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Science Weekly

A waterworld with a boiling ocean and the end of dark matter? The week in science

Science Weekly

The Guardian

Science

4.21K Ratings

🗓️ 14 March 2024

⏱️ 19 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Ian Sample and science correspondent Hannah Devlin discuss some of the science stories that have made headlines this week, from a new theory challenging the existence of dark matter to an alarming study about the possible impact of microplastics on our health and a glimpse of a ‘waterworld with a boiling ocean’ deep in space. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is the Guardian. forgets who she is overnight. In Detroit a man is arrested but he was never at the crime scene.

0:16.0

In Spain disturbing pictures of young girls have appeared and no one knows who's behind them.

0:22.0

Something strange is happening.

0:24.0

A collision between people and artificial intelligence.

0:28.0

Discover more in the Guardian's new series Black Box.

0:32.0

Listen wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes, Monday and Thursdays.

0:37.0

It's been another busy week on the science desk here at the Guardian.

0:45.0

The James Webb Space Telescope brought us a glimpse of a possible water world

0:50.0

a mere 70 light years away.

0:52.0

A controversial new theory of gravity could get rid of the need for that elusive substance dark matter.

0:58.8

And the UK's science minister has apologized after posting false allegations about an academic on social media.

1:06.4

The science secretary falsely accused an academic, Professor Kate Tsang, of supporting Hamas.

1:11.7

These were comments that she was forced to retract in a statement

1:14.4

earlier this week. So today we're breaking down some of the biggest stories of the last seven days.

1:25.0

I'm the Guardian Science editor, Ian's sample and this is Science Weekly. I'm joined by Science Correspondent Hannah Devlin.

1:32.6

Hi, Hannah.

1:33.3

This week you reported on a really interesting theory

1:37.4

that could completely rule out the need for dark matter,

1:40.7

something scientists currently thinks makes up a hefty chunk of the universe.

1:45.6

So what is dark matter?

1:47.6

Well, I mean, in fact, we don't really know what it is.

1:51.2

Its actual nature is completely mysterious, but one of the strongest pieces of

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