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Nature Podcast

Huge eruption on a distant star confirmed at last

Nature Podcast

[email protected]

Science, News, Technology

4.4859 Ratings

🗓️ 12 November 2025

⏱️ 34 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

00:45 A coronal mass ejection from a distant star

Researchers have detected what they say is the strongest evidence yet of a coronal mass ejection (CME) coming from a star other than our Sun. CMEs are massive bursts of fast-moving plasma that can be detected thanks to the characteristic radio signal they produce. However, despite decades of searching, these signals have only been identified from the Sun. Now a team has identified a similar signal coming from a distant star in the Milky Way. They hope their discovery will lead to better understanding of the impact these colossal events might have on the atmospheres of exoplanets, and their chances of being habitable.


Research Article: Callingham et al.



12:28 Research Highlights

Video footage of a devastating earthquake provides a first-of-its-kind glimpse of a dramatic ground rupture — plus, a flock of comets seen outside our Solar System.


Research Highlight: Single video camera tells the story of deadly Myanmar quake

Research Highlight: A host of ‘exocomets’ swarms a distant star



14:29 The rare genetic variants that may increase the risk of ADHD

Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects around 1 in 20 young people, but its underlying causes are not fully understood. Now, a team of researchers show that three rare genetic variants are implicated in an increased risk of ADHD, which may play a role in the neurons involved in dopamine signalling. While this work provides a better understanding of the complex genetics at play, the authors caution more research is needed to unpick the complex interplay other factors involved in ADHD.


Research Article: Demontis et al.



18:41 Briefing Chat

A high-resolution digital map for Roman roads, and how speaking more than one language could slow brain ageing.


Nature: ‘Google Maps’ for Roman roads reveals vast extent of ancient network

Nature: Want a younger brain? Learn another language


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


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Transcript

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0:00.0

Nature.

0:04.3

In a experiment, I don't know yet.

0:06.1

Why is blight so far?

0:08.0

Like, it sounds so simple.

0:09.3

They had no idea.

0:10.8

But now the data's...

0:12.0

I find this not only refreshing, but at some level astounding.

0:20.0

Nature. Nature.

0:25.4

Welcome back to the nature podcast.

0:30.4

This week, an explosive emission of plasma from a distant star.

0:32.9

And the genetics of ADHD.

0:34.6

I'm Nick Pert-Cha-Chow.

0:35.8

And I'm Benjamin Thompson.

0:50.3

Back in 1859, the sun got a bit over-excited,

0:57.2

firing an explosive and enormous burst of plasma from its corona out into space.

1:04.5

Down here on Earth, that plasma had quite the impact, causing a huge geomagnetic storm.

1:12.6

Intensely vivid auroras were seen all around the world, and surges of electricity led to telegraph operators reporting being shocked by their machines.

1:15.6

And some were still able to send messages, despite these telegraph machines not being plugged in.

1:21.6

This event, known as the Carrington event, was a powerful example of a coronal mass ejection, or a CME.

1:31.5

Less intense CMEs are actually pretty common, and the result of these ejections can sometimes

1:37.4

be seen in the night sky as beautiful auroras. But astronomers don't have to rely on their eyes. They can also detect them thanks to the

1:47.2

distinct bursts of radio waves that these events produce. These intense bursts are

...

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