The Naked Scientists 2025 Roundup: Uterus Transplant Baby Amy, Jane Goodall’s Legacy, Bionic Knee Prosthesis, Universal Snake Venom Antivenom, Quantum Sensors Underground, Labrador Obesity Genetics, Gab Beer

Introduction and retrospective framing

The Naked Scientists wrap up 2025 by revisiting several high-impact stories across biology, medicine, physics, and technology. The program foregrounds transformative medical advances, breakthroughs in neuroengineering, and novel approaches to health and behavior, while also highlighting developments in conservation and industry applications.

Uterus transplantation and the Amy Isabel birth

One of the year’s landmark medical achievements centers on uterus transplantation, culminating in the UK’s first natural-feeling pregnancy and birth from a transplanted uterus. The discussion unpacks the donor-recipient pairing, the surgical steps from retrieval to implantation, and the rigorous post-operative monitoring that enables pregnancy. Guests explain the MRKH condition and how this third option for reproduction broadens opportunities for people without a functioning uterus, alongside existing routes such as surrogacy and adoption. A key takeaway is the long, collaborative process required to realize a baby’s birth after uterus transplantation, including the decision pathways for subsequent pregnancies and the criteria for trial entry.

Quote: "This is a 25 year process whereby we were very happily delivered a little baby, Amy Isabel, and she came from Britain's first transplanted uterus." - Richard Smith

Jane Goodall’s legacy and philosophy

The program pays tribute to Dame Jane Goodall, exploring her life from early curiosity in London to decades of fieldwork in Tanzania. Interviews recount her methodological shift toward empathetic science, her role in founding the Jane Goodall Institute, and her emphasis on interconnection and conservation. The reflections highlight how her approach—valuing animal personalities and social complexity—shaped modern primatology and inspired conservation activism worldwide.

Quote: "When you study animals in the wild, you realise how they live and understand the interconnection of everything and how every little species has a role to play." - Will Tingle

Brain–bone integrated knee prosthesis and neural feedback

Tech-focused segments cover the MIT-driven development of a brain–bone integrated knee, designed to deliver neural control and force feedback. The discussion clarifies the agonist–antagonist neural interface, the sense of phantom knee movement, and the potential shift toward a pilot-in-seat model that combines human intelligence with prosthetic function. The impact on user experience and psychological well-being is emphasized as patients progressively master intuitive control without a conventional, passive prosthesis.

Quote: "The prostheses that most people have, they don't have motors and so they can't move like human legs do. So, in our work, we attempted to more directly integrate the prosthesis with the human." - Tony Xu, MIT

Universal snake venom antivenom from Tim Freedy’s antibodies

The episode also profiles Tim Freedy’s decades-long work immunizing himself against multiple venom sources, yielding broadly neutralizing antibodies. The conversation outlines how this human-derived antibody repertoire informs the development of a universal antivenom, addressing a critical global health challenge where traditional methods lag in speed and scope. The narrative underscores the next steps toward translating antibodies into scalable therapeutics and filling remaining gaps across venom types.

Quote: "I'm representing people I'm never gonna meet." - Tim Freedy

Quantum inertial sensors for the London Underground

Another major thread investigates quantum sensing as a way to achieve precise inertial positioning beyond GPS, especially in underground environments. Researchers describe a cloud of ultra-cold rubidium atoms interrogated by lasers to measure minute accelerations with high accuracy. The practical demonstration on a test train signals potential for sharper railway asset management, faster fault localization, and predictive maintenance by treating trains as data-collection sensors along the network.

Quote: "This has potential to change the landscape of how we operate our railway." - Steve Foote

Labradors, obesity genetics, and owner influence

The round-up includes a genetic study in Labradors linking the DD1B gene to appetite and obesity risk, illustrating how dog genetics reflect human obesity pathways. The researchers discuss how gene-environment interactions—particularly owner management and activity—shape weight outcomes. The segment connects canine models to potential human obesity interventions and reinforces the idea that even strong genetic predispositions can be moderated by lifestyle decisions.

Quote: "If you're a high risk dog with a completely on it owner who absolutely regulated your food and gave you lots of activity, you could be perfectly slim." - Eleanor Raffin

Gab beer: functional, hangover-free beverages

The final science thread introduces Gab beer, a non-alcoholic beverage designed to mimic alcohol's effects on the brain via botanicals that promote GABA activity. The discussion covers how the product achieves a plateau-like effect, the safety and regulatory stance for botanicals used as food ingredients, and the potential market for alcohol-free drinks with functional profiles. The segment clarifies how the ingredients are sourced, validated, and integrated to avoid typical alcohol-related harms while delivering a social, mood-related benefit.

Quote: "These botanical ingredients give people the functionality they're looking for, but without the harms of alcohol." - David Nutt

Conclusion and calls to action

The program closes with gratitude to supporters and a nod to ongoing collaboration between academia, industry, and public engagement to advance trusted science coverage.