Nature

NATURE PODCAST
28 January 2026

How your brain chemistry rewards hard work

Why going the extra mile might make you feel good — plus, how extreme weather events could increase the burden of malaria in Africa.

By

Benjamin Thompson &
Nick Petrić Howe

Benjamin Thompson

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Nick Petrić Howe

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Download the Nature Podcast 28 January 2026

In this episode:

00:46 Why completing difficult tasks feels rewarding

Nature: Touponse et al.

11:34 Research Highlights

Nature: Disappearing ‘planet’ reveals a solar system’s turbulent times

Nature: Getting to the (square) root of stock-market swings

13:43 How extreme weather events could threaten malaria elimination efforts

Nature: Symons et al.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-00282-9

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