Nature in all its glorious diversity has come up with some very clever solutions to difficult problems. In this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast the science writer Michael Allen talks about a longhorn beetle from south-east Asia, whose ability to survive sizzling temperatures has inspired the creation of a highly reflective material that could soon be keeping you cool.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused profound changes in the ways that physicists meet to exchange ideas about their research. This week, Physics World’s Tami Freeman attended her first virtual conference – the joint meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine and the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (AAPM/COMP) – and chats about the pros and cons of online meetings.