Science Weekly

The Guardian

Twice a week, the Guardian brings you the latest science and environment news

  1. Is male testosterone in freefall?

    hace 1 día

    Is male testosterone in freefall?

    Men’s average testosterone levels have halved over the past 50 years, according to scientists who say society is facing a male fertility crisis. Rising levels of obesity and diabetes are expected to play a part, but the team behind the work suggest that environmental factors such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals – which can be found in various household items – and global heating could also be factors in the apparent striking decline. Ian Sample speaks to science correspondent Hannah Devlin to find out how the work has been received and what the researchers want to see happen in response to their finding. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

    14 min
  2. ‘A break from scrolling’: how Gen Z fell in love with birding

    hace 3 días

    ‘A break from scrolling’: how Gen Z fell in love with birding

    In the last 50 years, Britain has lost an astonishing 73 million wild birds from its landscape, according to the British Trust for Ornithology. Habitat loss, pesticides, disease, cats and the climate crisis mean there are fewer birds than ever before. For children and young people it can be difficult to appreciate the scale of the loss due to a psychological phenomenon called ‘shifting baseline syndrome’, where each generation inherits a degraded version of the environment, and therefore doesn’t notice the overall decline. But Gen Z are bucking the trend. Thanks to social media and the Merlin Bird ID app, birding has become cool. To find out what we’re missing from the dawn chorus, and why young people are embracing birdwatching, Madeleine Finlay hears from the writer Robert Macfarlane and from Jess Painter, a member of the RSPB’s youth council. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

    17 min
  3. ‘Beautiful blobs’: can scientists build life from scratch?

    2 jul

    ‘Beautiful blobs’: can scientists build life from scratch?

    Researchers claim they are closer to creating life from nothing after building tiny, quivering blobs that use lab-made DNA to feed, grow and multiply in a dish. To find out how significant this step is, and where scientists hope it will lead, Madeleine Finlay hears from co-host Ian Sample and from Kate Adamala, professor of genetics at the University of Minnesota. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

    17 min
  4. Reflecting pool algae: the science Trump needs to know

    30 jun

    Reflecting pool algae: the science Trump needs to know

    The Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool in Washington DC has hardly been out of the news since April when President Trump vowed to have it renovated, and painted ‘American flag blue’ by 4 July. Despite the pool being stripped, cleaned, coated and refilled, within days the algae that has plagued it for decades was back. To find out why these blooms happen, what makes them so difficult to tackle and what Trump could try next, Ian Sample hears from co-host Madeleine Finlay, and from Dr Linda May, a freshwater ecologist at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

    16 min
  5. Nature or nurture: can genes make us behave ‘badly’?

    25 jun

    Nature or nurture: can genes make us behave ‘badly’?

    How much do our genes determine about our lives, and could they influence traits like risk-taking, antisocial behaviour or even violence? Ian Sample talks to Kathryn Paige Harden, a behavioural geneticist and professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin who studies how genetic factors shape human behaviour. In her book Original Sin she explores how nature and nurture combine to influence our likelihood of committing crimes, and asks whether the ‘cause’ of our actions matters for how we think about culpability. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

    20 min
  6. Extreme heat: is the UK becoming a 40C country?

    23 jun

    Extreme heat: is the UK becoming a 40C country?

    Met Office forecasters have issued a rare red weather warning for England, with temperatures potentially reaching 40C (104F) in some places. Europe is also dealing with a debilitating heatwave, with schools closed, trains cancelled and France even restricting the consumption of alcohol outdoors to take pressure off the emergency services. The high temperatures coincide with the coming El Niño, which some scientists have nicknamed Godzilla for its predicted strength. To find out whether the two are linked, Ian Sample hears from our Europe climate correspondent, Ajit Niranjan. He explains why it’s so hot, why we could be in for even worse and how we can keep as cool as possible. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

    15 min
  7. The audacious plan to refreeze the Arctic

    18 jun

    The audacious plan to refreeze the Arctic

    Sea ice is melting fast and worsening the climate crisis. But what if there were a way to thicken it again? Madeleine Finlay is joined by environment editor Damian Carrington to discuss a bold attempt to refreeze the Arctic which is showing early signs of success. He visited the project to find out how it will work, how much it will cost and whether it really has potential to improve the fate of the Arctic’s ice. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

    16 min
  8. Should we ban social media for under-16s?

    15 jun

    Should we ban social media for under-16s?

    The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, has announced a social media ban for under-16s, as part of an online safety drive that aims to go even further than the world’s first ban, introduced by Australia last year. Many parents have welcomed the proposals, but scientists have pointed to the lack of strong evidence for the efficacy of bans, and some campaigners have argued that the proposal allows social media companies to avoid making meaningful changes on their platforms. Ian Sample is joined by co-host Madeleine Finlay to explore what the evidence indicates about the harms of social media and the impact of banning it outright. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

    20 min
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Twice a week, the Guardian brings you the latest science and environment news

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  • Canal
    The Guardian
  • Creador
    The Guardian
  • Años de actividad
    2006 - 2026
  • Episodios
    464
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.
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    Science Weekly

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