Nature Podcast
Nature Podcast
Springer Nature Limited
Briefing Chat: Is DNA repair the secret to a long life? Whales and mole-rats offer tantalizing hints
13 minutes Posted Aug 7, 2026 at 1:05 pm.
Could reawakened viruses have a link to long-COVID?Nature: COVID can wake up a slew of dormant viruses inside you05:57 DNA damage can cause ageing, could boosting repair boost longevity?Nature: ​​​​​​​Could mending damaged DNA prolong life?​​​​​​​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.
0:00
13:52
Download MP3
Show notes
Nature staff discuss how animal studies are starting to uncover how DNA repair could prolong life, and how COVID-19 can reawaken dormant viruses.00:25 Could reawakened viruses have a link to long-COVID?Nature: COVID can wake up a slew of dormant viruses inside you05:57 DNA damage can cause ageing, could boosting repair boost longevity?Nature: ​​​​​​​Could mending damaged DNA prolong life?​​​​​​​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.