The World, the Universe and Us

Episode 351

Artificial intelligence is starting to solve mathematical theorems better than humans. Mathematicians say AI is now an existential threat to their work. As one professor puts it; “We are running out of places to hide.”

From winning gold medals at mathematics competitions, to solving previously unanswered Erdős problems, multiple AI achievements have come together recently to exceed all expectations of its capabilities.

Find out just how quickly the tech is advancing, how we can tell the AI isn’t just hallucinating answers, why it may help us formalise all of mathematics - and whether it will really put humans out of a job.

And 10 years on since Google’s AlphaGo AI first beat human Go master Lee Sedol, we reflect on that epic moment and hear from Chris Maddison who saw it all unfold.

Rowan Hooper is joined by New Scientist’s Alex Wilkins to discuss “one of the most remarkable stories” he’s ever worked on.

Chapters

(00:00) Intro - The biggest moment in the history of mathematics

(01:10) The many problems AI is now solving

(04:11) Are these models similar to ChatGPT or Claude?

(05:09) Will AI help us advance the field of mathematics?

(07:28) How can we check AI’s answers - are they just hallucinations?

(10:51) Why it’s important to “formalise” maths

(12:03) Will we become too reliant on this AI?

(13:00) 10 years on since AI beat Lee Sedol at Go

(14:54) AI creativity: The famous ‘Move 37’

(16:50) How it felt to watch this epic moment

(19:21) How AlphaGo led to the LLMs of today

(20:25) Are regular chatbots becoming more creative?

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
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Episode 350

What If Alzheimer’s disease starts in the body, not the brain? A radical new theory upends everything we thought we knew about the disease. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia - the leading cause of death in the UK. And for 100 years we believed it all happened in the brain.

Despite all of the major symptoms of Alzheimer’s being brain related, scientists studying gene activity have discovered something surprising. Most risk variants for the disease appear in the skin, lungs and gut - not the brain.

This could mean the leading suspects of the disease - amyloid plaques and tau proteins - may not be to blame. But if not them, then what?

Rowan Hooper is joined by New Scientist’s Australia reporter Alice Klein to discuss the findings.

Chapters

(00:00) Intro - A radical new understanding of Alzheimer’s

(01:23) Why amyloid and tau treatments aren’t proving effective

(02:16) How gum and dental health is linked to Alzheimer’s

(03:09) Could proteins in the brain be a protective feature?

(03:56) Why amyloid and tau really aren’t the full picture

(04:35) Why scientists have gone back to the drawing board

(05:37) Does Alzheimer’s start in the skin, lungs and gut?

(06:14) Alzheimer’s risk genes found in the immune system and barrier tissues

(07:12) Where inflammation fits into the puzzle of Alzheimer’s

(09:10) The role of the blood brain barrier

(10:00) How have scientists responded to these findings?

(10:58) What other health conditions are linked to Alzheimer’s?

(12:08) Preventative measures you can take to reduce your Alzheimer’s risk

(15:03) How reframing diseases leads to better treatments

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

Read the latest New Scientist CoLab article: https://newscientist.com/eternal
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Episode 349

One of the most vital systems of ocean currents - needed to keep life in northern Europe stable - is at risk of collapse. And now we can predict when it’s going to happen.

Thanks to the work of climate scientists, we now have a model that tells us when major shifts in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) are expected. The AMOC is the Atlantic conveyor belt that keeps northern Europe temperate. If it turns off, northern Europe would be plunged into freezing conditions that would decimate agriculture and upend life as we know it. And it’s becoming clear that it is already weakening.

Rowan Hooper is joined by climate journalist Alec Luhn. Together they explain how the AMOC and gulf stream work, why fears of a “tipping point” have been growing in recent years, and how this new model helps us prepare for the worst.

Also hear from climate scientist René van Westen, who co-authored the report in Nature.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

Listen to the latest episode of New Scientist CoLab: https://newscientist.com/eternalpod 
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Episode 348

Thought extinct for 6,000 years, two marsupial species have been discovered alive in New Guinea. Biologists have found a new genus of marsupial glider and the Pygmy Long-fingered Possum on a small Western part of the island.

One biologist said this discovery was “more important than finding a living Thylacine in Tasmania”.

Host Rowan Hooper is joined by Tim Flannery of the Australian Museum in Sydney, who led the team that confirmed the discovery. He tells us all about these quirky and cute creatures, one of which is held up as sacred by some Indigenous communities - who won’t even utter its name in public.

Learn about the glider’s habit of forming monogamous relationships and its gardening prowess. And discover why the long-fingered possum’s finger is so long.

Other key players in this research are Professor Kris Helgen, multiple researchers from the University of Papua - and some of the local villagers.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

Glider image credits: Dewa, Australian Museum

Other image credits: Flannery et al
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Episode 347

Drones have taken over the battlefield in Russia’s war on Ukraine. Tens of thousands of drones are being produced every day - operating as kill vehicles for both sides. Multiple types are being deployed, including flying artillery drones and ground drones.

Now the deadliest war since World War 2 - and considered the first “drone war” - the conflict is being fought in a way unlike we’ve ever seen before. With more than 80 per cent of military hits now made by drones. So on this special edition of the podcast we ask: is this the future of warfare? 

Driving these vehicles is in some ways like playing a video game, with operators sitting behind a screen with a handheld controller. And the gamification goes beyond this, with drone operators earning “points” for kills - that can be cashed in for more military equipment. AI is increasingly used to guide drones and to analyse targets. 

Joining hosts Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are Matt Sparkes, who’s recently returned from a drone factory in Ukraine, and Serhii Andriev, Deputy Company Commander of “Kraken” 3rd Army Corps drone regiment. 

The team also hear from Andrii Hrytseniuk, CEO of Ukraine government organisation Brave 1 - and Trusta, an Ukrainian engineer and drone pilot trainer.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/
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