Latest Engineering Natural Sciences Podcast Episodes

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Why am I killing my house plants?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions - April 24, 2024 11:30 - 14 minutes ★★★★★ - 10 ratings
House plants can be a cheerful pop of colour in your home. But do you find after the initial burst of life, your plants start to fade, looking sad and unhealthy?   M Garrido Davies, from the Department of Biology, shares top tips for helping house plants to flourish, starting with learning m...

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Hibernation, Ketamine and Aphantasia

Naked Scientists, In Short Special Editions Podcast - April 19, 2024 11:10 - 37 minutes ★★★★★ - 3 ratings
This month, how animals hibernate and evidence that muscle myosin makes its own heat in the cold, brain scans to reveal how ketamine relieves resistant depression, the way the brain changes when animals build a bond, the evolution of flu outbreaks, and how aphantasia affects autobiographical memo...

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How are volcanoes formed on other planets?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions - April 10, 2024 11:30 - 13 minutes ★★★★★ - 10 ratings
Volcanoes are pretty amazing! But how do they work on other planets?   Take Mars – it has the largest volcano in the solar system! But volcanologist Tamsin Mather reveals that the red planet is now considered geologically dead, with no volcanic activity for around 500 million years. How do w...

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The proteins responsible for feeling cold revealed...

Naked Scientists, In Short Special Editions Podcast - April 02, 2024 02:14 - 4 minutes ★★★★★ - 40 ratings
A problem that's been puzzling scientists for decades is the way our bodies recognise cold stimuli, and researchers at the University of Michigan have finally got to the bottom of it. They've identified the protein GluK2 acts as a sensor in our bodies for cold temperatures, and Sannia Farrukh has...

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The proteins responsible for feeling cold revealed...

Naked Scientists, In Short Special Editions Podcast - April 02, 2024 02:14 - 4 minutes ★★★★★ - 3 ratings
A problem that's been puzzling scientists for decades is the way our bodies recognise cold stimuli, and researchers at the University of Michigan have finally got to the bottom of it. They've identified the protein GluK2 acts as a sensor in our bodies for cold temperatures, and Sannia Farrukh has...

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Can we talk to bees?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions - March 27, 2024 12:30 - 15 minutes ★★★★★ - 10 ratings
We are out in the wild today talking to bees!   In this behind the scenes episode, we visited Dr Rachel Parkinson’s bee recording studio to see insect neuroscience research in action.    You might know that honeybees communicate with each other using the waggle dance, a minute choreograp...

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Why are people obsessed with how cute cats are?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions - March 13, 2024 12:30 - 14 minutes ★★★★★ - 10 ratings
Cats are pretty adorable! Those big eyes, fluffy paws and cheeky personalities mean that most people find felines cute. But what is the science behind this reaction? Neuroscientist Professor Morten Kringelbach reveals how special technology can track what happens to signals in the brain in res...

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Apes reveal language origins, and being dyslexic in science

Naked Scientists, In Short Special Editions Podcast - March 08, 2024 11:00 - 36 minutes ★★★★★ - 3 ratings
This month we hear what orangutans can tell us about the origins of human speech, we ask if science making life even harder for dyslexics, where do the scientists we train end up and do they stay in science, and new insights into the songs whales sing underwater... Like this podcast? Please help ...

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Apes reveal language origins, and being dyslexic in science

Naked Scientists, In Short Special Editions Podcast - March 08, 2024 11:00 - 36 minutes ★★★★★ - 40 ratings
This month we hear what orangutans can tell us about the origins of human speech, we ask if science making life even harder for dyslexics, where do the scientists we train end up and do they stay in science, and new insights into the songs whales sing underwater... Like this podcast? Please help ...

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From Stargazing to Podcasting: A Journey Through Astrophysics, E-Learning, and Entrepreneurship with Colin Gray, Ph.D.

When Science Speaks - March 04, 2024 14:19 - 22 minutes ★★★★★ - 21 ratings
In this episode, guest, Colin Gray, takes us on a fascinating journey through his unconventional career path, starting with his early passion for astrophysics and membership in the British Astronomical Society at the age of 12. We delve into his transition from space exploration to cyberspace,...

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How freaked out should I be about bed bugs?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions - February 28, 2024 12:30 - 11 minutes ★★★★★ - 10 ratings
You might have seen them in a hotel. You might have read about them in the news. Maybe you’ve seen them star in social media videos filmed on the London underground. But should we really be worried about bed bugs?   The little critters evolved from feeding on bats and birds to humans thousan...

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When did we start kissing?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions - February 14, 2024 12:30 - 12 minutes ★★★★★ - 10 ratings
Have you ever considered when kissing first started? Who, or what, first decided that this was a good way to show affection?   Ancient historian, Troels Pank Arbøll, and hedgehog researcher, Sophie Lund Rasmussen, joined forces to attempt to find an answer. Cuneiform scripts, which are the ...

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Making waves about coastline conservation, and plastic waste

Naked Scientists, In Short Special Editions Podcast - February 14, 2024 07:44 - 35 minutes ★★★★★ - 40 ratings
This month the connections that human inhabitants have to the coast, why we're still in the middle of a worsening extinction crisis despite international laws and treaties designed to protect nature, the promise of pharmacogenomics and personalised medicine, the plastic pollution problem and how ...

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Making waves about coastline conservation, and plastic waste

Naked Scientists, In Short Special Editions Podcast - February 14, 2024 07:44 - 35 minutes ★★★★★ - 3 ratings
This month the connections that human inhabitants have to the coast, why we're still in the middle of a worsening extinction crisis despite international laws and treaties designed to protect nature, the promise of pharmacogenomics and personalised medicine, the plastic pollution problem and how ...

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How to Make Your Next Presentation Memorable

When Science Speaks - February 09, 2024 15:37 - 3 minutes ★★★★★ - 21 ratings
As the podcast enters its fifth season (220 episodes and counting!), I'm incorporating shorter segments with my commentary on key communication topics - like: How to make your presentation engaging and memorable The most effective ways to translate complexity so your listeners understand and ...

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How do you stay warm in your house without central heating?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions - January 31, 2024 12:30 - 14 minutes ★★★★★ - 10 ratings
How do we battle the energy use and soaring costs required to keep our homes warm? We spoke to Dr Brenda Boardman from the Environmental Change Institute about the best ways to keep out the winter chill. Did you know that draughts not only let cold air in, but they also push the warm out of yo...

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Crafting Compelling Narratives: A Deep Dive into Atomic Storytelling Techniques with Chris Hare

When Science Speaks - January 19, 2024 14:28 - 33 minutes ★★★★★ - 21 ratings
On this episode of When Science Speaks, host by Mark Bayer dives into the world of storytelling with guest Chris Hare, exploring the impact and importance of a high-impact storytelling approach Chris has developed and used with his clients called "Atomic Storytelling." Episode Highlights: The...

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How will climate change affect wine?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions - January 17, 2024 12:30 - 15 minutes ★★★★★ - 10 ratings
People have been interested in wine growing and quality vintages since the Roman times, but as the climate warms, what does this mean for the future of wine growers in the UK (and beyond)?   Andrew Wood, from the Department of Biology, has been studying the records of wine critics, which rev...

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What are the odds of a white Christmas?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions - December 13, 2023 12:30 - 10 minutes ★★★★★ - 10 ratings
As we count down to the festive season and the days get colder, will we see a white Christmas this year? In the last episode of the Big Questions podcast for 2023, Dr Neven Fučkar from the Environmental Change Institute tells us more about the science behind weather forecasts and how climate cha...

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Bees can't taste pesticides, and how albatrosses get aloft

Naked Scientists, In Short Special Editions Podcast - November 30, 2023 10:36 - 34 minutes ★★★★★ - 40 ratings
In the eLife Podcast this month, signs that bees are oblivious to pesticides in nectar, sea anemone stinging strategies, a new means of cell-cell communication to share growth factors and other signals, how plants make a comeback when ice sheets retreat, and how the world's biggest bird uses wind...

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Bees can't taste pesticides, and how albatrosses get aloft

Naked Scientists, In Short Special Editions Podcast - November 30, 2023 10:36 - 34 minutes ★★★★★ - 3 ratings
In the eLife Podcast this month, signs that bees are oblivious to pesticides in nectar, sea anemone stinging strategies, a new means of cell-cell communication to share growth factors and other signals, how plants make a comeback when ice sheets retreat, and how the world's biggest bird uses wind...

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How do you reintroduce lions?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions - November 29, 2023 12:30 - 14 minutes ★★★★★ - 10 ratings
Lions are iconic species, but they are threatened with extinction. In Zambia, researchers and conservationists are working together to find ways of conserving these majestic animals and preventing them from becoming by-catch of poaching. In this new episode of the Big Questions podcast, we speak...

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Dopamine and Desire: The Neuroscience of Captivating Writing with Bill Birchard

When Science Speaks - November 17, 2023 14:25 - 55 minutes ★★★★★ - 21 ratings
In this enlightening podcast episode, Bill Birchard, a seasoned journalist and business writer, delves into the fascinating world of writing and its impact on the brain. Through extensive research, Bill discovered a treasure trove of information on how language can stimulate various regions of t...

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Does banning smoking work?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions - November 15, 2023 12:30 - 11 minutes ★★★★★ - 10 ratings
As the UK government proposes new plans to reduce the number of people who smoke, we talk to behaviour change researcher Nicola Lindson from the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences to find out how the plan would work. Could we see a generation that is smoke free? Would banning fl...

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Recycled plastics pollute food, and the value of water

Naked Scientists, In Short Special Editions Podcast - November 10, 2023 11:08 - 37 minutes ★★★★★ - 3 ratings
Better awareness of the precious resource that is water, getting a grip on coastal ecosystems and the impact of pollution, why recycled plastics are a threat for food packaging and kitchen utensils, how we can help humans to step up in extreme environments, and the opportunity offered by "lived e...

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Recycled plastics pollute food, and the value of water

Naked Scientists, In Short Special Editions Podcast - November 10, 2023 11:08 - 37 minutes ★★★★★ - 40 ratings
Better awareness of the precious resource that is water, getting a grip on coastal ecosystems and the impact of pollution, why recycled plastics are a threat for food packaging and kitchen utensils, how we can help humans to step up in extreme environments, and the opportunity offered by "lived e...

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Thriving in Industry: Key Lessons for Scientists with David Giltner, Ph.D.

When Science Speaks - November 03, 2023 12:15 - 20 minutes ★★★★★ - 21 ratings
Introduction This week's episode features David Giltner, Ph.D. David is an accomplished figure in the field of technology commercialization, product development, and career design, with over two decades of experience in developing cutting-edge photonics technologies for commercial use. In 20...

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Why are deep fakes happening?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions - November 01, 2023 12:15 - 13 minutes ★★★★★ - 10 ratings
Welcome to the new series of the Big Questions podcast, where we ask Oxford scientists to shed light on everyday questions that you really want to know the answer to.   Remember those photos or videos online that don’t look quite right? Perhaps you’ve heard a celebrity’s voice somewhere unex...

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Scientists as problem-solvers: Applying scientific insights to global challenges, with Nicholas Dirks, Ph.D.

When Science Speaks - October 27, 2023 04:29 - 32 minutes ★★★★★ - 21 ratings
Overview: This episode of the show features Nicholas Dirks, Ph.D., President and CEO of The New York Academy of Sciences. Discussion Highlights: The rapid pace of technological change, from AI to gene editing, outpacing policy-making mechanisms. Reflections on historical instances where s...

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Navigating Transitions: Insights from Aditya Mahara on Science and Industry Shifts

When Science Speaks - October 20, 2023 13:44 - 19 minutes ★★★★★ - 21 ratings
Introduction: Welcome to the When Science Speaks podcast. In this episode, Mark is joined by Aditya Mahara, a seasoned senior product manager in the health tech industry. Aditya shares his insights on transitioning from Nepal to the US, the importance of discomfort in personal growth, and the si...