BBC Inside Science

Animal experiments Scientists are changing the way they measure animals used in research. The most recent Home Office report not only shows the numbers of animals used, it also grades how much each animal suffered. Dr Sara Wells from MRC talks to Adam about this new measure, and also the fact that the overall number of animals used in 2014 has declined for the first time in years. Bees and diesel The polluting power of diesel has been getting a lot of press recently. Now, new research has shown that the volatile nitrogen oxides in diesel exhaust (NOx) are preventing bees from finding their food flowers. The diesel chemically alters some of the most common floral scent compounds, rendering them unrecognisable to bees and other insect pollinators. The effect adds to the suite of environmental factors impacting bee survival.Sense Ocean Adam visits the National oceanography Centre in Southampton where they are working on Sense Ocean - A big Europe-wide project which is monitoring what is in the world's oceans. Professor Matt Mowlem, is Head of the Ocean Technology and engineering group, and he is in charge of making sensors, which measure the chemical and biological nature of sea water from small platforms and vehicles. Readability of IPCC Report A paper in Nature Climate change last week scored the IPCC Summary for Policy Makers report, very low for 'readability', Adam discusses the trade-off between writing science that is right, and writing science that is understandable. Producer: Fiona Roberts.

Science writer Marcus Chown joins the discussion on time travel in science and cinema, exploring time machines, paradoxes, and the influence of Einstein's theory of relativity. They talk about the evolution of editing in film, predictions from Back to the Future II, and the challenges of building a time machine through black holes and wormholes.

The podcast discusses the vulnerability of ocean corals, gravitational waves, and a bestselling book on physics. New research reveals how nutrient imbalances affect coral resilience. The hunt for gravitational waves at LIGO could prove Einstein's Theory of Relativity and black hole existence. Carlo Rovelli's book simplifies complex physics concepts, outselling popular bestsellers.

Experts at a literary festival discuss preserving biodiversity through genetic diversity, climate change effects on plants, and the resilience of ecosystems. The panel explores the impact of geoengineering on biodiversity and the challenges faced in protecting crops like coffee from a changing climate.

Join science writer Adam Rutherford and a panel of experts as they tackle intriguing listener questions, from fossilization strategies to the rarity of green mammals. They explore topics like the multiverse, selective attention, and the potential of robots in daily life and scientific research. Dive into thought-provoking discussions on genetics, cosmology, and more!

Dr. Cathy Olkin discusses Pluto's geologically active features. Space elevator patent for a 20km tall tower. Dr. Jason Chapman on insect migration. Hungry Mind Lab's app to measure and train imagination.

Professor Chris Stringer discusses the discovery of Homo Naledi, a potential human ancestor. The podcast also covers the development of a spacesuit to combat spine elongation in astronauts, quantum biology, and a new cure for motion sickness using electric currents.

Podcast discusses severe El Nino event implications, using sphagnum moss to revive peatlands and combat air pollution, insights into Higgs Boson discovery at CERN, and citizen science project measuring air pollution with iPhones.

Why the expansion of the paleolithic brain was powered by cooked carbohydrates. Gareth Mitchell talks to Professor of Evolutionary Genetics, Mark Thomas, about the difficulties of establishing what our ancestors ate. More than half the world's corals grow in deep, cold waters, many around the shores of the British Isles. But a new study shows they are under severe threat from ocean acidification caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide. Gareth talks to Professor of Marine Biology, Murray Roberts, from Heriot Watt University about why these corals could all be gone by the end of the 21st century. This week's short-listed Royal Society Winton Prize book is Life's Greatest Secret: The Race to Crack the Genetic Code. Marnie Chesterton talks to the author Matthew Cobb. BBC Science and environment reporter, Jonathan Webb, joins Gareth from the American Chemical Society meeting in Boston to talk about why the grime on buildings could be a new source of air pollution and why carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could be used to make carbon fibres.

As Scotland announces it ban on GM crops and with the current post of chief scientific adviser for Scotland vacant, Adam talks to the previous post holder, Professor Muffy Calder about the role of science advice to government and her reaction to news of the ban. The Earth's magnetic field is weakening which could be a sign that the magnetic poles are soon due to flip. Daniel Lathrop and team at Maryland University are trying to model the Earth's magnetic field using a large molten globe of sodium. Should we be worried if a flip is on the cards? Royal Society Winton book prize short-list: Science writer, David Adam, author of 'The Man Who Couldn't Stop' talks to Marnie Chesterton about his experience of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Adam hears about the birth of a new galaxy seen for the very first time. He talks to Chris Martin from Caltech about his latest galactic research published in Nature.