This year’s biggest breakthrough and top news stories

Science Magazine Podcast

Science Podcast

News, News Commentary, Science

4.3 • 842 Ratings

🗓️ 18 December 2025

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

First up on the podcast, Online News Editor David Grimm joins host Sarah Crespi to talk about this year’s best online news stories—top performers and staff picks alike. Together they journey the scientific gamut, from bird feeders’ influence on hummingbird beak evolution to the use of “artificial spacetimes” to guide tiny robots through their environments. Next on the show, a discussion of this year’s pick for Breakthrough of the Year with producer Meagan Cantwell and News editor Greg Miller. They also touch on some other top finds from this year, including the first confirmed Denisovan skull, rice that can beat the heat, custom gene editing, and progress on xenotransplantation. This week’s episode was produced with help from Podigy. About the Science Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This podcast is supported by the Icon School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the academic arm of the Mount Sinai health system in New York City, and one of America's leading research medical schools.
0:11.1	What are researchers on heart health working on to transform patient care and prolong lives?
0:16.6	Find out in a special supplement to Science magazine prepared by the Icon School of Medicine
0:21.4	at Mount Sinai in partnership with science. Visit our website at www.combe.combe-science.org
0:27.4	and search for Frontiers of Medical Research, dash heart. The icon school of medicine in Mount Sinai,
0:34.0	we find a way. This podcast is supported by Xi'N. Zhao Tong, Liverpool University,
0:39.5	a UK-China partnership advancing global education and research. In 2026, we celebrate 20 years of
0:46.5	innovation. We invite you to be part of our anniversary journey to see how we're tackling
0:51.3	tomorrow's challenges. Visit XJTLu.edu.cN-slash-E-N to explore our story and help write the next chapter.
1:04.4	This is the science podcast for December 18th, 2025.
1:08.3	I'm Sarah Crespi.
1:09.9	It's the last episode of the year. We're off next week,
1:13.8	but before we take our long winter nap, we have highlights from 2025. Starting off with the top
1:20.6	online stories with online news editor David Grimm, fun roundup. And after that, it's the breakthrough
1:26.5	of the year with producer Megan
1:28.0	Cantwell and news editor Greg Miller, and they also touch on some of the runners-up.
1:44.1	It's the end of the year and our last episode of the year.
1:48.0	And to celebrate 2025 in science style, we're looking back at the top stories with online
1:53.5	news editor, David Grimm.
1:55.0	Hi, Dave.
1:55.4	Welcome back.
1:56.0	Happy 2025.
	...

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