Medicine Interviews

How to Live Longer

You may be surprised to hear that some very simple lifestyle changes can extend your life by 14 years! We find out how to live longer...Nick Wareham, MRC's Epidemiology Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital

Surprise Attack - Stopping Bacteria from Sensing your Immune Response

Some bacteria sense an immune response, and then become hyper-virulent. This means that treatment with antibiotics could make an infection worse! Now, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Centre have found a way to block the bacteria from sensing our response...Vanessa Sperandio, Southwestern Medical Centre, University of Texas

The Problem with Clostridium difficile

Clostridium difficile bacteria account for many cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, and currently causes 7000 deaths per year - but where did it come from, and why does it present such a problem for hospitals?Sani Aliyu, Addenbrookes Hospital

A Vaccine for MRSA

The bacterium MRSA has been the big villain of hospital acquired infections – it’s resistant to common antibacterial drugs, it seems to infect otherwise healthy people, and it’s spread into the community. But now, scientists in Boston, have spotted a chink in it’s armour – and potentially a way to make a vaccine...Gerald Pier, Harvard Medical School

Preparing the Heart for Attack

In some cases, the human heart can be 'pre-conditioned', and as such can withstand the damage of a heart attack. Now, researchers have found a way to re-create pre-conditioning, and possibly save lives...Daria Mochly-Rosen, Stanford University

The Beer Goggles - Does Alcohol make people more attractive?

People have long suspected that drinking alcohol makes people seem more attractive, but now, scientists at Bristol University have proof of the 'beer goggle' effect...Marcus Munafo, Bristol University

Treating Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related Macular Degeneration, or AMD, remains the most common cause of blindness in the UK, with little hope for treatment. The London Project to Cure Blindness are researching stem cell techniques that could see the end of AMD...Pete Coffey, UCL, and Lynden da Cruz, Moorfields Eye Hospital

The Power of Imagination

What is imagination, and what's it for? We find out how imagination lets us learn from mistakes we've never made, and how things are never quite as bad as we imagine...Daniel Gilbert, Harvard University

Hallucinations and Delusions in Schizophrenia

Hallucinations and delusions resulting from schizophrenia are scientifically fascinating, but poorly understood and devastating for those affected. Dr Paul Fletcher is leading the charge to discover more about the roots of the disease...Dr Paul Fletcher, Clare College

Artificial tongue could improve speech recognition

An animatronic tongue created by scientists at the University of Sheffield could help us understand how speech is produced and so help to create better voice recognition software. We spoke to Professor Roger Moore to find out a bit more...Roger Moore

The Search for New Drugs

Dr Harren Jhoti founded Astex Therapeutics in 1999. We chatted to him to find out what happens in the process of finding new drugs.Dr Harren Jhoti, Astex Therapeutics

Discovering Drugs from Bugs

Melanie McCullagh from Biotica tells us how they are fighting diseases using chemicals found in bacteria.Melanie McCullagh, Biotica Technology

Performance Enhancing Drugs

We’ve seen the news stories in previous Olympic tournaments where athletes have been caught using performance enhancing drugs, such as steroids, to increase their chances of winning their event. But how much of a boost is this really giving them? We’ve got Professor Chris Cooper from the University of Essex with us now to tell us more.Professor Chris Cooper, University of Essex

Cracking Down on Cheating Athletes

How are sport officials cracking down on athletes using the wide range of drugs available to boost their performance, including the natural chemicals in use? We’ve got Jonathon Danaceau from the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Lab at the University of Utah to give us the answers.John Danaceau, Sports Medicine and Testing Lab, University of Utah

Running with Sports Technology

Another method often used by athletes to reach their peak performance is to use the best equipment or clothing on the market. Whether it’s the lightest bicycle or the toughest tennis racket, having the best equipment on your side can make a real difference. So we sent Meera Senthilingam along to Loughborough University, the home of sports science, to find out why this makes a difference.Dan Toon and Tom Waller, Loughborough University

Cleaner Keyboards Prevent MRSA

Do you ever eat at your desk at work? It may worry you that your computer keyboard is a hotbed of bacteria, but even more worrying is the fact that keyboards in hospital wards also house bacteria. Dr Peter Wilson is from University College London Hospital, and he’s taken steps to ensure that the keyboards in his hospital will be much cleaner...Dr Peter Wilson, University College London Hospital

Finding Forgotten Fingerprints

Forensic scientists have announced a major breakthrough in crime detection which could lead to hundreds of cold cases being reopened, finding fingerprints on metal even after they've been washed off...Dr John Bond

Bacteria and Bad Breath

Your mouth is home to millions of bacteria - some of them cause bad breath, or could lead to infections elsewhere in the body - but why are they there?Marcello Riggio, Glasgow University

Inside the Intestines

We've heard about 'good bacteria' but what role do they really play in our intestinesGemma Walton, Reading University

Kitchen Science - Food Poisoning and Passing Bacterial Wind

Campylobacter is the most likely cause of food poisoning in the UK, but how does it make us ill? And can flatulence transmit bacteria, just like a cough or sneeze?Simon Park, University of Surrey