5 Live Science Podcast

Find out more about the amazing powers of plastics, china's increasing space programme and how bacteria could be used for the latest type of encryption. Dr Chris Smith and his team have the answers.

Dr Karl joins Rhod to answer all this weeks science questions.

The slipperiest substance ever made, and the workings of DEET – the world’s best insect repellent

Can viruses be used as medical cures? Why birds are modern day dinosaurs?And how good is a fish's memory? just some of the weird and wonderful questions asks in the latest edition of the Dr Karl Phone-in

This week, scientists with superhero x-ray vision... well almost, the CT scanning system capable of handling some very large specimens and why playing computer games has led to a breakthrough in understanding HIV.

Are copper bands copper bottomed? Do you weigh less in the day than you do at night? Plus our old favourite String theory. Just some of the conundrums for Dr Karl this week. Dotun is ringmaster as Rhod is away.

In this special edition Dr Chris visits Lee Berger, at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg to see the fossils which could revolutionise our understanding of the evolution of our species.

Dr Chris and his team discuss the virtues of yoghurt on the brain. Flat lenses and ice cold bacteria are also on the agenda.

The benefits of biting your nails, supernovas and what happens when an atom bomb detonantes are all put under the scientific spotlight of Dr Karl and Dr Rhod.

Dr Karl and Dr Rhod tackle why rocket thrusters work on the moon, what makes night fall, why rain doesn't hurt us and what causes tinnitus.