Inside Science 2025 roundup: gorilla research, nuclear waste disposal, satellite risks, longevity clues, and cancer therapy timing

Year-end science overview

BBC Inside Science’s final 2025 episode moves across disciplines, from primate biology to nuclear waste disposal, space safety, and medical timing. The program examines the lasting impact of Diane Fossey’s gorilla research, visits Finland’s Onkelo deep geological disposal facility for nuclear fuel, and explores how policy shifts and funding affect science in the United States. It also highlights practical space-safety concerns with satellite constellations, plus intriguing longevity clues from a remarkably old clam and a potential cancer therapy timing advantage tied to circadian rhythms.

"job opportunities for young scientists are closing down" - Roland Pease

US science policy and funding in 2025

The episode discusses developments in U.S. science policy under the Trump administration, including moves to dismantle a major Weather and Climate Research centre in Colorado and the broader climate of research funding. It captures the tension between seeking scientific progress and political pushback, with funding freezes, job losses, and a fragile path to recovery in agencies like NASA and NOAA. A New Orleans-based interview with veteran science journalist Roland Pease contextualizes how funding uncertainty affects talent retention and international collaboration. "job opportunities for young scientists are closing down" - Roland Pease

Deep geological disposal: Onkelo in Finland

The program then travels to Onkelo, Finland, the world’s first deep geological disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel. Guides describe a 400-metre-deep tunnel system and 40 kilometres more planned, designed to isolate hazardous waste for tens of thousands of years. The silence of the bedrock and the engineering detail—copper canisters, bentonite clay, two-shell shielding—illustrate a careful, long-horizon approach to a global problem. "the rocks here are incredibly old, some of the oldest rocks in Europe, dating to about 3.2 billion years" - Fiona McEvoy

Legacy of Diane Fossey and long-term primate research

The discussion shifts to primatology as Tara Stowinsky and Gillie Forrester reflect on Diane Fossey’s influence. Fossey’s two-decade study of mountain gorillas produced longitudinal data revealing long lifespans, individual personalities, and complex social behavior. The Dana Fossey Gorilla Fund continues her work and supports researchers who study gorillas in Rwanda and the DRC. Gillie Forrester emphasizes how long-term data reshape our understanding of behavior, emotion, and conservation needs. "Longitudinal data is, is just so precious" - Gillie Forrester

Satellites, debris, and space safety

Caroline Steele reports on the increasing density of Earth-orbiting satellites and the risk of collisions. Princeton researchers estimate that a single catastrophic event could trigger a cascade of debris, drastically altering orbital paths. The segment highlights how frequent collision-avoidance maneuvers are for SpaceX and others, underscoring the ongoing challenge of space traffic management as the orbital environment becomes crowded. "one collision can create thousands of bits of satellites that end up orbiting Earth" - Caroline Steele

Longevity secrets from the deep ocean

The episode covers the discovery of an exceptionally old clam, with mitochondria that may explain extraordinary longevity, drawing comparisons to long-lived naked mole rats and exploring implications for aging research. The discussion notes the potential for translating mitochondrial resilience to human health advances, while remaining clear about the limits of such cross-species extrapolation. "the oldest one that was found was 507 years old" - Caroline Steele

Circadian rhythm and cancer therapy timing

Finally, Inside Science summarises a Cancer study showing that timing immune checkpoint inhibitors before 3 pm correlates with substantially better outcomes in lung cancer patients, suggesting that circadian biology could improve treatment efficacy with minimal cost. The result invites further personalized research while acknowledging individual variation. "before 3 p.m. had a 52% lower risk of cancer progression" - Caroline Steele