Discovery

In Malawi, experts discuss challenges and progress in maternal health, including reducing maternal mortality rates, improving healthcare access, and addressing issues like sepsis and hemorrhage. The podcast also explores patient referrals, resource constraints, adolescent pregnancies, and the role of traditional birth attendants in maternal health.

Underwater cameraman Roger Munns set himself and his team an incredible challenge. In 2008, they visited Tonga to film the biggest courtship ritual of the animal kingdom, the humpback heat run, for the very first time underwater and up close. In the first few days, Roger had intimate encounters with the whales but most of the time, he was sat on the back of the boat, waiting to find a heat run. After two unsuccessful weeks, he started to wonder whether they would ever see one. But a few days later somebody spotted a heat run, and everything sprang into action. Roger got in position and dove down ten meters underwater on a single breath. From then on, his job was just to wait and hold his camera ready. In a moment that seemed to stretch out time, he waited, nervously, for a group of 40-ton bus-sized whales to speed past him… And Victor Vescovo describes his adventures into the deep, diving to the deepest parts of all five oceans. Victor's longest dive was solo to the lowest point on Earth - the Challenger Deep at the bottom of the Marianas trench in the western Pacific. On reaching the bottom, some 35,853 feet below the ocean surface, should something have gone wrong, there was no hope of rescue. Victor describes his feelings before making this historic descent and on the way down. Touching down on the sea bed, he was astounded by the abundance of marine life. Victor describes how he hopes that the mapping, observations and sample collections he has made on his dives will advance scientific understanding of the deep oceans, and where his eternal quest to explore might take him next. Produced by Florian Bohr and Diane Hope Credits: Humpback whale mother and calf sounds - Acoustic Communications CNRS team & CETAMADA Humpback whale calf sounds - Lars Bejder (MMRP Hawaii), Peter T. Madsen (Aarhus University) & Simone Videsen (Aarhus University)

Primatologist Catherine Hobaiter shares her passion for observing chimpanzees in Uganda's rainforests, delving into the soap opera-like dynamics of chimp troupes. Sara Dykman's 10,201 mile bicycle journey tracking monarch butterfly migration highlights the challenges of conservation and inspiring encounters with nature and children along the way.

Zookeeper and sea lion trainer Mae Betts joins Ben Garrod and Jess French to discuss the intelligence and unique anatomical adaptations of California sea lions. They explore the sea lion's senses, dental structure, blubber layer, and internal physiology. The podcast delves into how pollutants affect sea lions, the insulating properties of blubber, and the fascinating kidney structure and adaptability of these marine mammals.

The tiny sap-sucking aphid, at just a few millimetres long, is the scourge of many gardeners and crop-growers worldwide, spreading astonishingly rapidly and inflicting huge damage as it seeks to outwit many host plants’ natural defences. With insights and guidance from aphid expert George Seddon-Roberts at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, some delicate dissecting tools, and a state of the art microscope, Prof Ben Garrod and Dr Jess French delve inside this herbivorous insect to unravel the anatomy and physiology that has secured its extraordinary reproductive success, whilst offering new clues as to how we could curtail its damaging impact in the future.Co-Presenters: Ben Garrod and Jess French Executive producer: Adrian Washbourne Producer: Ella Hubber Editor: Martin Smith Production co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

Prof Ben Garrod and Dr Jess French delve into the unique diet and physical characteristics of the bearded vulture, exploring how it consumes bones and the anatomy of its esophagus. They also discuss the specialized respiratory system of birds and the bearded vulture's digestive system, highlighting its stomach acid's ability to dissolve bones for nutrients.

Professor Ben Garrod, an evolutionary biologist, and Dr. Jess French explore the unique anatomy and evolutionary history of the red kangaroo. They discuss the kangaroo's powerful legs, reproductive system, and surprising adaptations for surviving in the harsh Australian outback. The podcast delves into the kangaroo's specialized locomotion techniques, anatomy of its foot and tail, and the fascinating functions of its tail for balance and manipulation.

In this podcast, Hannah Fry delves into stories of discovery and data. From uncovering bias in healthcare algorithms to revealing errors in debt data analysis, the episodes explore the impact of flawed systems on society. The discussions highlight the importance of transparency and fairness in algorithmic decision-making and the consequences of data errors on economic policies.

Explore the diverse experiences and cultural attitudes towards menopause worldwide, debunking myths and clarifying misconceptions. Learn about the physiological changes and symptoms of menopause, including hot flushes, incontinence, and psychological impacts. Discover treatment options like hormone replacement therapy and lifestyle changes, and the importance of workplace awareness and empathy towards menopausal symptoms. Delve into historical and cultural perspectives on menopause, highlighting liberation, freedom, and the need for education and support.

Hannah Fry explores two more tales of data and discovery.Gossip and rumour are plaguing a tile manufacturing company. The chatter is pulling morale to new lows, and amid it all, a question hangs in the air: who is spreading it? Can the science of networks find out? And, what is the secret to ageing well? One man believes he may have found the beginnings of an answer, and it is hiding in a convent.Produced by: Ilan Goodman and Lauren Armstrong Carter