Keeping the Conversation Flowing
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This week, we go wireless to explore the science of mobile phones. We hear how new error-correction techniques are promising to put an end to poor quality communications, we meet a new system that lets you borrow the antennae of other nearby phones to boost your data download rates, and a major study that's examining the potential health impacts associated with mobile phone use. Plus, in the news, the now not-so-anomalous Pioneer probe anomaly, the chemical cure that can flatten phobias and how a biased worm could overturn an election victory...
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A strange anomaly in the movement of the Pioneer probes may have been explained
Scientists have discovered that a dose of one of the body's own stress chemical, cortisol, can neutralise a fear of heights.
In last year’s general elections, we had the exciting spectacle of a leaders debate, and to help us get an idea of how well the speakers were doing, we could watch “the worm” - a real-time computer generated graph that showed how much a sub set of the audience approved or disapp...
Fridges that are powered by heat are being improved
A tissue dye, called ThT and used commonly in pathology labs to stain proteins, appears also to have significant life-lengthening effects in some species.
Some clouds can be identified easily from the ground. But when weather forecasters and academic researchers need a bit more detail, they turn to the Chilbolton Facility for Atmospheric and Radio Research in Hampshire. They can put the world’s largest fully steerable meteorolog...
Meera and Dave have been to Cambridge University’s Engineering Department to look at the research they’re doing there to improve the quality and reliability of mobile communications, and ensure a good signal whilst on the move...
As the power of mobile communication devices increases, they’re demanding progressively faster data transmission rates. One option is to install multiple antennae into a device, so that lots of streams of data can be handled in parallel. But this comes at the cost of size; or ...
If you were to use a mobile phone on an aeroplane, what would happen if you were passing between base stations at 500mph?
With mobile communications playing an increasingly major part in our lives, many people are worried about the potential health impacts of this technology. For this reason, a large study, called COSMOS, has been set up to track the ongoing health of 250,000 mobile phone users ov...
Can mobile phones really lead to cancer and other diseases?
I've always wanted to know why I can be standing still in the same spot, yet my reception can go from full bars to a low enough signal to drop a call for no reason.
Back in Kenya, we see cases where mobile phone masts are erected less than 10 meters to peoples homes: 1) What dangers if any are people exposed to in such scenarios? 2) Is there a safe distance? 3) What type of radiation is emitted by these masts and how do they affect our body ...
Why is it that when u don't have signal but can communicate to emergency numbers? Why can't cellphone use that channel?
Men shouldn't keep their cell phone in their front pocket because of testicle cancer, are there studies to confirm this?
How does a text message get to the other phone?
Hi there,
My mother-in-law has recently become preoccupied with the health risks of mobile phones and has sent links mentioning several studies. The studies not commissioned by phone manufacturers seem to show an increase in the risk of brain cancer from prolonged/heavy use. ...
Hi Dr Chris ,
I was listening to one of the "up all night" or dr karl podcasts that you were hosting and a user was asking why do we turn off mobile phones in hospitals and airplanes.
I have a story that may explain why this was necessary , but I assume that todays phone...
Why do all speakers make the same odd noise when they are near a ringing phone & intercept the signal?
I'm in Croatia and I'm having a debate with my friend about water heaters.
I have a water heater in my bathroom. I take on shower per day. I set it at just the right level so that it gives me just enough hot water for a 5-minute shower, no more. I turn on the boiler about 1-ho...
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