Although scientists have long been able to gather DNA from water and soil, it's only recently that they've started to see the air as a source of genetic information.

Airborne DNA is already being used to monitor individual species, but researchers hope its abundance could have multiple uses, including judging the success of conservation efforts or attacks with biological weapons.

However, there remains much to understand, such as how far DNA travels in the air, and the ethics involved in the potential identification of a person's genetic information.

This is an audio version of our Feature: The air is full of DNA — here’s what scientists are using it for

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00:31 The science of attention spans

Nature Feature: Are attention spans really shrinking? What the science says

04:54 Data centres in space?

Nature News Explainer: AI data hubs in space: when will they take flight?

Nature Comment: Space diplomacy: bridging the operating gaps between myriad missions

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In this episode:

00:42 Probing the unconscious brain’s processing ability

Research Article: Katlowitz et al.

Nature: Even the unconscious brain can learn — and predict what you’ll say next

12:32 Research Highlights

Nature: An electrifying test to find a good coffee

Nature: ​​​​​​​Forest pests hit trees hard as temperatures rise

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In this episode:

00:27 How a parasite unveiled a mitochondrial secret

Nature: Mitochondria can spawn new ‘organelles’ — hinting at how modern cells evolved

06:13 The extinct cephalopods that could have been enormous

Nature: Did kraken-like octopuses rule Cretaceous seas? Massive jaw fossils offer clues

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In this episode:

00:45 How eating can boost the immune system

Research Article: Kumar et al.

08:28 Research Highlights

Nature: Cosmic-ray detection heralds era of mega-observatories for neutrinos

Nature: Little ants groom big ones in a desert spa

10:53 The pressing need to plan for future nuclear disasters

World View: Forty years after Chornobyl, more nuclear disasters are inevitable — plan for them

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In this episode of Nature hits the books, we speak with Nature's Helen Pearson whose book Beyond Belief: How Evidence Shows What Really Works looks at the history of using evidence, rather than opinion, in decision making.

The book traces the course of the movement in various disciplines, such as the rise of evidence-based medicine in the 90s, looking at the rebels who led the charge, the barriers they faced, and why the use of evidence is crucial at a time when misinformation is rife.

Beyond Belief: How Evidence Shows What Really Works Helen Pearson Princeton University Press (in the press)

Music supplied by SPD/Triple Scoop Music/Getty Images

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In this episode:

00:45 The table-tennis robot that can mix it with the pros

Research Article: Dürr et al.

News and Views: Robot can beat elite players at table tennis

Video: This robot can beat you at table tennis

14:13 Research Highlights

Nature: Venus’s impenetrable haze could be made of cosmic dust

Nature: Graves reveal plague’s inequitable toll

16:21 Why physicists can’t agree on the strength of Big G

Nature: How big is Big G? Mystery deepens after ten-year effort to measure gravity’s strength

Research Article: Schlamminger et al.

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In this episode:

00:30 The penguins measuring environmental PFAS

Science: Penguins become marine detectives, thanks to pollutant-detecting anklets

05:14 Treating autoimmune diseases with CAR-T

Nature: One woman, three autoimmune diseases: CAR-T therapy vanquishes ultra-rare disease trio

10:34 Why an anglerfish’s lure might have two uses

Science: Why do anglerfish have glowing lures? It might be sex

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In this episode:

00:46 A massive trial assessing the outcomes of ‘off label’ cancer treatment

Research Article: Verkerk et al.

12:49 Research Highlights

Nature: Microbial hockey: bacteria can spin a ‘puck’ just by swimming

Nature: Regular physical activity in midlife cuts risk of early death

15:14 10,000 years of western Eurasian evolution

Nature: Landmark ancient-genome study shows surprise acceleration of human evolution

Research Article: Akbari et al.

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In this episode:

On Monday, reporter Alexandra Witze was in the heart of the Artemis II mission’s science operations. She tells us about the experience and what NASA’s researchers have learnt from the mission so far.

Nature: I was with Artemis II’s scientists during the Moon fly-by. Here’s what I saw

Nature: First photos from Artemis II: see stunning ‘Earthset’ and more

Nature: Historic Artemis II Moon fly-by — Nature’s live coverage as it happened

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In this episode:

00:41 Exosome therapies could deliver drugs to hard to reach places

Nature: Eye drops made from pig semen deliver cancer treatment to mice

5:08 The impact of parenthood on women’s academic careers

Nature: Motherhood derails women’s academic careers — these data reveal how and why

10:34 The unusual suction that lets Sunbirds drink

Science: These birds suck—literally

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