This month we investigate the role Diamond can play in industrial research to reveal how synchrotron radiation can help the pharmaceutical industry to enhance the activity of certain drugs, and also how these X-rays can help develop more efficient catalysts to clean up our car exhausts. All that plus the latest news and events from the Diamond Light Source.
In this podcast from the February Cafe Scientifique in Cambridge, we look out deep into our universe to investigate our place in the cosmos. We meet event speaker Dr Carolin Crawford to find out how astronomers look out into our universe and what they understand about our stars and galaxies so far. We also answer your questions such as how much of our universe we can see and what dark matter and dark energy are. Plus, we also investigate the likeliness of other life out in space! All that plus a heads up on what to look forward to at the March event.
Can brain scanners enable us to open a new channel of communication with patients apparently in persistent vegetative states? Brain researcher Adrian Owen, from the Cambridge MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, explains how an experiment with fMRI revealed that a head injured, vegetative state patient could communicate: by changing his thoughts...
In this podcast from the January Cafe Scientifique in Cambridge, we look into the threat of emerging infections to find out where they come from, how they spread and how they become a pandemic. We bring you the main presentation by virologist Dr. Chris Smith as well as your questions on the threat of pandemics such as SARS returning, concerns about HIV and Tuberculosis, and whether swine flu is something to worry about. All that plus a heads up on what to look forward to at the February event!
This month, we step away form the research and bring you the science behind the synchrotron! We investigate how a machine like Diamond is designed to create X-ray beams that are stable down at the micron level, as well as reveal how the high speed electrons are controlled and manipulated to produce intense beams of light. Plus we bring you the latest news and events, including how scientists are using Diamond for earlier diagnosis of lung cancer!
In this 2009 Royal College of Pathologists National Pathology Week podcast we explore the process of getting a new heart. We find out why you may need a transplant, who is involved and why this relatively simple operation needs a team of pathologists, coordinators and surgeons.
In this 2009 Royal College of Pathologists National Pathology Week podcast, we get a behind-the-scenes view of a heart attack. Through a virtual autopsy, and dissection of a pig’s heart, we learn more about this incredible organ and how it can go wrong. With the help of pathologists and cardiologists we get to the heart of the genetics, biochemistry and anatomy of cardiac disease.
In this 2009 Royal College of Pathologists National Pathology Week podcast we find out why thinking "heart" could save a baby's life. We'll examine three heart conditions - duct-dependent lesions, viral myocarditis and arrhythmias - and find out why these go unidentified in many babies, often with tragic consequences. Parents, nurses and pediatricans join the Royal College of Pathologists to raise awareness and encourage us all to "Think Heart".
In this 2009 Royal College of Pathologists National Pathology Week podcast, we look at the art and ethics of modern healthcare. We hear how the structure of the heart has inspired works of art and we take a dip in the murky waters of medical ethics: who has the right to decide if a teenage boy should be given a new heart?
This is the archive of the Cambridge Cafe Scientifique Nanofood event. Join us to hear the entire presentation about how nanotechnology gets into your food, as well as your questions on the benefits of Nanofoods, whether Nanofoods have a role in a heathy balanced diet and the problems with classification and testing.
In this special podcast we join the Triple Helix Society for a Cafe Scientifique. We explore how nanotechnology gets into your food, the benefits of Nanofoods and the problems with classification and testing. The Triple Helix Cambridge Cafe Scientifique is sponsored by the Medical Research Council, and this podcast was produced with support from the Learning Revolution.
This month, we peer into the world of engineering to see how scientists are exploring and improving materials for industry, including how the structure of metals can be modified for greater resilience and how an understanding of corrosion could be crucial for the storage of nuclear waste. Plus, we investigate how to prevent crack formation in aeronautical materials as well as bring you the latest news and events from Diamond.
This month, we dig deep into the world of archaeology to learn how scientists at Diamond are investigating our cultural heritage. We find out how scanning samples of the Dead Sea Scrolls can help decipher them, how probing timber from the Mary Rose can improve its conservation and how studying pigments in paintings could protect major pieces of art!
This week historian Sandra Herbert tells how she retraced Darwin's footsteps to the Galapagos in search of rock samples to prove his volcanic theories were right. Two recent expeditions to Isla Santiago (formerly James Island) show that Darwin wasn't just a ground-breaking biologist but also a pioneering theorist in igneous petrology...
What challenges do science journalists face in the developing world? In this special documentary covering the Development strand of the World Conference of Science Journalists, we discuss the challenges of getting the right coverage for your region, and how to find credible sources without neglecting the trailblazers. Plus, the big issue of Climate Change and how to link researchers with journalists...
What is the Internet, new technology and increasing citizen journalism doing to the world of science publishing and reporting? In this special documentary from the 2009 World Conference of Science Journalists, London, Chris Smith talks to the reporters at the leading edge of the new media wave, as well as freelancers who are worried they might get washed away by the tide of content...
This week we're in conversation with Sir Terry Pratchett, author of the multi-million selling Discworld series. We find out what inspired 'The Science of Discworld 3: Darwin's Watch', get Richard Dawkins into holy orders and explore a world without Darwin...
The Wellcome Trust supported a series of events discussing the reporting of biomedical science at the World Conference of Science Journalists. Kat Arney takes us through the opportunities, responsibilities and controversies of biomedical science in the media...
5th Aug 2009
- The World Conference of Science Journalists Summary
See the sights of the World Conference of Science Journalists, meet some of the delegates and discover the key themes discussed throughout the week. From the importance of communicating science well, through to frivolous (but desirable) USB earrings, we get a snapshot of what the World Conference of Science Journalists was like to attend.
This week we're in conversation with Nobel laureate Sir John Sulston, the man behind the human genome project. He tells how he went from chemist to biologist to work on a tiny worm, C. elegans, that laid the foundations for the sequencing of the human genome.
Poet and Darwin-descendent Ruth Padel talks about how the history books led her to write "Darwin, a life in poems", an anthology of fifteen poems charting the major events of Darwin's life. Here she talks to Chris Smith about how her life was influenced by growing up as the great great granddaughter of Darwin, and how she came to write this poetry collection recognising Darwin's bicentenary.
Award winning Canadian hip hop artist Baba Brinkman brings us his Rap Guide to Evolution, an hour of clever, witty and scientifically accurate rhymes that will have you seeing Darwin from a whole new perspective. Baba explores the history and current understanding of Darwin's theory, combining hilarious remixes of popular rap songs with clever lyrical storytelling that covers Natural Selection, Artificial Selection, Sexual Selection, Group Selection, Unity of Common Descent, and Evolutionary Psychology.
We tie up the Darwin Festival with predictions on global warming and the future of the human species. Plus, we find out about cultural selection and how tricky it is putting together an exhibition on science and fine art!
The fourth day brings together geologists and an exploration of Darwin's early scientific forays. We also find out how we have the power to solve climate change in a generation, why we should make friends with yeast and how the Obama government will promote science research.
Day three of the festival and if you’ve ever wondered what a Darwin rap sounds like, this show is for you. We also explore Darwin’s foibles, nice scientists, first cousin marriages and evolutionary poetry.
We catch up with festival attendees and speakers on the second day of the Darwin Festival at Cambridge. Today we search for the origins of religion, meet the man who got the Human Genome Project going and speak to Sir Terry Pratchett about shaved cats...
This week sees Cambridge University celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. Each day our team will bring you highlights from the events and exhibitions that make up the Darwin Festival. Today Richard Dawkins explains why scientists can’t practise religion, we hear how butterflies imitate each other to survive and discover the genes that separate us from chimps!
This month we peer into the nanoworld to find out how synchotrons can assist in the development of a new way to store data and revolutionise computer memory. We also hear how the chemical by-products of bacteria can be used to make industry good deal greener and we bring you a round-up of the latest news from the light source, including the launch of 2 new beamlines.
In this final podcast from the WCSJ we discuss the public image of the pharmaceutical industry and the role of the media in shaping public opinion, as well as debate the use of the embargo system in science journalism. Continuing the investigation into the role of new media, we look into the impact of the science blogger.
Today we reveal the winner of the bid to host the next WCSJ conference in 2011 as well as discuss the role of public relations and investigative journalism in the media. Plus we debate if the British Media know their science!
In Todays podcast we hear about the current state of science journalism in countries like the US and predict the future of the profession given the increasing emergence of new media such as online news and social network sites. Plus we find out the hurdles science journalists have to overcome in developing countries and how they tackle reporting on sensitive topics such as creationism.
The World Conference of Science Journalists is an international gathering of science journalists from across the globe who have come together to debate and discuss the scientific issues affecting the world today and how they should be reported. In this first podcast we bring you the highlights from the pre-conference workshops and meet some of the conference delegates at the media party to find out what they hope to get from the week ahead.
Join us each day to find out the best bits the conference had to offer, to ensure you don't miss a thing!
This special podcast celebrates the World Hepatitis Day events held at Birmingham University. We find out why World Hepatitis Day is so important, hear about the latest clinical and scientific developments, and find out how it feels to live with the disease.
This month we find out how the Diamond synchrotron is revolutionising research in the life sciences. We hear how the synchrotron's beamlines are helping to identify potential treatments for foot and mouth disease as well as uncovering the causes and new ways to diagnose Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease. We also touch on the latest news from Diamond, including the announcements made at this year's AAAS conference in Chicago.
Welcome to the first Diamond Light Source podcast! This month we introduce the Diamond Synchrotron: what is it, what can it do, and how does it work? Plus we also catch up with some of the key research that took place in 2008, including revelations about the composition of comets and the secret soil-cleaning powers of the humble earthworm.
