• FAQs

  • What is a podcast?

    A podcast is like a radio show that you can download and listen to whenever you want. What makes a podcast different from a normal audio file hosted online is that you can subscribe so it will automatically download to your computer whenever a new episode of a particular show is released.

  • I don't have an iPod.

    You don't need an iPod to listen to a podcast. All you need is a computer connected to the Internet that can play audio files. If you have a portable mp3 player such as an iPod you can download the podcast file from your computer to your mp3 player so you can listen to the podcast when you are on the train, walking the dog or sitting in the garden.

  • Why should I subscribe?

    It means that the show will download onto your computer automatically and you won't have to go and find it each week. It's free, and you can unsubscribe at any time without even supplying an email address.

  • What is an RSS reader?

    An RSS reader (sometimes called 'feed reader') can 'pull' web-based content into it to save you the effort of you having to go and find it all the time. It's useful because you can tell your RSS reader what kinds of things you like and they'll be reliably delivered to your desktop when new content is released. Using RSS feed readers is also a good way to read news and keep up to date without being bombarded with too many emails or spam.

    Some RSS readers are programs which you download onto your computer, others, like Bloglines, work with web browsers such as Internet Explorer or Firefox, which you can access at any computer.

    The best way to get to grips with RSS is to just give it a go. A useful list of program and web browser readers can be found here or via NPG's 'What is a webfeed?'.

  • Can I download the podcast files onto a CD?

    Yes, just go to archive and transcripts section and right-click on 'Listen', then select 'save link as' (Firefox) or 'save target as' in Internet Explorer, and save the file to your computer. Then you can burn the files onto a CD.

  • English is not my first language. Do you have transcripts of each show?

    Yes, you can access a full English transcript of each show by going to the archive and transcripts section and clicking the 'Text (html)' link.

  • I'd like to use parts of the Nature Podcast for broadcast or educational purposes. Is this ok?

    Please write to us at podcast@nature.com and let us know exactly how you'd like to use the material. We'll get back to you with an answer as soon as we can.

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• Contact

  We want to hear your opinions to help us make a better show. If you have any feedback or technical problems please write to us at podcast@nature.com. We will try to answer your query or comment on your feedback as soon as possible.

  If you are writing with a technical problem, please check the Help FAQ first and then include the specifications of your computer, the version of iTunes or other software you are using, the make and model of your iPod or mp3 player, and any other details that will help us assist you.

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