War and the environment, and Neanderthal-human interbreeding

The Naked Scientists Podcast

Dr Chris Smith

Science Radio, Engineering, Naked Scientists, Natural Sciences, Technology, Life Sciences, Health & Fitness, Medicine, Science

4.6 • 957 Ratings

🗓️ 13 March 2026

⏱️ 32 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Coming up, we assess the environmental and health impact of conflict in the Middle East. Plus, the gene variants that affect how heavily someone smokes, a medication called ruxolitinib that could help the vitiligo community, and a fascinating new study on interbreeding between Neanderthals and humans... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Transcript

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0:00.0	All engine running.
0:03.4	I'm so a genius.
0:04.3	Welcome.
0:05.2	Welcome.
0:06.0	This is the show where we bring you science.
0:07.9	What that essentially means is...
0:09.4	Discovery is...
0:10.1	Advances.
0:11.1	Research.
0:11.7	Technology.
0:12.6	Unbelievable.
0:13.5	Without further ado, this is the Naked Scientists.
0:16.8	Hello, welcome to this week's Naked Scientists, the show that brings you the biggest
0:20.3	breakthroughs and also talks to the major movers and shakers in the worlds of science, technology and medicine.
0:26.3	I'm Chris Smith, and coming up, the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on the region's environmental and human health.
0:33.3	Also, scientists find the gene variants that dictate addiction to nicotine and evidence that Neanderthal men had a ponchant for mating with anatomically modern human females.
0:52.6	With the Middle East in the midst of widespread conflict, residents in Tehran in Iran have reported what they call black rain falling from the skies above.
1:03.3	It's thought that this is the consequence of strikes on Iran's oil facilities which sent huge plumes of smoke into the atmosphere.
1:10.6	Environmental scientists say these particles mix in clouds and can of smoke into the atmosphere. Environmental scientists say
1:11.9	these particles mix in clouds and can fall back to earth with the rainfall. Incidents like
1:17.5	this highlight the damage to the environment in ways that last long after the fighting stops
1:21.4	and the impact on civilians who often end up breathing in the suspended particles both from
	...

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