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Dame Jane Goodall dies aged 91: "A great loss to the scientific world" Oct 02, 2025

Show notes

The world’s leading primatologist, Dame Jane Goodall, has died aged 91.

Jane dedicated more than sixty years of her life to studying chimpanzees and conservation.

We hear from Dan Simmonds, London Zoo’s Animal Operations Manager, and Dr Jake Brooker, a postdoctoral researcher in primatology at the University of Durham.

Also in this episode:

The Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin on Storm Amy, as weather warnings are upgraded to amber

Instagram’s boss says the app does not listen to our conversations

Experts call for sunbed ban

Walking shapes how our brains process sound, study suggests

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NHS virtual hospital to deliver 'millions of appointments' digitally Oct 01, 2025

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Sir Keir Starmer revealed a new NHS virtual hospital at the Labour conference. Available via the NHS app from 2027, the government says it will deliver “millions of appointments” between patients and consultants across the country, as well as help manage tests, scans and prescriptions.

From today, every GP practice in England will have to let patients book online appointments throughout the day.

Also in this episode, 2.8 billion-year-old lunar rock samples suggest that the interior of the mysterious dark side of the moon may be colder than we once thought. To find out why this research is important, and why the two sides of the moon are different, we join Professor Yang Li from UCL’s Department of Earth Sciences and Peking University, co-author of the new study.

Plus, Amazon reveals the new Kindle Scribe Colorsoft at their 2025 Hardware Event. They also announced four new Echo devices and more Ring doorbells.

And the rest:

E-bikes and e-scooter fires are on course to reach an all-time high this year, new analysis reveals
A new species of Jurassic reptile has been discovered, and it's related to lizards and snakes
Why burning wood indoors could cause damage in a similar way to cigarette smoke
Robot cars vs the police...

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UK cyber attacks: “Bluntly, we’re very at risk” Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

The ninth annual Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report has landed. It reveals 80% of companies report paying a ransom to recover or protect critical data, and 59% of SMEs experienced a cyberattack in the last 12 months.

In light of cyber attacks on firms such as Jaguar and Marks & Spencer, we spoke to Danny Jenkins, CEO and co-founder of IT security service ThreatLocker.

Danny told us the UK is "very at risk" from cyber attacks, and explains what the government need to do to protect businesses.

YouTube to settle lawsuit with US President Donald Trump over account suspension. The president had his account temporarily banned following the Capitol riots in January 2021.

And an NHS hospital has become the first to offer a new, non-invasive ovarian cancer surveillance test.

Also in this episode:

-Video game maker Electronic Arts agrees record $55bn buyout to go private

-Woman convicted after Met Police make 'world's largest' cryptocurrency seizure worth £5.5bn

-The unique Stratus Covid symptom, as cases rise across UK

-1 in 3 would walk away from someone having an epileptic seizure, according to a new study

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GPS train ticket trial kicks off in England Sep 29, 2025

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Rail minister Lord Hendy has said the government are bringing train tickets “into the 21st century”.

From Monday, passengers travelling on Northern train services between Harrogate and Leeds will be able to pay for their journey using an app on their phone - while on the move.

Jaguar Land Rover will restart some production in "the coming days".

Trees in the Amazon are growing despite threats from man-made climate change.

Plus, Dr Simon Erridge on why expanding NHS access to medical cannabis could add more than £13bn to the UK economy - and help thousands of people with long-term health conditions return to work.

We also speak to patient Fatma Mehmet from Hertfordshire, who says medical cannabis has been life-changing.

Also in this episode:

-People may age faster if their father smoked during puberty, study finds

-Did our species walk on Earth half a million years earlier than previously thought?

-Professor Brian Cox unveils his next - and biggest - tour yet.

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What is a digital government ID in the UK? Sep 26, 2025

Show notes

The Prime Minister has confirmed controversial plans to roll out digital IDs, which will be available on people’s phones by the end of this Parliament.

We speak to cybersecurity expert Alex Laurie, SVP at Ping Identity, about what the scheme means for personal data and online safety.

Meanwhile, conservationists warn Britain is “shockingly underprepared” for climate change as extreme weather devastates habitats and species across the country.

Also in this episode:

Xiaomi unveils a $630 smartphone to rival the iPhone 17 – and even takes on Tesla with its new EV models
Police launch a crackdown on vape spiking across London’s nightlife
The All-American Rejects release a video game–inspired music video, directed by Jamie Thraves
Children raised around dogs may face a lower risk of asthma, say Canadian researchers
Scientists in Australia test bite-resistant wetsuits designed to reduce shark attack injuries

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UK government weighs Jaguar Land Rover cyber attack rescue plan Sep 25, 2025

Show notes

Rachelle speaks to YouTuber Brandon B on the importance of the creator economy to the UK.

A new cross-party forum to support the creator economy has been unveiled at the YouTube festival.

This will act as a bridge between creators and Westminster.

According to an impact report carried out by Oxford Economics, YouTube content creators contributed £2.2bn to the UK economy in 2024 and supported 45,000 jobs.

Plus, following the major cyber attack on Jaguar Land Rover, the Government is now considering stepping in to help keep its suppliers.

Earlier this week, JLR extended its pause in production until October 1st.

And, a warning to the band Muse… Scientists discover that supermassive blackholes may not be as massive after all.

Also in this episode:

PlayStation State of Play: A release date and trailer for Marvel: Wolverine revealed
New cancer cases worldwide could rise by 61% by 2050 – study
New nature detecting sensors have been added to the Natural History Museum gardens

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Scientists confirm asteroid strike caused North Sea crater Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

An AI tool that’s already helped the UK government claw back almost half a billion pounds in fraud is set to be rolled out worldwide.

The Fraud Risk Assessment Accelerator identifies loopholes in policy to prevent them being exploited by fraudsters.

Meanwhile, scientists have confirmed the Silverpit Crater off the coast of Yorkshire was formed by an asteroid. We speak to associate professor at Heriot Watt University Uisdean Nicholson about the findings.

Also in this episode:

More than 200 leading politicians and scientists have warned the UN that AI needs binding international limits by 2026
More than 70 ‘super-battery’ projects get one step close to being funded and boosting renewable energy storage
Chinese scientists say a rogue gravitational wave could be a signal from another universe
Trophies for Tomb Raider: Anniversary are spotted online - could this mean a surprise October release?
Sweden pitches itself as the remedy you need for your physical and mental health

Today’s thumbnail image shows a seismic map of the top of the Silverpit Crater. Credit: Uisdean Nicholson.

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Doctors dismiss Trump’s paracetamol in pregnancy claim Sep 23, 2025

Show notes

Health secretary Wes Streeting is urging pregnant women to ignore Donald Trump’s claims about a link between paracetamol and autism, calling them ‘dangerous’ and 'without evidence'.

The comments have sparked outrage among scientists and campaigners on both sides of the Atlantic.

To explain why paracetamol remains the NHS’s first-line choice for pain management in pregnancy, Suze Cooper is joined by Professor Dimitris Siassakos, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at University College London and honorary consultant at UCLH.

Also in this episode:

The EU’s cybersecurity agency says the attack that disrupted flights at Heathrow was caused by ransomware
Jaguar Land Rover extends its ‘production pause’ until October following the cyber attack on their systems earlier this month
Nvidia pledges $100 billion (£73bn) to power openAI’s next generation of AI models
Mars says all ten of its European chocolate factories are now running on renewable energy
New government plans could see water-saving showers and toilets fitted as standard in new homes
NASA announces its class of 2025 as ten astronauts prepare for two years of training

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Who is behind Heathrow cyber attack? Plus, Trump's family TikTok plans Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

Flights at Heathrow have been disrupted by a major cyber attack.

We speak to ESET’s Global Cybersecurity Advisor Jake Moore about the issues that took the boarding tech offline, throwing the airport into chaos.

Also in this episode:

Donald Trump says the Murdochs could be part of US team to stop TikTok being banned in the US.
A Lib Dem proposal to boost online safety could lead to social media health warnings every time you open your favourite app.
More people see AI as a risk than an opportunity according to new research from the Tony Blair Institute.
Could Cycle to Work become Workout from Work? ukactive pushes for government support to get our fitness levels up.
Apple users in the EU are missing out on the latest features amid Brussel’s data sharing row.

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F1’s George Russell on how data is used for split-second decision making Sep 19, 2025

Show notes

We caught up with George before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix to find out how data and technology shape his preparation and his split-second decisions on the track.

Microsoft have revealed their newest AI datacentre in the US and say it’s the world’s most powerful.

MI6 is launching a new dark web portal called Silent Courier to attract new recruits.

Also in this episode:

-Most Caribbean corals will be eroding in 15 years’ time

-Two teenagers charged over Transport for London cyber attack

-The Royal Mint on the giant Monopoly human-sized boardgame in London

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