The Infinite Monkey Cage

Mathematician Sarah Hart, a fellow at Birkbeck University, joins comedian Dave Gorman and Thomas Woolley to explore nature's geometry. They discuss how evolution crafts elegant forms, like tortoise shells and the leaf distribution of trees. The conversation touches on Alan Turing’s influence on animal patterns, the mystery of the golden ratio, and even Gorman's quirky disdain for oblongs. With humor and insight, they reveal the mathematical wonders embedded in the natural world.

Join Trevor Cox, an Acoustic Engineering Professor, Sam Bennett, a Music Professor specializing in technology, and the iconic musician Brian Eno as they delve into the evolution of sound. They discuss the fascinating history of music recording from early phonographs to the revolutionary Fairlight CMI synthesizer. Hear about the challenges of capturing sound, the transition from analog to digital music, and a live audience experiment that turns phones into a digital orchestra. It's a captivating intersection of technology and creativity!

Join theoretical physicist Paul Abel and planetary scientist Michele Dougherty as they engage in a cosmic face-off between Saturn and Jupiter. Discover the allure of their breathtaking appearances and the secrets lurking beneath their mesmerizing surfaces. The duo dives into the wonders of their moons, discussing ongoing missions that might uncover extraterrestrial life. With some humorous wrestling analogies thrown in, this lively debate reveals the intriguing dynamics of these gas giants and their captivating roles in our solar system.

Robin Ince and Brian Cox venture into the captivating and surprisingly mysterious realm of ice. Joining them on this cool adventure are former ice dancer Darren Harriott, glaciologist Liz Morris, polar explorer Felicity Aston and ice chemist Christoph Salzmann. From beautifully formed snowflakes to ice shelves in Antarctica, our guests discuss the fascinating science suspended in solid water and how much is still to be discovered. With the help of a gin and tonic they explore the properties of ice - like why it floats and how there are 20 phases of ice, three of which were accidentally discovered by our guest Christoph. Darren shares his respect and fear for ice having learnt to dance and ice-skate on it. Liz discusses how analysing deep ice can provide a window into our past climate whilst also helping us understand our present one and why penguins can be problematic. Polar explorer Felicity explains how being able to read the colours, shapes and sounds of the ice have helped to keep her alive as she's traversed the highly inhospitable (but also incredibly beautiful) polar regions. Producer: Melanie Brown Exec Producer: Alexandra Feachem Assistant Producer: Olivia Jani

Jo Brand, a sharp-witted comedian and writer, joins psychologist Matti Wilks, who specializes in morality, to explore the depths of altruism. They tackle fascinating questions like why humans choose to help others and the biological roots of altruism. The conversation dives into how personal relationships dictate generosity, and surprising insights reveal how children perceive kindness. With humor and expert analysis, the duo discusses the intricate balance between self-interest and altruism, alongside a look at gender influences in charitable behavior.

Join comedian Phil Wang, once an engineering student, along with seismologist Ana Ferreira and geoscientist Chris Jackson, as they journey into the Earth’s layers. They reveal the surprising complexities of the Earth’s structure, from continental blobs deep within to the extreme conditions that hamper direct exploration. Phil hilariously grapples with his fears of falling through gaps between tectonic plates, while Ana shares cutting-edge techniques for studying our planet's hidden depths. The conversation brilliantly blends science with humor, making geology captivating!

Brian Cox and Robin Ince look ahead to the topics and guests you can enjoy in Series 32 of The Infinite Monkey Cage.Listen first on BBC Sounds from Wednesday 19 February, 2025.

Join Prof. Helen King, an expert in medical history, Sir Mark Walport, a physician with an adventurous spirit (and x-rays of his own feces!), and Keith Moore, librarian of the Royal Society, as they explore the bizarre history of the human body. They delve into outrageous beliefs, from wandering wombs to tobacco enemas. Expect laughter while examining how past misconceptions shaped our understanding of anatomy. The trio also reveals daring self-experiments that propelled scientific discoveries forward!

Join geneticist Adam Rutherford, known for his work on human history, paleontologist Susannah Maidment from the Natural History Museum, and ex-virologist turned comedian Ria Lina. They dive into the fascinating world of de-extinction. Can we resurrect creatures like the woolly mammoth? They explore the science behind cloning and back-breeding, weighing in on the ethical implications and potential benefits to ecosystems. The humor flows as they discuss extinct species they'd rather not have back, blending laughs with serious insights on biodiversity and our responsibilities.

Brian Cox and Robin Ince expand their knowledge of elasticity with Olympian Bryony Page, comedian Jessica Fostekew & experts Dr Anna Ploszajski and Prof James Busfield from Queen Mary University of London. What makes stretchy things stretch? Together our panel journey through different applications of elastic materials and examine, at the molecular level, what happens when we stretch a material and crucially what causes it to return to its original shape. This is especially pertinent to our guest Olympic and British champion trampolinist Bryony Page who has capitalised on elasticity in her 24 year long career. We discover that the bounce of a trampoline mainly comes from the elasticity of steel and how dependent this is on temperature. Cold temperatures are not only treacherous for trampolines; we explore how the cold proved fatal to the elastic components of both the Titanic and the Challenger space shuttle.Plus we hear how scientists sometimes just can’t beat nature; natural rubber and spiders silk are two such cases. Anna Ploszajski takes us through some of the more inventive techniques scientists have engineered to produced more of these natural materials, including genetically engineering goats to be milked for silk.Producer: Melanie Brown Exec Producer: Alexandra Feachem Researcher: Olivia JaniBBC Studios Audio production