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Latest Episodes:

Google’s Robby Stein on AI and the Future of Search | special Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

Google’s VP of Search, Robby Stein, joins us for an in-depth look at the future of search.

Having first joined Google in 2007, Stein has since led teams at Instagram and Artifact, co-founded Yahoo-acquired startup Stamped, and returned last year to oversee Google Search. He’s now driving the company’s generative AI products, designed to help people “search effortlessly.”

This week, Google expanded its AI-powered search tools into more languages — including Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean and Brazilian Portuguese.

And back in July, it rolled out AI Mode in the UK, offering conversational answers instead of the traditional list of links.

We ask:

How are Google’s latest AI updates changing search?
Why launch now, and how long have these developments been in the works?
What are the most popular searches right now — and how detailed can results get?
What does the future of search look like?
How can website owners and publishers adapt to this new model?
Why was it so important to add more languages?
And how accurate — and safe — is AI Mode really?

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UK-US tech deal: Microsoft, Google investing £31bn in AI infrastructure Sep 17, 2025

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Britain and the US have struck a tech deal that could bring billions of pounds of investment to the UK.

The “tech prosperity deal”, announced as Mr Trump arrived in the UK on Tuesday night, will see the UK and US cooperate in areas including artificial intelligence, quantum computing and nuclear power.

It comes alongside £31 billion of investment in Britain from America’s top technology companies, including Microsoft and Google.

Plus, we're joined by Professor John Morton, co-founder and CTO of Quantum Motion.

His team have just delivered a full-stack quantum computer to the UK National Quantum Computing Centre.

They believe they’re on track to bring commercially useful quantum computers to market this decade.

This is the first fully functioning quantum computer of its kind to be built using the same silicon chip technology that powers every PC, smartphone and tech device we’re used to.

Also in this episode:

-Doctors say women with long COVID are prone to longer and heavier periods

-OpenAI apply restriction tools to ChatGPT for those under-18

-A new tool could help catch cases of ovarian cancer sooner

-Thermal drones deployed to monitor native animals under threat

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REPLAY: Anxiety & why the brain ‘knows how to heal’ with NuCalm’s Jim Poole | Brave New World Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

This is a cut-down preview of Brave New World, hosted Evgeny Lebedev. Evgeny is joined by Jim Poole, chairman, president and chief executive of Solace Life Sciences. They explore the evolution of the human brain, anxiety and how to deregulate the amygdala, a small, almond-shaped part of the brain that plays a central role, which Jim says ‘feeds on fear’. Listen to the full conversation on the Brave New World podcast here.

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Musk responds to sanctions call over Tommy Robinson rally remarks Sep 15, 2025

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In a post on X, Elon Musk has branded Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey a “craven coward”.

Sir Ed accused the American billionaire of “inciting violence” with his appearance at the Unite the Kingdom protest on Saturday.

And he called for the Tesla owner to be sanctioned over the remarks he made.

The UK and the US have agreed a deal to boost the building of nuclear plants in both countries.

The Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy is expected to be signed during Donald Trump’s state visit this week.

Could keyboards, remote controls, alarms and sensors soon be battery-free?

An international team has developed durable new solar cells capable of harvesting energy from indoor light.

For more, we speak to project lead, Dr Mojtaba Abdi-Jalebi, Associate Professor at the Institute for Materials Discovery, UCL.

Also in this episode:

-The government announce a major new UK drone factory for 2026

-Leaders of global video games industry gather for Edinburgh summit

-A new confidential app to support those bereaved by suicide has been launched

-Despite having eight arms, octopuses do pick a favourite for certain tasks

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Mice with mini steering wheels reveal more about how our brains work Sep 12, 2025

Show notes

Mice using mini steering wheels are helping neuroscientists rethink how the brain makes decisions.

Research from the International Brain Laboratory shows decision-making isn’t confined to just a handful of brain regions as once thought, it’s actually distributed much more widely.

Suze Cooper spoke to Professor Alexandre Pouget from the University of Geneva’s basic neuroscience department about the findings and what they might mean for people with brain conditions.

Watch the brain map video here.

Also in this episode:

A government trial shows why human oversight is so important when it comes to using AI to write computer code
The Information Commissioner’s Office warns children are hacking their school IT systems ‘for fun’
Spotify is rolling out lossless audio to Premium users - but you will need to reach for your wired headphones to hear the difference
The number of electric vehicle charging points at supermarkets has gone up by a third since the start of last year according to stats from the RAC
The internet sleuths who cracked the mystery of an unknown wedding guest for a Scottish couple

Today’s episode art work shows a brain-wide map featuring 75,000 analysed neurons. Each dot is linearly scaled according to the raw average firing rate of that neuron up to a maximum size. Credit: Dan Birman, International Brain Laboratory.

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Hawking’s Black Hole theory proven right after 50 years Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

After fifty years of debate, Dr Geraint Pratten from the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Birmingham tells us how their research on recorded gravitational waves has confirmed Stephen Hawking’s most famous black hole theory.

A drug for a rare disease that causes sudden vision loss is now available on the NHS.

Jaguar Land Rover confirms data was compromised in last week’s cyberattack.

Also in this episode:

-Have NASA found evidence of life on Mars?

-London’s "Wet Wipe Island" has finally been cleared. John Headway, Thames Water’s Head of Tideway Integration Group, shares some of their more unusual finds - including a pair of men's trousers.

-The lizard that gave birth despite not mating, with Scott Adams, Director of the Exotic Zoo in Telford, Shropshire.

Image credit: Aurore Simonnet (SSU/EdEon)/LVK/URI

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Is Apple’s thinnest-ever iPhone any good, or all hype? Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

We run through Apple’s latest offerings, such as their thinnest iPhone ever, the iPhone 17 line-up and AirPod upgrades with Tech Editor, Alex Pell.

Will we ever see a foldable phone? And why was the lack of AI announcements surprising?

Patients with suspected dementia are taking part in a nationwide trial of a promising new blood test for Alzheimer's.

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner says over 700 arrests have been made this year through their live facial recognition technology.

Also in this episode:

-The mystery of why two prehistoric flying reptiles died has been solved

-A 'pioneering' oyster reef is being built off the Norfolk coast to boost biodiversity

-Scientists say it’s likely Mars has a solid inner core

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Nepal’s PM resigns after deadly social media ban protests Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

Nepal’s prime minister KP Sharma Oli has resigned as deadly anti-government protests against a social media ban and political corruption escalate.

Microsoft have launched an ambient clinical AI assistant for the NHS.

Apple have a brand new iPhone on the way…

Also in this episode:

-Have scientists found an atmosphere around an Earth-like exoplanet?

-Sainsbury’s has rolled out facial recognition in two stores

-Major new study launched tracking thousands of babies

-The age of Sycamore Gap tree is revealed

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What is Romance Fraud? Fjellhøy on Netflix’s Love Con Revenge – ‘They hack our emotions’ | special Sep 08, 2025

Show notes

Remember The Tinder Swindler? Rachelle Abbott is joined by Cecilie Fjellhøy who, with the help of private investigator Brianne Joseph, is now helping other victims of romance fraud.

Ina new six-part series on Netflix, Love Con Revenge, we see Cecilie and Brianne gather evidence and track down five alleged perpetrators, helping victims take back control.

In this episode:

-Cecilie’s story

-What romance fraud is

-Where these crimes start

-How such in-depth cases fit into six episodes

-Car chases and stakeouts

-Why these crimes should be taken more seriously by authorities

-The criticism Cecilie faced after The Tinder Swindler

-Has Love Con Revenge helped Cecilie feel more validated?

-The warning signs of a romance scammer

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The flexible underwater robot created to take on risky deep sea dives Sep 05, 2025

Show notes

Thousands of people who could benefit from weight-loss jab Mounjaro could be missing out due to NHS finding shortfalls.

We’re joined by project manager Rowanne Miller from the UK’s National Robotarium to hear how engineers have developed a flexible robot which could prevent deep sea divers from having to carry out risky underwater inspections.

Also in this episode…

Domestic abuse charities raise concerns that Sunday’s nationwide Emergency Alerts test could reveal hidden phones
The launch of Hollow Knight: Silksong creates a global gaming frenzy bringing down major gaming stores
Sky-watchers prepare for Sunday’s total lunar eclipse as the Moon turns red over the UK

The image used for this episode shows the tentacle-like underwater robot developed at the UK’s National Robotarium which is based at Heriot Watt University’s campus in Edinburgh. Credit: Ben Glasgow

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