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12 episodes with Mark Miodownik
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3 episodes with Mark Miodownik
3 episodes with Mark Miodownik
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In this OODAcast episode, host Matt Devost sits down with Maxie Reynolds, author of The Art of the Attack, to explore the evolution of her unique career from offshore oil rigs to elite red teaming and cybersecurity innovation. Maxie shares how her unconventional path, working a decade in oil and gas, earning degrees while on remote rigs, and eventually breaking into cybersecurity at PwC, shaped her approach to physical and digital security. Her journey led to the creation of a company that builds underwater data centers, a novel fusion of her industrial and red teaming experiences. She discusses the rising interest in submerged infrastructure, particularly after China's moves in the space and the demands of modern AI-driven cooling systems. The conversation dives deep into what it means to adopt an "attacker mindset", seeing opportunities where others see obstacles and using architecture, human psychology, and environment as vectors for access. Maxi outlines how her social engineering engagements hinge on understanding perception, psychology, and pretext creation rather than just technical exploits. She offers real-world stories of infiltrating secure facilities and engaging high-stakes targets using layered personas and misdirection. Through it all, she emphasizes the role of self-awareness, stress management, and emotional discipline in high-pressure operations, often drawing parallels between red teaming and stoicism. Maxie and Matt also examine how to responsibly deliver red team results to leadership, balancing candor with empathy to ensure organizations grow stronger without shame or defensiveness. They reflect on the future of AI in security, the persistence of physical threats, and the irreplaceable value of human judgment. The episode wraps with a powerful reading list and a shared love of books, highlighting titles that explore geopolitics, materials science, and the ungoverned world of the open ocean. This episode is packed with insight, storytelling, and practical wisdom for cybersecurity professionals, technologists, and leaders looking to understand how adversaries think—and how to outsmart them. Additional Links: The Art of Attack: Attacker Mindset for Security Professionals by Maxie Reynolds Maxie on Twitter/X Book Recommendations: How the World Really Works: The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We're Going by Vaclav Smil The Outlaw Ocean: Journeys Across the Last Untamed Frontier by Ian Urbina Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World by Tim Marshall Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology by Chris Miller Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World by Mark Miodownik
Everywhere we look we're surrounded by materials of all kinds – from the fabrics we use to make our clothing, to the bricks and mortar we use to build our homes and places of work, to the complex transistors and circuits we use to build our digital devices. Life as we known it simply wouldn't be possible without them. But what will the materials of the future look like? In this episode, we catch up with Mark Miodownik, professor of materials and society based at University College London, best-selling author and veteran presenter of many BBC television and radio science documentaries. He tells us how the advent of materials such as paper, bronze and ceramics transformed early humans into a truly technological species, how nano-machines are already showing promising results in several areas of medicine, and how we may one day be living in buildings that can generate their own electricity and repair themselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Welcome to the AMSE Science Report. Today we speak with Mark Miodownik about his terrific book, It's a Gas: The Magnificent and Elusive Elements that Expand Our World. A fascinating conversation began by asking a very basic question – what is a gas?
The wetness of water seems blindingly obvious - but dive into the science and things aren't so clear. CrowdScience listeners Rachel and Callum were washing their hands one day and it got them thinking about wetness. Why does water feel the way it does? And what makes a liquid wet? To find out, presenter Anand Jagatia takes a closer look at the behaviour of liquids with materials scientist Mark Miodownik, and finds out why they might not be as wet as we think. We learn what's really behind the sensation of feeling something wet on your skin, with the help of physiologist Davide Filingeri and PhD student Jade Ward. And we turn to a philosopher, Vanessa Seifert, and a chemist, Tim Neudecker, to puzzle out exactly how many water molecules you need before the property of wetness emerges. Presenter: Anand Jagatia Producer: Anand Jagatia Editor: Cathy Edwards Production Co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano Studio Manager: Bob Nettles and Andrew Garratt(Image: A photo of a droplet falling into a body of water Credit: Flaviu Cernea / 500pxvia Getty Images)
Free Thinking looks at today's world with "a pinch of salt" tonight. From stories in the bible to desalination plants, preserving food to salt taxes: how does salt help us think about the past and present? We use phrases like "being worth your salt" or "dropping salt" meaning to spread rumours. With food writer Bee Wilson, materials scientist Mark Miodownik, the novelist and writer on folklore Zoe Gilbert and artist David Soin Tappeser. Plus, especially salty guest Baga Chipz. Matthew Sweet hosts.David Soin Tappeser, along with Himali Singh Soin, is one half of Hylozoic/Desires, whose exhibition Salt Cosmologies is at Somerset House in London until the 27th April.Producer: Luke Mulhall
Materials scientist and BBC presenter Dr. Mark Miodownik joins AMSEcast to discuss his latest book, It's a Gas. He explores the hidden world of gases, from steam's role in electricity production to methane's surprising history. The conversation spans George Washington's scientific curiosity, oxygen's life-saving importance, and the chemistry of scent. Mark also unpacks the science of hot air and hydrogen balloons, noble gases, and carbon capture technology's potential to combat climate change. Looking ahead, he envisions a future of sustainable materials and repairable goods. Guest Bio Dr. Mark Miodownik is a professor of materials and society at University College London where he directs the Institute of Making and founded the Plastic Waste Innovation Hub. With a PhD from Oxford in turbine jet engine alloys, he has worked as a materials engineer across the UK, US, and Ireland. A passionate science communicator, Mark presents BBC programs and podcasts, and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Awarded an MBE for his contributions to materials science and broadcasting, he's also the bestselling author of Stuff Matters, Liquid Rules, and his latest book, It's a Gas. Show Highlights (2:57) Why steam gas is still important for life in the 21st century (4:24) What natural gas is and how it was eventually harnessed (8:28) George Washington's experiments with natural gas (10:02) The importance of oxygen and how it's produced and distributed (14:32) How oxygen is distributed in hospitals (17:47) How scented gases are created, captured and distributed as perfumes (23:38) How hot air ballooning got started and how it works (29:05) The role noble gases play in our daily lives and how they were discovered (32:33) Strategies for capturing carbon dioxide (38:36) Which form of gas technology Mark thinks has had the biggest effect on civilization (41:16) What Dr. Mark Miodownik is working on next Links Referenced Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials that Shape Our Man-Made World: https://www.amazon.com/Stuff-Matters-Exploring-Marvelous-Materials/dp/0544483944 Liquid Rules: The Delightful and Dangerous Substances that Flow Through Our Lives: https://www.amazon.com/Liquid-Rules-Delightful-Dangerous-Substances/dp/0358108454 It's a Gas: The Sublime and Elusive Elements that Expand Our World: https://www.amazon.com/Its-Gas-Sublime-Elusive-Elements/dp/0358157153 Mark's website: https://markmiodownik.net
Part 1:We talk with Alec McGillis, reporter for ProPublica.We discuss the Ohio school system, where tax money has been redirected to private and religious schools. These are not always providing the education that students actually need, but serve to push an agenda for the far right. The tool used is universal school vouchers. This is also true for eleven other states, and likely to increase.Part 2:We talk with Prof. Mark Miodownik, of the University College in London. He is a professor of Material and Society.We discuss the use of plastics in our current environment. Plastics are extremely useful and have contributed much to human society. However, we often do not think about what happens to plastics and other products after their first use. Humans dispose of these products in unsustainable ways. "We are filling up the oceans with plastic." We can reduce waste in different ways. We discuss how this can be done. WNHNFM.ORG productionMusic: David Rovics, "Time to Act", for Will Von Sproson
Our love affair with plastic has grown beyond all expectations since we were first introduced to the substance in the mid 20th century, and the rate at which we're using it shows no sign of slowing. But the tidal wave of plastic pollution we've unleashed is causing serious environmental problems. In this programme, Helen Czerski and Tom Heap hear how some of our plastic waste is burnt in incinerators or sent overseas, causing pollution far from our shores. In their search for solutions, they visit the Plastic Waste Innovation Hub at University College London, where Professor Mark Miodownik shows them how science is trying to keep up with the proliferation of plastic pollution. Back in the studio, they're joined by Professor Steve Fletcher from the University of Portsmouth, Sally Beken from Innovate UK, and environmental journalist Leana Hosea from Watershed Investigations, to talk about how we got here and how we can change our relationship with plastic. In the 2000s the amount of plastic waste generated rose more in a single decade than it had in the previous forty years. It's in everything - from our clothes, cars and cosmetics, to the 2.5 billion disposable drinks cups now discarded every year in the UK. It seems we can't live without it. So Helen and Tom ask: who's in charge now - us or plastic? Producer: Emma CampbellProduced in association with the Open University
Send us a textIn this episode, we dive into a world full of stuff. And no, we're not just talking about your junk drawer! From razors and plastics to glass and yes ‘Delicious' chocolate too, there's so much science behind the everyday materials we take for granted.In his NY Times Bestselling book “Stuff Matters,” materials scientist Mark Miodownik reveals how mundane items are steeped in a rich scientific history. How human ingenuity, perseverance, and good 'ole luck got us things from hot chocolate to 3D printing of body parts and everything in between. If you've ever wondered about the story behind all the stuff around you, this book is a must-read. Whether it's the paper you're scribbling on or the stainless steel keeping your kitchen shiny, "Stuff Matters" will make you appreciate all the science that goes unnoticed in your daily life.Tune in to this book review, recommended for curious minds, chocolate lovers, and anyone who's ever pondered the significance of all our stuff.If you enjoyed this episode, you'll also enjoy:Ep 32: We Love Birds Too - Book ReviewEp 22: The Science Behind Baking with Yeast - A Food Science ShortEp 38: The Secret Behind CRISPR Gene Editing Support the Podcast: WeLoveSciencePodcast.com Reach out to Fatu:www.linkedin.com/in/fatubmTwitter: @thee_fatu_band LoveSciencePodcast@gmail.com Reach out to Shekerah:www.linkedin.com/in/shekerah-primus and LoveSciencePodcast@gmail.com Music from Pixabay: Future Artificial Intelligence Technology 130 by TimMoorMusic from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes: Hotshot by ScottHolmesMusic
Some very popular drinks turn out to be really bad for your teeth. This episode begins with that list of drinks, what they do to your teeth and some strategies to help you minimize the damage if you are going to drink them. https://news.uthscsa.edu/more-u-s-teeth-susceptible-to-silent-enamel-eating-syndrome/ We are surrounded by gases - oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, natural gas, steam. Gases are everywhere. They fill our lungs, power our movement, create stars, and warm our atmosphere. As important as they are (we wouldn't be here without them) they are the least understood materials in our world. But you are about to understand them much better as you listen to my guest, Mark Miodownik. He is a professor of materials and society at University College London and author of the book It's A Gas: The Sublime and Elusive Elements That Expand Our World (https://amzn.to/3XDpcjX). People often say they are addicted to their phones or to shopping, or to social media or that their kids are addicted to video games. But are these things really addictions or just something to do when you have time to kill? What's the harm of scrolling through social media or playing Candy Crush, or going shopping even if you don't really need anything? That is what Talitha Fosh is here to discuss. Talitha is a psychotherapist who works primarily with addiction and she is author of the book, Hooked: Why we are addicted and how to break free (https://amzn.to/3XDW8sq). You should wear shoes when you drive. But not just any shoes. Some shoes are well-suited for driving and others are potentially quite dangerous. And what about driving barefoot? Listen as I sort this all out and tell you which shoes are the best to wear when you drive. https://www.rd.com/list/shoes-shouldnt-wear-driving/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Brian Cox and Robin Ince talk hot air as they explore the pivotal role of gasses in our lives. Joining them to add some Co2 to the mix is material scientist Mark Miodownik, chemist Lucy Carpenter and comedian Dave Gorman. They discuss how humans came to even understand it existed in the first place as well as how many of the innovations in modern society have been underpinned by this mostly invisible and odourless substance. We laud the humble (or is it noble) gas and its key role in technological innovation - from using laughing gas in anaesthesia to the combustion engine and of course the most important of all, the power source behind squirty cream. Producer: Melanie Brown Exec Producer: Alexandra Feachem BBC Studios Audio production
Mark Miodownik is the materials scientist and engineer whose new book is It's a Gas: The Magnificent and Elusive Elements that Expand Our World. The book is an exploration of that most ethereal of material states – gas – that can be as light as a substance to make us laugh or hang as heavy as one of the roots of the carbon-fuelled climate crisis. Miodownik is Professor of Materials and Society at University College London and he is also Director of the Institute of Making. Joining him to discuss the book is Alex Wilkins, reporter for New Scientist. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/IS for £100 sponsored credit. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all of our longer form interviews and Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events - Our member-only newsletter The Monthly Read, sent straight to your inbox ... Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series ... Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. ... Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
As the sun sets on the longest day of the year, Matthew Sweet talks to an eclectic group of guests about the illusion of time, the summer solstice and the philosophy of comedy. They are: Materials scientist & engineer; Director of the UCL Institute of Making; Author of Stuff Matters and other book Mark Miodownik. Philosopher Emily Herring who is about to publish the first English biography of the french philosopher Henri Bergson who was famous for his theory of time as well as his views on the meaning of comedy. Emily's book Herald of a Restless World: How Henri Bergson Brought Philosophy to the People is out in October. Comedian Rob Newman who made his name with the Mary Whitehouse Experience in the 90s and has presented two series on BBC Radio 4 including Rob Newman's Half-full Philosophy Hour. Also Professor of theoretical physics at Imperial College London Fay Dowker who is an expert in Causal Set Theory and Quantum Relativity. And Author K A Laity will talk about the Women in Magick Conference being held in Birmingham this weekend. Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Hydrogen has long been touted as a potential wonder gas that could play a significant role in our race to net zero. Now, planning permission has been granted for the UK's largest production hub of its kind, and one of the most advanced in the world. Located in Cheshire, it bills itself as a vital piece of Northwest England's mission to help manufacturers in the region decarbonise their processes and support UK jobs. We speak to chemical engineer and the plant's site manager, Richard Holden, and we also catch up with Mark Miodownik, Professor of Materials and Society at University College London, about hydrogen and our future energy economy. Almost 25 years ago, Dr Marc Lammers stumbled across a mystery. The humpback whale singing he was recording via an underwater microphone near the shore was quieter during the day than at night. But he wasn't able to answer why. Many years later, a PhD student, Anke Kuegler, joined his research team and took on the task of uncovering what was really going on. Using multiple ways of listening to and tracking the whales, she found out that the singing humpbacks were moving off-shore during the day, and closer to shore at night. Part of the mystery was solved, but it raised an even bigger question: what is driving this behaviour? Plus, a recent study has shown that terrestrial hermit crabs around the world are using non-organic materials, like plastic bottle caps, as their homes. Professor Marta Szulkin and her team at the University of Warsaw looked through social media photographs and videos (known as iEcology, or Internet Ecology) to find evidence for this new behaviour. Marta has theories about why the crabs are doing this, but it will take many years of research to uncover the long-term effects on hermit crab populations and their evolutionary trajectory. And, resident materials expert, Mark Miodownik, chats to Viv about what we can, and cannot, solve about the global plastic emergency. Presenter: Victoria Gill Producers: Florian Bohr, Louise Orchard Editor: Martin Smith Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth BBC Inside Science is produced in collaboration with the Open University.
Should CERN be spending $17 billion on a new atom smasher whilst we face, climate change, the most pressing crisis of our time? Materials-turned environmental scientist Mark Miodownik and CERN physicist Kate Shaw debate the issue. One of the issues Mark argues more people should be tackling are the climate change driven forest fires which recently ravaged Chile and killed more than 100 people. Chilean climate scientist Raul Cordero discusses the factors which led to the devastating fires. And NASA physicist and oceanographer Susanne Craig explains their freshly launched satellite PACE, which hopes to get a better picture of our changing oceans and use this information to tackle climate change. A quest NASA manages to achieve whilst also trying to answer the big questions about our universe. Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Ella Hubber Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth(Image: Firefighters work at the Botanical Garden after a forest fire in Viña del Mar, Chile, on February 4, 2024. Credit: JAVIER TORRES/AFP via Getty Images)
The humble plastic bag is actually a marvel of engineering: it is cheap, light, strong, waterproof and it has conquered the world. In countries where plastic bags have been banned, they are still being smuggled in. The environmental pollution and other problems that discarded plastic can cause has made it a focus of passionate debate. But is plastic really the problem or is it our increasing use of disposable and single-use items? The popularity of disposable products predates the invention of the plastic bag in the 1960s or even the advent of Western consumer society in the aftermath of the Second World War. And in the last three decades, so many new single-use items have been produced that we increasingly cannot imagine our lives without them, and not just in the festive season. So what is the way forward?Iszi Lawrence talks about all manner of disposable and single-use objects with Jennifer Argo, Professor of Marketing at the School of Business, Alberta University; Mark Miodownik, Professor of Materials & Society at University College London; Katherine Grier, Professor Emerita of History at the University of Delaware and founder of the online Museum of Disposability; space archaeologist Dr. Alice Gorman from Flinders University in Australia and listeners from around the world.(Photo: Digital image of plastic waste and a city skyline. Credit: Andriy Onufriyenko/Getty Images)
We humans depend on the Earth's natural resources for our very existence so it's vital that we take as good care of them as we can. However, it's abundantly clear that the environment isn't in great shape at the moment. In this special six-part series we explore the different factors affecting the sustainability of our natural resources, investigate what their current state is and discuss what we could be doing to take better care of them. And in this episode, we're delving into the biggest myths of biodegradability, which itself is actually a rather misleading term. To debunk the biggest biodegradability mistruths we're joined by Mark Miodownik, a professor of materials science at University College London, and author of Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Quinto episodio de Dietario Disperso, un viaje por la semana gastropolítica de Maxi Guerra. Jueves 25/5 - Dabbawalas: los mejores repartidores de comida del mundo Citas: Trailer de la película The Lunchbox (2013) Música: The Kinks, Satyayit Ray Viernes 26/5 - La parte de los ángeles Citas: Extracto de Looking For Eric (2009) y The angel's share (2012), ambas dirigidas por Ken Loach. Su nueva película se titula The Old Oak. Gracias al sommelier Liber Pisciottano por Música: The Proclaimers Sábado 27/5 - El color natural de la zanahoria Citas: Cromorama, Riccardo Falcinelli Música: Bob Marley, Maximiliano Martínez Domingo 28/5 - La masacre del perejil Citas: El banquete de los dictadores, Victoria Clark y Melissa Scott; extractos del trailer del documental Perejiles (2009), Dir. por Federico González Rejón Música: Andrés Calamaro, Esther Abrami Lunes 29/5 - Debimos ser felices Citas: Debimos ser felices, Rafaela Lahore. Gracias a la autora por la lectura de dos de sus capítulos. Música: Marc Ribot Martes 30/5 - La comida real de Martin Parr Cita: Martin Parr, Val Williams; Real Food, Martin Parr Música: Blur, Chris Haugen, Maximiliano Martínez Miércoles 31/5 - Chocolate, un Dios oscuro Citas: Cosas (y) Materiales, Mark Miodownik, Biografía del hambre, Amèlie Nothomb Música: Serge Gainsbourg Dietario Disperso es un podcast semanal escrito y narrado por Maxi Guerra. El diseño de portada es de Pablo Corrado . Pueden suscribirse y activar las notificaciones en el canal Gastropolítica y enterarse de novedades en la cuenta @gastro_politica de twitter e instagram. También pueden escuchar la primera temporada completa de la serie Gastropolítica y sus episodios extra. Grazie mille.
A new study published in the British Medical Journal suggests monkey pox might be passed from person to person before symptoms show. Esther Freeman, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School and Director of Global Health Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital, has been following the current wave of transmission and gives us her analysis of this latest finding, The COP 27 climate summit kicks off next week. To discuss some of the issues we are joined by Simon Lewis, Professor of global change science at University College London and Swenja Surminski, Professor in Practice at the Grantham Research Institute and a member of the UK's Committee on Climate Change. Mark Miodownik, the UCL Professor of Materials & Society, tell us the results of his citizen science project looking at composting plastics. And from the short list for the Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize, we hear from Professor Rose Anne Kenny on her book Age Proof: The New Science of Living a Longer and Healthier Life.
'What is the slipperiest thing in the world?' asks 8 year old Evelyn? 'Why do my feet slip on a wet floor but when my feet are even slightly moist it's nearly impossible to put on a pair of socks without falling over and cursing the universe. What is going on here?' asks Evelyn's Dad, Sam. Hannah and Adam investigate the science of friction and lubrication - so called 'tribology' with the help of tribologists and mechanical engineers Professor Ashlie Martini from California University Merced and Professor Roger Lewis from the University of Sheffield. With their help Hannah and Adam find out why leaves on the line are so slippery, what happens to graphite in space and what is the slipperiest food. Professor of Materials, Mark Miodownik from University College London explains what's going on when friction stops two materials sliding past each other and wonders whether the slipperiest substance was actually discovered accidentally in a lab by scientists looking for something completely different. Also in the programme why the ability to reduce friction, even by minuscule amounts could have a huge impact for sustainability and reducing energy use. Producers: Jen Whyntie and Pamela Rutherford
Ryan Takaba is a material artist whose sculptures, tableaux, and installations are centered around a study of scientific reason and the power of belief, incorporating thematic materials -flowers, ash, wax, and water. He exhibits his work throughout the United States and has participated in residencies at the European Ceramic Work Center -Netherlands, The Pottery Workshop in Jingdezhen -China, and was awarded a residency through Blue Star Contemporary to live and work at Kunstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin -Germany. He earned an MFA in Ceramics from Kent State University and a BFA in Ceramics from the University of Hawaii. Ryan currently lives and works in San Antonio, Texas. The books mentioned in the interview are Stuff Matters by Mark Miodownik and The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean. The Atlantic article mentioned can be read here. A Relationship with Flight 2020-2021 Glassine Paper, Ivory Roses, Basswood, Incense Ash, Helium, Latex, Pillar Wax, Wick, Steel 235” * 341” * 120” A Relationship with Flight 2020-2021 Glassine Paper, Ivory Roses, Basswood, Incense Ash, Helium, Latex, Pillar Wax, Wick, Steel 235” * 341” * 120”
Do we have the right to repair all of our appliances, appliances and things we purchase to help us through life? In this podcast, Helen talks to Mark Miodownik and he thinks we do and is very passionate about the subject. And it would appear he isn't the only one. Professor Mark Miodownik, University College London. https://mecheng.ucl.ac.uk/people/profile/professor-mark-miodownik/ https://iris.ucl.ac.uk/iris/browse/profile?upi=MMIOD11 http://www.markmiodownik.net/ The BBC Radio 4 series we mentioned is here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000vgh9/episodes/player Mark is @markmiodownik on twitter There are four reasons to go to www.fullycharged.show. Fully Charged Live tickets, local and International event tickets are available there. If you are looking for wonderful suppliers and firms that pass the strict Fully Charged guidelines for sustainability and technology, check them out on our fabulous A-Z guide. Merchandise - We have a brand new selection of sustainable merch on there to. And don't worry all sales profits go straight back into making the show better. Lastly, Patreon - a huge thank you to all our Patreon supporters, without your help we simply wouldn't be able to keep you informed with all our content we make. So if you would like to support us, Patreon might be a good fit. But as always no pressure to do so. So if you have been, thank you for listening.
'What is the slipperiest thing in the world?' asks 8 year old Evelyn? 'Why do my feet slip on a wet floor but when my feet are even slightly moist it's nearly impossible to put on a pair of socks without falling over and cursing the universe. What is going on here?' asks Evelyn's Dad, Sam. Hannah and Adam investigate the science of friction and lubrication - so called 'tribology' with the help of tribologists and mechanical engineers Professor Ashlie Martini from California University Merced and Professor Roger Lewis from the University of Sheffield. With their help Hannah and Adam find out why leaves on the line are so slippery, what happens to graphite in space and what is the slipperiest food. Professor of Materials, Mark Miodownik from University College London explains what's going on when friction stops two materials sliding past each other and wonders whether the slipperiest substance was actually discovered accidentally in a lab by scientists looking for something completely different. Also in the programme why the ability to reduce friction, even by minuscule amounts could have a huge impact for sustainability and reducing energy use. Producers: Jen Whyntie and Pamela Rutherford
Mark Miodownik, explores the environmental consequences of the throwaway society we have become and reveals that recycling electronic waste comes second to repairing broken electronics. He asks what we can learn from repair cultures around the world , he looks at manufacturers who are designing in repair-ability, and discovers the resources available to encourage and train the next generation of repairers. Image: Teen boy solders wires to build robot, Credit: SDI Productions/Getty Images Producer: Fiona Roberts
Many electronics manufacturers are making it harder for us, to fix our broken kit. There are claims that programmed obsolescence is alive and well, with mobile phone batteries designed to wear out after just 400 charges. They claim it's for safety or security reasons, but it pushes constant replacement and upgrades. But people are starting to fight back. Mark Miodownik talks to the fixers and repairers who are heading up the Right to Repair movement which is forcing governments to act, and making sustainability and value for money part of the consumer equation. Producer: Fiona Roberts (Photo: A pile of discarded computer circuit board. Credit: Tara Moore/Getty Images)
Materials engineer Professor Mark Miodownik looks back to the start of the electronics revolution to find out why our electronic gadgets and household goods are less durable and harder to repair now. As he attempts to fix his digital clock radio, he reveals that the drive for cheaper stuff and advances in design and manufacturing have left us with a culture of throwaway technology and mountains of electronic waste. Image: Apron housewife at kitchen dish washer, Credit: George Marks/Getty Images Producer: Fiona Roberts
Our lives are shaped by materials. And there's no better place to see that reflected than in our homes. Glass windows revolutionized the comfort and safety of our houses. Stainless steel modernized our kitchens and even made our food taste more delicious. Host Kevin O'Connor explores the materials that surround us with Mark Miodownik, Professor of Materials and Society, and author of “Stuff Matters.” What are the most influential materials in our homes and will we really be able to change a room's color with the push of a button? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Scientists are now looking at the question of third doses of vaccines against SARS-Cov2, and this week the Cov-Boost trial was launched. It's being run from University of Southampton and is going to be using seven different vaccines, some at half doses, in people over the age of 30 who were early recipients of their two doses. The Chief Investigator, immunologist Professor Saul Faust explains the aims of the trial. Once we've breathed the coronavirus into our lungs, how does it spread through our bodies, despite our immune defences? Remarkably, scientists have managed to film the virus in the act of infecting lung cells and spreading between them. They then added some antibodies and watched what happened. Alex Sigal of the Africa Health Research Institute tells Gaia Vince what they saw. The UK government has pledged to plant some 2 billion trees to help get us to net zero – and that's an awful lot of plastic casing to be littering the countryside with. A team at the Institute of Making at UCL decided to look at the overall environmental impact of these tree protectors. This is quite a complicated calculation as it involves looking at the entire life cycle of the trees and the plastic, including the carbon and water and energy used. Gaia finds out from Charnette Chau, the life cycle assessment expert on the team, and Professor Mark Miodownik what they found. Across the US, people have been reporting ponds full of dead tadpoles: mass mortality events. It seems that a parasitic infection previously associated with disease in marine oyster populations, may be to blame: severe Perkinsea Infection. The big fear is that it will spread further, to places like Panama in Central America, which has seen such a drastic decline in frog populations that researchers have begun captive breeding some species as “assurance populations” to protect them from extinctions. Tom Richards, Professor of Evolutionary Genomics at the University of Oxford, reports on what he discovered when he went to Panama to see if the infection had reached its precious hoppers.
Mark Miodownik, explores the environmental consequences of the throwaway society we have become and reveals that recycling electronic waste comes second to repairing broken electronics. He asks what we can learn from repair cultures around the world , he looks at manufacturers who are designing in repair-ability, and discovers the resources available to encourage and train the next generation of repairers. Presented by Mark Miodownik and produced by Fiona Roberts. First broadcast on Monday 10 May 2021.
Many electronics manufacturers are making it harder and harder for individuals and independent repairers to fix their broken kit. There are claims that programmed obsolescence is alive and well, with mobile phone batteries designed to wear out after just 400 charges. The manufacturers say it's for safety or security reasons, but it drives the consumer model of constant replacement and upgrades. But people are starting to fight back. Episode 2 - The Right to Repair Mark Miodownik talks to the fixers and repairers who are heading up the Right to Repair movement which is forcing governments to act and making sustainability and value for money part of the consumer equation. He goes online for help replacing his broken mobile phone screen and dead battery and finds out how easy it is to dare to repair. Presented by Mark Miodownik and produced by Fiona Roberts. First broadcast on Tuesday 4 May 2021.
This episode investigates the near-future and how material technology could transform the way we live. Mark Miodownik is the UCL professor of materials & society. He received his PhD in turbine jet engine alloys from Oxford University, and has worked as a materials engineer in the USA, Ireland and the UK. For more than twenty years he has championed materials science research that links to the arts and humanities, medicine, and society. This culminated in the establishment of the UCL Institute of Making, where he is a director and runs the research programme.He’s the author of two highly successful – and, I think importantly, incredibly accessible – books on materials, Stuff Matters and Liquid and regularly presents TV and radio programmes about material science on the BBC. Most recently, however, he’s co-chaired a working group that has just delivered a fascinating, and far reaching, report for the Royal Society, entitled Animate Materials, which is the focus of much of our chat. In the episode we talk about: how new ‘active, adaptive and autonomous’ materials will change our lives; concrete that heals itself using bacteria; why we’ll grow our cities in years to come; the potential for new materials in healthcare and the nanoparticles that could help cure cancer; the economic and social impacts of this new technology; the importance of scientists collaborating with designers, architects and artists; and how animate materials could drive a new evolutionary tree. It’s frequently eye-popping stuff. I hope you enjoy.You can download Animate Materials hereAnd you can sign up to my newsletter hereSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/materialmatters?fan_landing=true)
We love our electronic gadgets, gizmos and appliances. But when it comes to repairing and caring for them, UK citizens are second only to Norway when it comes to producing electronic waste. We have a culture of buying single-use, throwaway, cheaper-the-better, irreparable electronic goods. But the Age of Consumerism is over. If the kettles, toasters, phones and fridges we buy aren’t made to be repairable, and aren’t repaired, we are going to run out of things to buy, stuff to make them from and money to buy them with. Dare to Repair explores how we got to this unsustainable state, explores the fightback, whether it’s through global legislation or individual groups, and empowers listeners to prolong the life of their electronics and mechanical goods by fixing them. Episode 1- How We Broke the Future Materials scientist Professor Mark Miodownik of UCL looks back to the start of the electronics revolution to find out why our electronic gadgets and household goods are less durable and harder to repair now. As he attempts to fix his digital clock radio, he reveals that the drive for cheaper stuff and advances in design and manufacturing have left us with a culture of throwaway technology and mountains of electronic waste. Presented by Mark Miodownik and produced by Fiona Roberts. First broadcast on Tuesday 27 April 2021.
This week has seen a huge surge in Covid- 19 in India leading to concern of a "double mutant" variant, but what do we know about this B.1.617 as it is otherwise known. It was first described in October and is now in other countries including the UK. Virologist Dr Muge Cevik looks at the emerging evidence around vaccines and new variants. Climate change threatens coffee crops so it's exciting to know that researchers have found an ancient coffee variety that is drought resistant and can tolerate higher temperatures than the highly prized Arabica coffee used to make your latte - but it wasn't easy to find. In Sierra Leone Daniel Sarmu spent 4 years searching for it and Dr Aaron Davis from Kew helped to track it down using historic samples from the Herbarium at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Clothes moths do enormous damage to our jumpers and carpets, Marnie finds out how best to protect your clothes. And we hear from Mark Miodownik about the right to repair.
In daily life, we are surrounded by materials. They make up in our clothes, our food, our homes, and our transport systems. But, have you ever wondered how these materials are created? What are their secrets? How do they affect our lives? This book will reveal the mysteries of ten materials that have changed the world and the stories behind them. It will provide new insight into the world we live in.
Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm GMT on our YouTube channel. On this episode Robin and Helen are joined by Prof Mark Miodownik and Dr Suze Kundu to talk about materials, nanotubes and a debate about jelly... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles
Eşyanın Tabiatı - Mark Miodownik (Kitap Özeti) Seslendiren: Rıza Yıldırım Seslendirdiğim kitabın özeti için www.ozetkitap.com 'a çok teşekkür ederim. Diğer Sesli Kitaplardan haberdar olmak için lütfen kanalıma ücretsiz abone olun: https://bit.ly/2E9OqgQ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/101konsept/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/101konsept/support
Pourquoi le verre est-il transparent? Pourquoi un trombone en métal se plie-t-il facilement contrairement à un clou? Les matériaux qui nous entourent recèlent de nombreux mystères. L'ingénieur Mark Miodownik dresse le portrait intime et plein d'humour d'une dizaine de matériaux dans l'ouvrage "La vie secrète des matériaux" traduit en français dans la collection Quanto de lʹÉcole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). Sarah Dirren s'est penchée sur la vie trépignante des matériaux avec Michel Rappaz, physicien professeur honoraire à lʹEPFL, Fabien Sorin, professeur assistant au département de science des matériaux de l'EPFL, et Andreas Leber, étudiant en thèse au département des sciences des matériaux de lʹEPFL.
The Science of Cooking Brian Cox and Robin Ince get their chef's hats on as they look at the science of cooking. They are joined by comedian Katy Brand, author and food critic Grace Dent, material scientist Mark Miodownik and science writer Harold McGee, whose seminal book on the science of the kitchen launched the craze for molecular gastronomy. They look at some of the lores of the kitchen are backed up by the science, and ask whether a truly delicious dinner is really a science or an art. Is cooking just chemistry? Producer: Alexandra Feachem.
Could you imagine a modern world without plastic? It's a valuable and useful material when used well, but we're living with the consequences of not having designed for end-of-life. We chat to Mark Miodownik, Materials scientist & engineer; Director of the UCL Institute of Making; author and occasional tv/radio presenter about the future of plastic.
Earlier this month, the government rolled out a pilot in Liverpool for ‘Operation Moonshot’, their proposal to spend £100 billion pounds to regularly test the entire UK population for SARS CoV 2. Anand Jagatia speaks to screening expert Dr Angela Raffle and medical test evaluator Professor Jon Deeks from the University of Birmingham. They share their concerns about the scheme and the benefits it may bring. A year ago, BBC Inside Science helped launch the Big Compost Experiment, a citizen science project run by a team at UCL. They asked the public to get involved by providing information about the matter that’s rotting in compost piles around the UK. What do people think about biodegradable plastics and what actually happens to them – do they break down like they are supposed to? Anand finds out about the results so far .from Mark Miodownik, one of the creators of this project, We travel back in time to 66 million years ago, when a massive meteorite smacked into the Gulf of Mexico bringing the reign of the dinosaurs to a cataclysmic conclusion. It was also the beginning of a new chapter in the history of life on Earth. The impact may have caused an apocalypse of earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and the darkness of a nuclear winter; but it may also have created a haven for new life forms to emerge. Roland Pease has been talking to two geologists, David Kring and Tim Bralower, who have found evidence for the return of life in the crater after the carnage of the meteorite strike. Presented by Anand Jagatia Produced by Melanie Brown
On this week’s Roundabout Roundup: Catherine's enjoying a new documentary podcast called Unfinished: Short Creek, and Nicole has found a cat tunnel toy to amuse her new kitten. Terri is catching up on audiobooks and recommends Laugh Lines: My Life Helping Funny People Be Funnier by Alan Zweibel, along with Phil Rosenthal's You’re Lucky You’re Funny: How Life Becomes a Sitcom and Liquid Rules: The Delightful and Dangerous Substances that Flow Through Our Lives by Mark Miodownik. Visit https:://parentingroundabout.com for links to everything we talk about here (plus all our back episodes).
"Could you make a machine to make it rain in minutes?" asks listener Alexander from Hampshire, aged 12. For this series, with lockdown learning in mind, Drs Rutherford and Fry are investigating scientific mysteries for students of all ages. Rutherford and Fry dive into the clouded story of weather modification. First, we need to decide where and when we might deploy any rain machine. Liz Bentley, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological society, takes us through the science, maths and art of predicting the weather. Hannah heads down to the BBC Weather Centre to meet meteorologist Helen Willetts, who takes us through the highs and lows of forecasting. And then for the technology itself. Mark Miodownik, scientist and author of Liquid: The Delightful and Dangerous Substances The Flow Through Our Lives, reveals that a technique called cloud seeding has almost certainly been tried in different places around the world for decades. But, whilst it’s supposed to induce showers and even clear the way for sunny spells, the results aren’t always reliable. And even if we can make it rain, Liz explains why messing with the weather may be at our peril. Presenters: Hannah Fry, Adam Rutherford Producer: Jen Whyntie
Adam reveals new research which overturns received wisdom about how sperm swim. More than three centuries after Antonie van Leeuwenhoek peered down his early microscope to observe human sperm or ‘animalcules’ swimming with a ‘snakelike movement, like eels in water’, high-tech observations now reveal that this was, in fact, an optical illusion. Hermes Gadelha from Bristol University used 3D microscopy, a high-speed camera and mathematics, to reconstruct the true movement of the sperm tail. Much to his amazement, sperm have a highly sophisticated way of rolling as they swim. They do this to counter the numerous irregularities in their morphology which would otherwise send them swimming in circles. In doing so, they are able to propel themselves forwards. This highly complex set of movements, seen in 3D, is obscured in 2D when sperm appear to use a symmetrical eel-like motion to swim. Also on the programme, Adam gets an update from Mark Miodownik on the Big Compost Experiment, the citizen science project that wants to know what you compost, how you do it and, most importantly, how quickly the stuff breaks down. Mark reveals how confused participants are, about what they can compost, and explains why items marked ‘compostable’ or biodegradable’ won’t compost at home. Staying with soil, healthy soil is being lost at an alarming rate due to intensive agricultural practices. In England and Wales, a recent survey found that nearly forty percent of arable soils were degraded. Inside Science reporter Madeleine Findlay visits Andrew Neil from Rothamsted Research who has devised a new way of thinking about soil. They’ve solved the mystery of why adding carbon through organic material, like compost, improves soil health. PRODUCERS: Beth Eastwood & Fiona Roberts
Brianne West is the founder of the world’s most sustainable beauty brand, Ethique. She is on a mission to rid the world of plastic waste.Brianne is a qualified biologist; she started her business by creating solid beauty bars in her kitchen in 2012. She has built Ethique from the ground up, with the global brand now valued at more than $100 million, and 20% of its net profit is donated to worthy causes each year.In this episode of the Human Potential Podcast, Brianne West talks with our host, Oliver Freer, about how she created her business from the ground up. She talks of the frustration that led her to develop unique products, get noticed by the likes of Britney Spears and Ashton Kutcher and fund growth through successful crowdfunding.More about Brianne West Brianne West is one of the most principled and single-minded businesspeople in the Southern Hemisphere. Her non-negotiable, personal value system, and intensity of purpose has led to her incredible success.Brianne has always been clear about wanting Ethique to be sustainable in every possible meaning of the word. She is one of those rare people who ‘walks the talk’ in both her personal and business life. Her personal ethics and priorities are embedded within every aspect of the Ethique brand.Last year Brianne and her brand Ethique won five major awards, including Ernst & Young’s ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’Ethique has prevented more than 8 million plastic bottles from being made and disposed of in landfill since it began operating in 2012 – this is a recent milestone achievement.Brianne has a goal to see Ethique be “sustainable from every possible definition of the word and an inspiration to other businesses that you can be environmentally proactive while being financially sustainable.” Ethique’s future goal is to prevent the use of 50 million plastic bottles by 2025.She believes sustainable business makes for better business, as she continues to be a shining example to other companies that you can be environmentally proactive, while being financially sustainable.More about EthiqueEthique manufactures beauty products with a twist. Unique in the world, all products are made in solid form, including shampoos, conditioners, moisturisers, and face, body and bathproducts.Why solid? As the bars contain no water, they are free from preservatives, formaldehyde, sodium lauryl sulphate and other undesirable ingredients. Solid also means there are no wasteful jars orbottles – bars are sold in water-soluble paper making them 100% waste-free. The result is biodegradable, concentrated products that are truly sustainable. The range is also made with organic ingredients, certified cruelty-free and climate neutral and made from ethically sourced ingredients.Ethique bars last for several months each, but most importantly, produce excellent results. This is proven by their strong brand and social media following, loyal customers, and outstanding reviews.“I started Ethique out of frustration for the abhorrent amount of waste created by the cosmetics industry, and in particular, the amount of plastic and waste created by our bathroom essentials. I figured out that up to 95% of your bottle of conditioner is made up of water - which is just ridiculous considering you have water in your bathroom! I have always been deeply passionate about the environment and science and so I set about learning cosmetic chemistry (I was completing my Bachelor of Science at university at the time) and looked to formulate a solid shampoo. I figured that switching to a solid product would be the answer not only to the water waste issue, but also plastic waste”. Brianne WestEthique are now in over 2500 retailers in sixteen countries across the world, from Japan and Australia, to the USA and Hong Kong.https://ethique.comBrianne West’s Book recommendationsStuff Matters: Exploring the Marvellous Materials That shape our Man -Made World by Mark MiodownikLiquid Rules: The Delightful and Dangerous Substances That Flow through Our Lives by Mark Miodownik
"Could you make a machine to make it rain in minutes?" asks listener Alexander from Hampshire, aged 12. For this series, with lockdown learning in mind, Drs Rutherford and Fry are investigating scientific mysteries for students of all ages. Rutherford and Fry dive into the clouded story of weather modification. First, we need to decide where and when we might deploy any rain machine. Liz Bentley, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological society, takes us through the science, maths and art of predicting the weather. Hannah heads down to the BBC Weather Centre to meet meteorologist Helen Willetts, who takes us through the highs and lows of forecasting. And then for the technology itself. Mark Miodownik, scientist and author of Liquid: The Delightful and Dangerous Substances The Flow Through Our Lives, reveals that a technique called cloud seeding has almost certainly been tried in different places around the world for decades. But, whilst it’s supposed to induce showers and even clear the way for sunny spells, the results aren’t always reliable. And even if we can make it rain, Liz explains why messing with the weather may be at our peril. Presenters: Hannah Fry, Adam Rutherford Producer: Jen Whyntie
Andrea Sella, Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at University College London, celebrates the art and science of the chemical elements. Today he looks at aluminium and strontium, elements that give us visual treats. At the time of Emperor Napoleon the Third in 19th century France aluminium was more valuable than gold and silver. The Emperor liked the metal so much he had his cutlery made out of it. But once a cheaper way was discovered to extract aluminium it began to be used for all kinds of objects, from aeroplanes to coffee pots. Andrea talks to Professor Mark Miodownik at the Institute of Making at UCL about why aluminium is such a useful material, from keeping crisps crisp to the tinsel on our Christmas trees. And he talks about the lightness of bicycles made from aluminium with Keith Noronha, of Reynolds Technology. Strontium is the 15th most common element in the earth yet we really only come into contact with it in fireworks. It gives us the deep red colour we admire in a pyrotechnics display. Andrea meets Mike Sansom of Brighton Fireworks who explains how a firework is constructed and reveals the chemical mix that creates the bright red flashes. Professor Thomas Klapötke of the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich talks about his search for a substitute for strontium in fireworks and about how the element can get into our bones. Rupert Cole at the Science Museum in London shows Andrea how Humphry Davy was the first to extract strontium from rocks found in Scotland. And Janet Montgomery, Professor of Archaeology at Durham University, explains how strontium traces have revealed that our Neolithic ancestors moved around much more than was previously thought. Nearly half the people buried around Stonehenge in Southern England were born in places with different rocks from those under Salisbury Plain in Southern England. Picture: Fireworks, credit: rzelich/Getty Images
Mark Miodownik reveals the strangely powerful nature of liquids. Philip Ball explains why China's first emperor was so obsessed with the liquid metal, mercury.
Composters - we need you! Or rather materials scientists at UCL, Mark Miodownik and Danielle Purkiss, need you to take part in their Big Compost Experiment. Launched back in November, the team asked members of the public to fill in an online questionnaire about their composting and recycling habits. With special reference to plastic packaging labelled as 'compostable', they want you to see whether your compost bin at home can break down these products. Despite starting in the coldest season, where compost production really slows down, they've had some success. To take part, go to https://www.bigcompostexperiment.org.uk/ One particular infectious disease (Covid-19) is dominating the headlines, but it's by no means the only one we should be concerned about. There's an infectious disease crisis that is longstanding, and one of the most significant threats to global health. It’s the on-going antibiotic resistant crisis. Antibiotics kill bacteria, but bacteria evolve resistance very quickly, and because of overuse of antibiotics, we’ve effectively driven the evolution of many disease causing bacteria to be resistant to our best antibiotics, thus rendering them redundant as drugs. On top of that, we haven’t found any new classes of antibiotics for many years. And the cost of developing new drugs is very high – billions, and the financial incentive for developing antibiotics is low. So this is a perfect storm. A new study this week shows a glimmer of light in the quest to find new antibiotics, via artificial intelligence. Lena Ciric, a microbiologist at University College London, explains how the new drug Halicin was found and the promise it holds as a new antibiotic. Slapstick is one of the most universally appreciated comedy styles. The physical comedy that made Charlie Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy and even Mr Bean so popular has transfixed and entertained generations. But how has it endured the test of time? Why do we enjoy seeing characters in pain? Or is it something deeper rooted that it tells us about the human condition? Laughter is a social action – we do it to show we understand a joke and to signal to people that we get along with them. 'Told By An Idiot' is a theatre company exploring the divide between comedy and tragedy who are currently performing a slapstick style show about the relationship between Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel, who had been his understudy. Hannah Fisher has been to see the show. Producer - Fiona Roberts
You’ve probably bought something from a corner shop and taken it home in a plastic bag that says it’s biodegradable, or eaten takeaway food with a compostable fork.But when you’re done with your bag or your fork, what do you do with them? Can you put them in your food waste bin, your compost heap, or even the recycling bin?To find out, we spoke to materials scientist Professor Mark Miodownik. Mark is leading the Big Compost Experiment, a nationwide citizen science experiment to explore whether home-compostable plastics really do compost in your garden.If you sent us a question for Mark, listen out for his answer towards the end of the episode.If you have a burning science question you want an expert to answer, send them to us on twitter at @sciencefocus, and we may answer them in a future episode.Subscribe to the Science Focus Podcast on these services: Acast, iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, OvercastLet us know what you think of the episode with a review or a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.Listen to more episodes of the Science Focus Podcast:Solving the plastic problem – Mark MiodownikHow can we save our planet? – Sir David AttenboroughChris Lintott: Can members of the public do real science?Dr Erin Macdonald: Is there any science in Star Trek?John Higgs: Are Generation Z our only hope for the future?Mark Lynas: Could leaving nature to its own devices be the key to meeting the UK’s climate goals? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The solutions to the problem of plastic pollution and plastic waste lie in many directions. A global plan to stop littering will go a long way. But human behaviour change often needs some economic intervention. One idea by the UK government and many others around the world, is to give a little financial incentive in the form of deposits on plastic bottles, or taxation on single use plastic like coffee cups, food wrapping and plastic bags. Mark Miodownik investigates some of the scientific solutions such as alternatives to petrochemical plastic using microbes or plant materials, clever waste sorting technologies to help make the process easier, even using less plastic. And he hopefully untangles some of the confusing messages about plastic and comes up with ways to be plastic smart. Producer: Fiona Roberts First broadcast on Tuesday 29 May, 2018.
Plastic waste and pollution have become a global problem but is there any sign of a global solution? And how did we allow this to happen in the first place? Across three programmes, materials scientist and broadcaster, Professor Mark Miodownik, explores how we fell in love with plastic, why we've ended up with oceans of waste blighting the environment and what science and society can do about it. Programme 1 - First Flush of Love We may not be on speaking terms right now. But we do have a love affair with plastic, in fact it can be all consuming. Adaptable, lightweight, cheap and hygienic - fantastic plastics started to win our affection back in the late 19th century. Bakelite was an early plastic invented to replace expensive wood. Celluloid was one of the earliest plastics, failing to replace ivory in billiard balls, but revolutionising the world as movie film. Plastic really did change our world. Plastic radar insulation played a role in helping the Allied forces win the Second World War and after the conflict, factories start to churn out cheap, mass-produced goods in the new synthetic polymers. But some of the key virtues of plastic may now have paradoxically poisoned the relationship. Being virtually indestructible, has led to a build-up of toxic micro-plastic in the oceans and environment. We've grown to regard many plastics as cheap and disposable, we take it for granted, rely on it too much, value it too little and are too ready to cast it aside after one single use. Producer: Fiona Roberts First broadcast on Tuesday 15 May, 2018.
"How do you make gold?" asks curious listener, Paul Ruddick. Inspired by the promise of riches, Hannah and Adam embark on a mission to discover the origin of gold. It's a tale that takes them from the clandestine codes of Aristotle to the alchemy of Isaac Newton, alongside materials scientist Mark Miodownik. They boldly go into the cosmos with astronomers Lucie Green and Andrew Pontzen, to learn what happens in the most exotic areas of space. By the end one thing is for sure - you'll never look at your gold jewellery in quite the same way again. Presenters: Hannah Fry, Adam Rutherford Producer: Michelle Martin
Puntata natalizia dei Libri a Colacione, la rubrica di Tutto Esaurito su Radio 105! Sotto l’albero mettiamo: Acqua di mare di Charles Simmons e Liquidi di Mark Miodownik.→ Leggi? Ti aspetto su BookBlister! http://www.bookblister.com → Scrivi? Ti aspetto su https://www.berettamazzotta.it
Puntata natalizia dei Libri a Colacione, la rubrica di Tutto Esaurito su Radio 105! Sotto l'albero mettiamo: Acqua di mare di Charles Simmons e Liquidi di Mark Miodownik.→ Leggi? Ti aspetto su BookBlister! http://www.bookblister.com → Scrivi? Ti aspetto su https://www.berettamazzotta.it
Puntata natalizia dei Libri a Colacione, la rubrica di Tutto Esaurito su Radio 105! Sotto l’albero mettiamo: Acqua di mare di Charles Simmons e Liquidi di Mark Miodownik. → Leggi? Ti aspetto su BookBlister! http://www.bookblister.com → Scrivi? Ti aspetto su https://www.berettamazzotta.it
When your hands and feet are cold, you feel you cold. Why is that? And what can you do to warm them up quickly? This episode begins with some interesting help that will keep you warm this winter. http://www.rd.com/health/wellness/keep-cold-feet-hands-warm/You may not realize it but communicating with a computer with just your voice is a really big deal. It is a game changer according to Bradley Metrock, CEO of Score Publishing who produces events that revolve around voice computing. Bradley is the host of the podcast This Week in Voice and author of the book More than Just Weather and Music: 200 Ways to Use Alexa (https://amzn.to/2PbTAPe). Listen as he explains how smart speakers work, how some are different than others and what it all means to you.If you are going on a job interview, what is the worst color to wear? I’ll explain what hiring managers say about the worst and best clothes to wear if you want to make a good impression. https://www.businessinsider.com/best-and-worst-colors-to-wear-to-job-interview-2013-11You have probably never thought much about the topic of liquids but liquids are vital to our survival and the survival of every species on earth. British scientist Mark Miodownik, author of the book Liquid Rules: The Delightful and Dangerous Substances that Flow Through Our Lives (https://amzn.to/2RMwSyL) joins me to discuss the fascinating world of liquids. For one thing, liquids are hard to define yet one liquid (water) covers 70% of the earth's surface. Interestingly, liquids are so important to our survival yet there is very little liquid in the universe. Listen to hear this fascinating discussion.This Week’s Sponsors-Beauty Counter. Check out great holiday specials before they are gone. Go to www.BeautyCounter.com
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced an indefinite moratorium this week on mining of shale gas by hydraulic fracturing, aka fracking, in the UK, citing fears of earthquakes and seismic activity caused by fracking in the past. In August this year, a 2.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded at the Preston New Road fracking site in Lancashire, which prompted an immediate shutdown, as required by the strict protocols that we have in place. Adam Rutherford talks to Dr James Verdon, a geophysicist at Bristol University and a co-author of one of the Oil & Gas Authority studies on the Preston New Road, about the science of fracking. Bloodhound is the latest British attempt at the supersonic land speed record. All this week Wing Commander Andy Green has been burning across a dried out lake in the Kalahari Desert, as he and his team are building up to break the sound barrier at 740mph, and his own land speed record of 763 mph. BBC science correspondent Jonathan Amos reports from the trackside. The Big Compost Experiment is a new citizen science project about the wonderful, rich, fruity and essential substance you can produce by doing not that much at all. Architect Danielle Purkiss and Mark Miodownik, material scientist at UCL tell Adam why they are launching this experiment. The planet Mercury, messenger of the Gods, passes between us and the Sun on average just thirteen times a century. This astronomical event will be visible in the UK – weather permitting – next Monday, 11th November. Solar physicist Lucie Green explains how to see the transit of Mercury.
Read Mark Miodownik's's very good Liquid Rules. Mostly what I have to say is about flight attendants and Islam, which are both obviously connected to the subject matter of this book. (The written version of this review was first published April 5, 2019. Written versions, in web and PDF formats, are available here.)
Episode Notes We all think of metals, ceramics, polymers, electronic materials, composites and so forth as materials. But what else? Is chocolate an engineering material? In this episode we dive into this amazing substance and describe the critical processing steps that makes it a unique including regional differences in cocoa, chocolate tempering and more. Along the way we'll cover the fundamental materials science topic of crystallization and solidification.If you want to learn more about the science of chocolate there is a huge body of literature. Some publications you can check out are Beckett's Industrial Chocolate Manufacture and Use, Fifth Edition https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781118923597 which is essentially the industry standard in this field. There are also some great review articles like “Fat bloom in chocolate and compound coatings” by Lonchampt and Hartel https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ejlt.200400938. There's also the excellent book Stuff Matters by Mark Miodownik. Finally, Harvard University has an excellent YouTube series on the science of cooking including a great episode on chocolate that is worth checking out https://youtu.be/HS263kcm8Jc. If you have questions or feedback please send us emails at materialism.podcast@gmail.com. Check out our Instagram page @materialism.podcast. We’d like to give a shoutout to AlphaBot for allowing us to use his music within the podcast. Check him out on Spotify. And as always a special thanks to Kolobyte who created the intro and outro for our podcast. He makes a ton of really cool synthwave music which you can check out at kolobyte.bandcamp.com.This episode is sponsored by Matmatch.com, check them out for a really cool and free to use web-based tool for finding engineering materials to fit any application. Support Materialism by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/materialismFind out more at https://materialism.pinecast.co
Mark Miodownik knows that Liquids Rule, and you can read all about it in his latest book. This flowing story about how liquids change our lives will really make a splash. No more puns will be allowed, but the conversation really flows into some interesting tributaries. Take a listen and find out more about this amazing writer and inspiring teacher of mechanics, engineer and Materials Scientist. We talk about the journey of life, asking questions about the things we see around us, the quest for information, and the importance of teaching and passing down learning. Mark gives insights on the efficacy of hand soap, the nature of liquids, and the exploration of science and book writing. Mark's Twitter page is a great place for his latest news, updates, videos, and lessons. Find him @markmiodownik Get a copy of Mark’s book Liquids, on Amazon https://amzn.to/2TWrJkZ or at Mark’s website: http://www.markmiodownik.net/ “A Broadcaster’s Secrets to Teaching” e-Book is here! Would your classroom turn the channel if they had the choice? Develop your signature style, improve your speaking voice, and gain resources and ideas to engage your students! Teach like you are live on the air with advice, stories, and experiences of a radio broadcaster-turned-teacher. “A Broadcaster’s Secrets to Teaching” presents 15 chapters to sharpen the broadcaster within you. Keep students interested like never before, develop rapport, and re-define your routines with enjoyable segments that provide informational entertainment. LINKS - AmpedUPLearning - $6.99 - https://bit.ly/2XRVBVL Amazon Kindle - $7.99 - https://amzn.to/2XACNv9 TeachersPayTeachers - https://bit.ly/2S51TMn YouTube Promo - https://youtu.be/yAqOnlRQByQ Questions for our next episode or guest ideas? Write us! inspiringteachershow@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @InspiringTeacherShow Subscribe to our Podcast on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/inspiring-teachers/id1442182731?mt=2 Subscribe to our Podcast on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/inspiring-teachers/id1442182731?mt=2 This episode of Inspiring Teachers is brought to you by AmpedUpLearning.com - Are you looking for new and engaging ways to get your students up and moving in the classroom? Get out of the Sit and Get rut of teaching by checking out AmpedUpLearning.com, a 2 teacher owned and operated company in Texas that is looking to gamify teaching with creative new activities for the classroom. From their FRECK! resources and Escape Rooms for Social Studies and Science to SPEED Squares and task cards for Math and English they have TONS of teacher created resources...and don't forget to check out their apparel designed specifically for teachers. Use code HAUGERHISTORY10 to save 10% on all items and follow them on social media @AmpedUpLearning for their monthly giveaways of Amazon giftcards, lessons and apparel.
Roma is a structural engineer whose projects include the Shard. She is a champion of diversity in the STEM sector and studied at Oxford and Imperial College London. We chat to Roma about Inferior by Angela Saini and Stuff Matters by Mark Miodownik, as well as her own award-winning book called Built. Find out why all engineers should talk to a class of 5 year olds! Roma’s Building Stories podcast: www.BuildingStoriesPodcast.com @BuildingStPod Contact us: readingpeople@nmite.ac.uk @nmite_ac Find Reading People on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts and Stitcher.
Episode Notes Hello and welcome to the inaugural episode of the Materialism Podcast: an exploration of the past, present, and future of materials science and engineering. This episode deals with the most ubiquitous and important engineering material of all time: steel. The story of steel is fascinating and ties into the history of the Industrial Revolution, the birth of capitalism, and so much more. It would be hard to think of another material that did more to change society.If you enjoyed the information we covered in today’s podcast and want to learn even more because we really just scratched the surface please check out our show notes or maybe take a look at some of the reference materials we used such as the book “Stuff Matters” by Mark Miodownik or “The Substance of Civilization” by Stephen L. Sass. If you have questions please send us emails as materialism.podcast@gmail.com and make sure to subscribe to the show on itunes, spotify, google play or wherever you find your podcasts. Finally, check out our instagram page @materialism.podcast and connect with us to let us know what new material you’d like to hear about next. Special thanks to Kolobyte who created the music for our podcast. He makes a ton of really cool synthwave music which you can check out at kolobyte.bandcamp.com Support Materialism by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/materialism
On Christmas Eve, Andrew Marr explores the mysteries of snow and ice. Michelle Paver's novels dwell in the darkest places: an Arctic hut in midwinter haunted by ghosts, an isolated mountain peak, and a prehistoric frozen forest. She explains the appeal of these inhospitable settings, and asks why the cold still terrifies us. Ben Saunders knows the sounds and smells of ice better than most. As one of the world's leading polar explorers he has skied to the North Pole and completed Scott and Shackleton's aborted trip to the South Pole. He describes the exhaustion, frustration and wonder of life on a frozen sea. Materials scientist Mark Miodownik knows that liquids are not to be trusted, even when frozen solid. His latest book, Liquid: The Delightful and Dangerous Substances That Flow Through Our Lives, unpicks the cracks, creaks and crystals of ice. Poet and writer Nancy Campbell set out from the world's northernmost museum to understand our fascination with ice and snow. Her new book, The Library of Ice: Readings from a Cold Climate,brings to life the people who dwell in these icy landscapes, many of which are now disappearing. Producer: Hannah Sander
“Why does bad food taste so good?” asks Alan Fouracre from Tauranga, New Zealand. "And by ‘bad’ food, I mean the things we are told to hold back on like sausage, chips and chocolate." From sugar to salt and fat, we investigate why our body derives pleasure from the very foods we're often told to avoid. Adam discovers why retronasal smelling makes bacon taste delicious on a trip to the BBC canteen with materials scientist, Mark Miodownik. Hannah consults food scientist Linda Bartoshuk on her fizzy pop habit. Plus The Angry Chef, Anthony Warner, discusses the dangers of labeling certain foods as 'bad'. Presenters: Hannah Fry, Adam Rutherford Producer: Michelle Martin
Plastic waste and pollution have become a global problem but is there any sign of a global solution? And how did we allow this to happen in the first place? Materials scientist and broadcaster, Professor Mark Miodownik, explores how we fell in love with plastic, why we've ended up with oceans of waste blighting the environment and what science and society can do about it. Programme Three: Roland Pease hears from Kenya where one of the most stringent bans on plastic bags has been in force for nearly two years, from the US where the reuseable cup has taken off and from Sweden where reverse vending machines give you money back when you return your plastic bottles. And he looks at places where plastic is the best material for the job. Picture: Bike loaded with empty plastic bottles. Shanghai China, Credit: typhoonski/Getty Images
Plastics are fantastically versatile materials that have changed our lives. It is what we do with them, when we no longer want them, that has resulted in the global plastic crisis. Mark Miodownik explores our love hate relationship with plastics. Programme Two: Things begin to go stale Plastic waste has been a global crisis waiting to happen. To date it's estimated that around 8.3 billion tonnes of waste plastic exists. That's 25 Empire State Buildings or 1 billion elephants. Incredibly around half of this has been generated in just the last 14 years, despite mass production having begun in the 1950s. Events such as China's recent refusal to take any more "foreign rubbish" from the west and Sir David Attenborough's graphic portrayal of the devastation that plastic waste is causing in our oceans, has prompted political and media discussion like never before. We are at a critical moment where, if we're to turn the tide on plastic pollution, it will require science and society to come together to create real change. But it won't be easy. One major area that needs an overhaul is recycling. In the UK only 14% of plastic collected is recycled. Europe tends to burn our waste for energy, and plastic has a calorific value similar to that of coal. But proponents of the circular economy say we should never consider plastic as waste at all and we should think of it as 'Buried Sunshine' - a resource that needs conserving - by reusing and recycling again and again. Picture: Production line for the processing of plastic waste in the factory, Credit: Getty Images
Plastic waste and pollution have become a global problem but is there any sign of a global solution? And how did we allow this to happen in the first place? Materials scientist and broadcaster, Professor Mark Miodownik, explores how we fell in love with plastic, why we've ended up with oceans of waste blighting the environment and what science and society can do about it. Programme One: First Flush of Love We may not be on speaking terms right now. But we do have a love affair with plastic, in fact it can be all consuming. Adaptable, lightweight, cheap and hygienic - fantastic plastics started to win our affection back in the late 19th century. Bakelite was an early plastic invented to replace expensive wood. Celluloid was one of the earliest plastics, failing to replace ivory in billiard balls, but revolutionising the world as movie film. Plastic really did change our world. Plastic radar insulation played a role in helping the Allied forces win the Second World War and after the conflict, factories start to churn out cheap, mass-produced goods in the new synthetic polymers. But some of the key virtues of plastic may now have paradoxically poisoned the relationship. Being virtually indestructible, has led to a build-up of toxic micro-plastic in the oceans and environment. We've grown to regard many plastics as cheap and disposable, we take it for granted, rely on it too much, value it too little and are too ready to cast it aside after one single use. Producer: Fiona Roberts Picture: The Bakelite Museum, Credit: Getty Images
Robin and Josie took to the stage at the London Podcast Festival in September for an episode of Book Shambles. Their guests were scientists and authors Professor Mark Miodownik and Dr Kevin Fong. They chat about their own upcoming books, books of bad science, unfortunate barbecuing incidences, Josie's return from her daughter's birth and debate whether peanut butter is a liquid or not. Live at the Festival we recorded for around 90 minutes, and if you'd like to hear the uncut version of the live show, you can do just that by becoming a Patreon supporter at patreon.com/bookshambles
Anna Ploszajski talks to Mark Miodownik about the subject of his new book, Liquid. Mark is Professor of Materials and Society at UCL, and is also a director of the Institute of Making. Follow Mark on Twitter @markmiodownik, and buy his book "Liquid" at all good book shops. Tickets for 'rial Talk Live: www.ticketsignite.com/event/443/-rial-talk-live Stickers and merch: smartmaterialcollective.com Cover art by Scary Boots (@schrodingerskit) Music recorded by Cl!ve and mixed by Alex Lathbridge (@thermoflynamics) 'rial Talk is a proud member of the Smart Material CollectiveSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/handmade. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
What can a materials scientist learn from artists? How do you make robotic trousers? And what should we do about plastics? Hannah Devlin sits down with Mark Miodownik to find out
This month’s podcast features material scientist Mark Miodownik’s latest book Liquid: The Delightful and Dangerous Substances That Flow Through Our Lives. Fascinated by what defines a liquid and the mechanisms behind their working, the author uses his experiences on board an every-day commercial flight as the backdrop for his writings, describing every liquid he encounters along the way, showing how there is magic in everything from aviation fuel to orange juice.
It’s estimated that there are currently more than 6 billion tonnes of plastic waste buried in land fill sites or floating on the surface of the ocean. Clearly something needs to be done but what exactly should we be doing? We speak to materials scientist Mark Miodownik about the growing problem of plastic waste, what we should be doing about it, and why plastic isn’t always bad for the planet. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Domestic science is on the agenda today, with two culinary questions sent in by listeners to curiouscases@bbc.co.uk The Curious Cake-Off Can chemistry help us bake the perfect cake? Listener Helena McGinty aged 69 from Malaga in Spain asks, "'I have always used my mother's sponge cake recipe. But is there a noticeable difference in the outcome if you vary some of the ingredients, or the method?" Hannah and Adam go head to head in a competition to create the perfect cake using the power of science. They are aided by materials scientist Mark Miodownik, from University College London, with tips on how to combine the ideal ingredients and trusted techniques to construct a structurally sound sponge. Food critic Jay Rayner is on hand to judge the results. But who will emerge victorious in this messy baking battle? The Atomic Blade "What makes things sharp? Why are thinner knives sharper? What happens on the molecular level when you cut something?" All these questions came from Joshua Schwartz in New York City. The ability to create sharp tools allowed us to fashion clothing, make shelters and hunt for food, all essential for the development of human civilisation. And, more importantly today they allow us to prepare dinner. So what makes kitchen knives sharp? We hear from IBM scientist Chris Lutz, who has used one of the sharpest blades in the world to slice up individual atoms. Plus palaeoarchaeologist Becky Wragg Sykes reveals the sharpest natural object in the world, a volcanic glass used by the Aztecs called ‘obsidian’. Picture: Colourful Cupcakes, Credit: RuthBlack/Getty Images Producer: Michelle Martin
"What makes things sharp? Why are thinner knives sharper? What happens on the molecular level when you cut something?" All these questions came from Joshua Schwartz in New York City. The ability to create sharp tools allowed us to fashion clothing, make shelters and hunt for food, all essential for the development of human civilisation, according to materials scientist Mark Miodownik. We hear from IBM scientist Chris Lutz, who has used one of the sharpest blades in the world to slice up individual atoms. Plus palaeoarchaeologist Becky Wragg Sykes reveals the sharpest natural object in the world, a volcanic glass used by the Aztecs called obsidian. Presenters: Hannah Fry, Adam Rutherford Producer: Michelle Martin.
Materials engineer and presenter Mark Miodownik and Diana Henry, the food writer for the Sunday Telegraph, tell Harriett Gilbert about the books they love. Books tossed into the discussion are: The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien, Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton and The Soul of Kindness by Elizabeth Taylor. Producer Beth O'Dea.
A listen back to three interviews from last year, one fiction, one non-fiction and one from an RNIB Talking Book narrator. Mark Miodownik on Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvellous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World, Laurence Bouvard on bringing audio books to life and Neil Gaiman on his life, work and Norse Mythology.
Can chemistry help us bake the perfect cake? Listener Helena McGinty aged 69 from Malaga in Spain asks, "'I have always used my mother's sponge cake recipe. But is there a noticeable difference in the outcome if you vary some of the ingredients, or the method?" In this episode Hannah and Adam go head to head in a competition to create the perfect cake using the power of science. They are aided by materials scientist Mark Miodownik, from University College London, with tips on how to combine the ideal ingredients and trusted techniques to construct a structurally sound sponge. Jay Rayner, food critic and presenter of Radio 4's The Kitchen Cabinet, is on hand to judge the results. But who will emerge victorious in this messy baking battle? Presenters: Hannah Fry, Adam Rutherford Producer: Michelle Martin.
Czy materiały budzą w nas emocje? Czy mogą być ich nośnikami? Rozmawiamy z Markiem Miodownikiem – materiałoznawcą, inżynierem, pisarzem i popularyzatorem nauki.
"We are makers", Mark Miodownik tells us. We have created some astonishing products, but perhaps we should be ashamed of some of them, he says. We need to get smarter with our material choices.
This week we take a look at non-fiction books in the RNIB Talking Books library including Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World by Mark Miodownik and The Shark and the Albatross by John Aitchison. #RNIBConnect #ReadOnAir
Two cases today for Drs Adam Rutherford & Hannah Fry to investigate, involving strength and weight. The Portly Problem "Why do we have middle aged spread?" asks Bart Janssen from New Zealand. In this episode we ponder the science of fat, from obese mice to big bottoms. Why do we put on weight in middle age? And are some types of fat better than others? Hannah meets Prof Steve Bloom at Imperial College, London to discuss why pears are better than apples when it comes to body shape. And Adam talks to Dr Aaron Cypess from the National Institutes of Health in Maryland, who has created a 'fatlas' - an atlas that maps fat inside the body. The Strongest Substance "What is the strongest substance in the universe?” asks Françoise Michel. “Some people say it is spider web, because it is stronger than steel. Is it iron? Is it flint? Is it diamond because diamond can be only be cut by diamond?" Adam and Hannah put a variety of materials, from biscuits to toffees, under the hammer to test their strength. In their quest to find the strongest substance on earth they quiz materials scientist Mark Miodownik, engineer Danielle George and spidergoat creator, Dr Randy Lewis from Utah. Please send your Curious Cases for the team to investigate to curiouscases@bbc.co.uk Photo: A man works out at a slimming centre in Beijing, credit: LIU JIN/AFP/Getty Images Presenters: Adam Rutherford, Hannah Fry Producer: Michelle Martin
"What is the strongest substance in the universe? Some people say it is spiderweb, because it is stronger than steel. Is it iron? Is it flint? Is it diamond because diamond can be only be cut by diamond?" asks Françoise Michel. Adam and Hannah put a variety of materials, from biscuits to spider web, under the hammer to test their strength. In their quest to find the strongest substance they quiz materials scientist Mark Miodownik, engineer Danielle George and spidergoat creator, Dr Randy Lewis from Utah. Features archive from 'Horizon: Playing God', first broadcast in January 2012. Please send your Curious Cases for the team to investigate to curiouscases@bbc.co.uk Presenters: Adam Rutherford, Hannah Fry Producer: Michelle Martin.
Opening presents can be quite a challenge. Toys incarcerated in rigid transparent plastic cases can bring tears, not of joy. Not to mention vacuum-packed luxury foods that are just impossible to get into. So, can science save us from infuriating packaging? And, if so, which technology is most likely to deliver us from this irksome everyday problem? Three scientists battle it out in the studio, pitching for Jim's imaginary pot of research money. Dr Alaster Yoxall is determined to understand what makes things fiddly. Professor Mark Miodownik dreams of packages that can be opened by your mobile phone. While Professor Lynne Boddy believes mushrooms as the new polystyrene. Could the future of packaging be mouldable mould? Producer: Anna Buckley.
Mark Miodownik loves stuff. As a materials scientist and engineer, he gets a kick out of answering questions like what your skin might have in common with ceramics, or metal for that matter? And, why do materials behave the way they do or feel different to the touch?
Electric bikes are a rapidly growing area of the bicycle industry, offering the promise of effortless two-wheeled travel. Professor Mark Miodownik of University College London tests a Smart E-bike (pictured, above) as part of an in-depth look at e-bike technologies, … Continue reading →
Shayne and Ed are joined by Dr. George Aranda, curator of the Science Book A Day blog and co-host of the Big Ideas Book Club in Melbourne. George is running a Pozible crowdfunding campaign to investigate the use of 3D Printers in school education.Scientists from University of Bern in Switzerland have developed a new approach to the treatment of severe bacterial infections without the use of antibiotics.The prestigious Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books has been awarded to Mark Miodownik, author of Stuff Matters. The book is an enthralling account of Mark's love of material science, and the extraordinary properties of the materials in our everyday lives.Cornell University's Ruth Ley and her colleagues have identified one bacterial taxon, the family Christensenellaceae, as the most highly heritable group of microbes in the human gut.And for the first time ever, humans have landed a probe on a comet moving at 50,000kph.
From concrete to chocolate and teacups to tennis racquets, it's the everyday stuff of life that fascinates Mark Miodownik. He's Professor of Materials and Society at University College London where he is also Director of the Institute of Making, a research hub for scientists, designers, engineers, artists, architects - and musicians. A passionate communicator about the vital role of science in society, he's written a bestselling book Stuff Matters; he's the scientist in residence on Dara O'Briain's Science Club on BBC2; and he's listed by The Times as one of the 100 most influential scientists in the UK. Mark is fascinated by how materials influence the way music sounds, and talks to Michael Berkeley about brass bands, tuning forks and how love can bloom over playing the saw. His musical choices include Bach, film music by Morricone, Scott Joplin and a little known piece for brass band by Holst.
Mark Miodownik's chronic interest in materials began in rather unhappy circumstances. He was stabbed in the back, with a razor, on his way to school. When he saw the tiny piece of steel that had caused him so much harm, he became obsessed with how it could it be so sharp and so strong. And he's been materials-mad ever since. Working at a nuclear weapons laboratory in the US, he enjoyed huge budgets and the freedom to make the most amazing materials. But he gave that up to work with artists and designers because he believes that if you ignore the sensual aspects of materials, you end up with materials that people don't want. For Mark, making is as important as reading and writing. It's an expression of who we are, like music or literature, and 'everyone should be doing it'. To this end, he wants our public libraries to be converted into public workshops, with laser cutters and 3 D printers in place of books.Image: Mark Miodownik, BBC Copyright
School Report on Fracking This week, Inside Science is taken over by BBC School Reporters and Melissa Hogenboom eavesdrops on a school in Lancashire, preparing their report on fracking. They discuss the issues very local to them, as well as the wider international angles and how best to present the story.Purple GM tomatoes The chemical that gives blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries and some red grape varieties their distinctive purple colour is Anthocyanin. It's been shown to have some possible anti-cancer properties as well as some protection against cardiovascular disease. So scientists at the John Innes Centre have inserted the ‘purple gene' into tomatoes to try and boost their health-giving properties. This step is relatively easy, compared to navigating the rules and regulations of getting to the stage of producing purple ketchup. Gareth Mitchell asks the School reporters what they think about Genetic Modification of food crops.Artificial humans With progress in 3D printing of organs, brain-machine interfaces and even artificial skin. Materials scientist at University College London, Professor Mark Miodownik, thinks that the future really could be bionic. Would the School Reporters want to become half human, half machine? And would these technological advances just be used for repairing people who have been injured or really need it, or will it mean that those with enough money could enhance themselves to superhuman states? Shark Attacks Potentially dangerous sharks are being culled off the coast of Western Australia. The government claim it's as a result of a rise in the number of deaths by shark attack. Many people are outraged by the killings. Shark attacks are still really rare compared to car accidents or even deaths from bee stings – so do the School Reporters think this is a good idea? Or do they think listening to what the scientists studying shark behaviour and developing shark deterrents say, is a better way to go?
Cosmic Inflation and Gravity waves Scientists in the BICEP 2 Group say they've found the earliest rumbles of the Big Bang. Theory predicts how the universe first expanded. Now we have the first observation of the phenomenon behind it. The universe was kick-started by a so called 'inflation' - vigorous growth within a fraction of a second of the Big Bang going bang. To confirm inflation you need to detect ripples in the fabric of space called gravitational waves. And to find those, you need to look for twists and kinks in this stuff. The BICEP 2 radio telescope, at the South Pole, has been measuring the direction of twists of light from the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation - which is a form of primordial light, a remnant of the Big Bang. The signals have been released that show distortions in that light that can only have been caused by gravitational waves. They could only be there if there was inflation. In other words, these observations have shored up one of the most important theories in cosmology. Gareth Mitchell discusses what this means with BBC Science Correspondent Jonathan Amos and Astronomer at UCL Dr. Hiranya Peiris.Photonic Radar As the search closes in on missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH 370, radar technology has been in the spotlight. At the same time, new research published in this week's Nature journal reports on field trials of the next generation of radars - photonics based. Lead-author Paolo Ghelfi, from the National Laboratory of Photonics networks in Pisa, Italy explains their methods. Professor David Stupples, a radar expert from City University, London, explain that this cheaper, more accurate technology could end up in your car.Show Us Your Instrument - Infrared camera Infrared cameras detect heat, and process this as a colourful image. Dominic McCafferty, from Glasgow University, uses this kit to study stress levels in birds. When an animal is stressed, blood is drawn away from its skin and routed to the essential organs. This 'fight or flight' reflex means the temperature of certain parts of the animal drops. The infrared camera measures this, providing a non-invasive way of testing an animal's stress level. Current projects include one to test chickens, aiming to improve their welfare.Water research When listener Dave Conway emailed in to ask about what research is being done on water, if any - we went straight to materials scientist Professor Mark Miodownik at UCL to find out.Taxidermy Is taxidermy a dying art? Not for the chattering classes of New York apparently. There's been a rise in demand for people to attend classes where they learn to stuff and mount animals, and often dress them up in costumes. But what is the value of the stuffed animals in museums? In the multimedia age of interactive displays, 3D printing and computer models - do we still need the stuffed and stitched creatures in glass cases?Producer: Fiona Roberts.
Mark Miodownik's chronic interest in materials began in rather unhappy circumstances. He was stabbed in the back, with a razor, on his way to school. When he saw the tiny piece of steel that had caused him so much harm, he became obsessed with how it could it be so sharp and so strong. And he's been materials-mad ever since. Working at a nuclear weapons laboratory in the US, he enjoyed huge budgets and the freedom to make the most amazing materials. But he gave that up to work with artists and designers because he believes that if you ignore the sensual aspects of materials, you end up with materials that people don't want. For Mark, making is as important as reading and writing. It's an expression of who we are, like music or literature, and 'everyone should be doing it'. To this end, he wants our public libraries to be converted into public workshops, with laser cutters and 3 D printers in place of books.
by Professor Mark Miodownik and Dr Zoe Laughlin UCL alumnus Jonathan Dimbleby narrates this audio tour, guiding you through tales of Japanese stowaway students, museums filled with priceless artifacts, and the famous mummified resident of UCL – the philosopher Jeremy Bentham. Audio features span the entire history of the university, ranging from its revolutionary foundation in 1828, and the damage sustained by the campus during the Blitz, to the twenty-first century state-of-the-art materials workshop housed at UCL, the Institute of Making. Produced by UCL Communications UCL is consistently ranked as one of the world's top universities. Across all disciplines our faculties are known for their research-intensive approaches, academic excellence and engagement with global challenges. This is the basis of our world-renowned degree programmes. Visit us at http://ucl.ac.uk.
This week saw the publication of the annual government statistics on scientific research on animals. Overall, it again shows an increase, but does that tell the whole story? Wendy Jarrett of the organisation Understanding Animal Research shares her thoughts.We hear from amateur and professional would-be astronauts about their training regime and selection process from Major Tim Peake, the UK's next astronaut, to science broadcaster, Sue Nelson.Plus, the first in our new series ‘Show Us Your Instrument'. Material scientist Mark Miodownik introduces the wonders of the Transmission Electron Microscope, with music composed by the New Radiophonic Workshop.
The spoked wheel is the unsung hero of the bicycle. Jack Thurston embarks on a journey of discovery, to understand how a bicycle wheel works with the help of engineer and materials scientist Professor Mark Miodownik, and then tries to learn how to build one, taking a class at London's Cycle Systems Academy. Continue reading →
Professor Mark Miodownik, University College London, explores and reviews the imminent changes that are coming to the material world in the not so distant future with a rise in the investigation of synthetic organs, bones and even brains. Whatever people think about the rapid pace of technological change in the past, the fundamental arrangement of materials on the planet has not radically altered. There are living things that we call life, and there are non-living stuff which we call rocks, tools, buildings and so on. As a result of our greater understanding of matter, this distinction is now becoming blurred and is likely to usher in a new materials age: bionic people with synthetic organs, bones and even brains will be the norm. Just as we become more synthetic, so our man-made environment will change to become more lifelike, living buildings, and objects that heal-themselves are becoming a reality. This talk reviews the imminent changes to the material world that are coming our way.
Robin Ince and Brian Cox are joined on stage by comedian Andy Hamilton to discuss whether size matters? Material scientist Mark Miodownik and bioengineer Eleanor Stride also join the panel to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of being really huge, or extremely small, and why if you wanted to be a truly effective super hero, then being really really tiny is probably the greatest superpower you could have. Producer: Alexandra Feachem.
Richard Coles with materials scientist Professor Mark Miodownik, poet Luke Wright, Sue Chapman who learned to read and write in her sixties, Maurice Holder whose life was saved by his dog, JP Devlin takes a Daytrip with Chas Hodges from Rockney duo Chas 'n' Dave, and the Inheritance Tracks of comedian Sarah Millican. Producer: Lisa Jenkinson.
On Start the Week Tom Sutcliffe looks at how science has shaped our civilisation. Mark Miodownik explores how the discovery of new materials has transformed the way we live, from the Stone Age to the Silicon Age. While the mathematician Ian Stewart argues that calculations made centuries ago have led to untold innovations, and that mathematical equations really have changed our world. The natural world is the starting point for the sculptor, Peter Randall-Page and his abstract geometric form carved in stone. And Jane Rapley from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design considers how far fashion designers are influenced by modern materials and techniques, and inspired by the natural world. Producer: Katy Hickman.
The final show of the winter season is a pleasurable romp through some of the best bits of the last three years of bicycle broadcasting. Featuring, in no particular order: Alistair Humphreys, Mark Miodownik, Cynthia Barlow, Klaus Bondam, Daniel Start, … Continue reading →
Andrew Marr talks to the conductor Semyon Bychkov about Tannhauser, Wagner's tortured artist, out of place in conventional society. While the scientist Mark Miodownik takes a measure of the world, and asks 'Does size matter?' in this year's Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. Author Susan Hill ponders kindness, grief and miracles and the television screenwriter Tony Jordan forsakes EastEnders to take on 'the greatest story ever told', the Nativity. Producer: Katy Hickman.
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