About this episode

This episode discusses a table-tennis robot named Ace that can compete with elite players and explores various scientific topics including gravity and historical plagues.

In this episode: 00:45 The table-tennis robot that can mix it with the pros Research Article:  Dürr et al. News and Views:  Robot can beat elite players at table tennis Video:  This robot can beat you at table tennis 14:13 Research Highlights Nature:  Venus’s impenetrable haze could be made of cosmic dust Nature:  Graves reveal plague’s inequitable toll 16:21 Why physicists can’t agree on the strength of Big  G Nature:  How big is Big G? Mystery deepens after ten-year effort to measure gravity’s strength Research Article:  Schlamminger et al. 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.

Topics covered

• robotics
• table tennis
• sports technology
• gravity measurement
• scientific research
• plague history

Keywords

• table-tennis robot
• Ace
• elite players
• Big G
• gravity
• plague
• robotics
• scientific research

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Springer Nature Limited

Products: Ace

Books & works: Dürr et al., Schlamminger et al., Nature

More episodes of Nature Podcast

• Inside the evidence revolution — how decision-making became data driven · April 24, 2026 · 26 min
• Briefing Chat: Penguins pick up PFAS pollution · April 17, 2026 · 15 min
• Giant cancer study reveals effectiveness of 'off label' treatments · April 15, 2026 · 27 min
• Behind the scenes with Artemis II’s scientists during the historic Moon fly-by · April 10, 2026 · 14 min
• Briefing Chat: The tongue trick that helps sunbirds suck · April 8, 2026 · 14 min
• Artemis II is go: humans head to the Moon after half-century absence · April 2, 2026 · 15 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Nature Podcast podcast page.