Public Health podcasts

Adrian Hill discusses the scientific challenges behind developing the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, its path from research to use, and efforts to make vaccination accessible in Africa. The conversation explores the complexity of the malaria parasite and the practical demands of vaccine production and delivery. The publisher credits Marushka Soobben and Chris Smith as presenters and provides the episode audio and interview transcript.

Hosted by Marushka Soobben, Chris Smith

Chris Smith presents a science-news episode examining how artificial intelligence could be misused to develop biological weapons and how researchers and regulators are responding. The programme also covers long-lasting genetic scars after childhood chemotherapy, ultra-strong ice as a possible construction material, and methods for tracking weather patterns on distant planets.

Hosted by Chris Smith

Chris Smith and Rachael Ralph explore the mechanisms and forecasting of El Niño and its consequences for weather, livelihoods and health. Contributions from Aidan McGivern and Peter Gibbs explain the climate dynamics; Vicky Pryce discusses economic disruption; Rachel Tolhurst and Teresa Zakaria examine health vulnerabilities and preparedness. The episode connects climate science with the decisions facing public-health services and communities.

Hosted by Chris Smith, Rachael Ralph

Sarah Crespi and Richard Stone discuss the spread of disease-carrying Hyalomma ticks as the climate changes, drawing on reporting from Kosovo and the role of surveillance. Evolutionary ecologist Veronika Bókony then explains research on agile frogs whose development changes with temperature, including the reproductive consequences for genetically female frogs that develop male traits. The episode connects climate, disease ecology and amphibian reproduction. The publisher supplies a transcript and external audio.

Hosted by Sarah Crespi

Nicole Marinaro presents linguistic unease as a framework for assessing language policies in healthcare. The discussion examines how communication barriers shape access to care for speakers of minority languages and how policy evaluation can account for patients’ experiences, linguistic justice and confidence in using public services.

Hosted by Brynn Quick

Nature reporters discuss Dolly Parton's advocacy for vaccines and public health alongside promising phase III results for a personalised mRNA cancer vaccine for melanoma.

Joe Hilton explains how health economics and mathematical modelling inform difficult decisions about healthcare resources. The conversation contrasts costly treatments benefiting small groups with interventions serving larger populations, and examines how such trade-offs are assessed. Hilton also discusses his route into research and the experience of beginning work on health policy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hosted by Rachel Thomas, Marianne Freiberger

Science journalists discuss why the food-borne illness cyclosporiasis is difficult to track and a new map of a major highway in the human nervous system. Leslie Chan then explains an ingestible metabolic probe that detects gut-microbiome enzyme activity from volatile signals in the breath.

Mariana Kneppers, Mason Wakley and Jamie Durrani revisit the Seveso chemical disaster and its lasting health and regulatory consequences. They also discuss membrane materials designed to separate hydrocarbons with less energy than conventional refinery processes, connecting materials research to industrial efficiency.

Hosted by Mariana Kneppers

Nature examines the booming market for unregulated peptides and asks whether scientific evidence supports the health and wellness claims driving their popularity.

Brynn Quick compares communication imagined by Australian healthcare policies with the work required in multilingual clinical settings. Analysis of thirteen policies shows how patients are often expected to identify their own interpreter needs, while staff receive little guidance on assessing English proficiency. The discussion examines how apparently language-neutral communication standards can obscure unequal access.

Hosted by Emily Pacheco, Brynn Quick

The discussion explores why an atom has no sharply defined boundary and why atomic radius depends on the physical setting and measurement convention. A second segment examines synthetic food dyes, differences between US and UK products, and the scientific evidence relevant to proposed restrictions and public-health claims about colour additives.

Hosted by Mariana Kneppers

Jo Røislien discusses research on communicating expert information and lessons from public communication during the pandemic. Conversation in Norwegian.

Liz Fearon describes a project that involves members of the public as equal participants in creating mathematical models. The discussion asks how models used in public-health policy and other decisions can reflect lived experience, social interactions and community priorities. It explores the motivation, working methods and aims of co-production in epidemiological modelling.

Martin Wagner examines microplastics and chemicals associated with plastics, including their effects on natural ecosystems and human health. The conversation connects environmental toxicology with international negotiations on a plastics treaty and considers how changes in plastic production and use could address pollution.

Hosted by Marty Martin, Cameron Ghalambor

Gunnveig Grødeland discusses competing explanations of the origins of COVID-19 and the evidence available at the episode's publication. Conversation in Norwegian.

Hilde Østby discusses loneliness, its effects on wellbeing and research into why persistent social isolation occurs. Conversation in Norwegian.

Gunnveig Grødeland discusses progress and concerns during the initial COVID-19 vaccine rollout. This Norwegian archive episode reflects evidence available at publication.

Gunnveig Grødeland explains vaccine development and immune protection during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Norwegian discussion reflects its original publication period.

Anne Spurkland discusses coronavirus biology, transmission and responses to the emerging pandemic. This Norwegian conversation reflects knowledge at its original 2020 publication date.