye-like structures.

John Scalzi, an American science fiction author, discusses the science behind villainous tropes like volcano lairs and genetically engineered dolphins in his book 'Starter Villain'. He humorously pokes holes in the flawed logic seen on TV shows and explains what an evil mastermind would look like in the real world. They also explore the illusory nature of billionaire wealth and the limitations of defining intelligence based on human capabilities.

Ig Nobel Prizes honor achievements that make people laugh and think, including a smart toilet analyzing poop and people fluent in speaking backwards. Winter brings updated versions of the covid-19 vaccine. James Webb Space Telescope spots ancient supermassive black holes. Palm cockatoos demonstrate unique musical abilities. Cockatoos' intelligence and frogs' amusing mating behavior are discussed.

Join Leah and Chelsea as they belatedly mourn the loss of Pluto as a planet. Guests Kathryn Volk and Konstantin Batygin discuss various approaches to boosting Pluto's status, including increasing its mass and dragging it into the inner solar system. They also explore reimagining Pluto's planetary status by dropping a black hole inside it or physically moving it. The podcast also touches on the stability of Pluto and the potential consequences of a close gravitational encounter with Neptune.

A new type of brain cell, glutamatergic astrocytes, could provide insights into brain health. Bridge construction over a sinking glacier in Alaska is vital for park access. Quantum batteries hold promise for quick and wireless charging. The feet of the Terracotta Army may have contributed to ancient China's success. The flexibility of shoulder and elbow joints in humans and apes is explored. Researchers discuss growing humanized organs in pigs and a super-bright space explosion.

Author Ed Yong explores how animals perceive the world in his book 'An Immense World'. He discusses exotic animal senses, bird vision, bird auditory abilities, and the harmful effects of human activities on animals' sensory worlds.

Rodney Gorham, one of the first people to use mind typing communication, discusses the medical uses of brain implants. The podcast also explores the drastic population bottleneck our ancestors faced, the recreation of ancient Egyptian perfume, and challenges to the theory of beer goggles. Additionally, learn about the intriguing trapping strategy of pirate spiders.

Andy Rivkin, asteroid researcher and planetary astronomer of John Hopkins University, joins Leah and Chelsea to discuss various strategies for protecting Earth from asteroid impacts, including using a gigantic net, a humongous gong, and even Bruce Willis. They explore the challenges of creating a shield, discuss the importance of a planetary defense system, and end with a lighthearted discussion on a 'gong or death' t-shirt.

India's successful moon landing; Placenta cells' potential to heal heart; Rise of mind-altering drug use; AI technology for tsunami detection; Turtle shells as nuclear activity records; Dog poop's impact on greener vegetation; Stronger concrete with coffee biochar.

Struggling to choose what to watch? Whether it’s sci-fi, medical dramas or documentaries about the natural world, we’ve got you covered. Our TV columnist Bethan Ackerley shares a rundown of her top TV choices from 2023 so far, as well as what to look out for the rest of the year. Reviews of some of the shows featured in this episode:  Foundation (Apple TV)The Last Of Us (HBO Max and Sky Atlantic)Best Interests (Sky Go, Amazon, Apple TV)Wild Isles (BBC iPlayer, Amazon)Dead Ringers (Amazon)Silo (Apple TV)To read all of Bethan’s TV columns visit newscientist.com/author/bethan-ackerley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices