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The world, the universe and us

The world, the universe and us

著者: New Scientist
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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 unparalleled depth of reporting to put the stories that matter into context. Feed your curiosity with the podcast that will restore your sense of optimism and nourish your brain. For more visit newscientist.com/podcasts© 2025 New Scientist Podcasts 政治・政府 科学
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  • Ocean wonders and the new arguments against deep-sea mining; biophotons emitted from living things; drumming chimps and the origin of religion
    2025/05/09
    We dive into the mysterious world of the deep sea, sparked by a recent executive order aiming to ramp up offshore mineral extraction, as well as new research revealing that 99.999 per cent of the seabed remains unexplored. Experts discuss the surprising lack of deep-sea exploration, the ecological wonders already discovered, like hydrothermal vents and bizarre deep-sea creatures, and the debate over mining nodules from the ocean floor. With new battery tech on the horizon and mounting environmental concerns, questions grow about whether deep-sea mining is driven by necessity or a disregard for the ecosystems we barely understand. Researchers have captured the faint glow emitted by living things to explore what happens when life ends. First theorised a century ago by Russian physicist Alexander Gurwitsch, biophotons are ultraweak light emissions which appear to track metabolism and fade dramatically at death. Could this eerie glow one day help detect disease, or even confirm the moment of death? Chimpanzees across Africa have been observed rhythmically drumming on trees, but what are they trying to say? A new study spanning 11 chimp communities reveals that these drum beats may be individual signatures, offering fresh insight into the roots of musicality and communication. The team discuss how chimps may even show signs of awe or ritual, with their unique responses to storms, fire, and waterfalls. Could drumming mark not just the evolution of rhythm, but the first flickers of spiritual thought? Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:33 The mysterious deep sea and the race to mine its resources 13:43 The science of biophotons: what happens when we die? 20:27 Chimpanzee drumming: Rhythm, awe, and the roots of musicality Hosted by Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet, with guests Alex Wilkins. Maddie Cuff, Dustin Mulvaney, Olive Heffernan, Alasdair Mackenzie, Catherine Hobaiter, and Jessica Battle. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    28 分
  • Is our understanding of light completely wrong? Two consciousness theories go head-to-head; decoding dolphin whistles
    2025/05/02
    Episode 301 Our understanding of the nature of light might be completely wrong. The double-slit experiment is one of the most famous experiments in physics and is how we’ve understood light for over 200 years. But a team is now suggesting we’ve got the interpretation all wrong - that light is in fact not a wave and is only made up of particles. If true, this is major. The authors of this study were left scrambling as “all hell broke loose” when they made the discovery. And the best part? Dark photons may be involved. A 7 year study into the nature of consciousness has reached its conclusion - pitting two major theories against one another. Integrated information theory suggests levels of consciousness exist in any system, including rocks and fetuses. Global neuronal workspace theory claims specific brain regions are responsible for consciousness. After 256 brain scans - are we any closer to an answer? A decades-long study involving 170 wild dolphins has allowed biologists to decode their whistles. Hear dolphins recorded in the waters of Sarasota, Florida, which show how the animals communicate in various ways - and even give themselves names. Chapters: (00:45) Dark photons and our understanding of light (11:07) Major theories of consciousness go head-to-head (21:05) Decoding whale language Hosted by Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet, with guests Chelsea Whyte, Celso Villas-Boas, Gerhard Rempe, Christof Koch, Anil Seth and Laela Sayigh. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    29 分
  • Weekly: Why the climate crisis is an issue of injustice and inequality
    2025/04/29
    Episode 299 In a climate justice special episode of the podcast, the biggest issue of the century is up for discussion. Find out the true impact of climate change on our planet and who should be paying to fix the crisis. Rowan Hooper and Madeleine Cuff are joined by two climate experts - Friederike Otto and Joyce Kimutai from the World Weather Attribution project at Imperial College London. This episode is dedicated to answering three questions - starting with the issue of climate attribution. To what extent can we blame climate change for extreme weather events like hurricanes, droughts, heatwaves, floods and wildfires? Find out how climate attribution began as a fringe science and how it has evolved to become a firm part of public consciousness. The next question is one of climate justice - how can we make sure rich countries pay for the loss and damage caused to poorer countries by climate change? The argument is that poorer nations are least responsible for climate change, yet they are most affected by its impacts. So at the latest UN climate summit, COP28, a lot of money was pledged - yet hardly any of it has actually materialised. So what’s going on? And the third question is about litigation - can climate attribution be used to achieve justice, by forcing climate polluters to pay up? A trial is ongoing where a company in Germany is being sued for its role in damaging the climate - but it’s still unclear whether the case will be successful. The hope is with climate attribution, it’ll be easier to bring cases like this forward and offer up a more detailed picture of how much damage has been done - and how much money is owed. Chapters: (01:16) Weather attribution (19:58) Climate justice (32:52) Climate litigation To read more about stories like this, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 分

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