Science Interviews

The Centre of the Cell

This week saw the launch of the Centre of the Cell, a new children orientated science center located in the heart of Tower Hamlets in London. We sent Meera along to find out more...Professor Fran Balkwill of Queen Mary’s University, London; Fiona Haddesly Smith & Esmee, Petchley Academy; Helen Skelton, Blue Peter.

How Many Licks...?

How many licks does it take to eat a lollipop? How many ants would you need to carry a person? Aaron Santos' new book looks at the statistics of the everyday world, and how estimate nearly anything...Aaron Santos, University of Michigan

Greek Brothels Started at Home

We find out how life in the ancient Greek home wasn't just dinner and a game of Trivial Pursuit...Dr Clare Kelly-Blazeby, University of Leeds

Dating by Water Clock

There's a new method of archaeological dating in town and it doesn't involve wine or chocolate. Rehydroxylation could give carbon-14 the boot...Dr Moira Wilson, Construction Scientist, University of Manchester

Chemistry in its Element - Erbium

Where did spectroscopy come from? This week's element is erbium: an otherwise little-known substance with a luminous secret...Andrea Sella, UCL, Department of Chemistry

Explosive Chemistry with Dr Hal

This week's Explosive Chemistry with Dr Hal featured the following amazing experiments...Dr Hal, Brighton University

Cool Chemistry with Dr Hal

This week's Cool Chemistry with Dr Hal featured the following amazing experiments...Dr Hal, Brighton University

This week in science history - The eruption of Krakatoa

This week in science history saw, in 1883, the catastrophic eruption of Krakatoa in Indonesia. The eruption and subsequent pyroclastic flows and tsunami killed at least 40 thousand people, destroyed towns and villages and had effects on global climate for several years...Sarah Castor-Perry

Chemistry in its Element - Thallium

Thallium: the poisonous poison.Henry Nicholls, Freelance Science Journalist

Chemistry in its Element - Fluorine

This week, Kira Weissman explores the element that stops eggs sticking to frying pans and keeps astronauts safe in space, but can also be a vicious killer...Kira Weismann, Zaarland University

This week in science history - The discovery of Aspirin

This week in science history saw, in 1897, Felix Hoffman first synthesise a stable form of acetylsalicylic acid for medical use, better known as aspirin...Sarah Castor-Perry

Chemistry in its Element - Iodine

And now for the first chapter in a new series we're introducing on the show over the summer called Chemistry in its Element, from the Royal Society of Chemistry. In each episode we'll be hearing from a chemist who's taken a look at the more sinister side of one of the elements that make up the periodic table... This week it's the turn of UCL scientist Andrea Sella and is a story of cretins, firecrackers and clean water...Dr Andrea Sella, UCL

State of the art facility opens at the Babraham Institute

The Naked Scientists attended the opening of the new multi-million unit at the Babraham Insititute and bumped into Minister for Science, Lord Drayson.Lord Drayson, Science Minister

Open source software

Laura Soul finds out about the world of open source software and the release of a new open source operating system Google chrome OS.Michael Tiemann, OSI. Darren Strange, Microsoft. Don Marti, OSWC

This week in science history - the death of Otto Hahn

This week in science history saw, in 1968, the death of Otto Hahn, the German chemist who co-discovered nuclear fission, was a courageous opposer of Jewish persecution by the Nazis, a campaigner against the use of nuclear power as a weapon and is considered by many to be the father of nuclear chemistry...Sarah Castor-Perry

Moving Mountains

Why are mountain ranges so regularly spaced? Dr Taylor Perron explains...Taylor Perron, MIT, USA

Life Cycle of Rubbish

Can we make materials that will end up as better rubbish? John Williams takes us through the problems of the refuse life cycle.John Williams, Polymers and Materials Manager, National Non-Food Crops Centre

Rubbish Power

One company is unusual in creating 'secondary liquid fuel' using only our liquid waste. Richard Kirkman tells us more...Richard Kirkman, Veolia Environmental Services

The Sins of Waste into Syngas

One option for using our waste for good is to turn it into 'Syngas' which can be used as fuel, Peter Jones explains how this is done...Peter Jones, Waste2Tricity

Jockeys Stance Shaves Seconds

It turns out that the jockey's amusing posture has some serious physics behind it. Andrew Spence tells us more...Dr Andrew Spence, Royal Veterinary College