The Life Scientific

As a young man, traveling in Africa, Tim Coulson - now Professor of Zoology at the University of Oxford - became seriously ill with malaria and was told a second bout would probably kill him. Aged only 20, this brush with his own mortality led him to promise himself he would write a complete guide to science: life, the universe and everything. His aim was to understand the existence of all living things - no mean feat!Over the course of a colourful career, Tim's work has taken him all over the world: including researching wolves in Yellowstone National Park, little fish called guppies in the rivers of Trinidad and silvereye birds on Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef. Using complicated mathematical models he builds up a picture of ecosystems seeking to explain how predators impact both evolution and ecosystems. And finally, more than thirty years after he vowed to write the book that would explain everything we know about science, he's done just that.In conversation with Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Tim talks about his journey from youthful ambition to science demystifier.Presented by Jim Al-Khalili Produced by Geraldine Fitzgerald

Claudia de Rham, a Professor of theoretical physics at Imperial College London, is a trailblazer in massive gravity theory. She shares her adventurous relationship with gravity, from scuba diving to flying, while dreaming of becoming an astronaut. Claudia reflects on her childhood in Peru, her academic challenges as a woman in physics, and her personal journey dealing with unexpected health news. She dives into the complexities of her research, battling skepticism in the scientific community while balancing her career and motherhood, offering a passionate perspective on understanding the cosmos.

Neil Lawrence, DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge, shares his optimistic views on AI's potential to enhance our lives. He discusses the importance of embracing AI cautiously while addressing concerns about data usage and the 'digital oligarchy.' Lawrence delves into his unique journey from oil rigs to neural networks and highlights the transformative power of mobile technology in Africa. He emphasizes the need for local innovation and critiques the dominance of big tech, all while navigating the balance between technology and humanity.

A frozen, white world at the far-reaches of the globe, where you're surrounded by snow and silence, might sound rather appealing. Factor in temperatures that drop to -57°C and a few of us might be put off - but for glaciologist Liz Morris, that's very much her happy place.Liz is an Emeritus Associate at the University of Cambridge’s Scott Polar Research Institute, and was among the first British women scientists to work on the planet’s coldest continent, Antarctica. Over the course of her career, Liz has gathered vital data on polar ice sheets and how they’re affected by climate change. She's also made numerous research trips across the Greenland Ice Shelf, and has a glacier named after her in Antarctica.In conversation with Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Liz discusses her fascination with glaciers and ice - and explains her unwavering determination to break into what was once a heavily male-dominated field. Presented by Jim Al-Khalili Produced for BBC Studios by Lucy Taylor

Welcome to a world where medicine meets politics: a space that brings together scientific research, government wrangling, public push-back and healthcare conspiracies…Dr Anthony Fauci was the Director of America’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for nearly four decades, during which time he not only helped study, treat and prevent viruses such as HIV/AIDS and Covid-19; he also advised seven US Presidents, from Ronald Regan through to Joe Biden.Along the way, Tony Fauci's picked up a public profile and taken a fair amount of flack; not least because of his complicated relationship with President Donald Trump. But he's also made great strides in medical research and policy, from working with activists who initially challenged him on the government response to HIV/AIDS - to spearheading the USA's PEPFAR project to share vital medication with developing nations.In a candid conversation with Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Tony discusses his childhood in Brooklyn, the dark early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, lessons from the Covid-19, his hopes and fears for the future of American health policy – and his reaction to that pre-emptive pardon from President Biden.Presented by Jim Al-Khalili Produced for BBC Studios by Lucy Taylor

Brian Schmidt, a Distinguished Professor of Astrophysics and Nobel Prize winner, discusses his groundbreaking work on supernovae and the universe's accelerating expansion. He shares how his High-Z Supernova Search Team transformed our understanding of cosmology. The conversation also delves into Schmidt's personal journey from farm life to academia and his newfound passion for winemaking, highlighting the surprising parallels between astrophysics and viticulture. Expect discussions that blend cosmic mysteries with a touch of wine-making joy!

Jacqueline McKinley, a Principal Osteoarchaeologist with Wessex Archaeology, dives deep into the world of ancient burial sites. She shares how even burnt bone fragments reveal rich stories about lives and communities. Jackie discusses the shift in Western attitudes toward death, contrasting historical communal practices with today's privacy around death. She also reflects on her personal experience of keeping her late father's bone fragments, illustrating the emotional ties to the past. With advancements in forensic techniques, Jackie uncovers the intricate connection between archaeology and modern investigative practices.

Surgeons often have to deal with the consequences of violent attacks - becoming all too familiar with patterns of public violence, and peaks around weekends, alcohol-infused events and occasions that bring together groups with conflicting ideals.Professor Jonathan Shepherd not only recognised the link between public violence and emergency hospital admissions, he actually did something about it. As a senior lecturer in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in the early 1980s, Jonathan started looking into this trend - and his research revealed that most violent assaults resulting in emergency hospital treatment are not reported to police. As a result, he devised the ‘Cardiff Model for Violence Prevention’: a programme where hospitals share data about admissions relating to violent attacks with local authorities. He also went on to study various aspects of violent assault and deliver evidence-based solutions - from alcohol restrictions in hotspots, to less breakable beer glasses in pubs. The impacts have been significant, delivering reductions in hospital admissions and in violent attacks recorded by police; not only in Cardiff, but in cities around the world where the model is used. Today, as an Emeritus Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Cardiff University - where he’s also Director of their Crime, Security and Intelligence Innovation Institute - Jonathan continues to bring together the medical sector with local authorities, finding practical ways to make cities and their residents safer. But his career, straddling the worlds of practise, science and policy, is an unusual one; here he talks to Professor Jim Al-Khalili about what drove him to make a difference.Presentedby Jim Al-Khalili Produced by Lucy Taylor

Doyne Farmer, an innovative scientist and entrepreneur known for his work in chaos theory and complex systems, shares fascinating insights. He recounts his daring win at a Las Vegas casino using one of the first wearable computers, demonstrating the predictability within apparent randomness. Farmer discusses applying complex systems science to economics, stressing the importance of predictive models in addressing climate change and economic crises. His journey reveals how the intricacies of chaos can lead to transformative solutions in our unpredictable world.

Elephants are the largest living land mammal and today our plant is home to three species: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant.But a hundred thousand years ago, in the chilly depths of the Ice Age, multiple species of elephant roamed the earth: from dog-sized dwarf elephants to towering woolly mammoths.These gentle giants' evolutionary story and its parallels with that of humankind has long fascinated Dr Tori Herridge, a senior lecturer in evolutionary biology at the University of Sheffield, where - as a seasoned science broadcaster - she's also responsible for their Masters course in Science Communication.Tori has spent much of her life studying fossil elephants and the sites where they were excavated; trying to establish facts behind relics that are far beyond the reach of Radio Carbon Dating. To date she's discovered dwarf mammoths on Mediterranean islands, retraced the groundbreaking Greek expedition of a female palaeontologist in the early 1900s, and even held an ancient woolly mammoth’s liver. (Verdict: stinky.)But as she tells Profesor Jim Al-Khalili, this passion for fossil-hunting is not just about understanding the past: this information is what will help us protect present-day elephants and the world around them for future generations.Presented by Jim Al-Khalili Produced for BBC Studios by Lucy Taylor