Professor Saleemul Huq, director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development, advocated for a loss and damages fund for vulnerable countries affected by climate change. The podcast also covers an unusual snail looking for a mate, glucose monitors' impact on the body, and Lev Parikian's book on the evolution of flight in animals.
The loss and damages fund for vulnerable countries affected by climate change, pledged at COP27, is still not in place, causing issues during pre-negotiations for COP28.
Flight has independently evolved in insects, pterosaurs, birds, and bats, with various adaptations such as light skeletons, disappearance of teeth, and the evolution of feathers.
Deep dives
The Legacy of Professor Salimul Huk and the Loss and Damage Fund
At COP 27, the pledge to set up a loss and damage fund to support vulnerable countries most affected by climate change was made. Professor Salimul Huk, a renowned climate scientist and advocate for developing nations, played a key role in pushing for this fund. However, as COP 28 approaches, the fund is still not in place, causing problems during pre-negotiations. The fund aims to provide financial support to countries already suffering from the impacts of climate change. While progress has been made in determining the fund's structure and the World Bank has been designated as its host, questions remain about the fund's size and contributors.
Flight: From Pterosaurs to Birds
Flight has evolved independently in four groups of animals: insects, pterosaurs, birds, and bats. Pterosaurs, often mistakenly referred to as dinosaurs, were actually flying reptiles that existed before the earliest birds. They had wingspans of up to 11 meters and launched themselves into the air using powerful hind legs. Birds, which evolved lightness from heaviness, have undergone various adaptations for flight, including light skeletons, disappearance of teeth, and the evolution of feathers. Feathers, initially serving other purposes like insulation and display, eventually became significant flight adaptations.
Glucose Monitoring and the Impact of Exercise and Food
Glucose monitors designed for people with diabetes are now being used by individuals without diabetes for health purposes. A study involving continuous glucose monitoring during a cycling trip revealed interesting insights. Exercise during eating did not significantly affect blood glucose levels, while rest after eating led to glucose excursions. The order in which food was consumed also impacted glucose levels, with certain foods causing more significant spikes. For example, a Cornish pasty with refined flour caused higher glucose spikes compared to a chocolate bar. It is important to consider glucose levels in the context of individual variability and overall health.
The Importance of Context in Glucose Monitoring
Glucose monitors provide valuable information about blood glucose responses to specific scenarios and meals. However, their usefulness in determining overall health and the healthiness of specific foods is limited without considering other factors and individual variability. Factors like genes, microbiome, activity levels, and inter-individual variation may influence the response to different foods. More data and research are needed to better understand how glucose levels relate to personalized health and nutrition, and to refine the interpretation and application of continuous glucose monitoring results.
Professor Saleemul Huq, director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development in Bangladesh, has died. He was instrumental in pushing for a loss and damages fund for vulnerable countries affected by climate change. Last year’s COP27 climate conference made a pledge to set up this fund. But, as yet, there is not one in place. Marnie Chesterton speaks to BBC climate reporter Esme Stallard about Professor Huq’s legacy, and where the money will come from for a loss and damages fund.
We also hear about an unusual snail that’s looking for love, with the help of matchmaking academic Dr Angus Davison. He’s hoping to find a suitor for the mollusc.
Marnie talks to Lev Parikian, author of Taking Flight: The Evolutionary Story of Life on the Wing, which has been shortlisted for this year’s Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize.
Geneticist, Professor Giles Yeo, who recently cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats with two glucose monitors attached to his arms, gives us an update on his research. He wanted to find out how diet and exercise affected his body’s sugar levels.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton
Producers: Hannah Robins, Harrison Lewis and Alice Lipscombe-Southwell
Editor: Richard Collings
Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
BBC Inside Science is produced in collaboration with the Open University.
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