Discovery

Join entomologist Julio Rivera, a specialist in praying mantises from the Université de Montréal, and Bianca Greyvenstein, a postdoctoral fellow at North-West University, as they unravel the mysteries of these incredible insects. Discover their astonishing predatory skills, including hunting prey much larger than themselves. Dive into their cultural significance and fascinating folklore from around the world. They also explore the mantises' crucial role in agriculture and their unique biomaterials that hold promise for future innovations.

Gareth Mann, the Leopard Program Director for Panthera, and Charlotte Searle, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford, share their expertise on leopards. They delve into the unique traits of these elusive big cats, including their distinct roars and camouflage skills. The conversation highlights the complexities of their solitary hunting behaviors and their territories in Tanzania. They also explore the challenges of conserving the Arabian leopard, discussing innovative solutions like synthetic fur capes to help combat poaching and support biodiversity.

Yael Velleman, Director of Policy and Innovation at Unlimit Health, tackles issues of water access and sanitation. Anthony Acciavatti, Associate Professor at Yale, shares insights from his exhibition on groundwater's historical significance. Neil Turner, a nephrologist, discusses the vital role of hydration for kidney health. They explore the global water crisis, the impact of climate change on water availability, and the myths around hydration. The conversation culminates in a call for awareness and action to ensure equitable access to clean water for all.

Eduardo Alvarez, founder of EarthMatters.org, and biologist Helena Aguiar-Silva, a researcher at the National Institute for Amazonian Research, dive deep into the world of harpy eagles. They discuss the eagle's impressive adaptations and cultural significance, as well as how deforestation forces these apex predators to shift their diets. The innovators explore groundbreaking GPS technology's role in tracking these majestic birds and the collaborative conservation efforts aimed at protecting their rainforest habitat.

Investigating the black-and-white apex predator of the sea – the killer whale! Able to predate even great white sharks, this marine mammal is the largest member of the dolphin family. From tropical seas, to the Arctic and Antarctic, killer whales (or orcas) are found across the world. Living in family groups and often led by a post-menopausal matriarch, killer whales have passed on their hunting methods, which vary depending on which prey they specialise in hunting, through the generations.Presenter Adam Hart finds out about the killer whales incredible social behaviours (such as wearing salmon as hats) and hears how a dog is helping killer whale researchers access a gold mine of information about this predator. He also hears what challenges killer whale populations are facing and why killer whales may be attacking boats off the coast of the Iberian peninsula.Contributors:Dr. Leigh Hickmott, whale biologist and conservationist, who is an expert on Pack Ice killer whales, and whose research uses them as indicators to assess human disturbance of marine habitats.Dr. Deborah Giles, who is an expert on Southern Resident killer whales, based with the SeaDoc Society, a program of the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.Presenter: Professor Adam Hart Producer: Jonathan Blackwell(Photo: Killer Whales, Credit: Serge MELESAN via Getty Images)

What's it like living underwater for two weeks? What's the trickiest part of training to be an astronaut? What are the most memorable sights you see from space? Several extreme questions, all of which can be answered by one man: Major Tim Peake. After a childhood packed with outdoor adventures, via the Cub Scouts and school Cadet Force, Tim joined the British Army Air Corps and became a military flying instructor then a test pilot; before eventually being selected as a European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut. In 2015, Tim became the first British ESA astronaut to visit the International Space Station. Over the course of a six-month mission, he took part in more than 250 scientific experiments and worked with more than two million schoolchildren across Europe. In a special New Year’s episode recorded in front of an audience at London’s Royal Society, Professor Jim Al-Khalili talks to Tim about his lifelong passion for adventure, the thrill of flight and why scientific experiments in space are so important. Presented by Jim Al-Khalili Produced by Lucy Taylor

What effect will warming temperatures have on health? One place to look for answers is Bulgaria. In the summer of 2023, Bulgaria experienced numerous heatwaves, leading to the country experiencing one of the highest rates of heat mortality in Europe. But how are these numbers calculated? How exactly does heat affect us? Who is most likely to suffer from ill health due to heat? And how can we protect ourselves in an increasingly warming world? Along with a panel of experts, Claudia Hammond will explore these questions and more with a live audience at the Sofia Science Festival in Bulgaria. Are we prepared for how rising temperatures will affect our health? This programme aims to find out.

From growing up in a progressive Denmark to studying mathematics at a gender-segregated Cambridge University, Inge Lehmann had to power through the shock of cultural change to pursue her love of mathematics. Whilst managing several seismological stations, Inge notices the peculiar readings in the data she was collecting. Was the Earth’s composition actually different to what the experts had thought?Dr Julia Ravey and Dr Ella Hubber tell the story of Danish seismologist Inge Lehmann who used earthquakes to uncover the truth about the composition of the Earth’s inner core.Presenters: Ella Hubber and Julia Ravey Guest Speakers: Dr Lif Lund Jacobsen and Dr Trine Dahl-Jensen Producers: Ella Hubber and Julia Ravey Assistant producers: Sophie Ormiston, Anna Charalambou and Josie Hardy Sound designer: Ella Roberts Production co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano Editor: Holly Squire (Photo: Inge Lehmann Credit: Neuhaus, Even (6.2.1863-20.4.1946) /Royal Danish Library)

In this enlightening discussion, Professor Tebello Nyokong shares her remarkable journey from herding sheep in Lesotho to becoming a leading figure in nanotechnology and cancer treatment. Overcoming systemic educational barriers during apartheid, she emphasizes the importance of mentorship and the transformative power of education. Tebello passionately details her groundbreaking work in photodynamic therapy, aiming to establish Africa as a science superpower. Her story is a testament to resilience, ambition, and breaking gender stereotypes in the scientific community.

Dr Julia Ravey and Dr Ella Hubber are both scientists, but it turns out there’s a lot they don’t know about the women that came before them. In Unstoppable, Julia and Ella tell each other the hidden, world-shaping stories of the scientists, engineers and innovators that they wish they’d known about when they were starting out in science. This week, a Māori marine scientist is combining indigenous knowledge with marine science to save the oceans that are so integral to her heritage.Growing up in 1970s New Zealand, Kura-Paul Burke faced stigma due to her Māori roots. But, after finding herself studying marine science as an adult, Kura leaned on her heritage to take on a problem where many had already failed: restoring a lost population of precious, green-lipped mussels. Discover how Māori ancestresses, tribal elders and centuries-old knowledge inspired the ingenious methods of Aotearoa's first female Māori professor of marine science.Presenters: Ella Hubber and Julia Ravey Guest Speaker: Dr Kura Paul-Burke Producers: Ella Hubber and Julia Ravey Assistant Producers: Sophie Ormiston, Anna Charalambou and Josie Hardy Sound Designer: Ella Roberts Production Coordinator: Ishmael Soriano Editor: Holly Squire(Image: Dr Kura Paul-Burke. Credit: Dr Kura Paul-Burke)