Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea
452 episodes - English - Latest episode: 20 days ago - ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsJonathan responds to your texts and tweets, is joined in studio for all the latest science stories for Newsround and speaks to one of our two guests featured on the show.
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Episodes
Coming To Our Senses
June 26, 2021 14:50 - 48 minutes - 2.87 KBOn this week's Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea he asks how hard is it to learn to perceive the world if you were only able to see or hear as an adult and not since birth? Jonathan speaks to Susan R. Barry - Professor Emeritus of Biology and Neuroscience at Mount Holyoke College and author of Coming to Our Senses: A Boy Who Learned to See, a Girl Who Learned to Hear, and How We All Discover the World. Also on the show, Jonathan is joined by Jessamyn Fairfield from NUI Galway and Fergus McAuli...
Futureproof Extra: Can We Change Our Personalities?
June 22, 2021 07:30 - 14 minutes - 842 BytesWe come across all kinds of people in our day-to-day lives. Most, in our experience, are pretty good people - but some can be tricky, evasive, blunt, secretive, rude or even downright awful. So where do all of these personalities actually come from? And what if we want to change? Is that even possible? Dr Christian Jarrett, cognitive neuroscientist, Deputy Editor at psyche.co, and author of ‘Be Who You Want: Unlocking the Science of Personality Change’ joined Jonathan to discuss. Listen and...
Self Assembling Structures
June 19, 2021 14:21 - 43 minutes - 2.57 KBOn this week's Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea he looks at Self Assembling Structures with Skylar Tibbits the Co-Director and Founder of the Self-Assembly Lab housed at MIT's International Design Centre. Also on the show, Jonathan is joined by Dr Shane Bergin of UCD and Dr Susan Kelleher of DCU, to look at the science news stories of the week. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App. You...
Futureproof Extra: What Makes a Mammal a Mammal?
June 15, 2021 07:30 - 18 minutes - 1.07 KBThe sheer scale and diversity of life on this planet is absolutely staggering. From the smallest micro-organisms to the largest animals, life always seems to find a way to adapt in order to give it the best chance of surviving. And the way we, or other creatures, come into this world is just one example of this. While most of the animal kingdom lays eggs, we and almost all other mammals, have taken a different route. But why? Dr Elsa Panciroli, Research Fellow at the Oxford University Museum...
The Science and History of Hypothermia
June 12, 2021 13:02 - 45 minutes - 2.64 KBOn this week's Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea he looks at the science and history of hypothermia with Philip Jaekl - Cognitive Neuroscientist, science writer and author of ‘Out Cold: A Chilling Descent Into the Macabre, Controversial, Lifesaving History of Hypothermia’ Also on the show Jonathan is joined by Dr Lara Dungan and Dr Shane Bergin of UCD to look at the science news stories of the week. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Dow...
Breaking Boundaries with Prof Johan Rockström
June 08, 2021 07:30 - 12 minutes - 765 BytesOut planet is in a delicate balance that is in danger of tipping over. A new documentary, narrated by David Attenborough called 'Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet' looks at the work of climate scientist Johan Rockström, who is trying to understand the various earth-systems that keep us in the 'goldilocks' zone - from C02, to fresh water, and nutrients. Johan Rockström, Professor in Earth System Science at the University of Potsdam, Director of The Potsdam Institute for Climate Im...
What The Hell Are Vitamins Anyway?
June 05, 2021 14:03 - 55 minutes - 3.23 KBOn this week's Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea he asks 'What The Hell Are Vitamins Anyway? ' with Catherine Price - Science writer and author of How to Break Up With Your Phone & Vitamania. Also on the show Jonathan is joined by Shane Bergin - Physicist & Assistant Prof in science education at UCD and Dr. Ruth Freeman from the Science Foundation Ireland. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk...
Face Blindness & Super Recognition
May 29, 2021 14:35 - 46 minutes - 2.73 KBOn this week's Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea it is all about Faces. This is a special episode on “Face Blindness & Super Recognition" with Professor Fiona Newell - Professor of Experimental Psychology at the Trinity Institute of Neurosciences and Meike Ramon - Cognitive neuroscientist and Assistant Professor at the University of Fribourg Also on the show Jonathan is joined by Dr Lara Dungan and Dr Shane Bergin of UCD to look at the science news stories of the week. Listen and subscribe to ...
Futureproof Extra: Full Spectrum
May 25, 2021 07:30 - 14 minutes - 884 BytesThe world around is a pretty incredible place and over time we have developed a number of ways to interpret what's going on. But reality and perception are two different thing so how we see things may not be exactly as things really are. So how do we make sense of it all? Adam Rogers, Senior Correspondent with 'Wired' and author ‘Full Spectrum: How The Science Of Color Made Us Modern’ joined Jonathan to discuss. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Sp...
Do Brain Implants Change Your Personality?
May 22, 2021 14:24 - 46 minutes - 2.71 KBOn this week's Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea, he is joined by Dr Frederic Gilbert - Senior Lecturer in Ethics in the School of Humanities at the University of Tasmania who asks 'Do Brain Implants Change Your Personality?' Also on the show Jonathan is joined by Dr Susan Kelleher from DCU and Dr Shane Bergin of UCD to look at the science news stories of the week. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the N...
Futureproof Extra: The Good Side of Extinction
May 18, 2021 07:30 - 15 minutes - 946 BytesWe tend to think of extinction as a pretty bad thing but then again it might depend on your point of view. While there may not seem to be any redeeming qualities to whole species dying off, extinctions are actually one of the most creative forces in the natural world. Ben Garrod, Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Science Engagement at East Anglia University & author of the 'Extinct' series joined Jonathan to discuss the good side of extinction. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jo ...
Drug Use For Grown-Ups
May 15, 2021 14:34 - 45 minutes - 2.68 KBOn this week's Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea he looks at 'Drug Use For Grown-Ups' with Dr Carl Hart - Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at Columbia University & author of ‘Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear’Drugs Also on the show Jonathan is joined by Dr Shane Bergin of UCD and Double Dr Lara Dungan to look at the science news stories of the week. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Down...
Futureproof Extra: Being Prepared for Nuclear War
May 11, 2021 07:30 - 13 minutes - 832 BytesThere has been much discussion in the past year about how badly we were prepared for the global emergency that arose from the Covid 19 pandemic. The truth is, lots of work has been done in the background preparing us for all sorts of disasters. But what about other global emergencies? Just how prepared are we for the likes of nuclear war for instance? Julie McDowall, a freelance journalist specialising in the Cold War & the nuclear threat and host of ‘Atomic Hobo’ - a weekly podcast on how we...
Why Do Cats Insist On Sitting In Squares?
May 08, 2021 11:24 - 36 minutes - 2.15 KBOn this week's Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea he asks 'Why Do Cats Insist On Sitting In Squares? Gabriella Smith - MA in the Animal Behavior and Conservation Program at Hunter College, New York has the answer. Also on the show Jonathan is joined by Dr Shane Bergin of UCD and Dr Susan Kelleher of DCU to look at the science news stories of the week. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App. ...
Futureproof Extra: Retreating Glaciers
May 04, 2021 07:30 - 14 minutes - 859 BytesGlaciers are hugely important to our planet, making up an enourmous amount of our fresh water supplies. But they are melting, and they are doing so at unprecedented levels. Dr. Jonathan L Bamber, Professor in the School of Geographical Sciences at Bristol University joined Jonathan to discuss. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App. You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or...
The Genetic Mistakes That Could Shape Our Future
May 01, 2021 13:32 - 37 minutes - 2.21 KBOn this week's Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea - the genetic mistakes that could shape our future with Krishanu Saha - Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Retina Research Foundation Kathryn and Latimer Murfee Chair, University of Wisconsin-Madison Also on the show Jonathan is joined by Dr Shane Bergin of UCD and Dr Ruth Freeman of Science Foundation Ireland to look at the science news stories of the week. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podc...
Futureproof Extra: Has a Fifth Force of Nature Been Discovered?
April 27, 2021 07:30 - 14 minutes - 876 BytesIn recent weeks there has been quite a stir both at the LHC and the FermiLab in the United States. Scientists believe they may have found a fifth force of nature which could revolutionise our understanding of the standard model and the very properties which govern the universe itself. But what has or hasn’t been discovered thus far? Dr Chris Parkes, Professor of Experimental Particle Physics at Manchester University, and Spokesperson for LHCb Collaboration joined Jonathan to discuss. Listen a...
The Next 500 Years - Engineering Life to Reach New Worlds
April 24, 2021 13:14 - 38 minutes - 2.24 KBOn this week's Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea he is looking at The Next 500 Years with Dr Chris Mason - Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York and author of ‘The Next 500 Years: Engineering Life to Reach New Worlds’ Also on the show Jonathan is joined by Dr Shane Bergin and Dr Lara Dungan to look at the science news stories of the week. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. ...
Futureproof Extra: The Irish Woman Helping To Fly The First Helicopter on Mars
April 22, 2021 17:32 - 12 minutes - 726 BytesJonathan spoke with Áine Shivnan - Vice President of Qualcomm Technologies
A Thousand Brains
April 17, 2021 13:42 - 51 minutes - 2.99 KBOn this week's Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea is joined by Jeff Hawkins - Neuroscientist and author of ‘A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence’ to ask how our brains work? Also on the show Jonathan was joined by Dr. Susan Kelleher of DCU and Dr. Jessamyn Kelleher of NUI Galway, to look at the science news stories of the week. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App. You can als...
Futureproof Extra: Computer Games & Transcranial Stimulation
April 13, 2021 07:21 - 11 minutes - 707 BytesGaming is almost unrecognisable since the days of the Sinclair ZX80 or Atari 2600. With 3D graphics and high-definition 4K resolution now ubiquitous gaming has come a long way, in fact it is now a multi-billion dollar industry with professional eSport players packing out whole arenas for international competitions. But how do these players play better and with more accurate reflex times? Is it just by practicing or can technology help? Dr Mark Campbell, Director of Lero’s sSports Science Rese...
Countdown: The Human Race's Troubling Decline in Fertility
April 10, 2021 13:58 - 40 minutes - 2.38 KBCOUNTDOWN: THE HUMAN RACE’S TROUBLING DECLINE IN FERTILITY- On this week's Futureproof podcast with Jonathan McCrea, he meets Dr Shanna H. Swan, Ph.D.Professor of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City & author of ‘Count Down: How Our Modern World Is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development’, and ‘Imperiling the Future of the Human Race’ - about the worrying trend in the decline of fertility a...
Futureproof Extra: Vomiting Bumblebees
April 06, 2021 07:30 - 14 minutes - 869 BytesFor those of us in the Northern hemisphere it has been a long, and arduous winter. But just take a look outside and you’ll see the first green shoots of spring as the Daffodils and Tulips bring some much needed colour to the landscape. They also bring with them the nectar which supports countless species too - chief among them of course being the humble bumblebee. But is one nectar better than another? And how do bees know which plant is best? Dr. Jonathan Pattrick, from the Department of Zo...
The Future Of Medicine
April 03, 2021 14:38 - 34 minutes - 2.02 KBTHE FUTURE OF MEDICINE - On this week's Futureproof podcast with Jonathan McCrea, he looks at the future of medicine with James Temperton - Digital editor at WIRED UK and author of ‘The Future of Medicine (WIRED Guides): How We Will Enjoy Longer, Healthier Lives’. Also on the show Jonathan was joined by Dr Shane Bergin of UCD and Dr Susan Kelleher of DCU to look at the science news stories of the week. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. ...
Futureproof Extra: The Evolution of Deliciousness
March 30, 2021 07:30 - 21 minutes - 1.28 KBSome flavour preferences seem to be with us from when we were kids, others develop over time as our palette changes, and then there are some foods, flavours, and tastes that have near universal appeal. But why did our sophisticated taste receptors first evolve in the first place and what impact could that have had on the course of our evolutionary journey as a whole? Dr Rob Dunn, Professor of Applied Ecology at North Carolina State University and co-author of ‘Delicious: The Evolution of Flav...
Generational Memory
March 27, 2021 13:59 - 41 minutes - 2.46 KBGENERATIONAL MEMORY - On this week's Futureproof podcast with Jonathan McCrea, he asks Dr Brian Dias - Neuroscientist & Assistant Professor at USC Keck School of Medicine at Children's Hospital Los Angeles - if you can pass on trauma through your genes? Also on the show Jonathan was joined by Professor Shane Bergin and Dr Lara Dungan to look at the science news stories of the week. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and...
Futureproof Extra: The Eight-Sided Robin's Egg
March 23, 2021 07:30 - 14 minutes - 891 BytesIn the natural world, mimicry can be a very useful trait - one that might serve any number of purposes. It is so ubiquitous, and seen in so many species, that animals have to be quite discerning when trying to weed out a pretender. But it can be pretty hard even for animals who are constantly targeted - like Robins, and their beautiful blue eggs. But how sensitive are they to foreign invaders? Dr Mark Hauber, Professor of Host-Parasite Interactions in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, an...
The Trouble With Moon Dust
March 20, 2021 13:05 - 39 minutes - 2.33 KBWith no gravity or atmosphere to speak of, and temperatures lurching from 127C to minus 173C - the Moon is a dangerous place. That being said, certain death if exposed to its environment isn’t stopping us from trying to get back up there - far from it. But there is one tiny thing that might put a spanner in the works if we do ever manage to land on the Moon’s surface again...and it isn’t the lack of oxygen or the solar radiation. Dr Philip Metzger, Planetary Scientist at the Florida Space Ins...
Futureproof Extra: The Life of Flies
March 16, 2021 07:30 - 13 minutes - 834 BytesWhen we think of flies we generally think of pretty nasty things. Pestilence, death, and decay - loud, irritating and dirty little insects with no redeeming qualities which are probably close to the top of the list of things that people have absolutely no problem with killing. But are we doing flies a disservice? Is there more to these insects than meets the eye? Dr. Erica McAlister, Senior Curator of Diptera and Siphonaptera at the Natural History Museum of London & author of ‘The Secret Li...
Building a Brain
March 13, 2021 15:54 - 44 minutes - 2.58 KBBuilding a brain - On this week's Futureproof podcast with Jonathan McCrea, he talks to Dr Katrin Amunts - Chair of the Science and Infrastructure Board of the Human Brain Project & Professor of Brain Research at Dusseldorf University - about her research into building a digital model of the brain. Also on the show Jonathan was joined by Professor Shane Bergin and Dr Lara Dungan to look at the science news stories of the week. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple ...
Futureproof Extra: The Refractory Period
March 09, 2021 07:30 - 15 minutes - 920 BytesThe refractory period refers to the length of time it takes for a male to be able to ejaculate after just ejaculating and is a trait that is shared by many creatures across the animal kingdom. But why do males experience this and what causes it? Jonathan was joined by Susana Lima, Principal investigator at the Champalimaud Research Center for the Unknown to discuss. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the...
Entering Other People's Dreams
March 06, 2021 14:58 - 28 minutes - 1.67 KBEntering Other People's Dreams - On this week's Futureproof podcast with Jonathan McCrea, he talks to Karen Konkoly - Graduate Student Researcher in the Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at Northwestern University - about her experiment to enter the dreams of volunteers. Also on the show Jonathan was joined by Professor Shane Bergin and Dr Lara Dungan to look at the science news stories of the week. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Do...
Futureproof Extra: Why Do Ice Ages Happen?
March 02, 2021 07:30 - 14 minutes - 842 BytesAs the ice sheets at the earth’s poles continue to recede, life on this planet as we know it hangs in the balance. Of course that ice is only there as a result of an Ice Age - a vast and inhospitable period of time in our deep and distant past But what exactly are ice ages and why do they occur? Benjamin Laabs, Associate Professor in the Department of Geosciences at North Dakota State joined Jonathan to discuss. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Sp...
Could Just Two People Repopulate The Earth?
February 27, 2021 16:13 - 44 minutes - 2.6 KBCOULD JUST TWO PEOPLE REPOPULATE THE EARTH? - On this week's Futureproof podcast with Jonathan McCrea, he posed this question to Philip Stephens - Professor in the Department of Biosciences at Durham University. Also on the show Jonathan was joined by Professor Shane Bergin of UCD and Dr. Susan Kelleher - Assistant Professor in the School of Chemistry in UCD to look at the the top stories from the science world this week. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Pod...
Futureproof Extra: The Evolution of Crocodiles
February 23, 2021 07:30 - 13 minutes - 827 BytesEvolution is one of, if not the key ingredient to life on this planet surviving. Our ability to adapt and change make us, and the animals and plants we share this planet with, so successful. But we don’t all evolve at the same rate and some of us don’t seem to evolve very much at all. So, how is it that the likes of crocodiles are so successful? Max Stockdale, Teaching Associate in the School of Geographical Sciences at Bristol University joined Jonathan to disuss. Listen and subscribe to Fu...
The Benefits Of Being A Beginner
February 20, 2021 14:33 - 44 minutes - 2.61 KBTHE BENEFITS OF BEING A BEGINNER - On this week's Futureproof podcast with Jonathan McCrea, he talks to Tom Vanderbilt - Author of 'Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning' about the joy of learning something new as an adult. Also on the show Jonathan was joined by Professor Shane Bergin and Dr Lara Dungan to look at the science news stories of the week. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and su...
Futureproof Extra: Solar Thermal Propulsion
February 16, 2021 07:30 - 14 minutes - 876 BytesIn 2012 the Voyager 1 probe became the first man-made object to enter interstellar space, traveling "further than anyone, or anything, in history". This is an astonishing feat and one that took 35 years to achieve. But if we are ever to get to go beyond the reaches of the heliosphere again we can’t really wait that long again. So, how might we get there? Jason Benkoski, a Materials Scientist specializing in Planetary research at John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory joined Jonath...
Migration In The Animal Kingdom
February 13, 2021 13:39 - 36 minutes - 2.15 KBOn this week's Futureproof podcast, Jonathan McCrea talks to Dr Lucy Hawkes - Senior Lecturer in Physiological Ecology at the University of Exeter - about the wonders of migration in the animal kingdom. Also on the show Jonathan was joined by Professor Shane Bergin and Dr Susan Kelleher to look at the science news stories of the week. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App. You can als...
Can People Hibernate?
February 07, 2021 15:34 - 52 minutes - 3.06 KBCan people hibernate? On this week's Futureproof podcast with Jonathan McCrea, he talks to Professor Kelly Drew - Director of the Center for Transformative Research in Metabolism at the Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks on the possibilities of people hibernating for medical and space travel purposes. Also on the show Jonathan was joined by Professor Shane Bergin and Dr Lara Dungan to look at the science news stories of the week. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof w...
Futureproof Extra: Superheavy Elements
February 02, 2021 07:30 - 14 minutes - 870 BytesThe periodic table is a cornerstone of the science world and core to how we understand the world around us. But the periodic table is a living document, one that has undergone significant change since its inception in 1869. So, how are we adding to the periodic table and what exactly are these superheavy elements? Dr Kit Chapman, award-winning science journalist and broadcaster & author of ‘Superheavy: Making and Breaking the Periodic Table’ joined Jonathan to discuss. Listen and subscribe to...
Human Sacrifice in Ancient Maya Culture
January 31, 2021 09:53 - 46 minutes - 2.74 KBAncient American civilisations have been a source of fascination and admiration for generations. This is no less true of the Maya who boasted some of the most sophisticated cultures of the pre-Columbian Americas with their art, architecture, mathematics, and astronomy. On the other hand, like many early civilisations there’s nothing they loved more than a good old human sacrifice. But why did they do it? Dr Holley Moyes, Professor of Anthropology and Heritage Studies at the University of Cali...
Futureproof Extra: Loner Amoebas
January 26, 2021 07:30 - 16 minutes - 996 BytesSometimes we just want to be alone, it can be restorative and cathartic to leave the group and be with your own thoughts. We see it in the animal kingdom as well of course but we don’t necessarily want to get left behind either. But what if we do? What could be the evolutionary benefits to getting left behind...in being the loner? Fernando Rossine, PhD Candidate in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University joined Jonathan to discuss. Listen and subscribe to Fut...
Why Has Science Communication Failed During The Pandemic?
January 23, 2021 13:02 - 48 minutes - 2.85 KBWHY HAS SCIENCE COMMUNICATION FAILED DURING THE PANDEMIC? On this week's Futureproof podcast with Jonathan McCrea, he talks to Dr. Samantha Yammine - Neuroscientist, Science Communicator, and Digital Media Producer - asking if the communication of science during the pandemic has been successful? Also on the show Jonathan was joined by Professor Shane Bergin and De Lara Dungan to look at the science news stories of the week. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple...
The Science of Living
January 19, 2021 07:30 - 15 minutes - 956 BytesChances are that if you’re reading this you are currently alive. But the way in which you’re living that life of yours depends on a whole lot of different factors. Your morning routine might differ widely from your neighbours, your diet a world away from someone who is literally a world away - even how, when and how often you bathe. So, how exactly are we supposed to live our lives? Dr Stuart Farrimond, science and health writer and author of ‘ The Science of Cooking’ and ‘The Science of Spic...
Turning Marine Slime Into Drugs
January 16, 2021 13:12 - 34 minutes - 2.03 KBThis week on 'Futureproof The Podcast', Jonathan McCrea talks to Dr Paul Jensen - Professor at the Center for Marine Biotechnology & Biomedicine at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego about turning marine slime into drugs. Also joining the show to look at this weeks main news stories from the science world is Dr Shane Bergin from UCD and Dr. Ruth Freeman of Science Foundation Ireland. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. ...
Futureproof Extra: Why Science Needs Art
January 12, 2021 07:30 - 14 minutes - 856 BytesWe all know if you’re “left-brained” then you’re analytical, if you’re “right-brained” you’re artistic. Except that you’re not. That’s a total myth. And the idea that art and science are somehow diametrically opposed is another one. In reality, when it comes to the brain art and science share a lot of similarities. So says Dr Richard Roche from Maynooth University's Dept of Psychology, co-author of ‘Why Science Needs Art’ - he joined Jonathan to discuss. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof w...
The Irish Man Who Found the Philae Lander Lost on a Comet
January 09, 2021 13:31 - 36 minutes - 2.11 KBThis week on 'Futureproof The Podcast' Jonathan McCrea talks to Irish man Laurence O’ Rourke - Senior Systems Engineer on the European Space Agency’s PLATE Mission who was called in to find the lost Philae lander as part of the Rosetta Mission. Also joining the show to look at the main news stories from the science world is Dr Shane Bergin from UCD and Dr Jessamyn Fairfield from NUI Galway. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download,...
The Science of Snowflakes
January 05, 2021 07:30 - 14 minutes - 897 BytesThere is something about a white Christmas that really captures the imagination. Seeing those tiny white flakes falling from the sky while we peer through a frosted window is a manistay in most our imaginations as we look to celebrate another festive season with friends and family. But aside from the magic feeling they give us, what exactly are snowflakes and how do they form? Jonathan was joined by Dr. Kenneth Libbrecht, author and Professor of Physics at Caltech to discuss. Listen and subsc...
Is This The Home of Jesus Christ?
December 26, 2020 13:00 - 53 minutes - 3.12 KBThose of us raised in the Christian tradition will be very familiar with the later life of Jesus Christ. But for years scholars have wondered about the time between the birth of Jesus to the start of his ministry over 2000 years ago. And while that remains the case today, some archaeologists now believe they may have found the place where he lived - buried beneath a convent in Nazareth. Professor Ken Dark, Archaeologist at Reading University & author of ‘The Sisters of Nazareth Convent: A Rom...
The Speed Of Gravity
December 19, 2020 12:31 - 34 minutes - 2.01 KBThis week on 'Futureproof The Podcast' Jonathan McCrea asks "What is the speed of gravity?". To answer that question will be Ethan Siegel - Astrophysicist and Science Writer. Also joining the show to look at the main news stories from the science world is Dr Ruth Freeman from Science Foundation Ireland and Dr Shane Bergin from UCD. Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App. You can also lis...