Hear our reporters’ top podcast segments of 2021.

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00:51 A brain interface to type out thoughts

In May, we heard about a brain-computer interface that is able to read brain signals from people thinking about handwriting, and translate them into on-screen text. The team behind it hope this technology could be used to help people with paralysis to communicate quicker than before.

Nature Podcast: 12 May 2021

Research Article: Willett et al.

08:28 The AI that argues back

In March, a paper was published detailing an AI that is capable of debating with humans. We found out how it worked, and why designing a debating system is difficult.

Nature Podcast: 17 March 2021

Research article: Slonim et al.

News and Views: Argument technology for debating with humans

19:41 Research Highlights

The sea slugs that can regrow a whole body from their severed head, and research showing that people often don’t know when a conversation should end.

Research Highlight: Now that’s using your head: a sea slug’s severed noggin sprouts a new body

Research Highlight: How long should a conversation last? The people involved haven’t a clue

22:31 The inequality at the heart of the pandemic

In April's Coronapod special, Nature senior reporter Amy Maxmen took us with her through eight months of reporting in the San Joaquin Valley, a part of rural California where COVID's unequal toll has proven deadly.

Coronapod: 30 April 2021

Feature: Inequality’s deadly toll

30:07 Eavesdropping on a glacier's seismic whisper

In July, we heard about one researcher’s unorthodox attempt to listen in to the seismic-whisper at the foot of a Greenland glacier – a method that might reveal more about conditions under these enormous blocks of ice.

Nature Podcast: 28 July 2021

Research article: Podolskiy et al.

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