Can we really predict when doomsday will happen? – William Poundstone
In this episode of the Science Focus Podcast, we’re going to try to guess when the end of the world will happen. Don’t worry, it’s not as gloomy as it might sound. Those people waving ‘The End is Nigh...
5 Juni 201939min
Is body positivity the answer to body image issues? – Phillippa Diedrichs
We live in a society that values looks, but only if they fit into a restrictive set of ideals regarding size and shape, age, skin colour, as well as many other features of our bodies. The result is an...
29 Maj 201929min
Why is the Moon landing still relevant 50 years on? – Kevin Fong
If you were to picture the Moon landing in your head right now, you could probably conjure up images of Neil Armstrong’s famous first steps, accompanied by his inspirational (and often misquoted) spee...
22 Maj 201930min
Can science explain everything? – Michael Blastland
We know a lot. In scientific studies, we can count data, observe trends, infer links and calculate risks. But we also spend a lot of time ignoring noise – the unexplained variations in our results tha...
15 Maj 201936min
Is the cure for cancer hiding in human breast milk? – Professor Catharina Svanborg
Two decades ago a group of Swedish researchers chanced upon an intriguing compound with tumour-killing properties hidden within human breast milk. Dubbed HAMLET, short for Human α-lactalbumin, the sub...
8 Maj 201924min
Why is Leonardo Da Vinci’s scientific legacy so often overlooked? – Martin Clayton
It’s been 500 years since the death of Leonardo Da Vinci, and he’s remembered mainly for his great works of art, like The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. But he was also a scientist, working across dis...
1 Maj 201930min
Is gene editing inspiring or terrifying? – Nessa Carey
In 2012, scientists developed a method to edit any part of the human genome, and the implications were astounding. Now, we’re starting to see the technology’s potential; we will soon cure previously u...
25 Apr 201933min
What if the Earth’s magnetic field died? – Jim Al-Khalili
Theoretical physicist and science communicator Professor Jim Al-Khalili has taken a break from writing popular science books to write his first novel. Sunfall (£16.99, Bantam Press) is a science ficti...
17 Apr 201940min
