Science Interviews

The Hallmarks of Cancer

10 years ago, a seminal paper entitled “The Hallmarks of Cancer” was published in the journal Cell, examining the state of the nation in cancer research. Now, the authors - Douglas Hanahan and Robert Weinberg - are addressing the National Cancer Research Institute's Annual Conference with an update... Professor Robert Weinberg, MIT

Planet Earth Online - Supercooled Water

Now, here’s an easy science question: What temperature does water freeze at? Zero degrees, right? Actually, that’s not necessarily the case and scientists at the University of Leeds believe that supercooled water may be implicated in the crash landing of the British Airways 777 jet at Heathrow in 2008...Richard Hollingham, Planet Earth Online and Ben Murray, Leeds 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

Global MPAs - latest update

A new book provides the latest stats on how much of the oceans are currently protected and we find out whether global targets have been met.Mark Spalding, The Nature Conservancy

An English perspective on MPAs

Jen Ashworth from Natural England gives us the low down on a series of new MPAs that are soon to appear around the English coastline.Jen Ashworth, Natural England

Planet Earth - Sniffing the Atmosphere

Predicting how the Earth’s climate is likely to change is one of the toughest challenges facing science, one that as we know is not without its controversies. To build accurate simulations of the climate, scientists need raw data and Planet Earth podcast presenter Richard Hollingham has been to Scotland to meet researchers sniffing the air...Richard Hollingham with John Moncrieff, University of Edinburgh

National Pathology Week

Dr Suzy Lishman joined us this week to introduce National Pathology Week 2010, and to answer your questions on pathology...Dr Suzy Lishman, Royal College of Pathologists

One in Five Sun-like stars have Earth-like Planets

Dr Andrew Howard explains how their observations suggest that up to one in five stars like our Sun may have Earth-like planets orbiting them. We find out why this doesn't increase the likelihood of finding life, but may make us question some of the theories about planet formation...Dr Andrew Howard, University of California, Berkely

Developing an HIV Vaccine

When HIV was first discovered about 30 years ago, there was significant optimism that we’d soon have a vaccine with which we could tackle that problem. But three decades later, there still isn’t one and to explain why, and how he’s trying to solve the problem, from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Maryland, is Peter Kwong...Dr Peter Kwong, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Assembling HIV - How HIV uses your own cellular mechanics

HIV is the agent that causes AIDS and is responsible for probably the worst pandemic that human kind has ever encountered. According to UNAIDS, there were up to 36 million people living with the virus in 2008 and in that same year, there were about 7,500 new HIV infections occurring every single day, and about 7,000 people dying of HIV related illnesses every day. If we’re to halt the spread of this disease, we need to understand the detailed workings of this virus, in order to develop new drugs and vaccines, and one scientist who’s working on how the virus hijacks our cells is Mark Marsh from University College London..Dr Mark Marsh, University College London

Naked Engineering - Engineering with Lego!

This year, Cambridge University Engineering students had the chance to re-live their childhood, and play with Lego in lessons! Meera and Dave found out more...Andrew Gee and engineering students, Cambridge University

Planet Earth - Measuring Earth's Magnetic Field

The Earth is under constant bombardment by a 1 million mile per hour maelstrom of charged particles that continuously stream out of the Sun. We’re protected from this solar wind by the Earth’s magnetic field luckily, but a sudden surge in solar activity can nonetheless overcome this protective shield, leading to damage the satellites and power lines. A dramatic example of this occurred in the mid-1800s and Planet Earth podcast presenter Richard Hollingham went to meet Geomagnetist Alan Thompson in the archives of the British Geological Survey in Edinburgh to uncover magnetic records from the event...Alan Thompson, British Geological Survey

The Most Distant Object Ever Confirmed

Astronomers have confirmed the sighting of the most distant galaxy ever recorded. It's light was emitted when the universe was in it's infancy, only 600 million years old, and has travelled for over 13 billion years to reach us. Professor Malcolm Bremer explains it's significance to Ben Valsler...Professor Michael Bremer, Bristol University

The Rolls-Royce Science Prize

This week, the winner of the Rolls-Royce Annual Science Prize was announced during a special ceremony held at the science museum in London. Chris Smith was there to hear who won...Prof. Rick Parker, Vaughan Lewis & Neil Glover, Rolls-Royce, Robert Aspden, Teesdale School

Terminating Turbulence in Tubes

Turbulence occurs in fluids and one way we often transport fluids around is in pipes. Tobias Schneider from Harvard explains that in order to reduce turbulence in pipes, it helps to add some turbulence to the mix...Tobias Schneider, Harvard University

What is Turbulence?

When most people hear the word ‘turbulence’ they immediately think of being thrown around inside an airplane and perhaps, needing to use those little paper bags that they supply us with. But the way that it affects flights is just one aspect of a very large and a very complicated subject, as I found out when I spoke to Dr. Fred Marquis from Imperial College London.Dr Fred Marquis, Imperial College London

Naked Engineering - Natural Ventilation

Meera and Dave explore how the principles of convection can be manipulated to cool down, and warm up, our buildings...Alan Short, Andy Woods, BP Institute

Planet Earth - Plastics on the Beach

Walk along any beach almost anywhere in the world and you'll find plastics washed up on the shore. From plastic bags to lighters, bottle tops to flip-flops. Plastics have even turned up on the coast of Antarctica! But it’s not only the visual effect of this human detritus that’s a problem. Plastics actually carry pollutants and even life around the globe, sometimes having serious consequences. Planet Earth podcast presenter Richard Hollingham joined David Barnes from the British Antarctic Survey on the Pebble Beach in the wind and rain sadly at Cley in North Norfolk...David Barnes, British Antarctic Survey

Protecting the oceans

The Census is also a vital tool to help raise ocean awareness and inform policy makers to help protect the oceans.Kristina Gjerde, IUCN

What the future holds

The big question raised by the Census of Marine Life is, "What next?"Paul Snelgrove, Boris Worm, Enric Sala