The Naked Scientists Podcast

John Zarnecki, a space scientist and instrument designer who led the Huygens probe team, recounts a career from rocket launches in Australia to Hubble and Giotto. He shares stories about designing the Huygens surface package, the tense descent and data wait at Titan, and how missions shaped European planetary science.

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.

This week, we're looking at a major study that is following the development of children born in the UK in 2026. It's called Generation New Era, and in this episode we hear from the team leading the research: how they plan to run it, what earlier cohort studies have revealed, and what they hope to discover this time around. The study has been funded by public investment from UKRI, and their Economic and Social Research Council... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Michael Clarke, a defence and security analyst, discusses the potential security risks associated with China's proposed mega-embassy in London, raising concerns about monitoring and sovereignty. Mark Maslin, a climate scientist, examines the UK's ambitious offshore wind expansion and its significance in achieving energy independence. Yvonne Wren, a speech and language therapy expert, highlights the link between toddler screen time and delayed speech development, stressing the importance of interactive engagement. Richard Hollingham reports on NASA's first medical evacuation from the ISS, exploring implications for future deep-space missions.

Fred Fenter, Chief Executive Editor at Frontiers, discusses the need for scientific expertise at Davos to influence policy and leadership. Jane Metcalf, of the Human Immunome Project, talks about mapping the immune system for better health insights. Peter Rose from Novatron Fusion shares innovations in plasma confinement for fusion energy. Lastly, Zia Murabi advocates for diversified agriculture, urging practices that mimic natural ecosystems to enhance sustainability and reduce environmental costs.

This week, the UK begins the rollout of the chickenpox vaccine to younger children. But why is it only being offered now? Plus, the high-level technological plan to capture Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, what the latest research says about the health of vegan and vegetarian diets in the young, and the risks posed by "space junk" that falls back to Earth... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

In this episode, we hear from not one, but two Titans of Science, together. And that's because Ed Wild and Sarah Tabrizi are neuroscientists, neurologists and long-time collaborators both based at University College London. They've devoted much of their careers to understanding Huntington's Disease. Chris Smith went to visit them in London... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Isabel Quiroga, a clinician and pioneering transplant surgeon, reveals the fascinating details of the UK's first uterus transplant and the surgical logistics involved. Eleanor Raffan, a canine researcher, shares insights from her genetic studies explaining why Labradors tend to be greedy, linking gene behavior to owner management. Lastly, neuroscientist David Nutt introduces Gabir, an innovative alcohol-free drink designed to mimic alcohol's relaxing effects—without the hangover, making social drinking healthier and safer!

This week, defence analyst, Michael Clarke, explains the significance of the MI6 agency's scientific shift. Will it help counter Russia's technological threat? Plus, the University of Glasgow's Naveed Sattar tells us why weight loss medicine could be a silver bullet for global obesity, Ellie Diamant at Bard College on beaky birds during COVID, and the Institute of Astronomy's Matt Bothwell on NASA's new space telescope... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Today, in partnership with UK Research and Innovation, we are asking whether it will snow on the 25th of December. It's frequently called a white Christmas and - at this time of year - weather forecasters and the bookies are busy weighing up the odds. So we've set out to explore how weather predictions are made, what constitutes snow, the role of technology in making forecasts, and whether parts of the UK will witness a white Christmas for 2025... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists