This week, squeezing quantum states to make super-accurate measurements.

By the squeezing, it can beat this fundamental quantum limit that other atom measurements cannot.

And low-fiber diets reap havoc with the diversity of our gut bugs.

It does appear that multiple generations on a low, a diet, low and dietary fiber does result

in this deterioration that is not reversible.

Plus, the challenges of studying boredom.

This is the Nature Podcast for January the 14th, 2016.

I'm Adam Levy. And I'm Noah Baker.

Let me suggest to observant philosophers when the meetings they attend may prove dull to occupy themselves in estimating the frequency, amplitude and duration of the fidgets of their fellow sufferers.

This is an extract from a 19th century nature article entitled The Measure of Fidget.

It was written by Victorian polymath Francis Galton, and it's an early foray into the study

of boredom, a topic which is piqued science writer Maggie Kerf Baker's interest.

The tendency to get bored is correlated with risk-taking behaviors, with tendency towards

alcoholism, with ADHD, it's correlated with traumatic brain injury. You know, there are all

of these things that seem to say that there are some big problems

if you're too prone to getting bored.

But boredom isn't that easy to study.

For a start, how do you measure it?

Galton made some suggestions.

They must do so during periods both of intentness and of indifference,

so as to eliminate what may be styled natural fidget.

And then I think they may acquire the new art of giving numerical expression

...