Greenland's Geopolitics, Rare Earth Minerals and Weight Loss Drug Insights | World, the Universe and Us

New Scientist's World, the Universe and Us examines Greenland's renewed strategic importance for the United States, including mineral wealth, Arctic shipping routes and the climate risks tied to ice loss. The episode features insights from experts on mining logistics and the broader geopolitical context in the Arctic.

In addition to Greenland, the show surveys two cutting edge biology topics: the debate over junk DNA and the discovery of dark DNA through a plant-human hybrid study, and the question of weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, what happens when users stop taking them, and how weight tends to rebound. The program is hosted by Rowan Hooper and Penny Sahe.

Introduction and Greenland in Focus

Greenland is back in the headlines as the White House reiterates interest in acquiring the territory, framing it as a national security priority in the Arctic. The episode explains that while there is an existing US military presence on the island, melting sea ice is redefining geopolitics and opening new shipping routes. The presenters set the stage by noting the broader climate context, including sea level rise and ice melt that affect global systems.

To unpack these ideas, the hosts speak with Anna Merrill, a sustainability and planning professor at Aalborg University, and Ruth Mottram, a climate scientist at the Danish Meteorological Institute. They discuss how Greenland's strategic value is tied to influence and stability in a rapidly changing region rather than the acquisition of a new resource, though rare minerals and energy potential remain part of the discussion.

Resources, Infrastructure and the Long View

The conversation highlights that despite Greenland's vast mineral wealth list iron ore, copper, zinc, gold and rare earth elements, the island is heavily underdeveloped. Infrastructure is largely absent beyond towns, making large scale extraction and processing enormously costly, especially given ice and sea ice hazards and logistical challenges for export. The experts caution that even if mining began, processing and environmental considerations would require a massive, multi-decade effort, with China currently leading in rare earth processing.

Ice Melt, Sea Level Rise and Tipping Points

The Polar Portal data referenced by the Danish Meteorological Institute shows Greenland losing substantial ice annually, contributing to global sea level rise. The episode explains the potential cumulative effects by 2100, including projections that the ice sheet could contribute up to 27 centimeters of sea level rise, with a long term possibility of much larger changes if tipping points are reached. The discussion emphasizes that even in a good year, ice loss is a significant concern and the fate of the ice sheet has broad climate implications.

Praxis and the Idea of Freedom Cities

Beyond traditional economics, the show covers an ambitious private venture, Praxis, which aims to build a network city in Greenland as a prototype for a non-democratic, tech-governed enclave. Backed by high-profile backers and connected to influential institutions, the concept raises questions about sovereignty, social responsibility and governance. Anna Merrill is quoted stressing that Greenland is not an empty space for experimentation and that any governance framework would need alignment with Greenlandic laws and societal goals.

Junk DNA, Dark DNA and Evolutionary Noise

The program pivots to a major biology story about junk DNA, also called dark DNA, and whether most non-coding DNA is functional. A New Zealand study used 35 million base pairs of plant DNA inserted into human cells to test the idea of randomness and noise in genome activity. The results showed that plant DNA and human DNA were similarly active, suggesting much of the observed activity in Encode data may reflect noise rather than function. The discussion explores how noise could occasionally generate de novo genes that become useful, explaining that the genome may be a work in progress rather than a perfectly curated blueprint.

Weight Loss Drugs, Rebound and Long Term Implications

The episode also covers weight loss medications, particularly GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic, and the question of what happens when people discontinue these therapies. An analysis of multiple trials suggests that the average weight loss observed during treatment tends to rebound within about 1.7 to 2 years after stopping the drugs, underscoring the idea that obesity may be a long term medical condition requiring sustained management, akin to other chronic conditions such as hypertension or asthma. The discussion emphasizes that long term solutions will likely require a deeper understanding of obesity's subtypes and underlying drivers.

Fibre and Sleep, Causality and Practical Takeaways

Another health thread examines dietary fibre's association with sleep quality. A large review links lower gut microbiome diversity and reduced levels of butyrate-producing bacteria with sleep disorders, while acknowledging that causality remains to be proven. The researchers highlight the plausible connection via the gut-brain axis, while noting limitations in establishing a direct cause-and-effect relationship. The overall message is that higher fibre intake has multiple health benefits, with potential sleep benefits being investigated further in future work.

Conclusion and Broader Significance

The program closes by tying together themes from climate science, geopolitics, genetics and medicine. It frames Greenland as a case study in how climate change intersects with security and economic questions, while stressing the importance of credible science in public discourse. The discussion on junk DNA reaffirms the evolving understanding of the genome, and the weight loss drug findings contribute to ongoing debates about long term management of obesity and the limits of pharmacological interventions. The episode invites viewers to consider how science informs policy, ethics, and the future of human health and planetary stewardship.