TheScienceShed

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A science podcast: join two research scientists - Steve and Nick - for an irreverent ramble through the undergrowth of academia follow us on Twitter @SteveTheChemist and @theevanslab. Find us on iTunes (goo.gl/hwMEFG), and YouTube (goo.gl/GR6Vws)

Steven Lee and Nick Evans


    • Mar 22, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 25m AVG DURATION
    • 161 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from TheScienceShed

    S6 E2 Cricket, infrared cricket and rocket chopsticks

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2025 40:59


    In this pod, recorded WAY back in October, Nick updates us on Geoff Boycott's car keys for measuring cracks in cricket pitches, and Steve goes into the infrared to explore one of Herschel's most famous discoveries. We also find out about SpaceX's chopsticks and discuss how General Zod was freed from captivity by a nuclear bomb.

    S6 E1: Spies, Lies and Simeticone

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 49:01


    Nick and Steve are back for the launch of Series 6 of The Science Shed! We're diving straight into a fresh batch of science-infused delights from a windowless room deep in the depths of UCL. Nick's uncovered some Cold War espionage, Steve's brought along a surprise audio gift, and there's plenty of snake oil to go around. If you enjoy The Science Shed, the best way to support us is by sharing the podcast on social media, following us on X, and leaving a rating or review on iTunes, it really helps! Find us on X: @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab & @TheScienceShed

    Oh Chemis-tree, Oh Chemis-tree!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2024 48:50


    We're back from some special christmas treats in series 6 of the podcast. Merry Christmas pod fans!! Join us for a nice glass of egg nog and a plate of science in our #christmas #podcast. This week @SteveTheChemist loves explostions, while @theevanslab buys presents If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on X, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! X @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab & @TheScienceShed

    S5 E15 T'was The Night Before Podmas

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2022 63:06


    Merry Christmas pod fans!! Join us for a nice glass of egg nog and a plate of science in our #christmas #podcast. This week @SteveTheChemist makes friends with a new AI chatbot, while @theevanslab finds out about how viruses have become part of us... AIIIIIIIIIIIIIiiiiiiiii ... .. . If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab & @TheScienceShed

    S5E14 Biofilm Head Torch And Silver Smurfs

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2022 38:55


    We love squid, and what's better than a squid with a head torch made of bacteria? This week Nick finds out about this incredible biofilm symbiosis, while Steve investigates why eating silver makes you turn blue. Plus Nick's on the complaints warpath ...

    S5E13 - Italian Swingers

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2022 35:01


    S5E13 - Italian Swingers Steve and Nick are back in the shed. This weeks Nick's been on his holidays in italy getting drunk and Steve gets propositioned by a billionaire at the Royal Society of Chemistry! If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab & @TheScienceShed

    S5E12 - The Ukrainian Farceur

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2022 35:59


    On the week before the Nobel Prize announcements, Nick takes us on a whistle-stop tour of the life of one of his science heroes, and famous Ukrainian scientist, George Gamow. Listen in and find out how this peripatetic physicist tried to escape Stalin's Russia by rowing across the Black Sea from Crimea (!), how he really should have won a Nobel, but didn't, and about when he saved his friend Max Born from being hanged. Meanwhile, Steve's gone part time at work (also called a sabbatical) so he can flog his microscopes in his new start up - get the inside track on how he made it happen and find out exactly how big his bank balance now is!!!

    S5E11 - Viscosity To Suit All Tastes

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2022 32:55


    S5E11 - Viscosity To Suit All Tastes Nick and Steve are back in the shed talking about Mud and what do do in an airplane explosion. If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab & @TheScienceShed

    SE5 E10 - Seaquirt Radio

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2022 37:25


    Nick recounts tales of eating sea squirts and finds out a bit more about the chemistry of their flavour - 'ammonia dipped in boiled rubber' - while Steve gets locked out of his house again and does a Macgyver . ..

    SE5 E9 Life Finds A Way

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2022 40:08


    In this week's pod, Nick's up in Brum, 'bone-ing up' (https://rss.com/podcasts/boneup/)with old friends at a conference, while we find out about variants of bacterial life emerging in Steve's bathroom - more specifically his hairspray. We also ramble about the pros and cons of PhD vivas in the UK and abroad.

    S5E8 - Korean Gold Rush!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2022 30:45


    Season 5 Early Doors - Episode 8 Nick and Steve are waking up early to have a science chitchat before work... this week Steve's got the horn for Michael Faraday's Colloids and Nick is off swanning off to Asia. If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab & @TheScienceShed

    S5E7 - Jenny Agutter's Death Ray

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2022 33:08


    Season 5 Early Doors - Episode 7 First off sorry about the sound on this one! Nick and Steve are waking up early to have a science chitchat before work... this week Steve's burning diamonds and Nick's got a new man crush on a Stem cell god. If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab & @TheScienceShed

    Episode 5.6 - I Was Blind But Now I Can See

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2022 26:40


    Steve's been in the Bahama's. When he wasn't working on his tan, he was mainly hanging with the Google founder and finding out how bacteria have enabled a blind man to see!

    S5E5 - Nicks Boring Birds... Splitters

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2022 26:07


    Steve & Nick are back in Season 5 of TheScienceShed: Early Doors. In this week's episode, Nick's confusing the Judean People's Front with The Peoples Front of Judea and Steve can control cell growth with heavy metal If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes!

    S5E4 - The Parable Of The Pectinate Claw

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2022 29:28


    Steve & Nick are back in Season 5 of TheScienceShed: Early Doors. In this week's episode, Steve shares his secret of how to make rats laugh by tickling them and Nick finds out how the now not-so-rare great white egret combs itself. If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab & @TheScienceShed

    S5E3 - Hearts & Rockets

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2022 34:51


    In this week's episode, Steve's celebrates his 40th birthday.... with a discussion about his boyf, Elon Musk and his crazy plan to colonise Mars. How many rockets? A lot. Meanwhile Nick finds out a bit more about the technology behind the world's first pig-heart-into-human transplant.

    S5E2 - Jack Rabbit Slims Moments

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2022 39:15


    Season 5 Early Doors - Episode 2 Nick and Steve are waking up early to have a science chitchat before wory... this week Nick's friends are ill in africa and Steve gets annoyed If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab & @TheScienceShed

    Series 5 Episode 1 - Heat packs and Syndrome K

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2022 34:56


    Nick and Steve are back with another collection of pods! This week we find out what heat pads have to do with a novelty coke drink and Steve braves Dragon's Den to tell us about a wartime hero from Italy....

    S4 E8 - The Ultrasonic Cappuccino

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2021 35:32


    We're back, and a bit hungover, discussing asteroids, acoustics and alarming things you never knew.If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes!

    S4 E7 London Podcast 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2021 42:40


    It's another on-location podcast, this time from the South Bank, London! This week, aside from finding out about Nick's new job, we chat about the amazing aerial feats of swifts, automatic windscreen wipers and, erm, concrete. It's ALMOST as boring as you think. If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes!

    S4 E6 -The London Special

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2021 48:41


    Nick and Steve walk the streets of zone 1 wiith some science themed banter, were doing insulin, computers and cool female pilots. If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab, & @TheScienceShed

    Episode 5 - Change At Cambridge, Temple G, David Davis & Foxgloves

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2021 42:42


    In today's pod, Steve wants to use car exhaust to teach chemistry at Cambridge but his colleagues aren't so convinced. Meanwhile Nick finds out about the perennially confused David Davis and his vitamin-based approach to COVID. We round off with some bantz about animal communication and poison Foxgloves.

    Episode 4 - Dead Cats, Coffee And Humectants

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2021 28:23


    Steve's gone coffee mad this week, kicking off an occasional feature on the science of coffee. Those barista hipsters know how to analyse their brews... Plus we find out about a gruesome accidental delivery to a lab, Brian has been vaccinated, and Nick's teenage metal band makes a debut audio appearance. James Hoffman coffee https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMb0O2CdPBNi-QqPk5T3gsQ Black Country New Road https://blackcountrynewroad.bandcamp.com/ Dead cat delivery https://twitter.com/jueberhard/status/1375549720848965633

    S4 EP 3 - In search of a Fluffy Backed Tit Warbler

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2021 30:00


    Nick and Steve (and Brian) are in back in their (vitual) shed for 4th Season. This week Nick is in search of silly names. Steve gets excited by stabel earth orbits... we know its wierd Please RT is you love us! If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab, & @TheScienceShed

    S4 EP 2 - The Secret To Eternal Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2021 35:00


    Nick and Steve (and Brian) are in back in their (vitual) shed. This week we start a new series of disuccsions about space and Nick finds the secret to eternal life is definetely hidden in the guts of mice. Please RT is you love us! If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab, & @TheScienceShed

    CupOfCovid 51 - Just A Little Prick

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2021 8:29


    Nick and Steve ramble about injections, aliquots and frugality in the latest cup of covid If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab, & @TheScienceShed CupOfCovid 44 - Substantial Meals by TheScienceShed is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

    S4 - The MiseryCast - Lockdown Special.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2021 42:07


    Nick and Steve are back in the old format in lockdown miserycast. Steve's moaning about CVs and Nick has some interesting ideas.... If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab, & @TheScienceShed

    CupOfCovid 50 - Nick's Gone To Iceland

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2020 9:25


    Iceland. Birthplace of Bjork and residence of John Grant. A place where you can eat whale and puffin freely and gaze at fractured landscapes of volcanoes and waterfalls. They also dealt pretty well with Covid, so Nick digs a bit deeper into it today....

    CupOfCovid 49 - Girls And Boys

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2020 6:11


    Today Steve discusses whether boys and girls are different in their responses to vaccines, and strategies doctors might use to make them more.... attractive.

    CupOfCovid 48 - The aussie vaccine has got AIDs

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2020 10:49


    Steve and Nick are discussing the Australian vaccine for COVID19, but what has it got to do with the aids virus? Bruce and his technicolour vaccine are here in TheScienceShed to help. If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab, & @TheScienceShed

    CupOfCovid 47 - Vitamin D for COVID - the new Pauling megadose

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2020 14:06


    Linus Pauling, famous Nobel-winning chemist and peace activist, famously went round the bend late in life and thought Vitamin C mega-doses could cure EVERYTHING. Are we doing the same with Vitamin D and COVID now? Steve and Nick investigate....

    CupOfCovid 46 - Mince pies and mandatory vaccines

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 13:23


    To celebrate V-day and Matt Hancock's tears of joy, today Steve enlightens Nick on mandatory vaccination. Life in Rio suddenly seems less appealing....

    CupOfCovid 45 - 'V'-Day - People Are Morons

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2020 10:13


    Nick and Steve are back for another cup of covid. HUrrah! Vaccine (V) day and were saved! Steve talks about the logisitical challenges about saving the world. If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab, & @TheScienceShed

    CupOfCovid 44 - Substantial Meals

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2020 11:57


    Nick may have had a few ales, also did you know he's running for charity? We're back for a cup of covid, trying to understand why pubs spead covid but shoe shops dont. Don't worry some modellers have been hard at it, and we're skeptical. If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab, & @TheScienceShed

    CupOfCovid 43 - REACT-1 update

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2020 8:08


    Hurrah for REACT-1, probably the most reliable source of information on what the spread of COVID is like in the UK. Why? Today we try and work it out.

    CupOfCovid 42 - Moderna vaccine RNA code

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2020 12:42


    Today we investigate the data underpinning the Moderna trial results. Er, actually most of the data isn't yet released, so instead we discuss why this vaccine may not be quite as good as has been reported, with a little help from the BMJ

    CupOfCovid 39 - Steves Monkey Gravity Theory

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2020 11:14


    Wash your mouth out! Today Steve has a look at the wild west of preprint archives, and finds an interesting study that investigates the effectiveness of mouthwash for getting rid of COVID. Is this more Trump? Or is it legit? Listen in and find out.

    CupOfCovid 41 - Chimp colds and vaccine wars

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2020 14:34


    What has chimpanzee poo got to do with the Oxford vaccine? And how does it measured up to the other vaccines? Today Nick and Steve dig down into the crazy new tech underpinning the biology of the new COVID vaccines.

    CupOfCovid 40 - ChAdOx - we're all saved...?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2020 9:43


    Today Nick and Steve delve into the scientific detail underpinning the release of the Oxford vaccine trial results. Is it 60% effective? Is it 90% effective? Will it be effective at all? We don't know, but it's looking good...

    CupOfCovid 38 - Lockdown Don't Work... do they?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2020 12:11


    Follow the data I hear you cry, this Week Nick and Steve are back for another cup of COVID. We're talking about lost notebooks of Darwin, shelf kilometers and Nick's lockdown sceptic friends.... If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab, & @TheScienceShed

    CupOfCovid 36 - The End of Peer Review?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2020 11:12


    Nick's being antiestablishment and Steve is complaining, that's right it's another CUP OF COVID! This weeks discuss a paper from the university of Oxford that can now detect COVID via a new way. If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab, & @TheScienceShed

    CupOfCovid 35 - How much is a human life worth?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2020 10:56


    Steve and Nick are staring into the blankness, discussing Flash Gordon and chaff-age, plus also A CUP OF COVID where we have a look at NICE's guidelines in relation to the cost of the virus per person, is it worth it? If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab, & @TheScienceShed

    CupOfCovid 34 - Churning Out Absolute Rubbish

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2020 7:36


    Frank's not feeling well and Steve and Nick are back for another COVID cuppa, this time were going back to look at a previous covid podcast which has already changed... science moves fast! If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab, & @TheScienceShed

    CupOfCovid 33 - Besmirching Our Winged Brethren

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2020 7:39


    This is the science podcast you need, it's the one you deserve. Nick and Steve and back with a COVID cuppa talking about BATS! Please Share!

    CupOfCovid 32 - Fake News! 13 Times Tables

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2020 7:29


    Nick and Steven are waking you up with a cup of covid. Steve's roof is leaking and smart people are better at detecting fake scientific statements... it must be nearly christmas! If you like TheScienceShed, the best thing you can do is share it on social media, and to follow us all on twitter, and please leave us a rating or review on iTunes! twitter @SteveTheChemist, @theevanslab & @TheScienceShed TheScienceShed is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

    CupOfCovid 31 - It Doesn't Work

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2020 5:46


    Nick and Steve are back with a COVID cuppa - checking out a report that on the face of it is a waste of time?

    CupOfCovid 30 - Eggs, lovely eggs. And vaccines.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2020 11:36


    Nick takes us on a journey of the history of vaccine production. Starting with his breakfast. What have milkmaids, rabid dogs, rabbit testicles and a million eggs a day got to do with vaccines to viruses? Listen in and find out. Here's a link to Norkin's virology site https://norkinvirology.wordpress.com/

    CupOfCovid 29 - Anders Tegnell, Swedish hero?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2020 10:00


    After a brief chin wag about the recent Nobel prizes (sorry Steve, still no phone call), we discuss Anders Tegnell, Swedish virologist and architect of Sweden's COVID response. Do masks work? Have Sweden got it right? Listen in to find out what we think.

    CupOfCovid 28 - Trump is cured!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2020 7:44


    Today we delve into the therapeutic that cured Trump, and discuss the insane mouse genetics technology that allowed it to be made....

    CupOfCovid 27 - Dogs sniffing COVID-19

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2020 9:06


    Today Nick investigates whether Steve's dog could be trained to sniff out COVID-19 in people. He agrees it probably requires a dog with proper certification for hunting....

    CupOfCovid 26 - Test Kit Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2020 7:51


    Has Nick had COVID? Find out today in this live reveal! Warning - there is blood.

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