Discovery

How do you solve a problem like CO2? As the curtain closes on the world’s most important climate summit, we talk to a scientist who was at COP 28 and is working to solve our carbon dioxide problem. Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer thinks saving the planet is still Mission Possible - but key to success is turning excess of the climate-busting gas, carbon dioxide, into something useful. And as Director of the Research Centre for Carbon Solutions at Heriot-Watt University and the UK’s Decarbonisation Champion, she has lots of innovative ideas on how to do this. She also has a great climate-themed suggestion for what you should say when someone asks your age… Presenter: Jim Al-Khalili Producer: Gerry Holt Audio editor: Sophie Ormiston Production Co-ordinator: Jonathan Harris

The Life Scientific zooms in to explore the intricate atomic make-up of metal alloys, with complex crystalline arrangements that can literally make or break structures integral to our everyday lives. Professor Sir Harry Bhadeshia is Professor of Metallurgy at Queen Mary University of London and Emeritus Tata Steel Professor of Metallurgy at the University of Cambridge. He’s been described as a ‘steel innovator’ – developing multiple new alloys with a host of real-world applications, from rail tracks to military armour. Harry’s prolific work in the field has earned him widespread recognition and a Knighthood; but it's not always been an easy ride... From his childhood in Kenya and an enforced move to the UK as a teenager, to the years standing up to those seeking to discredit the new path he was forging in steel research - Jim Al-Khalili discovers that Harry's achievements have required significant determination, as well as hard work. Presenter: Jim Al-Khalili Producer: Lucy Taylor Audio editor: Sophie Ormiston Production Co-ordinator: Jonathan Harris

“Big data” and “data science” are terms we hear more and more these days. The idea that we can use these vast amounts of information to understand and analyse phenomena, and find solutions to problems, is gaining prominence, both in business and academia. Cathie Sudlow, Professor of Neurology and Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, has been at the forefront of enabling health-related research using ever-increasing datasets. She tells presenter Jim Al-Khalili why this type of research matters and how the COVID-19 pandemic changed attitudes towards data in healthcare. Over the course of her career, Cathie has held a variety of roles at different organisations, and she is currently Chief Scientist and Deputy Director at Health Data Research UK. She believes that there is no room for prima donnas in science, and wants her field to be open and collaborative, to have the most impact on patients’ lives.Presenter: Jim Al-Khalili Producer: Florian Bohr Production Co-ordinator: Jonathan Harris

Sir Michael Berry, a renowned physicist, discusses abstract concepts in physics, his famous contribution to science using a cat analogy, and his fascination with gadgets and trinkets. He shares childhood memories from World War II and explores the connection between theoretical physics and everyday phenomena. The chapter also highlights his experience taking on childcare and his collaboration resulting in the Ig Nobel Prize.

Sarah Harper, Professor in Gerontology at the University of Oxford, discusses the implications of longer life expectancy, declining fertility rates, the evolution of retirement, and China's one-child policy. She also shares her personal experience of studying aging while going through the process herself.

Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, a Professor Emerita of Anthropology, challenges stereotypes and explores female primate behavior. Her groundbreaking study of langur monkeys in India overturned assumptions about infanticide. She emphasizes the importance of shared care and social cognition in humans and discusses the challenges faced by academic couples.

The Life Scientific returns with a special episode from the USA; Princeton, New Jersey, to be precise. Here, the Institute for Advanced Study has hosted some of the greatest scientific minds of our time - Einstein was one of its first professors, J. Robert Oppenheimer its longest-serving director - and today's guest counts among them. Edward Witten is professor emeritus at the institute and the physicist behind M-Theory, a leading contender for what is commonly referred to as ‘the theory of everything’, uniting quantum mechanics and Einstein’s theory of gravity. He talks to Jim al-Khalili about a career that’s spanned some of the most exciting periods in modern theoretical physics - and about one particular problem that has obsessed and eluded him since his days as a student.Producer: Lucy Taylor

Explore the challenges of exercising in older age, including juggling responsibilities, muscle function changes, and barriers to exercise. Discover the motivation behind exercise psychology and overcoming negative sports experiences. Learn about starting or restarting exercise later in life and embracing a broader understanding of aging.

Discover the potential health risks of excessive sitting and the negative effects it has on muscle activity, blood circulation, metabolic system, and overall health. Learn about a test comparing energy expenditure during sitting, standing, walking, and body weight resistance exercises. Explore the landmark study connecting physical activity and health in the 1950s and the ongoing debate on the impact of physical inactivity versus excessive sitting. Discover the negative impacts of sitting for long periods, including increased glucose levels, insulin levels, and blood pressure, and the importance of finding a balance between sitting, standing, and being active.

Explore the link between oral health and overall health, including the connection between gum disease and chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Discover the tradition of tongue diagnosis in Chinese medicine and the neglected role of the mouth in Western medicine. Learn about the impact of oral health on diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cognitive decline, and COVID-19. Uncover the fear of going to the dentist and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between healthcare professionals. Get insights on proper toothbrushing techniques, debunking myths, and the significance of good oral hygiene in preventing cardiovascular mortality.