Explore every episode of the podcast scientists at work

The First World War, that began in 1914, put chemists to work. Their chemicals could harm as well as heal ... but on balance the outcome was ... horrific. As the author of two books about the First World War, Dr Michael Freemantle explains chemistry was the destructive force in the war but it also protected the troops, and healed the wounded. Scroll down for the recording. Additional notes by Roger Frost - with thanks to Dr Freemantle.  Attitudes to chemical warfare back then: At one point chemical weapons were considered by the British to be a MORE humane way to kill people. A speech recorded at the USA National Center for Biotechnology Information suggests that the use of chemical weapons may best be understood by listening to the scientists who had firsthand knowledge of their development. Writing in the late 1960s, chemist James Conant, who directed US GAS production during World War One, said: To me, the development of new and more gases seemed no more immoral that the manufacture of explosives and guns. . . . I did not see in 1917 . . . why tearing a man’s guts out by high explosive shell is to be preferred to maiming him by chemicals attacking his lungs or skin. All war is immoral. On the German side, Otto Hahn, a future Nobel prize winner in chemistry, was recruited by Fritz Haber to the German chemical weapons program. Otto Hahn went to the eastern front to see the capabilities of this new weapon. The experience left him profoundly shaken: "I was very ashamed and deeply agitated. First we attacked the Russian soldiers with our gas, and then, when we saw the poor chaps lying on the ground slowing dying, we restored their breathing with our rescue equipment. The total insanity of war became obvious to us. First one attempts to eliminate the unknown enemy in his trench, but when one comes face to face with him, one cannot bear it and sets about helping him. Yet often we could no longer save the poor victims". Metal helmets – what are they for? For the first couple of years of World War I, none of the countries provided steel helmets to their troops. Soldiers of most nations went into battle wearing cloth caps that offered no protection. German troops wore that pointy German hat, the leather Pickelhaube. The lethal head wounds inflicted by on the French led them to introduce the steel helmet in 1915. The head injury puzzle It was not until 1916, two years into the war that metal helmets were issued to all the British. But after they introduced metal helmets, the War Office was amazed to discover that the incidence of head injuries increased. So why should the number of head injuries increase when men wore metal helmets rather than cloth caps? The answer is that if a man arrived alive at the field hospital with a head wound, he would be listed as head wound, but if the man was dead, he would be listed as ‘dead’. Introducing metal helmets decreased the number listed as dead, but increased the number listed as head wound. recorded 13/10/2014. Dr Michael Freemantle has written: The Chemists’ War: 1914-1918 Gas Gas! Gas! Quick, Boys: How Chemistry Changed the First World War The Long Purr: a tale of two strays (2021) Amazon link

A podcast about the science of food crops. The growing world population leads to a demand to farm the land several times more effectively than we used to. But growing crops comes with risks. The farmer wants a guarantee that their efforts bear fruit. Consumers obviously want a guarantee that their food is free from harmful extras. What can be done to ensure the farmer’s crop succeeds? And what is being done to ensure our food is safe to eat? Roger Frost talks with Dr Julian Little, a crop specialist at world leading science company Bayer Crop Science in Cambridge date 26/07/2014 Find advice on pests, weeds, new seeds and plant diseases at www.bayercropscience.co.uk Facts on Bayer, the company at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayer Tagged 105science, biology, Cambridge Science Centre, Daniel Edward, environment, gm crops, herbicide, nature, organic food, pesticide, Roger Frost

With many different types of guitars, we find out how much more is involved in the sound we get from various models, and whether or not this impacts on the price. Are we just paying for a brand name or the association with a particular musician? Today’s guest is Graham Buxton, a name that local music fans and musicians will recognise from a long musical pedigree. Graham has spent many years advising new musicians as to the pros and cons of each instrument. Neil asks Graham about the kind of guitars that are available. If it is perhaps true that we are paying for a brand, there is a level of quality which is behind the names which accounts towards the price. That is the case whether we’re talking about tools, foods or fashions for example. 11/10/2014 105science, Neil Ainsby, physics, Roger Frost, science education, technology, guitar, sound

Dr Chris Creese and Roger Frost tour the LMB-MRC open day exhibition and learn about body clocks and worms. Follow-up link Read more at Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology www.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk

The topic is how we make the eggs that make our babies or in other words: meiosis in mammalian oocytes. Molecular biology research happens at the Medical Research Council lab of Molecular Biology in Cambridge. The LMB houses 50 research groups and over 400 scientists and one of the groups is led by scientist Dr Melina Schuh. Roger Frost was intrigued to know why we need to know more about making babies, so he asked Melina.

The Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge is credited for landmark discoveries and cutting-edge techniques. This podcast offers an overview of what the LMB do. On the occasion of the Medical Research Council centenary, and a visit by HRH The Queen, Roger Frost speaks with the director of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Sir Hugh Pelham about the kind of research they undertake. We find out how the LMB choose what’s worth investigating. 29/06/2013

We talk with Peter Barham, a professor of ‘Molecular Gastronomy’ about what his delicious subject entails. He wrote the book “The Science of Cooking”. His idea is that “a kitchen is like science laboratory” and that cookery is indeed an experimental science. Professor Barham has worked with restaurant chefs including Heston Blumenthal of the celebrated “Fat Duck” restaurant in Berkshire. He was giving a talk in Cambridge for the Cambridge Society for the Application of Research. Follow-up link You can find more talks to attend at the C.S.A.R. website www.csar.org.uk 12/07/2014 Tagged 105science, biology, health, Molecular gastronomy, Roger Frost

The author of a riveting book called “The Big Questions in Science” explains how they researched How did life begin? Why do we dream? And when can I have a robot butler? Science writer Mun Keat Looi talks about some of the most exciting and pressing questions facing humanity. Mun Keat explains how he and coauthors Hayley Birch and Colin Stuart gathered the most cutting edge science research to shed new light on the twenty biggest questions keeping us up at night, such as How did life begin? And are we alone in the universe? The authors explain everything in a way that’s easy to understand – helped by stunning photography and funny cartoon drawings. Follow-up links Check this Guardian article: www.theguardian.com/science/2013/sep/01/20-big-questions-in-science ‘The Big Questions in Science: The Quest to Solve the Great Unknowns' www.goodmanbooks.com/books/products/the-big-questions-in-science Mun Keat Looi works on other projects too, his website is: munkeatlooi.com 25/09/2013 Tagged 105science, bacteria, biology, cancer,chemistry, Colin Stuart, environment, Hayley Birch, Mun Keat Looi, physics, population, robots, science questions

A Cambridge project seeks to improve farming practices in Africa by sharing advances in biotechnology. They’re called Biosciences for Farming in Africa (www.b4fa.org). Chris Creese meets one of their founders Dr David Bennett. There’s a ‘demonstration farm’ in Cambridge called the National Institute of Agricultural Botany Innovation Farm, Lawrence Weaver Road, off Huntingdon Road. See www.innovationfarm.co.uk 22/03/2014 Tagged 105science, b4fa, biology, Chris Creese, environment, Roger Frost

CAMGRAIN is a farmer-owned central storage co-operative, set up 20 years ago to provide facilities for storing, analysing, cleaning and distributing grain to the food industry such as those who mill, brew and make breakfast cereal. This interview is about what happens when wheat leaves the farm. We take up the story after the August crop harvest and speak with Dr Andrew Wingate who tells how CAMGRAIN deliver quality assured wheat.  Topics in this interview about the grain supply chain include how is wheat tested and cleaned after it arrives from the farm? Also what are strong flours and weak flours? What is gluten? Follow-up link Find out more at www.camgrain.co.uk.

What is about the study of the stars that captivates so many? Paul Fellows of the Cambridge Astronomical Association fills us in and updates us on news. Hear about dark matter, isotopes, space probes and his association’s weekly events in Cambridge. All ages are welcome to join a weekly astronomy star gazing event (when skies permit) at the Institute of Astronomy off Madingley Road. Every Wednesday at 7pm in University term time. Car park near the entrance on the right. Walk on to the Hoyle Building. See the Cambridge Institute of Astronomy and click on Public talks (www.ast.cam.ac.uk/public) Follow-up link to Cambridge Astronomical Association Join the mailing list www.caa-cya.org/newversion/reminders.php Join the association at www.caa-cya.org/newversion/joinus.php Mondays – Cambridge Young Astronomers age 11+ group; Thursdays – Cambridge Young Astronomers age 7-11 group Tagged 105science, astronomy, environment, science, dark matter, isotopes, space probes, technology

Dr Karen Ersche tells about her research into cocaine addiction. The work investigates the finding that cocaine addiction affects some people and not others. Also, unlike other addictions, there are no substitute chemicals that can be used in cocaine addiction. However Karen Ersche’s research is looking at a possible candidate. The Science Show’s Roger Frost asks about the use of terms such as addiction; habit and compulsive behaviour. Follow-up link Karen works at the Department of Psychiatry in the School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge: www.psychiatry.cam.ac.uk/ 18/05/2013 Tagged 105science, biology, Chris Creese, health, Roger Frost, cocaine, addiction

Dr John Creese tells about the science of archaeology and the investigative techniques they use. Dr Creese is a researcher at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. Interviewer Roger Frost asks how is archaeology distinguished from history which is surely not a science? Follow-up link Website: www.mcdonald.cam.ac.uk 04/05/2013 Tagged 105science, archaeology, Chris Creese, Roger Frost, Science Festival

An electronic medical procedure offers an innovative way for doctors to find out what’s going on inside the intestine. The ‘SmartPill’ is a tablet-sized device with sensors to take measurements inside your gut and transmit them wirelessly outside the body. This procedure is available at the private Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital in Impington. We speak to consultant physician, Dr Stephen Middleton about the technology and its benefits. 27/07/2013 Tagged 105science, biology, breath, Cambridge, Chris Creese, health, IBS, life, SmartPill,technology,

The technology behind the world’s best selling electric vehicle. Called the Nissan LEAF, it’s a car to drive across town with the thought that you’re not polluting, or adding to the traffic noise. We speak with Nissan’s vehicle development manager Steve Groves to hear about the science of the battery and the innovative technology in this car. Thanks to the Cambridge Institution of Engineering and Technology for running the event at Cambridge University Engineering Department. Car info for the curious The Nissan LEAF is a production car that has a top speed of ninety miles per hour. It won a World Car of the Year Award LEAF stands for Leading, Environmentally friendly, Affordable, Family car. The models sold across Europe are made in the UK, in Sunderland. Little or no road tax or London ‘congestion charge’. A regular petrol fuelled car costs 20p a mile in fuel, the Nissan LEAF can cost just 2p of electricity a mile. The 24kWh battery charges from a regular 13a socket or at public places such as the Grafton Shopping Centre car park or the park and ride car parks. 22/02/2014 Tagged 105science, Cambridge Science Centre, Chris Creese, electric vehicle, engineering, Lithium battery, nissan, Nissan LEAF, physics, Roger Frost, technology

Every year 41,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK. Dr Hayley Whitaker is a Cancer Research UK scientist who specialises in prostate cancer. We hear about her quest for better screening for the disease. Dr Whitaker is lead author of a study about how a particular protein helps identify if a prostate cancer patient needs more intense treatment. The protein is called NAALADL2 and is linked to the spread of prostate cancer tumour cells to surrounding healthy tissues. Dr Whitaker hopes that a test for the protein may spare patients unnecessary treatment. Learn more about research at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute (CRUK) Read Dr Whitaker’s research article in Oncogene 11/01/2014 Tagged 105science, biology, cancer, cancer research, Chris Creese, CRUK, Hayley Whitaker, health, prostate, Roger Frost, tumour

Have you ever had surgery in an operating theatre? If like us you wondered what the anaesthetist does while you're out, hear Dr Jessica Kentish tell what her work entails. We met Dr Kentish on her holiday to Cambridge, UK and she told us about the chemicals she uses in her work in Denver, Colorado. The Dr goes on to explain why nitrous oxide, normally used as an anaesthetic in dentistry, is less useful at high altitudes. 13/07/2013 Tagged anaesthesiology, anaesthetist, biology, Chris Creese, health, Roger Frost

We find out about aerodynamics and what it involves. We meet Professor Holger Babinsky at Cambridge University Engineering Department. He talks about wind tunnels and the need for bumps on aeroplane wings. Follow-up link See ‘how wings really work’ at http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/how-wings-really-work Related interview - see bioengineering where they study bone and ‘hydrogels’ as useful materials. Related interview: the engineering effort that goes into making a battery-powered low-pollution car, the Nissan LEAF. 03/05/2014 Tagged aerodynamics, Chris Creese, engineering, physics, Roger Frost, technology

Asking someone to send you an “engineer” will conjure up all sorts of people who build and fix things. But today’s show is about civil engineers. Professor Robert Mair of the University of Cambridge Engineering Department will explain what do they do. What’s the difference between a civil engineer and a washing machine engineer? Is it that a civil engineer wears a suit? Maybe not, but you’ll hear about the civil engineering in “Crossrail”, a £15 billion project to a build train route from Reading, tunnel across London and then on to Essex and Kent. Work started five years ago and the first trains will run in 2019. hear more about engineering in these podcasts nearby: Learn about aerodynamics and the need for bumps on airplane wings from Prof Holger Babinsky at the University of Cambridge. The technology behind the world’s best selling electric vehicle. Steve Groves of Nissan tells about the Nissan LEAF car that drives across town without adding pollution or traffic noise. How materials science is put to use in medicine where there’s a need for replacement tissues. Dr Michelle Oyen from bioengineering at the University of Cambridge explains about measuring the properties of bone and hydrogels. We also discuss the uptake of engineering by girls. The engineering initiative to build the world’s fastest car – called Bloodhound– aims to recruit students to engineering. We speak with the project’s education officer about this unusual car. 17/05/2014 Tagged 105science, Chris Creese, civil engineering, engineering, physics, Crossrail, Robert Mair, Roger Frost, science, technology, University of Cambridge

Can we believe that the climate will change in the long term, when we can’t even predict tomorrow’s weather? Our guest Tim Palmer is a Professor in Climate Physics at the University of Oxford, and President of the Royal Meteorological Society at the time. In this interview Professor Palmer tell us what the job entails and how maths and physics are at the core of making predictions. He’ll remind us that we are quite good at predicting the weather. Interviewed in 2015.

Hear about measuring the properties of materials that are not just solids or liquids or gases but are all three in one. The soil under your feet is one such material – it is of course a solid with air and water mixed in. Knowing how soil behaves is especially helpful when you intend to build on it! And how soil behaves is even more interesting when you’re trying to build on land that might be hit by an earthquake. Dr Mark Haw tells how important the physical properties of materials are. He lectures at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow about “Multi-phase systems” and “Flow response of suspensions and granular media’, so you might not connect that with anything you ever learned. But he’ll be explaining that his branch of engineering, like many areas of research today, turns out to be a mix of disciplines. Dr Haw was in town to give a talk on what ‘life’ consists of, at the Cambridge Science Festival. In this interview you’ll hear him mention the fictional Dr Frankenstein, asking how we might turn a body made of sewed together parts, into a living thing. 28/06/2014 Tagged Cambridge, Chris Creese, engineering, physics, Roger Frost, science, process engineering

Building scientist David Crowther in Cambridge explains how a heat pump, under floor heating and good insulation keep a house warm. He talks to the Science Show’s Nicola Terry 05/02/2012 Tagged engineering, home energy, Nicola Terry, physics, Roger Frost, environment

The author of ‘Evolution and Belief’ tells why understanding evolution is less of a challenge to religious belief, and doesn’t make people into atheists. Dr Rob Asher shares evidence for the evolution of animals and sheds light on misunderstandings about science and religion. He also considers whether religious explanations of the natural world ought be included in school science education; whether teachers can be unaffected by their own beliefs and that science and religion do not explain the same things. Dr Rob Asher is a lecturer and curator of vertebrates at the Cambridge Museum of Zoology. Dr Asher’s recommended reading: Wallace Arthur: Evolution A Developmental Approach, Biased Embryos & Evolution Sean Carroll: Endless Forms Most Beautiful, Making of the Fittest Francis Collins: Language of God Ken Miller: Finding Darwin’s God Neil Shubin: Your Inner Fish 20/04/2013 Tagged biology, Chris Creese, evolution, Roger Frost, science education, religion

In this podcast, a Cambridge chemist talks about drug discovery. Sean McKenna, a scientist in the pharmaceutical industry, describes techniques that take the guesswork out of making pills. We think you will be intrigued by techniques that take some of the guesswork out of making useful pills. 06/04/2013 Tagged 105science, Chris Creese, Roger Frost, health, biology

Dr Michelle Oyen is a Reader in bioengineering at the University of Cambridge. Dy Oyen explains how materials science can be put to use in medicine where there’s a need to create surgical implants and new tissues. We hear about measuring the properties of bone and ‘hydrogels’ and discuss the uptake of engineering by girls. Follow-up link: Dr Michelle Oyen’s Research: www.oyenlab.org 08/02/2014 Tagged acoustic circulator, bioengineering, biology, bone, Chris Creese, engineering, health, hydrogel, Roger Frost

Cambridge’s newest secondary school opened to start teaching in 2014. Called University Technical College – Cambridge, it specialises in biomedical and environmental science and technology. The UTC is a state funded school open to students with a flair for science. Today’s show has an exclusive interview with acting principal, Melanie Radford telling us about the school’s innovative curriculum. The new school draws its teaching from science led by top name partners and research institutes locally. The £10 million UTC is being built on the edge of the Biomedical Campus in Robinson Way near Addenbrookes Hospital. Analogous to a USA high school, students will start aged fourteen – that’s year 10 or the start of GCSE or the fourth form if you still think in old money. Initially they take 14 years old students and they stay to 18 years finishing with A level or the vocational BTEC qualification, ready for University or a science job. Follow-up link: For more information on UTC Cambridge, see www.utccambridge.co.uk. 22/01/2014 Tagged education, high school, Roger Frost, science education, university technical college, UTC, vocational

Fracking was once uneconomic, but today’s energy crisis has led to new options. As the government has issued licences to drill in the UK, there have been protests in the UK. This podcast wises-up on what ‘fracking’ is by looking at the USA experience where 95% of the oil and gas wells are hydraulically fractured. (See also scientist 10 - the entrepreneur for a related angle on this process)  There are issues around our topic … green issues, sustainability issues … but today we look at how the process works. It used to be, at least from the movies we’ve seen, that people would find oil, drill a hole and oil would gush to the surface. Using oil to power machinery started the industrial revolution. Getting oil then was relatively easy. It’s long been known that a type of rock called shale holds amounts of oil and gas. Shale is a rock formed from mud silt, clay, and organic matter. The grain of shale is fine so it’s not very permeable. To get the gas from it, it needs to be cracked open to make it permeable. That’s achieved by pumping millions of litres of water underground. You’ll hear from Matt Bruff formerly of Altela Incorporated when he visited Cambridge. Matt works in the industry concerned with purifying the water that comes back out of the oil well. His company processes the water as he’ll explain – letting solids settle and then desalinating the water.  There are valid objections to ‘fracking’ in our countryside. One concern is that water used is contaminated by chemicals and picks up other substances on its way through layers of earth. Another is that the cement pipes which protect the ground water might leak. Another is that maybe the rock fractures might make their way to the surface. Or their might be small earthquakes. Another concern is that in having a fresh source of energy, we might take our eye off the target for developing alternative energy solutions and being frugal with our use of carbon based fuels. formerly: Altela Inc altelainc.com

Did you know you have a 1 in 10 chance of getting the flu? In times when cancers can be treated, FLU or INFLUENZA continues to infect vast numbers of people. Professor Derek Smith of Cambridge University tells how influenza, so successfully eludes the immune system. And why is it that the FLU VACCINE you had years ago offers little immunity against getting the flu again? Derek Smith is a Professor of Infectious Disease Informatics. He is also the Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Modelling, Evolution and Control of Emerging Infectious diseases. Smith uses a method called antigenic cartography to study the phenotypic evolution of rapidly evolving pathogens. Follow-up link: See www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/research-reveals-details-of-how-flu-evolves-to-escape-immunity Cambridge Infectious Diseases – resource for infectious disease research www.infectiousdisease.cam.ac.uk/news 14/12/2013 Tagged biology, Chris Creese, health, Roger Frost

A UK biotechnology company has been testing vaccines for common allergies. The vaccines use SPIREs (synthetic peptides that regulate immune system cells) to help people fend off their allergies to cats, grasses and dust mites. The Science Show’s Chris Creese spoke with Professor Mark Larché who led the clinical trials. Follow-up link: Research at McMaster T-cell Epitope Centre www.fhs.mcmaster.ca/mtec Biotech at Circassia ToleroMune technology www.circassia.co.uk/technology/toleromune-technology 16/11/2013 Tagged biology, cats, Chris Creese, Circassia, dust, grass, health, immune, life, McMaster, T-cell, vaccine allergy

Dr Ingrid Cnossen is an earth scientist who works for the British Antarctic Survey. She studies the ionosphere, a layer of the upper atmosphere where satellites orbit the earth. Related podcasts Professor John Pyle works on computer models at the Centre for Atmospheric Science at Cambridge University. British Antarctic Survey scientist Dr. Robert Mulvaney tells how scientists use ice ‘cores’ to discover how the world’s air has changed. Dr Alastair Graham tells of the unusual life around hydrothermal vents found deep undersea. 19/10/2013 Tagged environment, physics

Hear about a fun campaign to save the ‘ugly’ animals. Simon Watt of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society tell us that ugly animals face extinction because the cute creatures, like cuddly pandas, “steal all the glory”. He encourages everyone to vote for their favourite ugly animal. Follow-up link: See uglyanimalsoc.com or www.youtube.com/uglyanimal To learn more about Simon Watt, visit www.readysteadyscience.com 07/09/2013 Tagged biology, Chris Creese, conservation, environment, Roger Frost

You may wonder how today’s farmers are able to grow wheat reliably. We talk with plant scientist Gillian Covey, who explains how different strains of wheat can be bred to make better seeds for farmers. We learn some of techniques available to plant breeders, such as ‘single cross’ and ‘doubled haploids’. Gillian Covey is a specialist in Spring Wheat at KWS UK, south of Cambridge in the village of Thriplow. KWS UK provide growers with innovative varieties of wheat, maize, oilseed rape, and sugar beet to meet needs of a varied market. Follow-up link: Find out about spring wheat at KWS-UK www.kws-uk.com/aw/KWS/united_kingdom/Products_TopMenu/~cihh/Spring_Wheat/ Tagged biology, Chris Creese, DNA, plants, Roger Frost, science education, wheat

Long-time beekeeper Steve Poyser tells us how honey bees work and how nectar turns into the stuff we buy. The Science Show’s Roger Frost asks about clear versus creamed honey. He also wonders why honey bees are called social insects when the bee at his last BBQ was more anti-social than social. Steve Poyser is an active member of Cambridgeshire Beekeepers’ Association. Follow-up link: Cambridgeshire Beekeepers’ Association: www.cbka.uk/ 15/06/2013 Tagged biology, chemistry, Chris Creese, Roger Frost

A government initiative to help farmers keep the water supply free of pollutants. We visit a farm in Duxford, England where Andrew Down from ‘Natural England’ explains what is meant by “Catchment Sensitive Farming”. Environment is such an issue today. ‘Natural England’ is an NGO and they connect with the Environment Agency, Rural Development Programme and with DEFRA – the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Follow-up link: Read more at www.naturalengland.org.uk/csf 29/08/2013 Tagged environment, catchment sensitive farming, pollution

Professor Alan Tunnacliffe of the Cambridge University Department of Chemical Engineering tells why the bdelloid rotifer has fascinated top biologists. This microscopically tiny invertebrate lives in rain puddles. The creature can survive without water for millions of years, and by now really ought to be extinct. Our scientist tells why it isn’t and how it manages its DNA. Follow-up link: To learn more: ceb.cam.ac.uk/pages/bdelloid-rotifers.html. PLoS Genetics: www.plosgenetics.org/doi/pgen.1003035 ScienceNow: news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/11/bdelloids-surviving-on-borrowed-.html?ref=hp Dept of Chemical Engineering and biology www.ceb.cam.ac.uk/news.php/233/a-tenth-of-quirky-creatureas-active-genes-are-foreign 23/02/2013 tagged: Chris Creese, DNA, health, Roger Frost, rotifer, science education

We talk to Dr Marcus Yeo about how human cell production benefits drug development. Dr Yeo is from DifiniGEN, a Cambridge company that grows liver cells used to test if new drugs are harmful. Their technology comes from the Nobel Prize-winning work of Cambridge university’s Sir John Gurdon. The ability to grow special cells from stem cells also offers the possibility for organ replacement in the future. Follow-up link: DifiniGEN definigen.com 18/02/2013 

We visit the Centre for Atmospheric Science in Cambridge University and speak to Professor John Pyle about modelling the lower atmosphere using supercomputers. Follow-up link: Centre for Atmospheric Science atm.ch.cam.ac.uk See also ‘the earth scientist’, scientist no 41 in this series with Dr Ingrid Cnossen who works for the British Antarctic Survey.

Our guest Anmol Sood of Hildago was on the team that monitored Felix Baumgartner health as he jumped from the edge of space and reached a speed of over 800 mph. Based in Cambridge UK, the company makes the Equivital Lifemonitor and are expert at handling data from sensors. Follow-up link: See Anmol Sood on BBC Breakfast: www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19958528 Equivital from Hildago www.equivital.co.uk 15/12/2012

Dr Jenny Barnett of Cambridge Cognition speaks about the neuropsychological tests they develop including one designed for the early detection of dementia. Their test is to be used in a government-funded field trial. And Jenny has advice for how to improve memory. Cambridge Cognition www.cantab.com 17/11/2012

The Cambridge Science Centre is a really useful educational attraction in the city centre. Founder Dr Chris Lennard tells Roger Frost what the centre aims to do for science education. The Cambridge Science Centre opened in 2013 at 18 Jesus Lane, Cambridge, near the round church. Follow-up link: Cambridge Science Centre cambridgesciencecentre.org. 03/11/2012

Does cleanliness affect perception? University of Cambridge psychology PhD student, Dario Krpan thinks so. He discusses how the state of our body affects how we perceive things. For example, feeling more clean might harshen our judgement, and feeling pious might make us feel more clean. 20/10/2012 Tagged biology, psychology, Chris Creese, health

Pete McKeown, director of Cernunnos Homes and Hamish Watson, director of Polysolar tell Chris Creese about their special solar panels and offer some smart ideas for using solar energy. Follow-up link: Cernunnos Homes www.cernunnos-homes.co.uk Polysolar www.polysolar.co.uk 05/10/2013 Tagged Chris Creese, environment, home energy, physics

We hear how British Antarctic Survey scientists drill ice to discover how the world has changed over thousands of years. Dr. Robert Mulvaney of the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge talks to the Science Show’s Roger Frost. He finds out that not all global warming is his fault or ours. Follow-up link: www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19348427 www.antarctica.ac.uk//bas_research/science/climate/icecore/page1.php www.antarctica.ac.uk/press/press_releases/press_release.php?id=1892 Tagged chemistry, conservation, environment, Roger Frost, chemistry 02/10/2012

Speaking to The Science show’s Chris Creese, the author of “Wild Hope” explains what ecosystems do for us, and how we can help ourselves by helping the environment. Cambridge conservation scientist, Andrew Balmford, explains why there’s hope for saving the planet. Follow-up link: Andrew Balmford’s book, “Wild Hope: On the Front Lines of Conservation Success” www.amazon.co.uk/Wild-Hope-Front-Conservation-Success/dp/0226035972 14/09/2012 Tagged biology, conservation, environment

The Science Show’s Chris Creese reports from the Ecological Society of America conference in Portland, USA. She chats with ‘critical transitions’ expert Marten Scheffer (Netherlands). They talk about Marten’s book and a collaboration on a film with artist Tone Bjordam. Follow-up link: “Critical Transitions in Nature and Society” by Marten Scheffer a lecture on Youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=dchpy7vuDR0 Marten Scheffer’s book www.amazon.co.uk/Critical-Transitions-Nature-Society-Complexity/dp/0691122040 Preview ‘”Critical Transitions” the film by Tone Bjordam and Marten Scheffer vimeo.com/46894799and learn more from Tone’s website www.tonebjordam.com/ Tagged biology, Chris Creese, environment, conservation 29/08/2012

Cambridge University’s Dr Rob Mullins and Alex Bradbury, developed the inexpensive Raspberry Pi computer to bump start computing, much like the Acorn BBC Micro did thirty years ago. Follow-up link: Learn about the Raspberry Pi computer www.raspberrypi.org/ Raspberry Pi Foundation co-founder, Rob Mullins demonstrates on Youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BbufUp_HNs Tagged biology, technology 11/08/2012

Chris Creese reports from the Ecological Society of America conference in Portland USA. She has the stories on how the Internet is enabling ordinary people to become get involved in scientific discovery. She talked about how we can all get involved in science research to Jake Weltzin of the USA National Phenology Network and Brendan Weiner from ‘Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation’. Follow-up link: Spending time outdoors, or planning a vacation? Get in touch with Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation to find out how you can help scientists collect some important data: www.adventureandscience.org/ Visiting the USA? Sign into Nature’s Notebook at www.usanpn.org/how-observeso to track the phenology of plants and animals: Report on biology in Cambridge, sign into Nature’s Calendar: www.naturescalendar.org.uk/ Tagged Chris Creese, environment, maths, biology 11/08/2012

Roger Frost finds out about Bloodhound, an engineering initiative for students to build the world’s fastest car. He speaks with Ian Galloway, Bloodhound’s Education Professional Development Director about the bid to break the world land speed record. Follow-up link: The BLOODHOUND Project is an engineering adventure for the 21st century bloodhoundssc.com Tagged engineering, physics 19/08/2012

Learn about wetlands and bird habitats as Chris Creese grabs binoculars and speaks with Peter Herkenrath, Chairman of the Cambridgeshire Bird Club. Follow-up links: Cambridgeshire Bird Club cambridgebirdclub.org.uk. Bird watching sites in Cambridgeshire www.cambridgebirdclub.org.uk/topsites.html Local nature reserves by Cambridge City Council lnr.cambridge.gov.uk/ Wildlife Trust www.wildlifebcn.org/reserves-by-county Royal Society for Protection of Birds rspb.org.uk and British Trust for Ornithology www.bto.org.uk Tagged biology, environment, 28/07/2012

Experimental psychologist Brianne Kent talks to Chris Creese about memory, Alzheimer’s disease; and why love is a drug. Brianne Kent was working on a PhD in experimental psychology at the University of Cambridge. She studied Alzheimer’s disease and how memories form in the brain. Brianne also tells about dopamine, a brain chemical that figures in drug addiction and falling in love. Follow-up link: The fight against Alzheimer’s disease at the Alzheimer Society: alzheimers.org.uk The article “Your Love is my drug” by Brianne Kent in BlueSci www.bluesci.org/?p=7474 A book by Helen Fisher “Why do we love: the nature and chemistry of romantic love“ at Amazon Books www.amazon.co.uk/Why-We-Love-Chemistry-Romantic/dp/0805077960