Over the course of the next three weeks, we’re pitting sixteen incredible scientists against each other to decide which of them is the greatest scientist of all time. This episode, we’ve got world famous, heavy hitters like Stephen Hawking and Marie Curie, as well as unsung legends like Henrietta Leavitt and Barbara McLintock all going head to head! We’re also weighing up the work of Albert Einstein, Enrico Fermi, Francis Crick and Isaac Newton this week, so you can expect heated debates and...

This week, we’re marrying up two of our greatest loves: football and science! As the World Cup kicks off in Qatar, we’re looking at just how much artificial intelligence could improve a team's performance. We’re finding out how data transformed Jurgen Klopp’s career, how Germany used data to aid their win in 2014 and we’re looking at an interesting job advert for a role at Man City… Can something as unpredictable as sport really be predicted by scientists? We’re going to find out! Special...

Cancer will affect almost all of us in some way during our lifetimes, so this Movember we’re trying to understand it a little bit more. We’re finding out how cancer treatment has changed, we’re debunking some common myths about cancer and we’re finding out more about cancer in animals - and even in the dinosaurs. How close are we to curing cancer? Find out in today’s episode. Special thanks to today’s expert, Dr Kat Arney. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Humans have been trying to interpret and understand dreams for thousands of years, but do they actually mean anything at all? This week we’re getting to grips with what happens when we have a dream, whether any animals experience dreaming and what benefits dreaming can have! If you like this episode, you might also enjoy our episode ‘How can I get myself to sleep?’ Special thanks to today’s expert, Dr Caroline Horton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As spooky season draws to a close, we’re looking at why we enjoyed being freaked out so much. We’re discussing what determines what we’re afraid of (with reference to a very morally dubious experiment from the 1920s), how being scared can contribute to social bonding and whether the general social mood has an impact on our appetite for horror. We’re also finding out whether there’s any difference in how easily men and women experience fear and we’re hearing about an experiment Rick’s...

Since the 90s, Michael has been talking passionately about the huge problems caused by the lack of diversity in science. On today’s episode, we’re talking about some very important scientists forgotten by history due to the colour of their skin, as well as why Black British children are less likely to pursue careers in science and the impact of the continual exclusion of indigenous people in conservation efforts.    We’re also looking at some appalling experiments, the response to COVID-19...

We’re having a go at predicting the future this week, as we take a fascinating look at what life might look like for animals once humans go extinct. We’re discussing what the key factors are to becoming a dominant species, including size, intelligence and adaptability. We’re also exploring evolution as we examine how animals are already changing in response to climate change and we’re taking a look at what has successfully survived previous extinctions! Will the octopus reign supreme for...

As the number of smokers in the UK continues to decline, there’s a new trend sweeping the country: vaping. How much do we actually know about these addictive e-cigarettes and the chemicals they contain? Could they be more harmful than cigarettes? And why are they so appealing to young people?  This episode we’re uncovering all of that, as well as finding out whether we need to worry about ‘popcorn lung’ and how the tobacco industry manipulated scientists for decades. Special thanks to today's...

Michael’s in his element this week as we dive into quantum physics! We’re getting our teeth into the history of cosmology, exploring the inflation of the universe and we’re doing our best to explain what the multiverse is. Strap in guys, this one is pretty mind blowing!   Special thanks to today’s expert, Laura Mersini-Houghton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re examining the fascinating topic of pain and uncovering what makes us feel it and how our experiences differ. We’re also unlocking the causes of chronic pain, how our brains can trick us into feeling pain (or not feeling it) and we’re finding out whether hypnotherapy and virtual reality could be able to help patients with their ailments. Rick’s also got a hilarious story about his most painful experience! It’s painfully embarrassing too… Special thanks to today’s expert Dr Monty Lyman. ...

Whether they were the best days of your life, or a grim memory you avoid at all costs, your school days are incredibly formative. This week we’re unpicking the school system, as we examine where the modern system comes from and find out why it fails so many people. We’re also uncovering whether there’s any truth behind ‘learning styles’, why it’s so hard to make changes to the school system and how electric shocks might be able to help us learn! Thank God our school days are over…   Special...

Humans’ love of festivals is something that transcends time and culture, so as summer draws to a close, we’re getting our teeth into some neuroscience and finding out why we love them so much! From historic carnivals, to modern day raves, we’re looking at the science behind groups, bonding and rituals, and uncovering the science behind it all in the process. Special thanks to today’s expert Dimitris Xygalatas! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The possibilities of what geneticists might be capable of in the future is exciting and ethically concerning in equal measure. That’s why this week, we’re looking at the possibility of de-extincting animals, designer babies and accidental mutations. We’re also wondering whether gene editing could help agriculture and we’re finding out exactly what a gene drive is. Join us and today’s expert, Professor Matthew Cobb! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re bringing you an extra special episode, where we look back on some of the highlights of the series so far. We’re revisiting whether gender can have an impact on your mathematical ability, who decides which endangered animals to save and why one of our experts is recommending you have an orgasm. We’re also reminiscing on two of our favourite topics - warp drives and ghosts! See you next week! @EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re not getting any younger, so on this week’s episode we’re discussing face transplants! Our expert is Dr Brian Gastman, one of the very few surgeons to ever perform a successful face transplant. We find out about the process of receiving a transplant, the ethical considerations, what’s needed from a donor and who’s likely to get one. Are face transplants the future of cosmetic surgery? Dr Brian Gastman will be giving us the answer. @EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

As the heat wave rages on, we’re exploring whether water shortages could lead to the next war. We’re finding out how scarce drinking water actually is, how climate change is having an impact and whether desalination could be the answer!   Special thanks to today’s expert, Dr Benjamin Pohl. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You may be surprised to learn that dating apps are slightly alien to us, but we’re absolutely fascinated by them and the data behind it all! This week we’re learning whether it could really be possible to predict attraction, what the science behind love is and how chemicals can change our behaviour. We also discover a curious piece of artificial intelligence making waves in the Japanese dating scene!   Special thanks to today’s expert (a NASA rocket scientist AND the founder of a dating app)...

It’s been a bit hot recently, hasn’t it? The heatwave has got us thinking a lot about the climate crisis, which is why this week we’re exploring whether geoengineering could be the answer to all of our problems. We’re finding out how it works, what the drawbacks might be and whether it could actually provide a long term solution.   Special thanks to today’s expert Gernot Wagner. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode, we’re uncovering why humans love music so much. We look into how music helps us form bonds, how drugs can enhance our enjoyment of it and which animals can also enjoy it just like us! Sort of...  Plus, did you know that a small minority of people’s brains just aren’t wired to enjoy music? Listen on to find out why!    Special thanks to today’s expert Professor Robert Zatorre. We're @EurekaPod on Twitter! Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit...

 Immortality has fascinated humans for centuries, but are we getting any closer to finding the key to everlasting life? This week we’re uncovering why our life expectancy has changed, ways scientists are looking at reversing ageing and whether it’s even ethical to extend people’s lives in the first place… If you’ve ever wished you could live forever, this one’s for you!   Special thanks to today’s expert Dr Brandon Milholland. @EurekaPod Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8,...

This week we’re exploring the exciting world of space mining! We’re finding out whether we could mine the moon, how space mining could impact the global economy and how practical it really is…    We’re also exploring the ethics of extracting resources from space and we’re learning how Apple are developing new technology to improve recycling!   @EurekaPod See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Michael’s confronting his terrible navigation skills this week, as we discover what determines our sense of direction. We’re finding out how gender plays a role in how you find your way, how technology is impacting us and whether it’s possible to improve your skills - let’s hope so for Michael’s sake!   Special thanks to today’s expert Professor Mary Hegarty.   If you’d like to suggest a question for the show, get in touch on Twitter or send an email to [email protected].    @EurekaPod ...

We’re sticking our beaks into the world of scent this week, as we go on a journey to discover the best smell in the world! We’re uncovering how covid has impacted research, how brands use smells to sell more and what determines whether we like a smell or not.   Special thanks to today’s expert Professor Charles Spence.   If you’d like to suggest a question for the show, get in touch on Twitter or send an email to [email protected].    @EurekaPod See acast.com/privacy for privacy and...

Today we’re looking at the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence. We’re asking whether AI will ever be able to develop emotions, how it could aid our healthcare and how it might actually learn to discriminate against us. We’re also looking at how AI could become creative and how it could over power and take advantage of humans in the future… Consider this a warning!   Special thanks to today’s expert Junaid Mubeen.    If you’d like to suggest a question for the show, get in touch...

You might think that wasps are nothing more than unlovable, angry pests, but you’d be wrong! On today’s episode, we’re discovering how wasps are aiding cancer research, how they can be trained to sniff out bombs and how they help agriculture.    We’re also learning about how wasps ‘zombify’ spiders and we’re getting some solid advice on what to do if a wasp is hounding you this summer!    Special thanks to today’s expert, Professor Seirian Sumner.   If you’d like to suggest a question for the...