Science Interviews

A mating problem for Nassau groupers

When thousands of Nassau groupers gather to mate on Caribbean coral reefs, fishermen find them an irresistible target.Brice Semmens, Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)

Metal Organic Frameworks

One recent, and fast developing, area of Chemistry is the design and use of Metal-Organic Frameworks. They have potential uses in Gas Storage and Catalysis, but can also provide greater insight into the fundamental workings of chemical reactions...Neil Champness, University of Nottingham

Diamond News Update - Fighting antibiotic resistance

Sarah Boundy brings us the latest news from the synchrotron...Sarah Boundy, Diamond Light Source

Coastal Erosion at the microbial level

Charles cockell explains how microbes are eating away at out coastline...Charles Cockell, Open University

Look back at 2010

Physical sciences director Trevor Rayment looks back at Diamonds highlights and developments in 2010...Trevor Rayment, Diamond Light Source

Leprosy in the Past - the Story in the Bones

To help us understand leprosy, it’s important to look into the past and see what evidence we can find from when and where it’s prevalent. One way to do this is to look for the marks it leaves on the bones. Diana O'Carroll spoke to Professor Charlotte Roberts, a Bioarchaeologist from Durham University who studies evidence for disease in skeletons that are excavated from archaeological sites...Professor Charlotte Roberts, Durham University

Leprosy in the World Today

Leprosy is caused by an infection of Mycobacterium bacteria, the same family as the pathogens that cause TB. Most people here in the UK think of leprosy as a medieval disease, one long since wiped out, but sadly, that's not the case. Leprosy still affects people worldwide and Professor Diana Lockwood from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine joined us to tell us more...Professor Diana Lockwood from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Naked Engineering - Cat's Eyes and Retroreflectors

Whilst driving on motorways or busy roads at night, many of us will have noticed the small beacons of light in the middle of the road that help to position and guide us on our travels. You probably know that these are called cat’s eyes and this week, Meera and Dave have been out investigating exactly how they work...Dr Hugh Hunt, Cambridge University

Planet Earth Online - The Music Of Earthquakes

In today’s world, it can seem as if there were more earthquakes than ever before and scientists at the British Geological Survey in Edinburgh are often being asked whether earthquakes are becoming more frequent. Planet Earth Podcast presenter Richard Hollingham went to talk to Seismologist Brian Baptie to find out if this was actually the case...Brian Baptie, British Geological Survey, Edinburgh

Rapid Change in Bacterial Genome

New research sheds light on how some bacteria are capable of extremely quick genetic change, incorporating whole sections of DNA from other cells to evade our immune system and invalidate our vaccines...Dr Stephen Bentley, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute

Studying the Remains of the First Stars

The first stars ended the dark ages of the universe pouring heat, light and heavier elements into an otherwise cold, dark expanse. New research uses light from quasars to analyse the clouds left behind when some of these first stars exploded...Ryan Cooke, Cambridge University

Antimatter from Terrestrial Thunderstorms

Gamma ray flashes seemingly coming from thunderstorms have been a mystery since first being identified in 1994. Now, using the Gamma Ray Burst Monitor on the Fermi satellite, researchers have identified the cause as beams of antimatter streaming out into space...Michael Briggs, University of Alabama, Huntsville

Fact Impact: Relativity

All you need to know about relativity...Andrew Pontzen

Naked Engineering - Designing Combined PET/MRI Scanners

Meera and Dave explore how PET and MRI scanners can combine to give a better look at what's going on inside us....Richard Ansorge, University of Cambridge

Trapping Antihydrogen

In November 2010, researchers at CERN announced that they had managed to make and trap the antimatter equivalent of hydrogen, so-called antihydrogen. We spoke to Jeffrey Hangst, one of the scientists behind that breakthrough.Jeffrey Hangst, CERN

What is Antimatter?

Antimatter is usually thought of as being rather mysterious. But in fact, it is much more abundant than you might think and it may well be the key to explaining some of the mysteries that surround the Big Bang. We’re joined by Professor Andy Parker from the High Energy Physics Group at Cambridge University, to find out more...Professor Andy Parker, High Energy Physics Group at Cambridge University

Planet Earth - Studying Ocean Acidification

Coral reefs are regarded as the rainforest of the sea. They play a vital role in marine ecosystems and now, a new reef research unit at the University of Essex in Colchester has been setup to study them and Planet Earth presenter Sue Nelson has been to meet the Assistant Director Dave Suggett, and the Director Dave Smith.Dave Smith, Dave Suggett, University of Essex in Colchester

Contagious canine tumours steal host cell spare parts

Researchers at Imperial College in London have discovered an unusual process which is happening in a contagious form of cancer that infects dogs called canine transmissible venereal tumour or CTVT. This cancer spreads via physical contact and the study found that the cancer cells keep themselves healthy by stealing key cellular spare parts from the host animal.Dr Clare Rebbeck, Imperial College

New technique to tell whether rocks are man-made or naturally occuring.

New technique uses infa-red to tell whether rock fragments are man-made or naturally occuring. This useful new technique has been tested successfully by Israli archaeologists.Stefano Curtarolo, associate professor of mechanical engineering and materials sciences and physics at Duke University; & Kristin Poduska, associate professor of physics at Memorial University in Newfoundland

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