Ethology podcasts

Sarah Crespi and Tim Appenzeller discuss a resurfaced Rosalind Franklin X-ray photograph and its implications for the history of DNA structure. Elah Feder then speaks with Andreas Nieder about experiments comparing the speed of decisions in crows and primates, considering neural mechanisms and evolutionary advantages. Phil Levin and David Hassler discuss collaboration between ecological research and poetry, with a reading by Lara Volski.

Hosted by Sarah Crespi

Experiments using a giant wave machine test how salt marshes protect shorelines during extreme storms. The episode also explores evidence about Denisovan faces, orangutan mothers arranging play encounters, and the unequal effects of medieval lead exposure.

Anna Truzzi and Luca Pellegrino discuss experiments on a historical antibacterial preparation and the sources of bias in AI systems. An external segment with Ian Scott and Ilaria Zanardi explores elephant communication, including low-frequency sound, long-distance signalling and the evidence for individually distinctive calls.

Hosted by Anna Truzzi, Luca Pellegrino

High-speed recordings reveal how butterfly markings generate misleading motion cues during takeoff, potentially confusing pursuing birds. The episode considers visual camouflage and predator–prey interactions, followed by short research highlights on evolution and an Iron Age hoard of metal bars.

Chris Smith presents research on individual differences in fruit flies, colour-linked pupil responses in synaesthesia, and how mating patterns broaden cognitive variation in chickadees. The episode also examines which species succeed in cities and how DNA organisation changes in cancer. The publisher provides a full episode player and individual interview transcripts.

Hosted by Chris Smith

Nature staff discuss a large survey of insect diversity in the Amazon and unusual orca behavior captured on video involving a sunfish.

Nature reporters discuss the chemical signal used by naked mole-rat queens to maintain reproductive hierarchy and how people reason when learning unfamiliar games.

Nature staff discuss rhythmic laughter in apes, what it may reveal about the evolution of speech, and evidence that AI use can erode skills in medicine and computing.

John Wingfield and Fran Bonier discuss how hormones help wild animals respond to social challenges, seasons and environmental stress. The conversation examines the challenge hypothesis, emergency life-history transitions and allostasis, drawing on studies of wild birds. Wingfield also reflects on scientific leadership and advice for early-career researchers.

Hosted by Marty Martin, Cameron Ghalambor

Nedah Nemati examines how neuroscience defines behavior and why freely moving animals and naturalistic experiments matter. She discusses how tools, historical assumptions and researchers' own experience influence scientific questions, including what studies of sleep reveal about the relationship between observation and explanation.

Hosted by Paul Middlebrooks

Katherine Nagel discusses how fruit flies navigate using odour and how ring models can explain the short-term memory involved.

Nachum Ulanovsky discusses studying nervous systems during natural behaviour. The conversation considers what researchers gain from observing animals in ecologically meaningful conditions and how new methods can connect neuroscience with evolution and ecology.

Julie Sørlie Paus-Knudsen discusses learning and intelligence in bees and bumblebees alongside their ecological roles. Conversation in Norwegian.

Erich Jarvis compares the neurological and genetic foundations of learned vocal communication across species. In conversation with Janna Levin, he connects human speech with birdsong and other animal vocalizations, considers why vocal learning varies between species, and explores links between speech, movement and dance.

Hosted by Janna Levin