logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2023
20m 28s

Laser 'lightning rod' diverts strikes hi...

SPRINGER NATURE LIMITED
About this episode

In this episode:


00:45 Laser-guided lightning

Scientists have shown that a specially designed laser can divert the course of lightning strikes in a real-world setting. The team fired the laser into the sky above a communications tower high in the Swiss Alps and altered the course of four strikes. In future they hope that this kind of system could be used to protect large infrastructure, such as airports.


Research article: Houard et al.

News: This rapid-fire laser diverts lightning strikes


09:36 Research Highlights

The crabs that lean on bacteria to detoxify sulfur from hydrothermal vents, and how a persons’ nasal microbes might exacerbate their hay fever.


Research Highlight: Crabs endure a hellish setting — with help from friends

Research Highlight: Plagued by hay fever? Blame your nasal microbes


12:02 Briefing Chat

We discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time: how “hot mixing” has helped ancient Roman concrete stand the test of time, and the first vaccine for honeybees shows promise.


Ars Technica: Ancient Roman concrete could self-heal thanks to “hot mixing” with quicklime

New York Times: U.S.D.A. Approves First Vaccine for Honeybees


Nature Video: 3D printing adds a twist with a novel nozzle


Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
Three weeks in a hide to spot one elusive bear: the life of a wildlife film-maker
Vianet Djenguet is an award-winning wildlife film-maker and camera operator whose work has featured in a number of major nature documentaries.In this podcast, Vianet joins us to talk about his career, how wildlife film-making have changed, and his experiences working with local r ... Show More
12m 47s
Jul 9
Ancient DNA reveals farming led to more human diseases
00:48 The past 35,000 years of diseaseAncient DNA evidence shows that the advent of agriculture led to more infectious disease among humans, with pathogens from animals only showing up 6,500 years ago. The DNA, extracted from human teeth, shows the history of diseases present in ... Show More
37m 6s
Jul 4
Audio long read: How to speak to a vaccine sceptic — research reveals what works
Questions and doubts about vaccines are on the rise worldwide and public-health specialists worry that these trends could worsen. But while the shift in public attitudes towards immunizations can leave scientists, physicians and many others feeling disheartened, a surge of resear ... Show More
16m 13s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2021
Des météo-tsunamis en Méditerranée (Fds#28)
Pour cette semaine du 7 juin : des nombres préhistoriques, des météo-tsunamis, des ondes radio ultra énergétiques, des supers lymphocytes et des organismes marins multicellulaires revenant à la vie. Bonne écoute, et bon week-end ! 👉Abonnez-vous sur vos apps et plateformes audio ... Show More
5m 34s
Jan 2024
Choose Your Lightning Protection: Lasers, Rockets or Rods?
Every year, lightning is estimated to cause up to 24,000 deaths globally. It starts forest fires, burns buildings and crops, and causes disruptive power outages. The best, most practical technology available to deflect lightning is the simple lightning rod, created by Benjamin Fr ... Show More
12m 21s
Dec 2022
Healthy Breaks, Diarrhea Gene, Motorcycle Light
Today we discuss the benefits of taking breaks during work, how milk led to death, and a new configuration of lights that might lead to a massive decrease in the amount of motorcycle accidents that happen at night. Healthy Breaks “Microbreaks may help to prevent workplace burnout ... Show More
12m 50s
Feb 2024
Alzheimer : la maladie serait transmissible !
Pour cette semaine du 29 janvier : une nouvelle inattendue concernant la maladie d’Alzheimer, de la vapeur dans l’atmosphère d’une exoplanète, les implants Neuralink testés sur le cerveau humain, des révélations sur la plus grande extinction de masse et une appli qui protège les ... Show More
6m 17s
Jun 2024
Showrunner: AI-Powered Streaming, Quantum Wormhole Simulation, Lorlatinib's Success in Lung Cancer, Thwaites Glacier's Rapid Melting, and the Decline of Ghost Kitchens
In this episode of Discover Daily, we explore a range of fascinating topics that span the realms of technology, science, and culture. From the groundbreaking development of a new AI-driven streaming service called Showrunner to the alarming melting of Antarctica's "Doomsday ... Show More
6m 20s
Feb 2024
A new kind of magnetism, and how smelly pollution harms pollinators
More than 200 materials could be “altermagnets,” and the impact of odiferous pollutants on nocturnal plant-pollinator interactions First up on the show this week, researchers investigate a new kind of magnetism. Freelance science journalist Zack Savitsky joins host Sarah Crespi t ... Show More
31m 21s
Feb 2010
Do animals use toilet paper?
We investigate the toilet habits of the animal kingdom this week as well as taking a pot shot at which way a dirty golf ball swings in mid air, answering whether warmer waters attract more sharks and if there's a genetic basis to intelligence. We also get an update on what geolog ... Show More
59m 9s
Apr 2024
Spotify's AI Playlists, Dubai's Cloud Seeding Drones, and Bacterial Kamikaze for Medicine
In this episode of Discover Daily, we explore three fascinating stories at the intersection of AI, weather modification, and microbiology. First, we dive into Spotify's latest AI endeavor: a new feature that allows users to create personalized playlists using prompts. By lev ... Show More
5m 30s
Nov 2023
Weekly: Saving the trees we already have; why US men are dying younger; soap bubble lasers (pew pew pew)
#224Tree planting has become an incredibly popular way of attempting to store carbon dioxide and slow global warming. But new research estimates we may be able to store huge amounts of carbon dioxide without planting any new trees at all. All we have to do is protect the ones we ... Show More
32m 14s
Jun 2024
Is gene therapy the future?
Last week, a girl who was born deaf had her hearing restored following gene therapy. In the US, the first commercial gene therapy for sickle cell disease has just begun. And Great Ormond Street Hospital has found great success in their trials and a gene therapy for children lacki ... Show More
28m 9s