The World, The Universe and Us Podcast by New Scientist | 2025 Relaunch

In a landscape overflowing with content, the importance of clear, credible, and captivating science communication has never been more crucial. Rising to meet this challenge, New Scientist has reimagined its flagship podcast, now renamed The World, The Universe and Us — a title that reflects its newly expanded vision.

Podcast cover of The World, The Universe and Us Podcast by New Scientist

Hosted by leading science communicators Dr. Rowan Hooper and Dr. Penny Sarchet, the podcast invites listeners to journey through the most pressing, puzzling, and profound questions science has to offer today.

Whether you’re fascinated by dark matter, intrigued by animal intelligence, or trying to grasp the mystery of human consciousness — this podcast offers something for everyone who dares to wonder.

Contents hide
1 🎙️ Why the Rebrand? The Vision Behind the New Identity
2 👥 Meet the Hosts: Dr. Rowan Hooper & Dr. Penny Sarchet
2.1 🔬 Dr. Rowan Hooper
2.2 🧠 Dr. Penny Sarchet
3 🎧 Episode 1: A Cosmic Kickoff
3.1 🟣 1. The Mystery of Dark Photons
3.2 🧠 2. Rethinking Consciousness: Feeling Over Thinking
3.3 🐬 3. Dolphin Dialogues: The Language of Whistles
4 🌐 More Than a Podcast: A Cultural Mission
5 📱 Where to Listen
6 🧭 What Sets This Podcast Apart?
7 📅 Upcoming Topics to Look Forward To
8 🌍 Bridging Science and Society

🎙️ Why the Rebrand? The Vision Behind the New Identity

Rebranding a beloved science podcast is no small feat. But the team at New Scientist saw it as a necessary evolution.

“We’re thrilled to share this refreshed format that builds on five years of audio storytelling,” said Dr. Rowan Hooper. “We wanted a name that reflects not just what we cover — but how deeply connected everything in science is.”

Key Reasons for the Rebrand:

  • Reflect broader thematic scope: science, society, and beyond
  • Align with listener curiosity across disciplines
  • Build a more flexible and informal format
  • Attract new global audiences

👥 Meet the Hosts: Dr. Rowan Hooper & Dr. Penny Sarchet

🔬 Dr. Rowan Hooper

A senior editor at New Scientist with a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology, Hooper is known for turning complex ideas into compelling stories. His curiosity spans the spectrum from genetics to cosmology.

🧠 Dr. Penny Sarchet

With a background in neuroscience and a sharp journalistic lens, Sarchet brings empathy, clarity, and a deep understanding of the human side of scientific discovery.

Together, their chemistry and complementary perspectives turn each episode into a lively, insightful conversation that goes far beyond the headlines.

🎧 Episode 1: A Cosmic Kickoff

The reimagined series opens with an ambitious lineup of topics that dive headfirst into the frontiers of scientific thought.

🟣 1. The Mystery of Dark Photons

Could our understanding of light be completely wrong?

In this segment, the hosts dissect a new theory that challenges over a century of assumptions about the dual nature of light. Traditionally understood as both wave and particle, light may involve a deeper phenomenon — the elusive dark photon. This concept, if proven, could alter how we view both visible and invisible matter in the universe.

Highlights:

  • Re-examining the famous double-slit experiment
  • Potential links between dark photons and dark matter
  • What this means for quantum physics

🧠 2. Rethinking Consciousness: Feeling Over Thinking

Is consciousness more about experience than intellect?

A revolutionary new study reveals that our moment-to-moment feelings may be more critical to consciousness than previously believed. Featuring one of the world’s leading neuroscientists, the episode delves into the implications for psychology, AI, and mental health.

Topics Discussed:

  • Emotional awareness vs. rational reasoning
  • Neuroscientific models of subjective experience
  • Consciousness in non-human animals

🐬 3. Dolphin Dialogues: The Language of Whistles

Are dolphins actually talking to each other?

For the first time, researchers have decoded patterns in wild dolphin whistles that suggest a symbolic communication system. This episode features real recordings, expert commentary, and a fresh look at how we define “language” in nature.

Takeaways:

  • What dolphin whistles reveal about intelligence
  • How the research was conducted
  • The broader implications for interspecies communication

🌐 More Than a Podcast: A Cultural Mission

The podcast is not just about decoding facts — it’s about making sense of our place in a rapidly evolving world. With each episode, listeners are encouraged to connect the dots between scientific discovery and everyday life.

“We’re creating a space where anyone curious about science can feel welcome — and inspired,” said Dr. Penny Sarchet.

📱 Where to Listen

The World, The Universe and Us is now streaming on all major platforms:

  • Spotify
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Google Podcasts
  • Amazon Music
  • YouTube Podcasts

No paywalls, no jargon overload — just fascinating science, delivered weekly.

🧭 What Sets This Podcast Apart?

In a crowded podcast market, this show stands out with:

✅ Expert Hosts with Ph.D.-level knowledge
✅ Easy-to-understand storytelling
✅ Real-world relevance and fresh perspectives
✅ Groundbreaking research direct from leading scientists
✅ Rich sound design and immersive audio clips

📅 Upcoming Topics to Look Forward To

Future episodes will continue to tackle hot-button issues across science, including:

  • The origin of time and entropy
  • AI consciousness and machine emotions
  • CRISPR and the ethics of gene editing
  • Climate tipping points
  • Space colonization and terraforming

Each episode is carefully curated to balance depth, accessibility, and storytelling excellence.

🌍 Bridging Science and Society

In a world filled with misinformation and digital overload, The World, The Universe and Us is a rare gem: a science podcast that respects its audience’s intelligence while never losing its sense of wonder.

It’s not just about what science knows — but about what it means for who we are and where we’re headed.

You May Also Like

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

error: Content is protected !!