Biology Interviews

Cloning - Dolly and Beyond

We spoke to Professor Ian Wilmut who, in 1996, cloned the first mammal, Dolly the sheep.Professor Ian Wilmut, University of Edinburgh.

Kitchen Science - Home Cloning & Bananas

For Kitchen Science, Ben found out how to clone at home!Dr Tim Upson, Cambridge Botanic Gardens

Great Trainers or Cash Drainers?

When you're buying training shoes, do you really get what you pay for? Professor Rami Abboud doesn't think you do...Professor Rami Abboud, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School at the University of Dundee

Hot, Smelly Sex - In Primative Plants, that is.

Birds do it, bees do it, but now Irene Terry, from the University of Utah, has found that primitive plants indulge in hot, smelly sex...Irene Terry, Univeristy of Utah

Kitchen Science - The Science of Scotch

While many people enjoy a beer, some prefer a shot of the hard stuff. Ben set out to find out about the science of scotch, by trying out some distillation...Chris Forman, Cambridge University

The Secrets of Beer

Now, there must be thousands of beers available worldwide and of course, beer sales are very big business. But how do we actually make beer and why do we taste the tastes in beer that we taste? We asked Professor Charlie Bamforth, professor of beer and brewing at the University of California at Davis...Professor Charlie Bamforth, University of California, Davis

Beating Breast Cancer - News from the Cancer Conference

Kat Arney reports in with the latest news from the National Cancer Research Institute conference in Birmingham, UK.Dr Kat Arney

Super Non Stick Surfaces

Non-stick pans are great, they make it so much easier to clean cooked on scrambled egg! But the Thin Films and Interfaces group at Cambridge University have found a way to make a super non stick surface, just by changing the surface structure of ordinary Teflon. Ullrich Steiner explains...Professor Ullrich Steiner, Cambridge University

Biocomposites - the Future for Plastics?

Biocomposites, materials similar to plastics but made from biological material, could be the ideal replacement for petrochemical based plastics. Paul Fowler explained more to Chris...Paul Fowler, Univeristy of Wales, Bangor

Medical Materials

Dr Ruth Cameron and Dr Serena Best from the Centre for Medical material at the University of Cambridge spoke to Chris about how they are using ceramics and polymers to help mend broken bones.Dr Ruth Cameron and Dr Serena Best, Cambridge University

Robots in Genetic Research

What do we need robots for in genetics? Just what difference do they make? We sent Meera to the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute to find out...Sarah Sims & Jonathan Davies, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute

A Chocolate Fix is Actually Good For You!

Being addicted to things is usually bad news but now there's evidence that getting hooked on chocolate might not be such a bad thing: Just so long as it's the dark variety. That said, is chocolate really addictive? To find out, Chris met up with anti-oxidant expert Roger Corder and addiction specialist Peter Rogers.Roger Corder, The Royal London Medical School & Peter Rogers, University of Bristol

Out of Body Experiences - On Demand!

Out of Body Experiences (OBE's)may be spooky, but they can tell us a lot about how the brain works. Now, scientists have found a way to cause OBE's at will...Henrik Ehrsson, Olaf Blanke & Thomas Metsinger, UCL

Scorpion's Sting Help Fight Cancer

Jim Olsen and his team from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle have found a way to use scorpion venom to make a ‘paint’ which shows up cancer cells. This means that surgeons can be more certain that they are taking out an entire tumour, which can limit the damage to healthy tissue. Jim Olsen, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre

Deadly Snails Kill Pain

Chris talks to Dr Bruce Livett about using the venom of cone shells to cure pain.Bruce Livett, University of Melbourne

Snakes - Venom, Antivenom and Medicinal Uses

We spoke to Gavin Laing, of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicne, about why snake venom is so potent, how we could use it as medicine and how to make antivenom for those who do get bitten!Gavin Laing, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Spider Venom on Apples - Natural Insecticides

Robyn Williams, from ABC Radio National's 'The Science Show' speaks to Glenn King about finding natural alternatives for insecticides - in the venom of deadly spiders!Glenn King, University of Queensland

Chemistry World - Clean Coal and Anti-Nerve Gas Goats

Coal without the miners and goats fighting chemical weapons - we catch up with Mark Peplow, editor of Chemistry World MagazineMark Peplow, Royal Society of Chemistry

Surviving Antarctica

David Thomas is a marine biologist from the University of Wales, Bangor. His work takes him all over the world and he has recently released a book called Surviving Antarctica, we invited him in to the studio for a chat. He’s also got another book out called Frozen Oceans, described by Chris Smith as “One of the best books I’ve ever read about the ecosystems in Antarctica and the Arctic”. It gives a vivid account of ice science, and also the life science associated with the ice science.David Thomas, University of Wales, Bangor.

Xtreme Everest

Richard Turner volunteered to have his body tested to extremes of endurance at Everest base camp, all in the name of medical science.Richard Turner, BBC Manchester