GDF15 and Pregnancy Nausea, COP28 Debates, and Night Watch Chemistry: Naked Scientists Roundup

The Naked Scientists deliver a wide ranging episode that delves into the biology of nausea in pregnancy, the final text and funding mechanisms from COP28, fieldwork on the ancient cooperation between honeyguides and African honey hunters, and a conservation chemistry study revealing lead formate in Rembrandt’s Night Watch. The show blends interviews with Cambridge researchers, climate policy analysis, and art conservation science, ending with a festive science question of the week about Jupiter.

• GDF15 and pregnancy nausea explained and potential treatments discussed
• COP28 outcomes including loss and damage funding and text debates
• Honeyguide and human cooperation across Africa with local calls learned
• Lead formate discovery in Night Watch as a window into conservation chemistry

Overview and Structure

The episode surveys four scientific threads linked by curiosity about how the world works. The Naked Scientists explore a medical mechanism behind nausea in pregnancy, a major climate conference, a remarkable example of animal husbandry and human collaboration, and the chemistry behind a world famous painting. Each segment features expert commentary and a discussion of implications for future work, from potential therapies to policy decisions and conservation strategies.

GDF15 and Pregnancy Nausea

Cambridge researchers identify GDF15 as a protein and hormone implicated in nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, with up to 70 percent of pregnant women affected to varying degrees. The conversation clarifies how the placenta can produce GDF15 and how this signal reaches a specific brain region associated with sickness. The researchers discuss the dual drivers of maternal sensitivity: fetal production and maternal sensitivity shaped by prior exposure to GDF15, possibly even before pregnancy. Experimental work in mice demonstrates how prior exposure modulates responses to subsequent doses, highlighting the dynamic changes during pregnancy and the subset of women who experience prolonged sickness. The discussion also touches on therapeutic avenues, including antibodies that block GDF15, and pre pregnancy exposure strategies to desensitize high risk individuals. The host emphasizes the translational potential and safety considerations for pregnancy outcomes and baby protection.

COP28 and Climate Negotiations

The programme’s COP28 coverage offers a balance of highlights and criticisms. The losses and damage fund is framed as a historic step, with a growing financial commitment on day one. The conversation also delves into the energy transition text, noting ongoing tensions between fossil fuel interests and renewable energy aims. The final draft text is described as weak or “limp” by some participants, yet acknowledges the need for deep, rapid, and sustained emissions reductions, including renewables expansion, efficiency, and methane reductions. The host notes Azerbaijan as the next host and discusses regional political dynamics, democracy concerns, and the long standing questions about how to align diverse national interests with ambitious climate goals.

Honeyguide and Human Cooperation

Claire Spottiswoode presents field work in Mozambique and Tanzania on the greater honeyguide and honey hunter cooperation. The birds lead humans to bees nests so both species gain from wax and honey. The discussion covers whether this cooperation is learned or innate, noting the brood parasitism that means honeyguides are raised by other birds, limiting learning from parents. The experiments compare local honey hunting calls with foreign ones and random sounds, showing honeyguides prefer local calls, indicating learned partner recognition rather than calls that merely travel best through vegetation. The segment highlights human cultural diversity in signaling and how honeyguides adapt to local communication systems, reinforcing the idea of humans and animals as mutual tools in shared ecological niches.

Night Watch Paint Chemistry

A conservation chemistry study published in Science Advances reports lead formate in Rembrandt’s Night Watch. The discussion explains how lead pigments were common in the era, and how lead oxide mixed with drying oils could form lead formates under certain conditions. The insights shed light on Rembrandt’s material choices and the painting’s aging processes, informing conservation strategies while acknowledging that some alterations over centuries are part of a painting’s journey. The experts emphasize the balance between preserving original material and restoring visual fidelity, while acknowledging that chemistry and art history intersect in meaningful ways for future preservation.

Question of the Week and Closing

The episode closes with a festive science question about Jupiter and the energy required to disrupt a planet, followed by final thoughts and thanks for listeners and donors. The show keeps a strong emphasis on the interplay between fundamental science, its applications, and the public understanding of science.