Technically Speaking | a science and engineering discussion

Episoder

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  Why do killer whales act so strangely? 20.08.2026 28min

  Also known as orcas, these large mammals have been observed doing some really weird stuff. Laura, Ellie and Jasmin talk about orca massages, wearing salmon as hats, hunting and more. They discuss how these behaviours might have started and consider what other weird behaviour we might not have seen yet. Fact check: Newly observed behaviour of making a dead fish explode Using seaweed for massaging and grooming Unintentionally sinking ships Fun facts from the WWF Being a fish specialist means orcas don't tend to roam too far for food A clip on YouTube of orcas attempting to flip prey from ice floes  How much food they need The law of the tongue
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  What's the challenge with contrails? 30.07.2026 16min

  Trails of condensation in the wake of an air plane might look pretty, but some of them contribute significantly to the climate emergency. Laura speaks to Jasmin about her research group's latest project to predict how they form, how to avoid them, and what else the aviation sector needs to consider to make air travel more sustainable.
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  What is altruism and do we see it in nature? 09.07.2026 38min

  Antonia, Ellie and Emma explore the nature of altruism from examples with mammals and insects, to human studies and the pop culture take on the term. Could donating a kidney be seen as an altruistic act or is there always some hidden benefit that makes even the most generous of gifts a tiny bit selfish?Fact check: Ants signal sickness to save others Dolphins help lost whale Chimpanzees help each other... some of the time Are the brains of altruistic people different?  
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  What's so unusual about how pigeons navigate? 18.06.2026 24min

  New research has found an unusual link between immune cells in the liver and the ability of homing pigeons to navigate using the earth's magnetic field. Laura, Antonia and Ellie dive into the research and put themselves in the shoes of the scientist making this surprising discovery. They also ask how we can make use of this research and consider what might be discovered next. Read the original research article at science.org or read a news summary in Scientific American. You can show your support for the podcast by leaving a tip in our coffee jar.
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  What did people in the recent past think would happen with climate change? 28.05.2026 46min

  Antonia and Ellie discuss the first ever Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. We explore what lead to the report being created, what the predictions for climate change looked like in the 90s and whether the world has taken any steps to mitigate the effects suggested by the report.Fact check: First IPCC report 1990/1992 IPCC Reports over the years Laws after the Paris agreement USA leaves the Paris agreement
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  Why aren't maglev trains everywhere? 07.05.2026 34min

   They're fast and floaty, but sadly we don't have them in the UK. Laura, Emma and Antonia look at the cool use of physics that makes them levitate and compare energy use and infrastructure requirements to other forms of transport. Fact check: Usual train speeds, and the record speed How maglevs work Energy use compared to traditional trains
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  Will We Go Back To The Moon? 16.04.2026 1t 1min

  Antonia, Ellie and Tom discuss the history of the Moon missions, including the Apollo programme that started it all and the past and future of the ISS. The team explores the media hype and the differences surrounding the Artemis missions in comparison to those first voyages to space over 50 years ago. Fact check:• The best photographs• Records broken• The capsule returns• Meet the crew• Things get nuts in space
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  Why do animals use tools? 26.03.2026 39min

  And how did they learn to do it? Ellie and Emma discuss what tool use actually is and the species that have adapted specific instruments to achieve a desired goal. From Veronika the cow to Jane Goodall we explore how far tool use has come and what the possibilities are for species and tools of the future. Fact check: Research about ravens Evidence that humans are better than chimps at solving puzzles News about Veronika the cow An overview of animals using tools News of wolves using tools too A mason bee carrying objects as it flies A video of fish doing stuff
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  Can we make cars lighter? 05.03.2026 18min

  The battery in electric vehicles makes them much heavier than traditional vehicles. Laura and Jasmin discuss how steel car components can be made lighter to offset this increased weight, what implications that has for other industries, and whether this would make the steel industry more sustainable.  Fact check: Some ways that steel car components are made lighter Stats about the Nissan Leaf and how it compares to a similar spec car with an internal combustion engine How steel makers can use maths to understand how the microstructure affects mechanical properties Research using AI to predict mechanical properties based on composition More research using AI, this time looking at processing variables during manufacture Different generations of high strength steel
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  What are the pros and cons of cold water therapy? 12.02.2026 33min

  Ellie, Antonia and Emma discuss their personal experiences with cold water and the science behind whether there is any benefit in dunking yourself in a chilly loch. They also discuss studies related to sauna usage, if cold showers make any difference, and if the Nordic countries have got the right idea 💡 Fact check: Research shows that cold plunges can lead to heart attacks A scientific review of winter swimming Research on the ideal sauna temperature A news article about Wimhoff breathing A review of research on saunas and ageing showing that 4-7 saunas a week can decreased the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease
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  How can you tell the value of gems? 22.01.2026 24min

  Some gemstones are desired for their sparkle and rarity while others have practical applications in engineering and electronic components. Laura and Antonia look at different ways gems can be made in the lab, how valuable they are and consider how you could potentially make a lot of money from them. Fact check: The composition of sapphire and ruby A list of valuable diamonds The most expensive lab grow gems News about growing bigger gems from small ones already used as jewellery A research article on the same thing as above Synthetic sapphire More on synthetic sapphire Yet more on synthetic sapphire, in a YouTube video
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  Why have scientists sent moss into space? 04.12.2025 23min

  Researchers were surprised to find that moss spores germinated after nine months hanging out on the outside of the International Space Station. Ellie and Laura dive into their research and go beyond it to look at why some things survive in space, the benefits of doing this sort of research and what it might mean for a more resilient ecosystem here on Earth. Fact check: News about the space moss More news The original research article on the space moss The basics about radiation in space Tardigrades can survive some types of UV radiation How tardigrades have a genetic response to repair radiation damage The BBC Future article Laura mentions about various experiments on tardigrades
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  What if all chemicals had been tested for safety from the start? 20.11.2025 25min

  Different nations have different approaches to testing and using chemicals to see how they can cause diseases. Antonia, Laura and Jasmin look at how chemicals are tested for toxicity, how harmful substances are controlled, and whether dose limits are important. They look at asbestos, radioactive substances, and more. Fact check: Manufactured chemicals have led to an increase in childhood disease and shouldn’t automatically be presumed safe Safety data sheets for waterproofing spray and household bleach A history of bioaccumulation of mercury in fish News about banning and restricting sales of fish in some nations in relation to wastewater discharge from the Fukushima-Daichii site Statistics on global deaths per year due to asbestos exposure Statistics on deaths in the UK from asbestos exposure
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  What is agrovoltaics? 06.11.2025 20min

  And is it a good idea? Laura, Jasmin and Antonia look at various scientific studies on growing crops and raising livestock in fields of solar panels to see what the effects are. They also look at some solar farms that are used in arid regions and the benefits they can have for crops and the environment. Fact check: The random broccoli study A study of crop growing in arid regions One of the review articles/papers The other review article, this one on small ruminants The study that reported an improvement in the quality of sheep’s wool
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  What is aging? 23.10.2025 35min

  And can we learn to live longer? Ellie, Jasmin and Emma discuss telomeres that form the ends of DNA strands, the long-lived members of the animal world, supplements and products to fight the signs of aging, and even the idea of living forever.
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  How is the safety of drugs determined? 09.10.2025 31min

  It takes a long time for medicines to be developed. Looking at drugs used in women's health and more, Laura and Ellie look at what goes into their development, how the risks are weighed against the benefits, and how the known benefits of a drug can change as we learn more about them. Fact check: A review of paracetamol/Tylenol development Statistics on drug development How much paracetamol is consumed in the UK in a year Thalidomide is still in use, but not for treating morning sickness Quinine for leg cramps should maybe be a last resort Statistics on use of the contraceptive pill Side effects of the contraceptive pill
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  How does cloning improve diversity? 25.09.2025 22min

  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
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  What would we do with infinite research funding? 11.09.2025 22min

  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
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  Can we get smarter when it comes to constructing buildings? 28.08.2025 25min

  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
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  Are the seasons changing? 14.08.2025 23min

  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