2023 Naked Scientists retrospective: Bennu samples, AI in radiotherapy, and more

Podcast snapshot

The Naked Scientists year-in-review surveys standout science stories from 2023 across space, biology, medicine and more, with special attention to the Bennu asteroid samples, AI in radiotherapy planning and ancient life discoveries.

Key takeaways include evidence for Europe's earliest bow and arrow, remarkable soft tissue fossil preservation, and how AI can accelerate radiotherapy planning while maintaining safety.

• Bennu asteroid sample return and carbon-water content
• Earliest bow and arrow evidence in Europe
• AI-assisted radiotherapy planning reduces marking time
• Cervical cancer trial improves five-year survival

Overview

The podcast provides a year-long look at notable science stories from 2023, weaving together archaeology, paleontology, life sciences, space exploration, and medical technology. Hosted by Will Tingle and featuring expert guests, the episodes summarize discoveries and their implications while highlighting the human stories behind science in action. Across segments, the program reflects on how new methods and technologies reshaped our understanding of the past and improved present outcomes. The wide range of topics demonstrates how advances in one field can illuminate questions in others, illustrating the interconnected nature of modern science.

The following sections distill the central topics discussed in this year's episodes and explain why they mattered to the scientific community and to the public interested in trustworthy, research-based knowledge.

Europe's earliest bow and arrow and human evolution

The show presents a February 2023 study announcing flint arrowheads found in a cave in France that date to about 54,000 years ago. Emma Pomeroy and colleagues analyzed micro-wear and did experimental testing to infer that these tiny points were mounted on narrow shafts and used as projectiles with a bow and arrow. This finding pushes back the mechanical prerequisites for projectile technology in Europe by roughly 10,000 years and coincides with the presence of anatomically modern humans at the time, suggesting an association between this advanced technology and modern humans in Europe. The discussion also touches on Neanderthals and the broader question of whether modern humans gained a competitive edge through such technology. The experts emphasize that dating and contextual interpretation require careful consideration of site layers and associated faunal remains, including human teeth found in the same layer, which is suggestive though not definitive of who produced the tools.

Ancient life and remarkable fossil preservation

A lockdown-era fossil site near Cambridge, excavated by Dr. Joseph Botting and Dr. Lucy Muir, is highlighted as a remarkable example of soft-tissue preservation. The site contains around 170 species, with tissue-scale preservation down to micron resolution, including fossilized brains and guts. This discovery fills a gap in the record of early animal life and offers a rare window into Cambrian ecosystems beyond shelly fossils. The interviewees describe crowdfunding to purchase equipment enabling high-quality imaging, a note on citizen science dynamics, and the interpretive challenges of distinguishing juvenile versus adult specimens in such soft-bodied assemblages. The discussion underscores how preservation biology and taphonomy can illuminate ancient ecosystems in ways bone-and-shell fossils cannot.

AI in radiotherapy and medical practice

The show then foregrounds a May 2023 development in cancer treatment: an AI-driven approach to delineate healthy tissue on patient scans to guide radiotherapy while avoiding damage to critical tissues. The system is trained on datasets from around 150 patients, with expert clinicians providing ground-truth labels. In a blinded comparison, clinicians preferred the AI-assisted plans in about two-thirds of cases, indicating that AI can speed up planning workflows and potentially improve efficiency and patient experience. The technology does not yet replace tumor segmentation, which remains the domain of oncologists, but it significantly accelerates the process and may shorten the time from diagnosis to treatment. The segment also discusses real-world impacts, such as reducing planning time and the potential effect on treatment timing and outcomes for fast-growing tumors, with measurable improvements in disease control per day shaved off waiting time.

Honey, leeches, and the long arc of medical history

Sophie Goggins provides a narrative on ancient and historical medical practices, focusing on honey and leeches. Honey is described as anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, providing a moist wound environment that speeds healing and may reduce scarring. The conversation also covers leeches and their use in modern medicine for managing venous congestion after tissue transfer, with references to ancient Egyptian depictions and Philly the Elder's 50 AD medical recommendations. The discussion expands to cloves and eugenol in dentistry as another example of traditional remedies that retain relevance due to their biochemical actions. The segment both celebrates historical knowledge and emphasizes the modern scientific approach to evaluating traditional remedies using contemporary pharmacology and clinical trials.

Cervical cancer breakthrough and therapy optimization

Mary McCormack discusses a major cervical cancer trial reported in October 2023. The trial compared standard chemoradiation with a regimen that adds weekly carboplatin and paclitaxel for six weeks before radiotherapy. The results show an absolute improvement in five-year progression-free survival from 64% to 73% and overall survival from 72% to 80%, representing a meaningful advancement for a disease with historically stagnant five-year outcomes. The rationale is that early weekly chemotherapy targets cancer cells that may escape detection and later regrow, thereby reducing recurrences in distant sites such as lungs. The treatment uses affordable drugs, raising the prospect of adoption in low-resource settings where cervical cancer burden is high.

Red wine headaches and quercetin

In a November segment, Andrew Waterhouse explains red wine headaches and the role of quercetin, a grape-derived phenolic that inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase, thereby increasing acetaldehyde and inflammation. The metabolite quercetin-glucuronide intensifies this effect, with sun exposure shaping quercetin levels in grapes and hence the potential for headaches. The discussion touches on practical implications for wine production, noting that sun exposure modulates quercetin content and that lower-cost wines often come from shaded vineyards with naturally different phenolic profiles. The expert also offers his personal wine preference, highlighting California Zinfandel from Ridge as a favorite, linking sensory experience with chemical composition.

Space exploration and Bennu samples

NASA's Osiris-Rex sample return from the asteroid Bennu is described in detail. The mission collected surface material and returned it to Earth in a nitrogen-sealed container to avoid terrestrial contamination. The Natural History Museum and several UK universities are beginning analyses using X-ray diffraction, CT scanning, and electron microscopy to identify minerals and water content, with the aim of linking mineralogy to parent body history. The discussion covers the significance of carbon, organics, and water in Bennu, and contemplates how this knowledge informs theories about water transport in the early solar system and the origin of life on Earth. The analysis stage is planned for two years, with first results expected next year, and the speaker reflects on the longevity of such a project and the potential for broader asteroid sampling to be gleaned from rubble-pile structures revealed by spacecraft data.

Lightning location systems and other scientific inquiries

Graham Malton explains how meteorological networks locate lightning via VLF radio waves and distributed receivers; the system geolocates strikes using time differences, reflecting the podcast's broader emphasis on Earth-system science and measurement techniques. The episode also touches to the physics of perception in a separate segment on silence, and quick-tech questions such as tennis ball wear and serving strategies. Each piece demonstrates how measurement, analysis, and interpretation support progress across diverse scientific domains.

Closing thoughts and 2024 outlook

The episode ends with thanks to participants, a plug for donations to support Naked Scientists, and a brief look ahead to 2024 with anticipated developments in AI, climate, and space. The program maintains its mission of presenting credible, deep STEM content that connects newsworthy stories with underlying science and context, inviting listeners to stay curious and informed as new discoveries unfold.