UK vaping overtakes smoking; dark-energy debate; early hominin tool-use reveals culture transmission; UK space strategy urged by Lords committee

Overview

The Naked Scientists discuss rising vaping among UK adults, potential health implications, and policy measures, then pivot to cosmology debates about dark energy and the universe’s long-term fate. The show also highlights a UK space policy report urging leadership in space technology and ends with paleoanthropology findings on 3-million-year-old hominin tool use in Kenya.

Key points

Data from the Office for National Statistics shows vapers now outnumber smokers among adults in Britain, with 10.6% vaping and 9.1% smoking. Debates continue on health harms and youth vaping, with policy moves like flavor restrictions and disposable-vape bans under discussion. In cosmology, new work questions whether dark energy might decline, potentially leading to a Big Crunch instead of endless expansion. A UK space policy report argues for government action to turn space into a driver of economic growth, while paleoanthropology findings from northern Kenya suggest early humans used and transmitted stone-tool skills over hundreds of thousands of years, predating large brain size.

Introduction and scope

This episode of The Naked Scientists traverses public health trends, cosmology, space policy, and human evolution, weaving together data, expert commentary, and recent research findings to illuminate how science informs policy and long-term futures.

UK vaping trends and health considerations

New Office for National Statistics data indicate that among people aged 16 and older, vaping has surpassed cigarette smoking for the first time in Britain. About 10.6% vape (daily or occasionally) versus 9.1% who smoke. The discussion emphasizes that most vapers are ex-smokers, which is interpreted as a harm-reduction success, but also notes rising vaping among teens—roughly 1 in 5 have tried vaping and 7% currently vape, with many never having smoked. The conversation underscores the need to monitor youth uptake and long-term health effects, which remain uncertain for never-smokers who vape.

Quote 1

"the proportion of people aged 16 and older who vape is higher than the proportion of people who smoke" - Linda Bauld, University of Edinburgh

Policy measures and behavioral trends

Panelists discuss the UK policy approach that blends harm reduction with youth protection. They highlight proposed measures like restricting flavors and single-use devices and applying tobacco-control-style protections to vaping products. Early data on the disposable-vape ban show a drop in disposable usage even before the ban took full effect, suggesting that regulatory signals can shift behavior. Quote 2

"The ban on disposable vapes has already come in" - Linda Bauld

Cosmology: dark energy and the fate of the universe

The discussion moves to cosmology, revisiting the discovery of accelerated expansion and the role of dark energy. A new interpretation suggests dark energy might decline over time, potentially allowing gravity to dominate and initiating a contraction, a Big Crunch cycle rather than eternal expansion. The episode references data from the Dark Energy Survey instrument (DESI) and independent analyses of Type Ia supernovae brightness as standard candles, noting ongoing scientific scrutiny and the need for more data and new telescopes to resolve the debate.

Quote 3

"we have a mere 30 billion years or so before our universe finally recollapses into a big crunch" - Carlos Frank, University of Durham

Space policy and UK industry potential

A crossbench House of Lords Committee led by Cathy Ashton argues that space is a driver for domestic growth, not just government or NASA domains. The report outlines practical applications across farming, shipping, medicine, and engineering, and stresses the urgency of a national strategy to address space debris, launch costs, and in-space manufacturing. The discussion reflects optimism about Britain’s role in a more commercial space landscape, with regulatory clarity and strategic investment as key enablers. Quote 4

"space debris ... safely dispose of satellites that have died or reinventing them" - David Braun (paraphrase of discussion)

Early tool use and human evolution

In paleoanthropology, a George Washington University team reports 3-million-year-old evidence from northern Kenya near the Ethiopia border, showing stone-tool production using chalcedony. The artifacts suggest a continuity of tool-use across hundreds of thousands of years, implying cultural learning and observation, rather than a sudden textbook milestone. The researchers argue that tool use preceded brain-size increases, enabling caloric gains from meat and other resources that could support later cognitive evolution.

Quote 5

"Early humans are probably tool users for a long time" - David Braun, George Washington University

Conclusion

The show closes with reflections on cross-disciplinary science—from health policy to cosmic fate and human evolution—and the importance of policy and funding to translate research into tangible benefits for society and the economy.