The Naked Scientists Podcast Alzheimer's fingerprick test, and space debris sonic booms
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Jan 23, 2026 
Ellen Foxman, an immunologist who grows nasal tissue models to study colds, explains how fast interferon responses can stop infections. Ben Fernando, a researcher on space debris reentry, describes using seismic detections of sonic booms to track falling spacecraft fragments. Giovanna Lally, a diagnostics lead, outlines a finger-prick blood test trial for early Alzheimer's screening.
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Finger‑Prick Screening For Early Alzheimer’s
- A finger‑prick dried‑plasma test can screen for Alzheimer's by measuring p‑tau217, NfL and GFAP from tiny blood spots.
- Early detection via cheap tests could enable equitable pre‑symptomatic referral for imaging and therapies.
Use Tests To Triage For Confirmatory Imaging
- Use blood screening as a pre‑screen to identify people for further cognitive assessment and brain imaging.
- Refer positive or high‑risk individuals promptly to confirmatory testing before starting therapies.
Seismometers Track Space Debris By Sonic Booms
- Reentering space debris produces sonic booms that shake the ground and can be recorded by seismic networks.
- Timing differences across stations let researchers reconstruct trajectory, speed and breakup details.