Madeleine Finlay

Exercise and brain function, hedgehog hearing, and can AI change our minds? – podcast The Guardian’s science editor, Ian Sample, talks to Madeleine Finlay about three eye-catching science stories from the week

Today on Science Weekly we help our listeners check if they're hedgehogs, discuss the influence of AI autocomplete, and explore why exercise could be benefiting the brain!

🦔🧠⌨️

www.theguardian.com/science/audi...

Reaching net zero by 2050 ‘cheaper for UK than one fossil fuel crisis’ Climate change committee finds move to renewable energy would also bring health, economic and security benefits

"Achieving the UK’s net zero target by 2050 will cost less than a single oil shock and bring health and economic benefits while insulating the country against future costs, the government’s climate advisers have forecast."

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Do you: Have a strong interest in science? A passion for journalism and writing? Our paid 3-month internship might be for you! We are looking for talented candidates from all backgrounds, especially those traditionally underrepresented in publishing. Applications close 9 March 2026.

Calling all budding science writers!

Applications for our paid London-based internship, starting in June, are now open.

Deadline: 9 March 2026

Full info here: springernature.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Spring...

#PaidInternship #Internship #Journalism

Climate story that genuinely has spooked me today - both a brimstone and peacock butterfly spotted fluttering around my garden.

Jeffrey Epstein and the scientists – podcast The release of the latest batch of documents relating to the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has shed further light on his close relationship with the world of science. To find out why he cult...

In a "Jeffrey Epstein and the scientists" podcast w/ @iansample.bsky.social of The Guardian, we delve into the ugly world of Epstein and the scholars hurt by the misogyny in science that the files reveal:

www.theguardian.com/science/audi...

60,000 African penguins starve to death after sardine numbers collapse – study Climate crisis and overfishing contributed to loss of 95% of penguins in two breeding colonies in South Africa, research finds More than 60,000 penguins in colonies off the coast of South Africa have starved to death as a result of disappearing sardines, a new paper has found. More than 95% of the African penguins in two of the most important breeding colonies, on Dassen Island and Robben Island, died between 2004 and 2012. The breeding penguins probably starved to death during the moulting period, according to the paper, which said the climate crisis and overfishing were driving declines. Continue reading...

60,000 African penguins starve to death after sardine numbers collapse – study

“Biased,” “boring,” “chaotic,” and “bad”: A majority of teens hold negative views of news media, report finds About half of the teens surveyed believe that journalists frequently “make up details, such as quotes” and “pay for sources.”

Well this report is extremely eye-opening

"About half of the teens surveyed believe that journalists frequently “make up details, such as quotes” and “pay for sources.”

www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/bias...

Oh the poor sweet Greens 😭💚🌱

Remembering primatologist Jane Goodall – podcast The renowned primatologist Jane Goodall has died aged 91. She will be remembered for her observations that revolutionised our understanding of chimpanzees, as well as her tireless environmental advoca...

The wonderful, brilliant Jane Goodall.

Global environment editor @jonathan-watts.bsky.social tells @iansample.bsky.social about Jane's revolutionary work, her tireless activism, and the powerful legacy she leaves us all.

www.theguardian.com/science/audi...

Just seen a guy mansplaining the impact of the Women's Rugby World Cup to two women watching it in the pub. Absolutely perfect 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

Thanks Nick! I suspect there will be plenty more RFKjr fact-checking to come!

I HAVE to know what's going on with the Iris photography shops. At first I thought it was a cult/scam. Then a fad. But now I NEED to know more. Fancy shops everywhere offering the new 'astrology'... What's the story eh?

First time in a long time I've contemplated the night sky. Maybe 10-15 years ago I used to play spot the satellite. It's so busy up there now, they're impossible to avoid. Have to admit, I miss the feeling of ancient, immovable awe.

Collapse of critical Atlantic current is no longer low likelihood, study finds Scientists say ‘shocking’ discovery shows rapid cuts in carbon emissions are needed to avoid catastrophic fallout

Collapse of critical Atlantic current is no longer low likelihood, study finds

- Scientists say ‘shocking’ discovery shows rapid cuts in carbon emissions are needed to avoid catastrophic impacts

#climatecrisis #AMOC
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

For @theguardian.com I explained why influencers are warning of sunscreen, and why if you're out on this gloriously sunshiny bank holiday you should definitely still wear it.

I also did not heed my own advice at the end and almost gave myself sun stroke 🤠😎🏖️

www.instagram.com/reel/DNxhzIq...

Thanks for sharing Adam!

‘This wasn’t obvious’: the potato evolved from a tomato ancestor, researchers find Hybridisation event took place about 9 million years ago, helping to ‘spark the emergence of a new organ’

Tomato Europe and Potato Europe are at one again 🍅🫱🏻‍🫲🏼🥔

www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

A sprawling, textured field of galaxies scattered across the deep black of space. It is filled with the delicate smudges and glowing cores of galaxies of many shapes, sizes and colors, as well as the bright multi-colored points of stars. The image focuses on a collection of interacting galaxies connected by delicate streams of stars. At top center lies a large elliptical galaxy that is dense and smooth, like a polished stone glowing with golden light. Like delicate spider silk or stretched taffy, these stellar bridges link the large elliptical to the few larger galaxies beneath, evidence of past collisions. All throughout the image, thousands of galaxies gather in clusters or are spread throughout, like glittering gems strewn on a table. Some are sharp-edged and spiral, like coiled ribbons; others round and diffuse, like polished pebbles. Still others are just smudges of various colors against the black of space. The background is peppered with pinpoint stars in reds, yellows, and blues, crisp against the velvet black.

A cosmic tapestry of glowing tan and pink gas clouds with dark dust lanes. In the upper right, the Trifid Nebula resembles a small flower in space. Its soft, pinkish gas petals are surrounded by blue gas, and streaked with dark, finger-like veins of dust that divide it into three parts. It radiates a gentle, misty glow, diffuse and soft like the warmth of breath on a cold hand. To the lower left, the much larger Lagoon Nebula stretches wide like a churning sea of magenta gas, with bright blue, knotted clumps sprinkled throughout where new stars are born. Both nebulae are embedded in a soft tan backdrop of gas that is brighter on the left than on the right, etched with dark tendrils of dust and sprinkled with the pinpricks of millions of stars.

A sprawling, textured field of galaxies scattered across the deep black of space. It is filled with the delicate smudges and glowing cores of galaxies of many shapes, sizes and colors, as well as the bright multi-colored points of stars. To the lower left is a region filled with the hundreds of golden glittering gems of a distant galaxy cluster. In the foreground, below and right of center, two blue spiral galaxies look like eyes beneath the entangled mass of a triple galaxy merger in the upper right. A few bright blue points of foreground stars pierce the glittering tapestry. All throughout the image, thousands of galaxies gather in clusters or are spread throughout, like glittering gems strewn on a table. Some are sharp-edged and spiral, like coiled ribbons; others round and diffuse, like polished pebbles. Still others are just smudges of various colors against the black of space. The background is peppered with pinpoint stars in reds, yellows, and blues, crisp against the velvet black.

Introducing...your sneak peek at the cosmos captured by NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory!

Can you guess these regions of sky?

This is just a small peek...join us at 11am US EDT for your full First Look at how Rubin will #CaptureTheCosmos! 🔭🧪

#RubinFirstLook
ls.st/rubin-first-look-livestream

Thanks so much for your generous words!

Fab ex-student @madifinlay.bsky.social: "there's a character that I hope resonates!"🤔😂

"So what happens to our universe depends on dark energy & dark matter, two things you cosmologists have invented? You don't even know what they are!"

"Well you could put it like that."

10/10⭐ for Cosmo Park! 🔭🧪

OUT NOW 🪐 Cosmo Park by Madeleine Finlay & Tom Dearie
flyingeyebooks.com/book/cosmo-p...

This rollercoaster ride through the galaxy is a bright and thrilling comic, following a narrative that is packed full of science facts and concepts about cosmology within an exciting and funny adventure story.

My very own Sandro! Unimpressed at being disturbed from making his own mischief

Cosmo Park is out tomorrow 👀 ✨🚀

I can't wait to share Kara's intergalactic cosmological adventure, illustrated so wonderfully and entertainingly by Tom Dearie.

There's cats! Villains! Exploding stars! End of the universe rollercoasters!

#science #space

www.waterstones.com/book/cosmo-p...

Your microbiome questions answered: part one – podcast Ian Sample is joined by Dr James Kinross, colorectal surgeon and author of the book Dark Matter: The New Science of the Microbiome, to answer all your questions about gut health. In episode one, James...

How does your microbiome get set up? What do antibiotics do to it?

Great fun producing the first of our listener question episodes with @iansample.bsky.social talking to @jameskinross.bsky.social about the bugs in our guts.

www.theguardian.com/science/audi...

Gina: Becoming Mrs Rinehart – episode 1 - podcast Gina Rinehart is Australia’s richest person – and as her wealth continues to rise, so does her power and influence. But what does she want?

Just finished @australia.theguardian.com's incredible six-parter on Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest person.

I'm quite bad at getting to the end of series, but woah this was absolutely fascinating reporting.

www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2...

Tory energy spokesman claims UN climate experts are ‘biased’ Exclusive: Andrew Bowie says Kemi Badenoch could pull UK out of Paris climate agreement

Gotta love this line in @fionaharvey.bsky.social story

“There’s quite a few scientists that say we don’t need to get to net zero by 2050.” [Shadow UK energy minister Andrew] Bowie and his office were unable to name such scientists when pressed.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

It's very easy to criticise and break, it's very hard to rebuild and remake.

Cutting your own hair is ultimately a test of how well you can hold your nerve

Evidence of alien life, a clue about the rise of bowel cancer, and a new colour? – podcast Madeleine Finlay and Ian Sample discuss three intriguing science stories from the week. From a hint at alien life on a distant planet to a clue in the search for answers over why colon cancer rates ar...

New hues, cancer clues, and alien life in view.

www.theguardian.com/science/audi...

@iansample.bsky.social and I chat the exciting science stories of the last week!
@elliebury.bsky.social

Theatres should sometimes put plays on at like 5.30/6pm so I can go after work, have time afterwards to ~discuss~ over a drink, and be in bed before midnight.