The Nature Podcast team select some of their favourite stories from the past 12 months.In this episode:00:51 A brain interface to type out thoughtsIn May, we heard about a brain-computer interface that is able to read brain signals from people thinking about handwriting, and translate them into on-screen text. The team behind it hope this technology could be used to help people with paralysis to communicate quicker than before.Nature Podcast: 12 May 2021Research Article: Willett et al.08:28 The AI that argues backIn March, a paper was published detailing an AI that is capable of debating with humans. We found out how it worked, and why designing a debating system is difficult.Nature Podcast: 17 March 2021Research article: Slonim et al.News and Views: Argument technology for debating with humans19:41 Research HighlightsThe sea slugs that can regrow a whole body from their severed head, and research showing that people often don’t know when a conversation should end.Research Highlight: Now that’s using your head: a sea slug’s severed noggin sprouts a new bodyResearch Highlight: How long should a conversation last? The people involved haven’t a clue22:31 The inequality at the heart of the pandemicIn April's Coronapod special, Nature senior reporter Amy Maxmen took us with her through eight months of reporting in the San Joaquin Valley, a part of rural California where COVID's unequal toll has proven deadly.Coronapod: 30 April 2021Feature: Inequality’s deadly toll30:07 Eavesdropping on a glacier's seismic whisperIn July, we heard about one researcher’s unorthodox attempt to listen in to the seismic-whisper at the foot of a Greenland glacier – a method that might reveal more about conditions under these enormous blocks of ice.Nature Podcast: See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.