Biology Interviews

Planet Earth - Bower Bird Mimicry

Richard Hollingham goes to Edinburgh Zoo to investigate Bower birds. These are natives of Australia and Papua New Guinea which build impressive bauers to attract mates. But it also turns out that they are highly impressive mimics...Laura Kelley, University of Edinburgh

Manta Ray Ecotourism

Manta Rays are fished in increasing numbers for their gills to make Chinese medicines. We chat to Andrea Marshall "Queen of Mantas" to find out if ecotourism could be a sustainable alternative.Andrea Marshall, Foundation for the Protection of Marine Megafauna

Planet Earth Online - Variation in Viper Venom

Scientists at Bangor University in North Wales have found that different species of deadly viper snakes, tailor their venom to a particular prey. Knowing about these venom variations can help save lives as anti-venoms developed for one type of snake may not actually work for another. Planet Earth podcast presenter Richard Hollingham met Wolfgang Wuster who introduced him to the beautiful but deadly Saw Scaled Viper...Wolfgang Wuster & Axel Barlow, Bangor University

The Marine Critters of Christmas

Helen Scales brings your three of her twelve Marine Critters of Christmas...James Maclaine, Natural History Museum; Rob Jennings, University of Massachussets; Matt Gollock, ZSL

What Causes Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer's disease is a common cause of cognitive decline among elderly people. An estimated one in every five adults over the age of 80 is affected and will develop a range of symptoms including memory loss. The cause of the disease is a build up in the brain of a protein called beta amyloid which damages nerve cells. But why does this happen? Chris spoke to Randy Bateman, a neurologist from Washington University in St Louis to find out more.Randall Bateman, Washington University School of Medicine

Strange string jellies

Siphonophores or string jellies are another group of little known but beautiful deep sea critters.Gill Mapstone, Natural History Museum

Anyone for turkey?

Should turkey fish - also known as lion fish - be on the Christmas menu?

Extreme worms

Giant tube worms cope with many extremes in their homes on deep ocean black smokers.

Fastest claws in town

Mantis shrimp have a lightening fast punch and the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom.

Sirens of the sea

Meet the dugongs and manatees, the mysterious marine mammals that were once mistaken for mermaids.

Mysterious shark cousins

Chimaeras are little known relatives of sharks that get up to some odd things in the deep sea.Matt Gollock, Zoological Society of London

Sea Angels

Sea snails that have lost their shells and flap their wings through open ocean get our seasonal critter fest started.Rob Jennings, University of Massachusetts

Champion migrant

Arctic terns are global champions flying from the South Pole to the North Pole and back every year.Richard Phillips, British Antarctic Survey

Thriving on Arsenic - Rethinking the Chemistry of Life

The discovery of bacteria that can not only survive in waters rich in toxic arsenic, but actually use it as part of it's DNA, forces us to rethink the chemistry of life here on Earth and beyond...Professor Paul Davies, Arizona State University

Cancer's Own Immunosuppressants

New research has identified how tumours attract stem cells from around the body that are capable of suppressing the immune system - removing these cells leaves the tumour vulnerable to attack. Cambridge University's Professor Douglas Fearon explains more...Professor Douglas Fearon, Cambridge University

Planet Earth - Orang-utan posture

Orang-utans are one of the world’s most fascinating creatures living primarily among the trees. They're the only mammal apart from us that habitually walks on two legs. Sue Nelson from the Planet Earth podcast visited Birmingham University’s posture and balance lab to meet a team who are researching the way that humans, and by extension our shared ancestors with orang-utans, moved around. She spoke Project Director, Dr. Susannah Thorpe.Susannah Thorpe, Birmingham University

The importance of tracking

As well as identifying what lives beneath the waves, the Census also investigated how animals move around and use the ocean.Pat Halpin, Duke University

How the Census of Marine Life began

Census co-founder, Jesse Ausabel, tells us about how it all beganJesse Ausabel, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and Rockerfeller University

The Cultural Aspects of Sleep

What constitutes a good night sleep? Here in the UK, we’re told that it’s a solid 8 hours overnight, tucked up in bed in the dark and in the quiet. But if we don't do that or if we can't do that, we’re thought of as being unusual. Helen Ball, Professor of Anthropology at Durham University is looking into the cultural aspects of sleep...Helen Ball, Durham University

What do you think of Human Animal Hybrids?

Robin Lovell-Badge is from the National Institute for Medical Research and he’s been researching public opinion of animal experiments that have a key biological human element as he explained to Smitha Mundasad...Robin Lovell-Badge, MRC's National Institute for Medical Research