In this episode:00:45 Accurately ageing stars reveals the Milky Way’s historyTo understand when, and how, the Milky Way formed, researchers need to know when its stars were born. This week, a team of astronomers have precisely aged nearly a quarter of a million stars, revealing more about the sequence of events that took place as our galaxy formed.Research article: Xiang and RixNews and Views: A stellar clock reveals the assembly history of the Milky Way09:53 Research HighlightsArchaeologists reveal an ancient lake was actually a ritual pool, and how the Moon’s phase affects some birds' altitude.Research Highlight: Ancient ‘harbour’ revealed to be part of fertility god’s lavish shrineResearch Highlight: These birds fly high when the full Moon hangs in the sky12:34 Uncovering Yellowstone’s hot water plumbingYellowstone National Park’s iconic geothermal geysers and volcanic landmarks are well studied, but very little was known about the ‘plumbing system’ that feeds these features. Now a team of researchers have mapped the underground hydrothermal system, showing the specific faults and pathways that supply the park.Research article: Finn et al.19:27 Briefing ChatWe discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, 0why an Australian university has been suspended from winning a research foundation’s fellowships, and the ongoing debate about the cause of ‘COVID toes’.Nature: Funder bars university from grant programme over white-male award line-upNature: Are ‘COVID toes’ actually caused by the coronavirus?Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.