This week, a simple eye drop could replace surgery for cataracts.

So I would anticipate that we will be going to clinical trials for treating human cataracts within next year.

And the rice strain that could feed more people and cut emissions.

Until now, nobody actually achieved in manipulating rice plants to actually do that.

Plus the twists and turns of RNA and their effects on our bodies.

This is the Nature Podcast for July the 23rd, 2015.

I'm Adam Levy.

And I'm Charmany Bundell.

First this week, a clear view of a new treatment for a common eye condition.

Jeff Marsh has been looking into the story with a little help from his grandma.

Cataracts cause over half of all cases of blindness across the globe.

There's like a mist over your eye, so you're not clearly seeing things. That's my granny, 93 and going strong.

And whilst never want to complain, she did recently develop a cataract.

I didn't know, I had a cataract till I went for an eye test.

I was having to get stronger glasses.

And she said, you've got cataracts.

For people like Granny Marsh, who are usually in their old age,

there's only one treatment for this cloudy vision.

You have to have surgery to cut out the misty lens.

What they do is give you an injection in their eye and look into it with all sorts of,

you know, spyglass things.

And you get all sorts of visions going on in your eye and lights flashing and doing all sorts.

...