Inside Science: Skin-cell Fertility Advances, Jane Goodall's Legacy, Drone Walls, TRAPPIST-1E Atmosphere Clues, Koala Vaccine

In this episode of Inside Science, host Marnie Chesterton explores a controversial fertility approach using skin cells to create embryos, debates the ethical and legal boundaries in the UK, and pays tribute to primatologist Jane Goodall. The program also investigates drone-wall defenses amid modern aerial threats, previews early atmospheric clues from the exoplanet TRAPPIST-1E, and reports on an approved koala chlamydia vaccine that could help protect an endangered species. Alongside, comments from experts illuminate the scientific and societal implications of these developments, from reproductive technology to wildlife conservation.

Fertility science and its legal-ethical frontier

The episode begins with the Oregon Health and Science University team’s work on creating human embryos from skin cells using a process called mtomyosis, which pushes cells through a meiotic-like division to yield haploid genomes before fertilization. In the discussion, Geraldine Jowett explains the approach as a synthesis of cloning concepts and new meiosis-like manipulation, noting that most cells end up with chromosomal abnormalities and that safety concerns currently place this well beyond clinical applicability. Emily Jackson adds that UK law restricts fertility treatments to permitted sperm and eggs unless Parliament changes the framework to permit in vitro derived gametes, highlighting the safety-first path to any potential future adoption. “"the law in the UK is very clear that you can only do fertility treatments with what are described as permitted sperm and permitted eggs" - Emily Jackson

“"mtomyosis, which basically makes the cell divide mitosis, but makes it divide in a meiotic way" - Geraldine Jowett

Jane Goodall’s enduring legacy

The program then remembers Jane Goodall, noting her role in reframing our understanding of chimpanzees and the importance of women in science. Joyce Poole shares how Goodall inspired generations, including her own trajectory in conservation and animal behavior, and recounts how Goodall helped intervene to protect elephants in Amboseli. The segment underscores Goodall’s emphasis on personified animal communities and the ethical dimension of field biology.

Drones, walls, and the evolving nature of aerial warfare

David Hambling discusses the emergence of drone warfare with Shahid-type drones, which are cheap, plentiful, and rapidly adaptable. He outlines a three-part drone-wall concept: sensors (radar, acoustic networks like Ukraine’s Sky Fortress using thousands of microphones to detect drone signatures), a robust command-and-control system, and effectors (jamming or air defenses). He cautions that even with a drone-wall, both sides in a modern conflict face limitations given the high volume of drones and limited resources, stressing that Europe must invest more in defenses against this rapidly evolving threat.

Exoplanet TRAPPIST-1E and the hunt for nitrogen in alien atmospheres

Caroline Steele highlights the James Webb Space Telescope’s investigations of TRAPPIST-1E, reporting that hydrogen- or carbon-dioxide-dominated atmospheres have been ruled out, and that nitrogen-dominated atmospheres could be a signpost for potential life. She describes possible surface conditions on a tidally locked world and notes how photosynthesis in a weaker stellar light could produce life forms with very different appearances than Earth’s flora, possibly darker hues due to atmospheric composition. These early results would mark a milestone in exoplanet science if nitrogen is confirmed in the atmosphere.

Koala chlamydia vaccine and wildlife conservation

Back in Australia, the episode reports the approval of a koala chlamydia vaccine that reduces mortality by at least 65 percent, though deployment faces cost and delivery challenges in wild populations. The researchers intend to begin vaccination in wildlife hospitals and prioritize at-risk koalas, signaling a potential turning point for koala conservation if funding materializes.

Closing reflection

The program closes with a spoken clip from Jane Goodall about chimpanzee-human connection and the power of gestural communication, underscoring a thread of curiosity, care, and the ongoing quest to expand human understanding of the natural world.