Did childcare fuel language? A new book makes the case 20. August 2025 (20:00) Rearing our unusually underdeveloped young may account for the evolution of language. Michael Marshall is intrigued, but wants more evidence from Madeleine Beekman's The Origin of Language(New Scientist)
I'm a cyclist. Will the arrival of robotaxis make my journeys safer? 20. August 2025 (20:00) Inveterate cyclist Matt Sparkes, who has been knocked off his bike by human-driven cars several times, wonders if the arrival of driverless cars in London is a good thing - or a bad one(New Scientist)
Anyone keen on a cat cryptocoin? Anyone? 20. August 2025 (20:00) Feedback is horrified to discover that the owner of one of the internet's favourite cats, Pépito, has taken the crypto route…(New Scientist)
Documenting the battle to protect New Zealand's endangered birds 20. August 2025 (20:00) Robin Hammond's photographs show the conservation battle to eradicate three species introduced to New Zealand, in order to protect the island nation's birds(New Scientist)
Powerful new book explores how noise has taken over the world 20. August 2025 (20:00) We need to think about the purpose of noise in our daily lives and environments. Chris Stokel-Walker discovers a great guide in Chris Berdik's Clamor(New Scientist)
Exploring humanity's ancient origins in fantastic new BBC documentary 20. August 2025 (20:00) Human delivers an unusually clear picture of Homo sapiens as a species shaped by climate, animals, plants, other hominins and the interactions of its own nomadic groups. Bethan Ackerley is enthralled(New Scientist)
Why bosses exploit their most loyal employees 20. August 2025 (20:00) Research reveals that managers often take advantage of their hardest-working members of staff. David Robson has some advice for a frustrated reader(New Scientist)
Physicist Frank Wilczek’s unique insights on the nature of reality 20. August 2025 (18:00) Frank Wilczek has one of the most brilliant and original minds in theoretical physics, having come up with the idea of time crystals among much else. Where is his curiosity taking him now?(New Scientist)
Nuclear fusion gets a boost from a controversial debunked experiment 20. August 2025 (18:00) A 1989 experiment offered the promise of nuclear fusion without the need for high temperatures, but this "cold fusion" was quickly debunked. Now, some of the techniques involved have been resurrected in a new experiment that could actually improve efforts to achieve practical fusion power(New Scientist)
