The Naked Scientists Podcast · The Naked Scientists

Artemis II launch, and tackling physical inactivity

April 3, 2026·34 min·3 clips

Physical inactivity kills as many people worldwide as smoking, yet we don't treat it with the same urgency.

The episode opens with Richard Hollingham's vivid firsthand account of witnessing the Artemis II launch in Florida, describing the overwhelming sensory experience of the rocket's departure. He details being positioned three miles from the launch pad at the press site, experiencing blinding light and a cracking sound as the massive rocket leaped off the pad. The mission represents humanity's return to lunar exploration after over 50 years, with the spacecraft following a 10-day trajectory around the moon before returning to Earth. Hollingham explains that three of the four rocket engines are recycled from the Space Shuttle program, and the mission serves as a crucial test before future crewed lunar landings. The astronauts will experience both automated systems and periods of manual control during their journey to the farthest point humans have ever traveled from Earth. Scientists at Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London have achieved a breakthrough in regenerative medicine by creating the first lab-grown esophagus successfully transplanted into pigs. The process involves taking donor pig esophagus tissue, removing all existing cells to create a scaffold, then repopulating it with the recipient's own muscle cells and fibroblasts. Lead researcher Paolo De Coppi explains that muscle cells from the abdominal wall can be harvested and grown over eight weeks, then matured in a bioreactor for 10 days before implantation. The ultimate goal is treating esophageal atresia, where babies are born with missing esophageal segments. The research suggests pig esophagus scaffolds could work with human cells due to similar collagen and protein structures. A comprehensive study led by Deb Salvo at the University of Texas reveals that physical inactivity causes 5.3 million deaths annually worldwide, equivalent to smoking-related deaths. Despite this staggering impact, physical inactivity receives far less attention as a public health crisis. The research emphasizes that not all physical activity is equal - voluntary, choice-based activity provides optimal health benefits, while economically coercive activity (forced by poverty or circumstances) offers fewer advantages. Salvo advocates for policy changes including urban environment improvements, public transit investments, and walking and cycling infrastructure to make physical activity a natural part of daily life. Australian company Cortical Labs has developed computer chips powered by actual brain cells that can play video games including Pong and Doom. Co-founder Brett Kagan explains they grow neural cells from induced pluripotent stem cells derived harmlessly from blood or skin samples. These biological systems communicate through electricity, the shared language between silicon and biology, using microelectrode arrays to measure and deliver electrical pulses. The technology represents a platform approach with applications ranging from basic neuroscience research to disease treatment and potentially new forms of computing that leverage biology's ability to process real-world, noisy data with minimal input. The episode concludes with a preview of next week's program examining humanity's relationship with time, including how London and Liverpool once operated on different time zones.

As heard by us

A moon launch leads into a practical, slightly abrupt lesson in regenerative medicine.

Artemis II opens with launch audio and on-site reporting, and it treats the return of humans to the moon for the first time in over 50 years as the milestone it is. The coverage stays measured instead of leaning on grandstanding, which gives it a practical, science-desk tone.

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Why you'd press play

For the listener who wants moon launch drama and a sharp left turn into regenerative medicine.

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