Tell-tale waste products thrown out by cancer cells could allow scientists to diagnose pancreatic cancer before symptoms emerge1. All it takes is a simple blood test. Also on the show: how changes to air currents such as the North Atlantic jet stream contribute to extreme heatwaves and cold snaps2, and a survey of Antarctica’s biodiversity — for an icy wasteland, it is teeming with life3.

The Nature Podcast is Nature’s weekly audio round-up of the best science news and research. Subscribe for free through iTunes or other podcasting software to make sure that you don’t miss an episode. Full show notes on the Nature Podcast homepage.