This week, how gut microbes might be affecting drugs, and a new theory on the beginning of plate tectonics. In this episode: 00:45 Microbes metabolising drugs Researchers are investigating whether the gut microbiota can alter the activity of medicinal drugs. Research article: Zimmermann et al.   06:40 Research Highlights Elephants counting with smell, and audio activity monitoring. Research Highlight: Elephants have a nose for portion size Research Highlight: Deep learning monitors human activity based on sound alone 08:57 The origin of plate tectonics? A new theory suggests that sediment may have lubricated the Earth’s tectonic plates, allowing them to move. Research article: Sobolev and Brown News and Views: Earth’s evolution explored   14:14 News Chat Scientists protest in Hungary, and a trial of a new post-review process to test reproducibility. News: Hungarians protest against proposed government takeover of science News: Reproducibility trial publishes two conclusions for one paper