This week, how gut microbes might be affecting drugs, and a new theory on the beginning of plate tectonics.

In this episode:

00:45 Microbes metabolising drugs

Researchers are investigating whether the gut microbiota can alter the activity of medicinal drugs.

Research article: Zimmermann et al.

06:40 Research Highlights

Elephants counting with smell, and audio activity monitoring.

08:57 The origin of plate tectonics?

A new theory suggests that sediment may have lubricated the Earth’s tectonic plates, allowing them to move.

Research article: Sobolev and Brown

14:14 News Chat

Scientists protest in Hungary, and a trial of a new post-review process to test reproducibility.

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06 June 2019: Microbes modifying medicine and kickstarting plate tectonics

Nature Podcast