Podcasts about bbc science

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, and you've noticed things are getting worse – you're not imagining it.Scientists say things have gotten worse around the world for a variety of reasons – and unless something is done – it could become dangerous for some.And those without allergies could even face challenges.Host Kris McCusker speaks to BBC Science and Features journalist, Amanda Ruggeri, about the in-depth piece she wrote on the issue, discussing how allergy sufferers can improve their circumstances and how climate change plays a role in it all.You can read the story here: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250410-how-climate-driven-thunderstorms-supercharge-pollen-allergies Photo credit: (CREDIT: SEBASTIAN SMIT/FREEIMAGES.COM) We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

A weekly conversation with Rebecca Davis covering the subjects that created a stir in the news and social media. Follow us on:CapeTalk on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CapeTalkCapeTalk on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@capetalkCapeTalk on Instagram: www.instagram.com/capetalkzaCapeTalk on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567CapeTalk on X: www.x.com/CapeTalkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A weekly conversation with Rebecca Davis covering the subjects that created a stir in the news and social media. Follow us on:CapeTalk on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CapeTalkCapeTalk on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@capetalkCapeTalk on Instagram: www.instagram.com/capetalkzaCapeTalk on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567CapeTalk on X: www.x.com/CapeTalkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In December 2024, a huge, red-hot metal ring fell from the sky and landed in a small village in Kenya. It turned out to be a piece of space junk. There are millions of pieces of space debris and rubbish floating around in space. And we're sending more and more stuff up there. Now it's not just governments, but private companies like SpaceX and Amazon who are launching satellites. Some reports suggest that by 2030, we could have more than 60,000 active satellites in space. So what happens when they're no longer needed? BBC Science reporter Caroline Steel explains why space junk is such a big issue, and how people are trying to get rid of it.And Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba, a Kenyan PHD student studying aerospace engineering, tells us about some of the potential solutions, like using nets or lasers. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison and Julia Ross-Roy Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal Editor: Verity Wilde

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes food and nature writer Eugenia Bone to discuss her new book, "Have a Good Trip: Exploring the Magic Mushroom Experience." Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-280?ref=278 Drawing from extensive research, personal experimentation, and interviews, Eugenia shares insights into the world of psilocybin mushrooms, from cultivation to ceremonial use. She explores the intersection of citizen science and clinical research, the role of indigenous wisdom, and offers a balanced perspective on the current psychedelic renaissance. Eugenia Bone is food and nature writer whose work has appeared in many anthologies, magazines, and newspapers, including The New York Times, The National Lampoon, Saveur, Gourmet, BBC Science, and The Wall Street Journal, where she is a frequent book reviewer. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers and former president of the New York Mycological Society. She is faculty at the New York Botanical Garden where she teaches classes on psychedelic mushrooms and mycophagy. She is the author or co-author of nine books on food and biology, and has won or been nominated for a variety of awards, including the Nautilus Award, the Colorado Book Award and the James Beard Award. Eugenia has been featured on many dozens of radio shows and podcasts, lectured widely in diverse venues like The New York Public Library, the Denver Botanical Garden and The telluride Mushroom Festival where she is a regular presenter. She is featured in the documentary directed by Louie Schwartzberg, Fantastic Fungi (2019), and in the Netflix children's show about food, Waffles + Mochi (the mushroom episode) produced by Michele Obama's Higher Ground Productions. Highlights: Introduction to Eugenia's new book and her approach to writing about psychedelics  The process of researching and writing "Have a Good Trip" The "Noccers" of Seattle: Urban mushroom cultivation activists Experience with indigenous ceremonies and curanderas Personal journey with mushroom cultivation The role of citizen science in psychedelic research Insights from microdosing experiences Final wisdom about having a good trip Episode Links: Eugenia's website Eugenia's book, Have a Good Trip Instagram: @EugeniaGBone Eugenia's Substack These show links may contain affiliate links. Third Wave receives a small percentage of the product price if you purchase through the above affiliate links. Episode Sponsor: The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave's Psychedelic Coaching Institute.

For the past 100 years diamonds have been the ultimate symbol of love, luxury and opulence. But then, a darker side to them was exposed. Diamond mining was shown to have links to conflict, human rights abuses and state corruption, putting off a lot of consumers. Lab-grown diamonds then appeared on the market as a more eco-friendly, ethical and cheaper alternative, but do they have the same appeal?We speak to Caroline Steel, a BBC Science presenter, about what makes the gems so precious and the science behind how diamonds are formed.We also hear from Shingai Nyoka, a BBC Africa reporter, about Africa's relationship to diamond production, and the discovery of the second-largest mined diamond in Botswana in August.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Benita Barden Editor: Verity Wilde

This episode is brought to you by SiPhox Health, LMNT, and Cured Nutrition. Dr. Katie Deming, MD, a radiation oncologist, joins us for a captivating exploration into the realms of consciousness and the afterlife. In this conversation, Dr. Deming challenges the conventional medical viewpoint that consciousness ceases when the brain dies, drawing on compelling evidence from near-death experiences. As we journey through her insights and personal stories, we uncover the possibility that our awareness expands beyond the confines of our physical bodies, especially as we approach the end of life. This episode compels us to rethink our understanding of life, death, and what it means to be truly conscious. Follow Katie @the.conscious.oncologist Follow Chase @chase_chewning ----- In this episode we discuss... (00:00) Exploring Consciousness and the Afterlife (07:31) Expanding Consciousness Near Death (12:43) Shared Death Experiences and Spiritual Insights (15:19) Shared Death Experiences Explained (19:49) Navigating Life's Awakening and Purpose (26:33) Medical Aid in Dying Process (28:15) Exploring Death and Personal Authenticity (34:43) Exploring Consciousness and Healing Potential (40:21) Exploring Cancer's Influence on Consciousness (48:37) The Consciousness Diet and Fasting (51:56) Optimizing Health Through Consciousness and Nutrition ----- Episode resources: Save 20% on blood tests with SiPhox and test 17 key biomarkers from the convenience of your own home at https://www.SiphoxHealth.com/everforward  Get a FREE variety pack of Recharge electrolyte drink mix with any purchase at https://www.DrinkLMNT.com/everforward  Save 20% on any CBD or functional mushroom or adaptogen product with code EVERFORWARD at https://www.CuredNutrition.com  Watch and subscribe on YouTube Learn more at KatieDeming.com  Cleveland Clinic reference BBC Science reference Stanford reference

A new thought piece was published last week by BBC Science correspondent Pallab Ghosh (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv223z15mpmo) discussing the latest in scientific research pointing to 'consciousness' in an increasing number of non-human species. So are animals conscious? And is that even an important question to be asking? Anthony, Julie & Carlos get philosophical with this one.*************Enough of the Falafel is a community of people who love keeping on top of the latest news in the world of veganism & animal rights. With the Vegan Talk podcast, we aim to develop listeners' (& our own) thoughts around key issues affecting veganism & the animal rights movement; giving our opinions, whilst staying balanced; remaining true to our vegan ethics, whilst constantly seeking to grow & develop.Each week we home in on one topic in particular and pick it apart in more detail. If you have a suggestion for a future show, do get in touch via enoughofthefalafel@gmail.com.Enough of the Falafel is also on Facebook, Tiktok & Instagram @enoughofthefalafel.*******************Thanks everyone for listening; give us a rating and drop us a message to say "hi"; it'll make our day!Carlos, Julie & Ant

"I think that selling this idea that if you become a geoscientist in the 21st century, the frontier is not up there in the sky, but is down there underneath your feet." In this thought-provoking episode, expert geoscience communicator Iain Stewart opens our eyes to the "hidden commons" of the subsurface. Iain challenges us to rethink our relationship with the subsurface, drawing parallels between the allure of space exploration and the untapped mysteries of our planet's depths. He shares the greatest value of geoscientists and why studying geology is important. Listeners will be captivated by Iain's vision of the subsurface as a new frontier, not just for resource exploitation but as a space for sustainable development and urban innovation. From the governance of the subsurface to the emotional appeal it holds, Iain articulates the need to build empathy and understanding for this hidden realm. The conversation also tackles the geoscientist's dual role as Earth steward and resource extractor, emphasizing the importance of conveying geoscience's relevance to the public and decision-makers. Iain's expertise in geoscience communication shines as he outlines how geoscientists can contribute to pivotal issues like climate change and the energy transition. This episode will inspire and help give geoscientists a new language to talk about the importance of their work to the world.

Life has its ups and downs, its sudden successes and unexpected obstacles. But amongst all the unpredictable variation, two economists believe they have identified a deep and powerful influence on our happiness: age. Happiness, it turns out, is U shaped. Hannah Fry tells a tale of orangutans, joy and misery…and joy!Presenter: Hannah Fry Executive Producer: Martin Smith Series Producer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter Episode Producer: Ilan GoodmanA series for Radio 4 by BBC Science in Cardiff.

Thomas Herndon was happily studying economics at the University of Massachusetts, when one day is punctured by a discovery. It appears to be an anomaly which, if true, will shake the intellectual foundations of a global movement, and could undermine politicians around the world. Hannah Fry tells the extraordinary story of a student who will go head to head with two of the greatest economic minds in modern times. But can he win?Presenter: Hannah Fry Executive Producer: Martin Smith Series Producer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter Episode Producer: Lauren Armstrong-CarterA series for Radio 4 by BBC Science in Cardiff.

A young researcher gains access to a secretive data set and discovers something shocking. What happens when a system designed to help people harms them instead? Hannah Fry tells a tale about the mysterious realm of artificial intelligence.Presenter: Hannah Fry Executive Producer: Martin Smith Series Producer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter Episode Producer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter Sound Design: Clem HitchcockA series for Radio 4 by BBC Science in Cardiff.

What is the secret to ageing well? Humankind has been in search of an answer for millions of years. But one man believes he may have found the beginnings of an answer, and it's hiding in a convent.Hannah Fry tells a tale of a single scatter graph which might reveal the key to longevity.Presenter: Hannah Fry Executive Producer: Martin Smith Series Producer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter Episode Producer: Lauren Armstrong-CarterA series for Radio 4 by BBC Science in Cardiff.

2008, Hungary: a researcher stands on a factory floor quizzing a bemused employee. The tile manufacturing company is in trouble, and the researcher is there to help. But his questions seem silly: Who do you go to for advice? Who do you chat to? What use is the science of networks to a company producing floor tiles? Hannah Fry tells a tale about the precarious power of networks.Presenter: Hannah Fry Executive Producer: Martin Smith Series Producer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter Episode Producer: Ilan GoodmanA series for Radio 4 by BBC Science in Cardiff.

In 1998, the climate scientist Michael Mann published a simple graph shaped like an ice hockey stick: a long straight line which curves suddenly upward at the end. It was based on decades of intrepid work by scientists around the world. But the line held a stark warning. For Michael, notoriety, abuse and a global battle over the reality of climate change followed. Hannah Fry tells the remarkable story of the people behind the hockey stick: the scientists who scaled mountains and braved oceans in search of evidence, and the dramatic fallout when the world saw what they had found.Presenter: Hannah Fry Executive Producer: Martin Smith Series Producer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter Episode Producer: Ilan GoodmanA series for Radio 4 by BBC Science in Cardiff.

How well do you make decisions? It's never easy, but today John Carter is faced with an agonising choice and has just 60 minutes to make the right call. One path could lead to glory, while the other might result in death.Hannah Fry tells a tale of risk, decision making, and the single graph that changed it all.Presenter: Hannah Fry Executive Producer: Martin Smith Series Producer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter Episode Producer: Lauren Armstrong-CarterA series for Radio 4 by BBC Science in Cardiff.

Singapore, 2016. A high-tech driverless train system starts glitching in wild and unpredictable ways. The train company, the government, even the military are at a loss: no-one can figure out what is causing the problem. Until Jason Bay and his team of data scientists assemble an old-fashioned timetabling graph, first developed in 19th century France, which exposes an invisible culprit.Behind every line on a graph, there lies an extraordinary human story. And mathematician Hannah Fry is here to tell us ten of them. Hannah Fry tells a tale of data detectives and very naughty trains.Presenter: Hannah Fry Executive Producer: Martin Smith Series Producer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter Episode Producer: Ilan GoodmanA series for Radio 4 by BBC Science in Cardiff.

It's a hot summer's day in 1998. Two couples stand side by side in a small courtyard. Brought together by chance, they may never have met if not for one thing. A tatty piece of paper, the contents of which will change their lives, and the lives of thousands across the country, forever. Hannah Fry tells the tale of this single sheet of A4 uncovered a dark pattern and a serial murderer hiding in plain sight. A warning for sensitive listeners, that this episode contains references to murder.Presenter: Hannah Fry Executive Producer: Martin Smith Series Producer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter Episode Producer: Lauren Armstrong-CarterA series for Radio 4 by BBC Science in Cardiff.

It's 1973 and the UK is in crisis: runaway inflation, industrial strike action and political turmoil. Unnoticed at the time - in hospitals and front rooms around the country - something odd is happening with the country's newborns. A higher proportion of boys are being born than ever before in the 20th Century. What was behind this puzzling trend? Hannah Fry follows one researcher's obsessive mission to unravel the mystery.Presenter: Hannah Fry Executive Producer: Martin Smith Series Producer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter Episode Producer: Ilan GoodmanA series for Radio 4 by BBC Science in Cardiff.

In this episode, Iain Stewart, an expert in geoscience and sustainability, highlights the need for the scientific community to communicate differently to engage communities in developing sustainable climate solutions, learning to move away from the 'tell and sell' approach, to one of 'sense and respond' in order to build trust.Iain explains to host, Sue Stockdale about his latest project in northeastern Jordan, where a wetland has dried up due to climate change, and what he has learned in getting the project off the ground in the desert landscape.About Iain StewartIain Stewart is the El Hassan bin Talal Research Chair in Sustainability at the Royal Scientific Society (Jordan) and Professor of Geoscience Communication at the University of Plymouth (UK). The founding director of the University of Plymouth's ‘Sustainable Earth Institute', Iain's long-standing research interests are in disaster risk reduction, climate change, and Earth science communication.His Earth science communication work has built on a 15-year partnership with BBC Science television presenting popular documentary series, such as ‘Earth: The Power of the Planet', ‘Earth: The Climate Wars', ‘How Earth Made Us', ‘How To Grow A Planet', ‘The Rise of the Continents' and ‘Planet Oil'.Iain was also academic advisor on David Attenborough's acclaimed BBC series ‘Seven Worlds, One Planet'. Awarded an MBE for his services to geography and geology education, he was President of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, was the Communications Lead and Evidence Chair for the Scottish Government's Climate Citizen's Assembly, and is the UNESCO Chair for Geoscience and Society.Connect with Iain Stewart on Twitter and find out more at the Royal Scientific Society (Jordan).Key Quotes"Water scarcity is the number one problem here in Jordan. And I think you can't really be a geoscientist working on sustainability here and not have a project on that.""One of the solutions is empowering communities to be able to make their own adaptations.""To be able to cope with the effects of climate change I think adaptability and flexibility will be absolutely the key""Authentic listening, where you're genuinely shutting up, is something that scientists and experts don't do very well.""Some people would argue from a sustainability perspective that we should effectively stop traveling.""The worst people for traveling in terms of flights are academics and the worst academics are climate scientists.""We need to show leadership here. We need to show the motivation, the sense of purpose to be doing this.""One of the unpalatable messages is that the low carbon green energy economy is going to need more stuff. And that stuff is going to have to come from somewhere, and the place it's going to come from is the ground. And therefore, a future with less carbon in it is a future that's going to have a lot more mining in it."Partners and SupportersWe partnered with the Royal Scottish Geographical Society to bring you this series. Take a look at their Climate Solutions course, developed by leaders and experts in climate change and endorsed by the Institute of Directors.We are also supported by Squadcast –the remote recording platform which empowers podcasters by capturing high-quality audio and video conversations.Connect with us on Twitter : Facebook : Instagram : LinkedIn : Read our Impact ReportActions to take after listening to the podcastWe have created a list of questions to help you reflect on the podcast episode and what you heardSign up for our Zoom listener discussion on the topics raised in this series on Friday 21st July from 1300 to 1345hrs BST.Credits:Sound Editor: Matias de EzcurraProducer: Sue Stockdale

2023 is a crucial year for action on deforestation as Global Canopy's 9th annual Forest 500 report makes clear. It ranks the 350 companies and 150 financial institutions most exposed to tropical deforestation and demands action. In this episode the  former BBC Science editor David Shukman is joined by Global Canopy's Executive Director Niki Mardas and Forest 500 lead Emma Thomson, alongside sustainable finance consultant and member of the Kichwa people of Sarayaku,  Emil Sirén Gualinga, and the Executive Director of Business for Nature, Eva Zabey. They discuss the current realities of deforestation alongside the positive actions that can be taken to make 2023 a watershed year for deforestation.

The UK has the opportunity to access European science funding. However disagreements over the Northern Ireland protocol are preventing the UK from joining the multi billion pound Horizon Europe project which funds scientific partnerships between European institutions. BBC Science correspondent Pallab Ghosh has been following developments. Spending time in green spaces has been linked to mental and physical health benefits. But just how green is your nearest city centre? New research has ranked urban centres in the UK based on their ‘greenness' and Jake Robinson, from Flinders University in Australia, revealed who came out on top. We hear about initiatives to enhance ‘greenness' including the citizen-science led GroundsWell programme with Elly King, from the University of Liverpool, and living walls with Brenda Parker, at UCL. And from the Royal Society science book prize, we're talking sex and gender with primatologist Frans De Waal whose new book is entitled Different: What Apes Can Teach Us About Gender.

The James Webb Space Telescope is finally in business - what further treasures will it find? Also, the origins of the International Moratorium on Whaling, 40 years old this month. This week NASA invited President Joe Biden to help them publish the first of five images of full scientific value from the newest super telescope now operating a million miles away from us. It is capable of gazing as far deep into the sky as humans have ever gazed. That first image, an upgrade of one of the Hubble Telescope's "Deep Field" shots from some years ago, shows some of the oldest matter ever seen, including light distorted into smudges and whorls by the gravitational field of galaxies in line of sight from us, much nearer and younger than the light being bent around them. The other images show even more of what the telescope is capable of seeing. Dr. Stefanie Milam of Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Centre in Maryland, US and BBC Science correspondent Jonathan Amos talk to Gaia about this new, exciting phase in astronomy. This month marks 40 years since the International Whaling Commission decided to pursue a moratorium on commercial whaling. Many whales are still struggling, but scientists have seen several species recover since then. The moratorium followed campaigning in the 1970s by such groups as Greenpeace, and even the commercial success of audio recordings of humpback whales, released by Drs. Roger and Katy Payne. Greenpeace co-founder Rex Weyler describes to Gaia the motivations behind the original Save the Whale campaign, and some of his memories of intercepting a Russian whaling ship in 1975. Since 1982, cetacean science has come a long way, and scientists know far more about whale's behaviour, vulnerabilities and interaction with ocean climate and ecosystems than we did back then. Dr. Asha De Vos of the University of Western Australia describes the science, including some recent findings on the continued perils of anthropogenic noise to these giants of the deep. Presenter Gaia Vince Assistant Producer Joleen Goffin Produced by Alex Mansfield

Guest Name and Bio: Eugenia Bone Eugenia Bone is an internationally known food and science writer. Her work has appeared in many anthologies, magazines, and newspapers, including The New York Times, The National Lampoon, Saveur, Gourmet, BBC Science, and The Wall Street Journal, where she is a frequent book reviewer. She is a member of the American Society of Science Writers and former president of the New York Mycological Society. She is a member of the faculty at the New York Botanical Garden where she teaches classes on psychedelic mushrooms and mycophagy. She is the author or co-author of eight books on food and biology including the category staple Mycophilia (2011), most recently, the Fantastic Fungi Community Cookbook (December, 2021). She has been nominated for a variety of awards, including the Colorado Book Award and James Beard Award. Eugenia has been featured on many dozens of radio shows and podcasts, most recently https://www.wild-fed.com/podcast/106 and the BBC series Fungi: The New Frontier https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00132xm She has lectured widely in diverse venues like The New York Public Library, the Denver Botanical Garden, and the Reuben Museum. She is featured in the documentary directed by Louie Schwartzberg, Fantastic Fungi (2019), and in the Netflix children's show about food, Waffles + Mochi (the mushroom episode) produced by Michele Obama's Higher Ground Productions. What you will learn from this episode: 1) What are some of the possible health benefits of variousmushrooms 2) How could mushrooms help the gut microbiome 3) How to get started in foraging mushrooms 4) Why are psychedelic mushrooms becoming an important part of the conversation in health and wellness 5) What are the nutritional benefits of mushrooms How to learn more about our guest: eugeniabone.com Instagram: @eugeniagbone Please enjoy, share, rate and review our podcast and help us bring the message about precision health care to the world!

Dr. Julia Shaw wird 1987 in Köln geboren und wächst in Kanada auf. 2013 promoviert sie an der University of British Columbia in Rechtspsychologie. Mit ihrem Sachbuch-Debüt "Das trügerische Gedächtnis", das in 20 Sprachen erschien, wird sie 2016 über Nacht zum Shootingstar. Als Wissenschaftlerin ist sie in der Abteilung für Psychologie am University College London tätig, beweist sich als Bestsellerautorin und Fernsehmoderatorin für BBC Science. Ihre Kernkompetenz: Rechtspsychologie, Erinnerungsforschung und Sexualwissenschaften. 2019 erscheint ihr zweites Sachbuch "Böse: Die Psychologie unserer Abgründe". Erneut ein internationaler Bestseller. Und auch im Podcast-Game ist Sie hörbar: Neben dem BBC Podcast "Bad People" findet ihr auch den deutschsprachigen AudioNow Podcast "Böse: Der True Crime Podcast mit Jazzy Gudd und Dr. Julia Shaw". Ihr Kampf für Vielfalt und Diversität ist schon jetzt beeindruckend: Im Sommer 2022 erschien ihr drittes Buch "Bi: Vielfältige Liebe entdecken". 2017 gründete sie im Silicon Valley das Start-Up SPOT, das mithilfe von künstlicher Intelligenz gegen Diskriminierung in der Wirtschaft vorgeht. Außerdem ist sie Gründerin der Bisexual Research Group und Teil der Queer Politics an der Princeton University. Mitreißend und faktisch umwerfend: Dr. Julia Shaw. ● Feedback und Kommentare gerne an wdr2@wdr.de oder über die WDR 2 App. Von Bettina Böttinger.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been met with harsh financial sanctions. These have come from North America and Europe. The US and Canada have also banned Russian oil and gas, but Europe has found itself unable to do so - even as natural gas prices soar. The EU receives 40% of its natural gas from Russia, and for many countries, if they turn it off, the lights will go out and they'll be unable to keep themselves warm. As a result European money continues to pay Russia for its natural gas resources. This episode looks at the short term plans for European countries, dependent on Russian gas, to remove it from their energy systems and ask if this could be the perfect moment to turn away from fossil fuels, including natural gas, and turn toward a much improved renewable energy network? Presenters Jordan Dunbar and Kate Lamble are joined by: Victoria Gill, BBC Science and Climate Correspondent Simone Tagliapietra, Senior Fellow specialising in European Union climate and energy policy at think tank, Bruegel Bernice Lee, is Hoffmann Distinguished Fellow for sustainability, Chatham House Team: Producer: Dearbhail Starr Reporter: Alessia Cerantola Researcher: Natasha Fernandes & Frances Read Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Nicola Addyman Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell

This time of year many of us resolve to get back into shape. But if you are having trouble fitting into your tight jeans, it may not be your fault. Scientists now believe that willpower alone is not enough lose weight. They say success depends on your genes, hormones and psychology.A study of 75 people by BBC Science and Oxford and Cambridge Universities has looked into why one-size-fits-all diets are often not successful. The scientists divided over-eaters into three groups – people who feast, people who constantly crave food and emotional eaters. They tailored diets to the needs of each group.Feasters can't stop eating once they start. This is because they don't have the hormones that tell them when they are full. Scientists designed a diet for this group featuring high protein foods that make them feel full for a long time. This included fish, chicken, basmati rice and grains. Bread and potatoes were not allowed because they do not fill you up for long.Constant cravers always feel hungry. Scientists say that certain genes disrupt the messages the stomach sends to the brain saying it is full, meaning the cravers always feel like they need more fatty, sugary food. Dieting seven days a week is very hard for these people, so scientists put them on a normal, healthy diet five days a week, and cut their calorie intake to 800 on two days a week.Emotional eaters have got into the habit of eating whenever they feel stressed. To help them change this behaviour, scientists offered them group support in meetings and online as well as a diet. During the study, people from all three groups lost weight on the tailored diets, with feasters losing the most and constant cravers losing the least.So what about you? If any of the eating habits sound familiar, perhaps you should consider a new approach to slimming for 2015.词汇表to resolve 下决心willpower 意志力、毅力genes 基因hormone 荷尔蒙psychology 心态one-size-fits-all 一成不变的diet (n) （为减轻体重的）节食to feast 大吃大喝to crave 非常想吃（某样食物），渴望emotional 情绪化的to tailor 专为……订制protein 蛋白to disrupt 干扰、扰乱to diet （动词）节食calorie intake 卡路里的摄入habit 习惯behaviour 行为，习性

There are now a number of biological indicators for the potential development of long covid. Immunologist Onur Boyman of Zurich University Hospital and Claire Steves, Clinical Senior Lecturer at King's College London strives to tell us how pinpointing these factors is now helping in the development of strategies to predict the syndrome and prepare treatment. The James Webb telescope has reached its final orbit. The years of planning, preparation and rehearsal seem to have paid off. The telescope is now ready to begin its mission of looking back into the early universe. BBC Science correspondent Jonathan Amos has followed the mission. The widely held view that human development was propelled by our ancestors developing a taste for meat is being questioned by a new analysis of the fossil record. Paleoanthropologist Andrew Barr of George Washington University suggests part of the reason for this assumption is the sampling method, actively looking for evidence to support the hypothesis. And Michael Boudoin of Lille University has led a team of physicists who have produced the longest-lasting soap bubble ever – they managed to prevent the bubble from popping for well over a year. Also, How is a small budget pocket radio able to recreate all the atmosphere and sounds of a football match? CrowdScience listener Andy wants to know about the science enabling his radio listening, so presenter CrowdScience Geoff Marsh sets off - microphone in hand - to follow the journey of sound on the radio. Starting with the microphone, Geoff learns how acoustic energy is converted into electrical signals. Then BBC World Service presenter Gareth takes Geoff to a little-known room in the BBC called the Radio Shack. Gareth demonstrates how these electrical signals are attached to radio waves before being sent over the airwaves and they take a radio kit apart to understand how these waves are received and converted back into sound waves. Geoff talks to a speech and hearing specialist who, through the use of auditory illusions, shows Geoff that our brains are often filling in the gaps of lower quality audio. Finally, Geoff visits an acoustic lab at Salford University where he hears a demonstration of ‘object based audio'. This technology could enable us to create our own bespoke mix of dramas and sports, such as heightening the commentary sound or choosing to hear just the crowd, just by using the everyday speakers many have lying around them, such as mobile phones. (Image credit: Horacio Villalobos/Getty Images)

There are now a number of biological indicators for the potential development of long covid. Immunologist Onur Boyman of Zurich University Hospital and Claire Steves, Clinical Senior Lecturer at King's College London strives to tell us how pinpointing these factors is now helping in the development of strategies to predict the syndrome and prepare treatment The James Webb telescope has reached its final orbit. The years of planning, preparation and rehearsal seem to have paid off. The telescope is now ready to begin its mission of looking back into the early universe. BBC Science correspondent Jonathan Amos has followed the mission. The widely held view that human development was propelled by our ancestors developing a taste for meat is being questioned by a new analysis of the fossil record. Paleoanthropologist Andrew Barr of George Washington University suggests part of the reason for this assumption is the sampling method, actively looking for evidence to support the hypothesis. And Michael Boudoin of Lille University has led a team of physicists who have produced the longest-lasting soap bubble ever – they managed to prevent the bubble from popping for well over a year. (Image credit: Horacio Villalobos /Getty Images) Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Julian Siddle

Old-school journalist and founder of Future Net Zero Sumit Bose talks about what he learned from the big guns in the 90s, journalism vs hosting, fame, and why media world is shit. Highlights: “Longer you are in media, the more you realize it's shit” Wanting to be famous is the wrong motivation to get on TV Journalism is a trade you learn by doing, not by getting a qualification (aka degree) Your job is to get the most out of a person you're interviewing, not to be a star You don't need a course to be a better presenter About Sumit Sumit Bose is editor and co-founder of Energy Live News and is founder of cross-industry platform, future Net Zero. He spent twelve years at the BBC as journalist and presenter including hosting RTS award-winning BBC One prime-time current affairs programme Inside Out and as part of the reporting team. His credits include BBC News 24, Radio 5 Live, World Service Radio, BBC World TV and Channel 5. He has narrated and presented several documentaries for both TV and radio. Sumit began his career in journalism with local newspapers in Kent and Essex, having gained an NCTJ in Journalism from Cambridge University. Upon qualifying he worked for local papers in north London and Middlesex before beginning a varied freelance print career with a variety of national newspapers and magazines. From Republican terrorism to political scandals, crime, and science he excelled in original journalism across all disciplines with a track record for breaking exclusives. Among the publications he has written for are: The Independent, Times, Daily Express, Evening Standard, Daily Mail, New Scientist, GP and NME. He joined the BBC in 1993 and soon became a well-known TV and radio presenter. His career has been spent mainly in news and current affairs. From local news reporting and presenting he joined News 24 when it launched. Sumit was the head of the BBC's first journalist DV Camera unit in BBC Science. He spent two years breaking scientific stories including an exclusive 30 minute documentary. He became one of the faces of BBC Breakfast news as a reporter between 1999 and 2001. Again Sumit broke several exclusive stories including an investigation into a hospital testing fiasco and an analysis of the Human Genome Project. He became launch presenter of a ground-breaking news service on BBC Three during which time he covered the 9/11 disaster.In 2002 Sumit was chosen to be the face of the new BBC One current affairs strand Inside Out. In 2004 he joined BBC Holiday as a regular travel reporter. His easy charm and persona have made him a popular choice for hosting corporate events, especially for energy, financial, and medical professional audiences. Find out more at https://sergey-ross-podcast.pinecast.co

Does the misunderstanding of science begin in schools? Science journalist and former BBC Science correspondent, Sue Nelson visits the UK's National Space Centre to discover how space is being used to entice children into studying science. She also speaks to teachers around the world about the challenges of ensuring the next generation better understand the scientific and technological world around them. Presenter: Sue Nelson Producer: Richard Hollingham (Photo: Pupils of the Ecole Vivalys elementary school, wearing spacesuits costumes for their project Mission to Mars. Credit: Stefan Wermuth/Getty Images)

As many as 43,000 PCR tests for people living in and around the South West of England could have been wrongly returned as negative recently, thanks to a seemingly unknown error, or errors, at a laboratory near Wolverhampton. For an extraordinarily long time the mistakes went undetected, and every day many hundreds of people who really had Covid, were told they hadn't. To discuss the numbers and difficulty in calculating the full tragic consequences of the events, Marnie Chesterton speaks to Dr Deepti Gordasani of Queen Mary, University of London, and Dr Kit Yates, of Bath University. How many people may have died as a result of this? BBC Inside Science's back-of-the-envelope suggests 500-1000 preventable deaths, and counting.. As accusations of fossil fuel lobbying begin to encircle the pre-negotiations of the COP26 negotiations, we heard last week of the sad death of Dutch climate scientist Geert Jan van Oldenborgh. Listeners to BBC Science programmes will recognise his work from earlier this year, as flash floods and heatwaves ravished Europe and North America, when he and his colleagues at the World Weather Attribution Initiative were able to say unambiguously that these events could only have happened because of anthropogenic climate change. Roland Pease looks at Geert Jan's work and legacy. And the latest of the Royal Society Book Prize finalists to speak to BBC Inside Science is Stuart Ritchie, a psychologist at Kings College London. His book explores the murkier corners of science as a process. Certainly the so-called replication crisis has dogged psychological sciences for several years, but in "Science Fictions: How Fraud, Bias, Negligence, and Hype Undermine the Search for Truth" Stuart outlines quite how deep some of the flaws in the modern experimental reporting and publishing model go, and in almost all fields. However, as he explains to Marnie, there may be ways of rescuing the great achievement of the scientific method by tweaking some of our peer-review norms. Presented by Marnie Chesterton Produced by Alex Mansfield Made in association with The Open University

Across Europe, activists fearful of 5G technology have attacked phone masts. Science journalist and former BBC Science correspondent Sue Nelson teams up with science reporter Hidde Boersma in the Netherlands to find out how conspiracy theories take root and what can be done to combat them. She also hears how scientists can improve their communication and what they have learnt from debates around climate change.

On the 10th anniversary of Space Boffins, BBC Science and Space Correspondent Jonathan Amos comes aboard to celebrate Mercury 13 legend Wally Funk as she prepares to launch to space with Jeff Bezos. We also catch up on ten years of space developments, chat to ESA's project scientist for the JUICE mission to Jupiter's icy moons, Olivier Witasse, and celebrate Apollo 15 with an epic montage featuring astronaut Al Worden. Here's to the next ten years! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

On the 10th anniversary of Space Boffins, BBC Science and Space Correspondent Jonathan Amos comes aboard to celebrate Mercury 13 legend Wally Funk as she prepares to launch to space with Jeff Bezos. We also catch up on ten years of space developments, chat to ESA's project scientist for the JUICE mission to Jupiter's icy moons, Olivier Witasse, and celebrate Apollo 15 with an epic montage featuring astronaut Al Worden. Here's to the next ten years! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

On the 10th anniversary of Space Boffins, BBC Science and Space Correspondent Jonathan Amos comes aboard to celebrate Mercury 13 legend Wally Funk as she prepares to launch to space with Jeff Bezos. We also catch up on ten years of space developments, chat to ESA's project scientist for the JUICE mission to Jupiter's icy moons, Olivier Witasse, and celebrate Apollo 15 with an epic montage featuring astronaut Al Worden. Here's to the next ten years! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Siamo abituati a pensare le stagioni secondo il classico calendario delle 4 stagioni che si susseguono durante l'anno. Ma per il corpo umano vale questa suddivisione, oppure è diverso il ritmo dentro di noi? Scopriamolo con questo podcast ispirato ad un articolo di BBC Science.********Mario Alberto Catarozzo - Formatore e Business Coach professionista• https://mariocatarozzo.it | https://myp.srl• FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/MarAlbCat• LINKEDIN: https://it.linkedin.com/in/macatarozzo• TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MarAlbCat• INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/mariocatarozzo• TELEGRAM: http://t.me/COACHMAC_official• BUONGIORNO FELICITÀ: https://www.facebook.com/groups/buongiornofelicita• GIOVEDÌ IN DIRETTA:https://myp.srl/webinar/

I nostri amici a quattro zampe sono al centro di un progetto di ricerca sulla longevità. Scopriamo da questo articolo della BBC Science cosa stiamo scoprendo e come ci nostri fedeli amici ci stano aiutando a vivere meglio e più a lungo. Vi ricordo il 13 e 14 maggio ZERO PAURE e ZERO LIMITI, due seminari per scoprire noi stessi e vivere meglio.https://myp.srl/corso-formazione-professionisti/zero-paure/ https://myp.srl/corso-formazione-professionisti/zero-limiti/********Mario Alberto Catarozzo - Formatore e Business Coach professionista• https://mariocatarozzo.it | https://myp.srl• FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/MarAlbCat• LINKEDIN: https://it.linkedin.com/in/macatarozzo• TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MarAlbCat• INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/mariocatarozzo• TELEGRAM: http://t.me/COACHMAC_official• BUONGIORNO FELICITÀ: https://www.facebook.com/groups/buongiornofelicita• GIOVEDÌ IN DIRETTA:https://myp.srl/webinar/

In this episode of the Science Focus Podcast, we chat through the February 2021 issue of the magazine, which is on sale now.Managing editor Alice Lipscombe-Southwell opens the episode by telling us why it's so important artificial intelligence learns how to tell stories.Next up is editor Dan Bennett, who tells us about the world’s first airport for drones and flying cars, which is opening in Coventry, UK.Finally, commissioning editor Jason Goodyer tells about the latest developments in the study of dark matter.Let us know what you think of the episode with a review or a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.Subscribe to the Science Focus Podcast on these services: Acast, iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, OvercastListen to more episodes of the Science Focus Podcast:Hannah Fry: How much of our lives is secretly underpinned by maths?Robert Elliott Smith: Are algorithms inherently biased?Bergur Finnbogason: Project Discovery and its search for exoplanetsRitu Raman: Can you build with biology?Robin Ince: Inside the mind of a comedianFinding the fun in science – Dara Ó Briain See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Scientific publications drive science, well that's stating the obvious, isn't it, but the form and way it's processed is historic. It's historic in the sense that there are journals that are gatekeepers, their editors that are sending out submissions to reviewers, who are then providing comments, and then it's almost that it's set in stone and locked in place for the future. But there are challenges to this and one of the challenges is the focus of this episode of Stats+Short Stories with guest Alexandra Freeman. Alexandra Freeman is the Executive Director of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication, a role she took up in 2016. She previously spent 16 years working for the BBC, primarily a producer and director for BBC Science. Alexandra is passionate about bringing science to the widest possible audience. Along with working in television she has also helped develop content for computer games, social media and websites, as well as formal learning resources

Communicating risk is difficult at any time but during a pandemic, communicating risk well can be what keeps a disease from spreading, as one public health official has put it, like wildfire. During the COVID 19 pandemic, experts, journalists, and elected officials have all been working to find the most effective way to communicate risk to the public. Helping people understand their risks of infection – or of infecting others – can be the thing that gets them to follow mask mandates or other public health advisories. Effectively communicating risk in COVID 19 is the focus of this episode of Stats and Stories with guests Alexandra Freeman and Claudia Schneider Alexandra Freeman is the Executive Director of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication, a role she took up in 2016. She previously spent 16 years working for the BBC, primarily a producer and director for BBC Science. Alexandra is passionate about bringing science to the widest possible audience. Along with working in television she has also helped develop content for computer games, social media and websites, as well as formal learning resources. Claudia Schneider is a postdoctoral research associate with the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication and the Cambridge Social Decision-Making Laboratory. At the Winton Centre she studies the communication of uncertainty about evidence to various stakeholders, particularly the unquantified ‘quality of the underlying work’. Claudia received her PhD in Psychology from Columbia University and also held a graduate research scholar position at Princeton University. Her research focus lies at the intersection of decision science and applied social psychology. Her work uses a combination of methods ranging from quantitative laboratory surveys to field studies in diverse cultural and social settings.

In this episode of the Science Focus Podcast, we chat through the December 2020 issue of the magazine, which is on sale now.The issue is all about the search for extraterrestrial life, so managing editor Alice Lipscombe-Southwell starts us off by telling us about the most promising places in our Solar System to search for alien life.Commissioning editor Jason Goodyer tells us about a new drug delivery system that draws inspiration from parasitic hookworms, and then editorial assistant Amy Barrett brings us back around to ET by discussing why we want to believe in aliens.We close the podcast with details of our exciting new competition, judged by comedian and author Dara Ó Briain.Let us know what you think of the episode with a review or a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.Subscribe to the Science Focus Podcast on these services: Acast, iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, OvercastListen to more episodes of the Science Focus Podcast:The Science Focus team: What's inside November's issue?Finding the fun in science – Dara Ó BriainDr Douglas Vakoch: Should we try to contact aliens?Bergur Finnbogason: Project Discovery and its search for exoplanetsRitu Raman: Can you build with biology?Robin Ince: Inside the mind of a comedian See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Pallab Ghosh, BBC Science correspondent, discusses science journalism and the obstacles faced when there is uncertainty/ lack of trust in science.

What do we know about public trust in expert knowledge when the stakes are high and there is considerable uncertainty? This week, our host Dr Rob Doubleday sits down with Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter and Dr Alexandra Freeman of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication. In the context of the current pandemic, we discuss what research has been done on the best way to communicate evidence and uncertainty and the best way to communicate the relationship between expert advice and political decision making. CSaP's Science and Policy Podcast is a production of the Centre for Science and Policy at the University of Cambridge. This series on science, policy and pandemics is produced in partnership with Cambridge Infectious Diseases and the Cambridge Immunology Network. Our guests this week: Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter is Chair of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication at the University of Cambridge. He was Winton Professor of the Public Understanding of Risk at the University of Cambridge from 2007 to 2018. He has worked on Understanding Uncertainty, and is the acclaimed author of The Art of Statistics. He has recently been exploring the question "how much ‘normal' risk does Covid represent?", and he regularly hosts the podcast Risky Talk. Dr Alexandra Freeman is the Executive Director of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication. She previously worked for the BBC, primarily a producer and director for BBC Science. She worked on a number of popular series including "Walking with Beasts", "Trust Me I'm a Doctor" and "Climate Change by Numbers". Her work has won numerous awards, including a BAFTA and the AAAS Kavli gold award for science journalism. She has recently written about how different countries are reacting to the COVID-19 risk and their governments' responses. -- This series is hosted by CSaP Executive Director Dr Rob Doubleday, and is edited and produced by CSaP Communications Coordinator Kate McNeil. If you have feedback about this episode, or questions you'd like us to address in a future week, please email enquiries@csap.cam.ac.uk .

Five violent murders were committed by a man dubbed ‘Jack the Ripper’ between August and November 1888 in Whitechapel. Criminologist David Wilson and actor Emilia Fox, with the help of the country’s leading criminal investigators, apply the latest scientific techniques to the case in a new BBC Science documentary. We asked Wilson if they identified the killer. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The microbiome is the strange invisible world of our non human selves. On and in all of us are hoards of microbes. Their impact on our physical health is becoming clear to science, but a controversial idea is emerging too - that gut bacteria could alter what happens in our brains. In this final episode of the series BBC Science and Health correspondent James Gallagher examines a growing body of research into the gut as a gateway to the mind and why some scientists believe we could be o the cusp of a revolution in psychiatry that uses microbes to improve mental health. Illustration by Katie Horwich Producer: Adrian Washbourne

This week on How on Earth, we started speaking with Miriam Kalamian, author of the newly released Keto for Cancer. The interview starts at 11' 30", but unfortunately we lost the connection after only 5 minutes. You can link to her book at http://www.chelseagreen.com/keto-for-cancer and we will have her back to hear the full story! For the remainder of the show we linked to the BBC Science in Action segment on building proteins from novel DNA sequences. Hosts: Beth Bennett and Chip Grandis Producer: Beth Bennett Engineer: Maeve Conran Executive Producer: Beth Bennett Listen to the show:

Teams from all over the world have been looking at the differences between male and female mice. They've assessed hundreds of characteristics, from weight changes to cholesterol to blood chemistry. The surprising results show huge differences between the sexes, which have great repercussions for drug development which mostly uses male mice, and humans, for testing. Medicines may be less effective in females, or have greater side-effects, due to the extent of genetic differences being found between the sexes. Adam talks to one of the authors, Prof Judith Mank from University College London. Three global engineering technologies are in the running for this year's coveted MacRobert Award, the UK's top innovation prize. Adam Rutherford talks to judge Dr Dame Sue Ion to find out more about each of the finalists - Darktrace, Raspberry Pi and Vision RT. Urban bats are getting smart - sensors newly installed at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford are using machine learning algorithms to recognise and record the different colonies that emerge after dark. One in five mammal species are bats, and they are often used as an indicator to measure the health of our environment. BBC Science reporter Helen Briggs talks to Prof Kate Jones and the team involved in creating and installing these hi-tech bat phones. Anthony Warner is a chef. And he's angry. With a background in biochemistry he's pledged to fight fad diets, bogus nutritional advice and celebrity food nonsense wherever he finds it. From Clean Eating to the Paleo Diet, he busts some diet myths for us, and explains why we've unfairly demonised ingredients like gluten. Presenter: Adam Rutherford Assistant Producer: Caroline Steel Producer: Michelle Martin.

This show was recorded INSIDE BBC Broadcasting House in Central London interviewing the amazing Bill Thompson for a second time. We talk about digital transformation, digital rights, security of data and reputation. Recorded live on the studio floor of the BBC Science team responsible for BBC Click.

The wistful understanding of the transience of life... Alex and Gavin discuss: The hunt for a personal truth in the larger body of one's work.  Shooting exclusively on film.  'Thin Places'.  The way a photograph should be consumed.  The strange interplay between seemingly unrelated work.  Gavin Maxwell is a leading film-maker and photographer who has spent over 20 years making natural history, anthropological and environmental programmes for the BBC Natural History Unit and BBC Science. His Wild China and Japan: Earth’s Enchanted Islands programmes have been viewed by millions of people worldwide.  Gavin has also co-written two books for Random House, and lectured at the Royal Geographical Society in the UK and abroad. This year one of his large format film photographs of a human skeleton is a finalist Royal Photographic Society International Print competition. Gavin's website is www.gcmaxwell.com

Why the expansion of the paleolithic brain was powered by cooked carbohydrates. Gareth Mitchell talks to Professor of Evolutionary Genetics, Mark Thomas, about the difficulties of establishing what our ancestors ate. More than half the world's corals grow in deep, cold waters, many around the shores of the British Isles. But a new study shows they are under severe threat from ocean acidification caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide. Gareth talks to Professor of Marine Biology, Murray Roberts, from Heriot Watt University about why these corals could all be gone by the end of the 21st century. This week's short-listed Royal Society Winton Prize book is Life's Greatest Secret: The Race to Crack the Genetic Code. Marnie Chesterton talks to the author Matthew Cobb. BBC Science and environment reporter, Jonathan Webb, joins Gareth from the American Chemical Society meeting in Boston to talk about why the grime on buildings could be a new source of air pollution and why carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could be used to make carbon fibres.

Adam Rutherford talks to Emily Holmes from the Medical Research Council’s Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge, about two new studies on preventing intrusive memories. She discusses why stopping someone from sleeping after seeing a lab based film of traumatic events like a news reel or car crash may actually stop people from forming intrusive memories about those films. This offers an intriguing insight in to the role that sleep has in consolidating intrusive and possibly traumatic memories. She also explains how if memories of a traumatic event are laid down, why playing a computer game like Tetris could disrupt that memory and stop it from becoming intrusive. Silent Aircraft: The Davies report recently recommended a new, third runway should be built at Heathrow airport but as flight numbers increase how quiet can planes of the future become? Adam talks to Jeremy Astley from Southampton University and Michael Carley from Bath University about where the noise in jet engines comes from, how engineering can make them quieter and will the silent aircraft initiative ever make a truly silent aircraft. Nuclear Fusion. For decades scientists have tried to harness the power of the Sun to smash atomic nuclei together to create a clean, limitless energy source from nuclear fusion. Marnie Chesterton talks to scientists from Tokomak energy about their new design for a Tokomak machine that has already exceeded previous records. Could it be a vital step forward in the quest for nuclear fusion on Earth? New Horizons: On 14th July 2015 the spaceship, New Horizons will complete its 10 year mission to flyby Pluto. BBC Science correspondent Jonathan Amos gives Adam a preview and tells him why he's so excited about the mission and what they hope to discover about the darker regions of our Solar System.

It is the nearest and most dominant object in our night sky, and has inspired artists, astronauts and astronomers. But fundamental questions remain about our only natural satellite. Where does the Moon come from? Although humans first walked on the Moon over four decades ago, we still know surprisingly little about the lunar body's origin. Samples returned by the Apollo missions have somewhat confounded scientists' ideas about how the Moon was formed. Its presence is thought to be due to another planet colliding with the early Earth, causing an extraordinary giant impact, and in the process, forming the Moon. But, analysing chemicals in Apollo's rock samples has revealed that the Moon could be much more similar to Earth itself than any potential impactor. Geochemist Professor Alex Halliday of the University of Oxford, and Dr Jeff Andrews-Hanna, Colorado School of Mines – who is analysing the results from Nasa's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) lunar mission – discuss the theories and evidence to-date. Are we Going Back? Settling the question of the Moon's origin seems likely to require more data – which, in turn, requires more missions. BBC Science correspondent Jonathan Amos tells us about the rationale and future prospects for a return to the Moon, including the Google Lunar XPrize. As the Moon's commercial prospects are considered, who controls conservation of our only natural satellite? If commerce is driving a return to the Moon, who owns any resources that may be found in the lunar regolith? Dr Saskia Vermeylen of the Environment Centre at Lancaster University is researching the legality of claiming this extra-terrestrial frontier. (Photo: Presenter Lucie Green. BBC copyright)

It's the nearest and most dominant object in our night sky, and has inspired artists, astronauts and astronomers. But fundamental questions remain about our only natural satellite. Where does the Moon come from? Although humans first walked on the Moon over four decades ago, we still know surprisingly little about the lunar body's origin. Samples returned by the Apollo missions have somewhat confounded scientists' ideas about how the Moon was formed. Its presence is thought to be due to another planet colliding with the early Earth, causing an extraordinary giant impact, and in the process, forming the Moon. But, analysing chemicals in Apollo's rock samples has revealed that the Moon could be much more similar to Earth itself than any potential impactor. Geochemist Professor Alex Halliday of the University of Oxford, and Dr Jeff Andrews-Hanna, Colorado School of Mines - who is analysing the results from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) lunar mission - discuss the theories and evidence to-date. Are we going back? Settling the question of the Moon's origin seems likely to require more data - which, in turn, requires more missions. BBC Science correspondent Jonathan Amos tells us about the rationale and future prospects for a return to the Moon, including the Google Lunar XPrize. As the Moon's commercial prospects are considered, who controls conservation of our only natural satellite? If commerce is driving a return to the Moon, who owns any resources that may be found in the lunar regolith? Dr Saskia Vermeylen of the Environment Centre at Lancaster University is researching the legality of claiming this extra-terrestrial frontier. Producer: Jen Whyntie.

Documentaries are all about storytelling and scripting in the beginning will give you a good plan, allowing you to work out the shots you want to get as well as shape the programme during the production process. Of course, the script may change shape during the production – you never know what may happen on a shoot – but as our panel discuss, being prepared while allowing for some flexibility can bring your story together and keep the production on track. The panel share their thoughts on the process of scripting, and how setting the tone and style for the programme early on can have a huge impact on how the production progresses and help avoid last minute changes in the edit. They discuss how scripts may differ according to the channel airing your programme and how the genre will also affect how the script is constructed. The panel also look at how the presenter can shape the development of the script, bringing in their own immediate expertise and enthusiasm to the story as opposed to narrating events after the fact. Andrew Thompson is the series producer for the acclaimed BBC Science production Operation Iceberg. He has mainly worked on science documentaries, with previous credits including The Cell, How to Grow a Planet and Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives. Lizzie Faulkner is an experienced series producer and producer director, producing factual programmes for a number of channels including The Guest Wing for Sky Atlantic and Litter Vigilantes for BBC One, as well as a number of programmes for Irish broadcaster RTE. Charles Colville has also worked on science documentaries, including Horizon and The Incredible Human Journey, but now is a producer of history programmes for BBC Factual. He’s worked on The Normans and is currently working on a one hour special on Thomas Cromwell.

More from the series where broadcasters follow their personal passions by talking to the people whose stories interest them most. Since his daughter was born five years ago, BBC Science correspondent Pallab Ghosh has been fascinated by the way father-daughter relationships work. In the second of a two part series, he talks to Julie White, CEO of a diamond drilling company, about her relationship with her father, who sold the company to her in 2008. Producer: Sally Heaven.

BBC Science's Andrew Thompson, Charles Colville, producer for BBC Factual, and Lizzie Faulkner, series producer for Sky Atlantic, BBC One and RTE, join Hazel Marshall to discuss scriptwriting for factual television.