Saving endangered species is vital for a healthy planet and cloning individual animals can help. Ellie and Laura look at the black-footed ferret, discuss some other endangered species that cloning is helping to save, and look at the history and challenges of cloning. Fact check: Cloning the black-footed ferret Prairie dogs A history of cloning Controversy around claims of human cloning Dolly the sheep Endangered wild sheep in the Mediterranean

When you care about sustainability, you can bet that becomes your focus. Laura and Antonia look at how to solve climate change through social engineering and behavioural science that involves brain chemistry as well as solving the problem of having finite resources that create inequality. Fact check: MRI scans can lead to better understanding of the brain One gene variation can affect serotonin signalling in the brain

We’re using more energy and in the UK a lot of this goes into heating or cooling our homes but can we use natural processes to make this happen? Laura, Rwayda and Antonia discuss how using traditional clay in the Caribbean keeps houses cool while a smart architect in India has used fundamental physics to achieve the same feat. In the UK, passive houses with thick insulation are a thing but could we use these smart ideas to work with natural processes, rather than against them? Fact check: Building houses out of clay in the Caribbean The science behind why clay is cooler than concrete Using thermodynamics and natural wind direction to keep a house in India cool What makes a passive house

In the UK it feels like winters are getting warmer but the entire year is usually rainy. We remember things being a bit different when we were younger. Laura, Antonia and Ellie discuss evidence for changing of the seasons and look at the effect this has globally on extreme events such as wildfires, animal migration and plant growth. They also look at some research that identified new seasons and suggests humans should change their relationship with them. Fact check: Seasons on a social level Summers getting hotter in the northern hemisphere Wildfire season in California is almost all year round New record high temperature in continental Europe There is less difference between UK summers and winters now compared to the 1700s Mouse-ear cress could be better adapted to warmer winters than we thought Some crops need a cold spell Some species of wales are altering their migration patterns Trees lose their leaves because falling temperatures halt chlorophyll production

A special type of in-vitro fertilisation, that uses material from three people, has made some interesting headlines recently. Laura and Ellie discuss the technique and consider some of the major advancements that went into in-vitro fertilisation, also known as creating test-tube babies, and uncover some surprising facts. Did you know that research began in the 19th century?  Fact check: Recent news coverage with what we think is a sensible headline News on the first baby born using the three-parent technique What mitochondria do The role of mitochondria during fertilisation Some scientific background on eggs and the role of the cytoplasm More information on the cytoplasm The history of IVF A journal publication summarising some of the advancements in IVF Some more history of IVF A blog about safety and ethics Even more history of IVF News on the latest research using IVF to save an extinct species

From unintentional acidification to fishing and conservation, there’s a lot going on. Antonia, Laura and Ellie talk about the link between greenhouse gas emissions and changing ocean chemistry which is affecting the delicate balance of marine life, speculate about what a rather nifty deep-sea research station could uncover as well as how biochemistry discovered in the deep sea has already proven useful, and discuss why trawling the sea bed for food is bad whereas marine conservation can actually be beneficial for the fishing industry. Fact check: An opinion piece about how the problem of acid rain was solved Some details about removing nitrogen oxides from industrial process emissions News about acid rain and PFAS (forever chemicals) Specific news about clown fish More news about clown fish, this time looking at their sense of smell Another news article: deep sea exploration in the South China Sea Information on cold seeps Some novel discoveries from biochemistry in the deep sea that we’ve found a use for More fishy news: Marine animals flee from trawlers Even more news: Marine conservation can benefit the fishing industry

It’s due to be retired on 2030 when it will crash back to Earth so was it worth it? Ellie, Antonia and Laura look at just some of the scientific discoveries it’s helped with, including the many processes involved in ageing, getting a clearer understanding of how plaques form in the brain, the fundamental physics of water boiling and some nifty science of scent molecules. Fact check: Cost of keeping the ISS alive Low gravity water boiling The NPR article Laura mentioned which gives an overview of the ISS  Research using bed rest as an alternative to microgravity Research using random orientation machines to simulate microgravity Research proposed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to look at a straightforward partial explanation of how bone and muscle loss accelerates ageing A study that mentions cells respond to mechanical forces NASA’s 20 breakthroughs, which mentions research in to plaques that form in the brain    

New research has found a startling link between types of bacteria that live in our gut and whether we become addicted to food. Laura, Jasmin and Emma discuss this, wonder about the connection between the gut and the brain which seems to provide two way communication, and speculate about the challenges of doing this research as well as what the future might hold. Fact check: The research that shows the correlation between gut microbe communities and addiction A quick summary of some ways the gut and brain communicate The gut-brain connection and some clinical trials that have shown probiotics can affect your mood How your immune system is involved

Tech has advanced rapidly and the future hold exciting possibilities, even some of the stuff that’s now obsolete was pretty nifty. Ellie, Laura and Antonia start off by looking at cathode ray tubes, which are a pretty old way of generating moving pictures. They also look at the large hadron collider and consider what sort of technology we might have in the future, whether that is teleportation or autonomous plants. Fact check: Particle acceleration at CERN The particle accelerator with the largest circumference National Health Service advice on mobile phone safety Research to give plants the power to feed themselves

Why would you do it and how does it compare to other alternatives to cow hide? Ellie, Laura and Antonia look at the process of growing skin in the lab to turn in to leather, so-called vegan alternatives, and what animal skins you can make leather from. They also consider ethics and sustainability. Are we better off continuing to make leather from livestock or should humanity pursue alternatives? Fact check: News about making T-rex leather because the collagen has endured for millions of years A scientific journal review article about lab-grown leather Vegan alternatives to leather A journal article comparing the properties of alternatives to traditional leather Leather as a by-product of the meat industry Sustainable leather made from invasive fish Historic walrus leather boats

Taking a deeper dive into the biology behind how cows produce methane, and the two methods being researched to reduce production. Jasmin and Laura discuss feed additives, the importance of hydrogen and the various ways it can be used to make things that aren't methane. They also review some genetics research that focusses on the microbiome and how hereditable traits of the cow can influence it. They draw on experience of chemical engineering to consider how the microbiome can be optimised for energy production in the same way that you'd optimise an anaerobic digestion plant. Fact check: An overview of the main biochemical pathways in the microbiome Research into how to optimise the microbiome to utilise food more efficiently Research showing that using a food suppliment that includes 3-NOP and fumarate is beneficial in reducing methane emissions A quick summary of one research group's take on probiotics and why they're developing sensors to go inside a cow Researchers in Scotland look at genetics of the microbiome to understand how its affected by the cow's own genetics

With an audience from the Engineering Development Trust’s virtual routes to STEM course, Laura, Emma, Antonia and Rwayda talk about their diverse careers in physics and engineering to find common ground. They talk about how they chose what to study at university and provide details on what some engineers do beyond applying scientific principles to solve a challenge. Emma talks about how a degree in physics led her to study a doctorate in DNA and cancer, Antonia explains how chemical engineering led her to help companies make more sustainable energy choices and Rwayda talks about how a desire to build things led her to become a university lecturer in civil engineering. Laura talks about her varied career path that partly involved studying physics, becoming a nuclear scientist, working with engineers,  supervising project management students in a civil engineering department at university, and working as a science communications specialist.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas which contributes to the climate emergency. Intensive farming can lead to cows contributing significantly to levels of this gas in the atmosphere. Antonia, Ellie and Jasmin discuss the latest research to reduce the amount of methane cows produce through burps and flatulence. They look at additives to cow feed, using seaweed as an alternative feed, and selectively breeding the cows. They consider whether people should eat less meat and look at cultural and geographical challenges to doing so. Fact check: Estimates of greenhouse gas emissions from livestock vary The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shows that methane has 81 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide Here’s how cows produce methane as part of their digestion News about the Bovaera additive produces by Arla News about Hilda the cow, selectively bred over 16 generations to produce less methane Denmark’s plan to introduce a tax for cows The article Ellie mentions in The Conversation

Most clothes are made of a mix of natural and synthetic fibres which makes them difficult to recycle back into clothing once they’re worn out. Antonia and Laura discuss an exciting new research project that has separated four different types of fibre from a single scrap of cloth using microwaves. They compare this to an alternative method which uses enzymes found in bacteria to recycle polyester and consider what these efforts might mean for a future circular economy where clothing is infinitely recyclable. Will we ditch cotton and start wearing completely synthetic fibres? Fact check: Research using microwaves, and a news article about it The latest news on using enzymes to break down polyester (PET). A perspective on using enzymes to recycle PET, published in a biochemistry journal The pilot plant operated by Carbios, that Antonia mentions News about mountains of clothing waste in the Atacama Desert

And what does it take to win an award for it? Ellie, Rwayda and Laura discuss the Dalian Bay Undersea Tunnel in China which won Global Project of the Year 2024 for its novel construction methods and use of first-of-a-kind technologies, including floating giant concrete tubes into the bay to submerge and then connect them, an on-site laboratory so that experiments can inform the construction, and use of sensors in the specially developed cement which is designed to last an impressive 100 years in the fridgid water of the bay. References: Read about why it was awared Global Project of the Year in Engineering News-Record News coverage on chinadaily.com More news coverage at ctgn.com A journal article about testing the special design of cement which used the manufactured sand

Science is always finding new ways to harness nature. Antonia, Ellie and Laura discuss what the blood from a certain type of sea creature is used for, and how scorpion venom is being studied for a whole host of medical research. They also look at Pangolin scales used to treat some ailments and a giant tuna which sold for a small fortune, but might not necessarily be worth their price tag. Fact check: The cost of crab blood The news article from NPR about crab blood Facts about bacterial toxins News about scorpion venom More news about scorpion venom The journal article explaining the many potential uses of scorpion venom Pangolin scales in the news Some behavioural science used by the UK Government communications service to help change behaviours, which underscores Antonia and Laura's perspectives Possibly the world's most expensive tuna

And can natural genetic changes lead us to develop superpowers? Laura, Emma and Jasmin talk about different natural processes can lead to mutations, how our bodies detect and repair some mutations, and how some changes can lie hidden. The article that inspired this episode: We are all genetic mosaics, from Knowable Magazine. Fact check:How many cells are in the adult human bodyHow long it takes for most cells in the human body to divideSome more background on cell divisionThe DNA molecular clockRepair mechanisms during normal cell functionDifferent types of DNA damageEvidence for repairs taking less than a second, simple repairs taking minutes, and more complex taking hours as well as research that mentions why more complex repairs take longer.Mutations you might want

The UK has plans to change how drinks containers are collected from consumers for recycling, but recent news stories indicate that glass could be excluded from this scheme. Laura, Antonia and Jasmin discuss what responsibilities packaging producers have, how glass and plastic are currently recycled, and consider what changes need to be made. There were a lot of references in this fact-filled episode: Government target for recycling rates at gov.uk Amounts of litter, from Keep Britain Tidy (2020) Household recycling rates, from gov.uk Amount that a deposit return scheme can reduce littering by, from Actions to Protect Rural Scotland A report stating cost savings of a deposit return scheme, from DEFRA Statistics on local authority costs, from gov.uk Evidence from European Union countries on the deposit return scheme News article about charges that could be applied to glass bottle producers, in The Chronicle An overview of the Extended Producer Responsibility, from Ecoveritas Potential fees to be paid by companies under the extended producer responsibility scheme, suggested by UK government The main steps in plastic recycling using mechanical methods, from the British Plastics Federation The journal article Laura mentions where sorting facilities were analysed, in the journal Waste Management An overview of some chemical recycling method, from the British Plastics Federation Some more information on chemical recycling, from CAS – a division of the American Chemical Society Legislation on minimum recycled plastic content, from gov.uk The journal article Jasmin refers to when considering glass recycling rates, in the journal Sustainable Futures Articles explaining glass quality limitations from BBC Future and British Glass The energy saving by using recycled glass to make new glass bottles, from the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Is the internet really a useful tool for learning or is it a place where you shouldn’t believe what you see or read? Laura, Antonia and Ellie discuss what they have learned online, from detailed scientific information to practical skills like fixing a bicycle, and what they struggle to find. Laura and Ellie also share their insight as professional science communicators while Antonia explains how she finds information in her job as an energy analyst where she focusses on sustainability. There's a lot of information out there, but how useful is it and is everything that humanity knows easy to find online? If you'd like to help us celebrate one hundred episodes, we'd love it if you left us a tip.

What is cyber hacking and what can we do about it? Jasmin, Ellie and Antonia explore the different types of cyber hacking, compare it to the movies, and consider whether it can ever be ethical or "good"? They also discuss the best ways to combat cyber-attacks personally, and what companies are doing to protect us and their client information.