The World, the Universe and Us

The World, the Universe and Us

New Scientist

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

Listen to the last episode:

Episode 370 The melting ice caps are accelerating global warming and contributing to sea level rise, but could also contribute to a different kind of climate catastrophe. The melting may cause massive amounts of frozen methane to bubble up into the atmosphere. It happened thousands of years ago - and scientists are concerned it’s about to happen again. Methane is a greenhouse gas which is 86 times more potent than CO2. Some estimates suggest this frozen methane - methane hydrates - contain twice as much warming potential as all the coal, oil and gas on Earth. Scientists have now discovered a new way for methane in Greenland to be unleashed. It’s not a threat that has been taken seriously as the evidence has been inconclusive. But perhaps it’s time for us to take notice? Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist’s Alec Luhn to discuss the news. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous episodes

  • 438 - The Hidden Methane Time Bomb That Could Accelerate The Climate Crisis 
    Wed, 20 May 2026
  • 437 - Science Reveals Neanderthals Had Dentists 60,000 Years Ago 
    Fri, 15 May 2026
  • 436 - Scientists Concerned By a Sudden Increase in the Rate of Sea Level Rise 
    Wed, 13 May 2026
  • 435 - The Strange Case Of The Man Immune To Alzheimer’s 
    Fri, 08 May 2026
  • 434 - Astronomers Stunned by a Tiny World With an Atmosphere 
    Wed, 06 May 2026
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