5 Live Science Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Light Pollution Jul 02, 2023

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Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs.

In today’s programme: How an artificial-intelligence technology from Cambridge is helping cut cancer treatment waiting times. We also hear how the James Webb Space Telescope is shedding new light on the chemical building blocks of life, the universe and everything. Plus heat-resistant drones that can fly into burning buildings to track down survivors.

And this week, light pollution goes under our spotlight.

Titan sub and an HIV vaccine Jun 25, 2023

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Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs.

In today's programme: The missing Titan sub might have imploded - we look at the conditions that the vehicle - and would be rescuers - were having to work with 4km down. Also, we discuss the telescope heading for space to shed new light on dark energy.

Plus, 40 years on since the identification of HIV we look at where this virus came from, and how far away we are from an effective vaccine.

Get the podcast from the BBC Sounds app.

UFOs - What do we know? Jun 18, 2023

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Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs.

In today's programme: As NASA meet to investigate U-F-O’s and whistle-blowers claim countries have been stashing alien spacecraft for decades, we’ll be asking what do we know about Unidentified Flying Objects?

Plus we ask how solar power stations in space would work? And we find out more about the fish that fight infection by swimming to warmer waters.

Get the podcast from the BBC Sounds app.

Fossils - why there is so much excitement at the moment? Jun 11, 2023

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Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs.

In today’s programme: we look at the enquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic, what is it hoping to achieve? and how an AI is writing its own computer code, speeding up the Internet. Plus fossils - why there is so much excitement in this field at the moment?

Get the podcast from the BBC Sounds app.

Alleviating Allergies Jun 04, 2023

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Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs.

In today’s programme: are ecstasy and LSD set to become new treatments for depression? Who’s chattier in their first year of life, boys or girls? and We look at what allergies are, and how we can help fight against them.

Get the podcast from the BBC Sounds app.

Memory, mosquitos and mowing the lawn May 28, 2023

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Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs.

In today’s programme: What attracts mosquitoes to some people but not others? Grow not mow: why one Cambridge college has broken hundreds of years of tradition, and decided not to mow their lawn. And we look at the science of memory. What is it, and how can we improve our own memories?

New episodes released weekly. If you're in the UK, for more BBC podcasts listen on BBC Sounds: bbc.in/3UjecF5

Your questions answered May 21, 2023

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Chris Smith and the panel are answering the questions you've been sending in over the past few weeks.

New episodes released weekly. If you're in the UK, for more BBC podcasts listen on BBC Sounds: bbc.in/3UjecF5

Singing fish and building better batteries May 14, 2023

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Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs.

In today’s programme: A breakthrough in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, and the fish that communicate by singing.

Plus we’re looking at improvements that are being made when building batteries, and asking: is the prospect of electric airliners about to take off?

Sport and concussion injuries May 07, 2023

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Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs.

In today’s programme: What should we make of claims that China is building super weapons to hack and hijack US satellites? We also hear from the couple who have discovered one of the world's most important fossil deposits, almost on our own doorstep!

Plus ... we investigate the link between sport and concussion injuries.

New episodes released weekly. If you're in the UK, for more BBC podcasts listen on BBC Sounds: bbc.in/3UjecF5

Obesity Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs.

In this week's episode: we speak to the team that think they’re close to cracking the male contraceptive pill. And the WHO announce their big vaccine catch-up: to protect the millions of children worldwide who’s routine vaccinations have been disrupted by Covid.

Plus, living with obesity is one of the biggest health challenges we face in the future, so we look at what’s being done about the problem.

New episodes released weekly. If you're in the UK, for more BBC podcasts listen on BBC Sounds: bbc.in/3UjecF5