GNSS Jam, Alpha Geno and Space Weather: Inside Science explores navigation disruption, dark DNA AI, and solar storms

Short summary

In this edition of Inside Science, host Tom Whipple guides listeners through three major scientific threads: first, the escalating geopolitical risk to satellite navigation as GNSS signals are jammed and spoofed in conflict regions, with real-world consequences for ships, aircraft, and emergency communications; second, the DeepMind alpha-genome project that uses AI to illuminate the noncoding, dark portions of the human genome and predict how mutations influence gene regulation across tissues; and third, space weather and solar activity, including observations from Solar Orbiter and implications for missions like Artemis. The episode also features journal highlights on solar geoengineering and psilocybin effects in fruit flies.

GNSS disruption and maritime safety

The episode opens with a stern warning from governments across Northern Europe about the degradation of satellite navigation (GNSS) signals in and around the Baltic, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Black Sea and Mediterranean. The Royal Institute of Navigation has flagged a growing crisis in which jamming and spoofing—cheap and pervasive—drown out legitimate satellite signals. Kaliningrad’s proximity to Europe and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict have amplified concerns that multiple nations are coping with intentional signal interference. 1500 planes a day report GNSS outages in conflict zones, though aircraft rarely plummet from the sky; instead, crews power-cycle aircraft and reconfigure cockpit settings to cope with spoofed timing and positioning. The report underscores how modern ships and aircraft rely on GNSS for a wide array of systems—from navigation to emergency broadcasts—and why that dependency makes them vulnerable as geopolitical disputes intensify.

"This is a storm that's been brewing for a number of years now." - Ramsey Faraher, CEO of the Royal Institute of Navigation

The discussion moves to fixes and pragmatic steps. Software updates to GNSS receivers are seen as a fast fix, though manufacturers historically did not plan for electronic warfare. antennas with controlled radiation pattern capabilities (CRPAs) can detect signals from incorrect directions or abnormally high powers. In some regions, backup navigation aids of varying quality may be necessary, but the wider reality is that GNSS spoofing and jamming are likely to persist as a permanent feature of geopolitics. The segment highlights how essential connectivity is in maritime and air traffic management—and how a spoofed position can mislead not only the vessel, but also safety protocols that rely on accurate location data.

"Jamming is really cheap and easy." - Ramsey Faraher, CEO, the Royal Institute of Navigation