From saving the planet to understanding ourselves, this podcast sees experts discuss the major topics of our times. Hosted by IFLScience’s Dr Alfredo Carpineti, Rachael Funnell, and Eleanor Higgs.
…
continue reading
Our solar system is very stable. Planets, dwarf planets, asteroids, and comets go forth in their orbit without trouble. But it won't be like this forever. The future of the solar system will have major changes in the Sun and in the planets. We spoke with astronomer Dr Jon Zink to cast our mind's eye far into the future and explore the end of the so…
…
continue reading
Hinging our happiness on animals known to have a significantly shorter lifespan than our own was, in hindsight, a bad idea. Saying goodbye to a pet is an incredibly painful time in a person’s life, but what if there were a way we could help our pets live longer, better lives? That’s exactly what Celine Halioua has been exploring as CEO and founder …
…
continue reading
Science can’t be sexist, we hear you cry, it’s methodical, rational. And yet science is carried out by humans who are often a product of the time and place they operate in, struggling to overcome intrinsic biases and outside influence. Host Katy Evans is joined by zoologist and presenter Lucy Cooke, author of Bitch: A Revolutionary Guide to Sex, Ev…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
How Is Climate Change Impacting Our Health?
39:11
39:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:11
It’s no secret that the planet is getting warmer, but how are our bodies responding to increased exposure to extreme conditions? From record-breaking temperatures to an uptick in severe weather warnings, the consequences of the climate crisis are all around – so how is climate change impacting our health? This is The Big Question host Rachael Funne…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Why Are We The Only Surviving Human Species?
28:31
28:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:31
Homo sapiens – us – are the only surviving human species. The question, and it is a big one, is why? Who were the species that came before us, or lived alongside us, and what happened to them? Host Dr Alfredo Carpineti is joined by Professor Chris Stringer, human evolution research lead at the Natural History Museum, London, to explore the journey …
…
continue reading
Here is a little teaser for our brand new podcast: Break It Down! Coming soon to a podcast app near you...By IFLScience
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Would You Eat Plant-Based Meat For Christmas Dinner?
33:55
33:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:55
During the holiday season, many of us will be tucking into delicious meals which may well include a whole host of meats. But have you ever thought about going meat-free this time of year? With concerns over the impact of meat consumption on the planet, thoughts are turning to the future of the industry and how the tastes and textures that many peop…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Are We Ready For The Next Massive Solar Flare?
23:02
23:02
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
23:02
Solar activity goes through cycles. The main one is about 11 years long and its maximum is marked by powerful eruptions of electromagnetic radiation known as solar flares, as well as releases of plasma known as coronal mass ejections. The most powerful known flare happened in 1859 and led to telegraph stations catching fire across the US, and North…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
How Are Glaciers Changing In A Warming World?
13:29
13:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
13:29
The climate crisis is affecting glaciers across the world in myriad ways. Dramatic melting, steep declines, and overall reduction in mass are some of the changes seen in both polar glaciers and the mountainous peaks of every continent. Understanding these changes requires understanding how we monitor these enormous ice masses. The health of glacier…
…
continue reading
As much as everyone enjoys flying abroad for their holidays, the cost of the climate impact might be making people think twice. So what can we do? Aside from paying to offset the carbon, the emergence of a new industry is hoping to change the way we fly. Sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) or e-fuels are looking to replace traditional fuels as a much…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
What Is Ancient Ice Telling Us About The Future?
11:22
11:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:22
There are many methods that allow us to look back into Earth’s past and study its climate, including the collection of ice cores. Extracting ancient ice from deep inside some of the most remote glaciers can reveal how our planet has changed over millions of years. But it’s not just about the past: what is ancient ice telling us about the future? Ho…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
What Is Space Weather And How Does It Affect Us?
15:37
15:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
15:37
The Sun shapes what goes on in space around our planet. Plasma from our star is continuously thrown at Earth in the form of solar winds or coronal mass ejections, changing the shape of the magnetic field, and affecting the atmosphere and anything in it, like the satellites that we depend on. These changes are part of what we call space weather. Hos…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
How Does A Quantum Computer Work And How Will They Change The World?
32:50
32:50
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:50
The path beyond the limits of regular computers, even the most powerful supercomputer, lies with the theory of quantum mechanics. Quantum computing promises to change the world, but how do quantum computers work, and how close are we to this fabled new approach to computation? Host Dr Alfredo Carpineti spoke with Professor Winfried Hensinger, Profe…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Can We Save A Species On The Very Brink Of Extinction?
25:19
25:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:19
In this age of climate change, habitat loss, and destruction of the natural world, we take an in-depth look at one endangered species in particular: the northern white rhino. Just two females remain in the world and neither are capable of carrying a pregnancy. With such constraints in place, we ask the experts if it's possible to save a species on …
…
continue reading
Space junk is a problem and it’s only set to get worse. In 2018, there were over 2,000 satellites in orbit. Now, thanks to mega-constellations like Starlink, there are 9,000 satellites, and by the end of the decade, this number is expected to reach 60,000. A crowded space environment runs the risk of Kessler Syndrome, where there is so much polluti…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
How Is Climate Change Affecting Polar Bear Populations?
16:12
16:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:12
Polar bears have long been the poster animal and early warning system for all things climate change. We asked experts what is really going on with the “white hairy canaries” of the Arctic. Host Eleanor Higgs spoke with Alysa McCall, Polar Bears International Staff Scientist and Director of Conservation Outreach, on the polar bear monster truck to f…
…
continue reading
In the 30 years since the Spielberg movie came out, people from all walks of life have wondered if bringing back dinosaurs is possible, and we couldn’t let the anniversary pass without asking scientists working on dinosaurs and cloning if such a feat is feasible. IFLScience’s Digital Content Producer Rachael Funnell spoke with Dr. Susie Maidment fr…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
What Do Alcohol and Drugs Do To The Brain?
12:34
12:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
12:34
For as long as humans have walked this Earth, we have been using chemicals to alter our state of mind. Drugs and alcohol have been used in rituals and medication, for inspiration and escapism, as well as a way to cope with the world. Only in more recent decades have we begun to appreciate the physiological effects that substances have on our brains…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
What Are The Limits Of Computers And Supercomputers?
25:07
25:07
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:07
Computers and supercomputers, whether we like them or not, run our lives. They have revolutionized every aspect of society and we rely on their technology to push beyond our limits. But what about their limits? What are they, when will we reach them, and can we avoid them? Host Dr Alfredo Carpineti is joined by Professor Mazhar Ali of the Delft Uni…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
How Does Your Diet Impact The Body’s Ability To Fight Disease?
30:54
30:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:54
What and how we eat plays a huge role in keeping us healthy. The role of diet in helping us when we are fighting off diseases is also enormous, but not discussed often enough. Dr Alfredo Carpineti sat down with Dr William Li to talk about cutting-edge research on how diet helps us stay healthy, and the role it plays in supporting medical treatments…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Is Math The Greatest Subject In The World?
14:08
14:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
14:08
In school, math is one of those polarizing subjects that people either love or hate. For each person complaining they will never use Pythagoras theorem outside of class, there is somebody else pointing out that math is actually about learning skills like problem-solving. In this episode, host Dr Alfredo Carpineti asks a controversial Big Question: …
…
continue reading
Every second of every day, whether we’re actively aware of it or not, we’re using our imagination: from what we might have for dinner to life on other worlds. But how can our brains conjure up stuff that we are not looking at or even images of things that don’t exist? Our host Dr Alfredo Carpineti is joined by cognitive scientist Professor Tyler Ma…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Why Is The Universe Made Of Matter And Not Antimatter?
24:03
24:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
24:03
Everything we see, from galaxies to capybaras, is made of matter. But matter has a mirrored version of itself known as antimatter. If the two come into contact they annihilate one another, turning into pure energy. Why does the universe prefer one over the other? This is a fundamental mystery of the universe, and at the forefront of the search for …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
How Do We Know When A Species Is Extinct?
17:48
17:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:48
It’s no secret that species extinction and biodiversity loss are making our environment increasingly less stable. As it feels like we inch closer to waving goodbye to threatened animals like the Javan rhino, a question springs to mind: How do we know when a species is extinct? How, for instance, do we know there aren’t some animals left just hiding…
…
continue reading
We live in a society that idolizes youth for sure, but also with age comes wisdom. However, aging is not all it’s cracked up to be. Could we keep getting older without the drawbacks of being old? Other animals do it, so maybe one day it could apply to humans too. In this episode, host Dr Alfredo Carpineti is joined by Dr Andrew Steele, author of Ag…
…
continue reading
As the human population increases so too does our demand for food, but in the face of the climate crisis scientists are seeking alternative and sustainable solutions to traditional agricultural practices. In this episode of IFLScience, The Big Questions, we teamed up with BBC Earth to speak with Luca Gamberini of Nemo’s Garden to ask: Is the future…
…
continue reading
Studying the Universe told us the cosmos began with the Big Bang. But how will everything end? In a cold and desolate nothingness? Or will everything collapse back into itself in a Big Crunch? In this episode, host Dr Alfredo Carpineti is joined by theoretical astrophysicist Dr Katie Mack, the Hawking Chair in Cosmology and Science Communication at…
…
continue reading
Everything we see and interact with, regular matter, is only a small fraction of what the universe contains. In fact, the vast majority of the universe is invisible to us. We've named these mysterious components dark matter and dark energy, but our understanding of them – and if they even exist – remains lacking. To unravel more of this mystery, Dr…
…
continue reading
Humanity's ever-growing need for energy has led to a world that is dramatically changing, ravaged by extreme weather events. The way we get power has to change. Our question in this episode is about a potential new approach. Can we master nuclear fusion and achieve unlimited energy? Our host Dr Alfredo Carpineti talks to Dr Elise Delchambre of the …
…
continue reading
Of all the mysteries of the universe, none is closer to us as human beings than this one: what is consciousness? How does our brain turn electrical signals into thoughts and feelings? In this episode, host Dr Alfredo Carpineti and Professor Liad Mudrik from the School of Psychological Sciences And Sagol School of Neuroscience at Tel Aviv University…
…
continue reading
The climate crisis is unfolding around us with extreme weather events becoming more common and living organisms having to survive or perish in a changing world. In this episode, host Dr Alfredo Carpineti sat down with Dr Alexandre Kōberle, a research fellow at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change, to discuss how we got here, how we can avoid t…
…
continue reading
From extraterrestrial intelligence to simple life forms, the Universe might be teeming with life. Can we find and communicate with these life forms? IFLScience spoke to Dr Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute to tackle the fundamental question: are we alone in the Universe?By IFLScience
…
continue reading
A little teaser for our upcoming podcastBy IFLScience
…
continue reading