Brain implants, agentic AI and answers on dark matter: what to expect from science in 2025

In a special episode to start 2025, we’ve brought together three science editors from The Conversation’s editions around the world to discuss what to look out for in the world of science and technology in the coming year.

Host Gemma Ware is joined by Paul Rincon from The Conversation in the UK, Elsa Couderc from The Conversation in France and Signe Dean from The Conversation in Australia. 

This episode was written and produced by Gemma Ware and Katie Flood with sound design by Michelle Macklem. Our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode are available. Sign up here for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation.

If you like the show, please consider donating to The Conversation, which is an independent, not-for-profit news organisation. And please do rate and review the show wherever you listen.

Further reading and listening

• Has Nasa found evidence of ancient life on Mars? An expert examines the latest discovery
• Several companies are testing brain implants – why is there so much attention swirling around Neuralink? Two professors unpack the ethical issues
• Nuclear fusion record broken – what will it take to start generating electricity? Podcast
• Quantum computers are like kaleidoscopes − why unusual metaphors help illustrate science and technology