scientists at work

This week we find out about aerodynamics and what it involves. We meet Professor Holger Babinsky at Cambridge University Engineering Department. He talks about wind tunnels and the need for bumps on aeroplane wings.  Listen to the interview or hear the full show at the link below. See How wings really work - http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/how-wings-really-work More shows about Engineering A look at bioengineering where they study  materials like bone and 'hydrogels'. Science Show podcast - Bioengineering A look at  the engineering effort that goes into making a battery-powered low-pollution car, the Nissan LEAF. Science Show podcast - the Nissan LEAF car Can money buy you happiness? Associate professor of psychology, Ron Rowell says "Everyone has been told if you spend your money on life experiences, it will make you happier, but we found that isn't always the case." Everyone’s invited to learn how spending habits affect happiness by contributing to this research programme. Go to www.BeyondThePurchase.org. Press release: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-05/sfsu-cmb050114.php Something fishy about the recommendation to eat fish A study that questions those recommendation to eat fish with omega fatty acids is published in The Canadian Journal of Cardiology. Press release: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-05/ehs-ifs050114.php WHAT'S BEEN ON A Pint of Science where you can learn about science at the pub. Here in Cambridge there will be talks from the 19th to 21st May at three town centre pubs including the Portland Arms. Topics include ‘hacking our senses’, ‘the ageing brain - how to keep it fit’, and ‘modifying memories’. To learn more and book tickets, see www.pintofscience.com Molecular Gastronomy, The Science of Taste and Flavour is a talk on Monday 19th May at 19:30 by Professor Peter Barham. At Churchill College, Storey's Way, Cambridge. 2050: Sustainable UK a talk on on Thursday 15th May at 7pm. Science author and broadcaster, Dr John Emsley questions if the ‘green solution’ is a better alternative. He thinks that organic farming and natural materials cannot feed, clothe and house 9 billion humans. Department of Chemistry, Lensfield Road, Cambridge. Advances in Research and Practice of Tunnelling Under Cities, a talk on Monday 5th May. Urban congestion is a serious problem in many cities, so the creation of underground space, and underground transport, is essential for future megacities. Professor Robert Mair, Department of Engineering explains how tunnels can be built in cities. Monday 05 May, 19:30-21:00 at Churchill College, Cambridge. OUR NEXT SHOW Listen on Cambridge 105 on Saturday 17th May at our special new summer slot of 5.30pm

We talk with Peter Barham, a professor of 'Molecular Gastronomy' about what his delicious subject entails.  He wrote the book "The Science of Cooking". His idea is that "a kitchen is like science laboratory”, and that cookery is indeed an experimental science. Professor Barham has worked with restaurant chefs including Heston Blumenthal of the celebrated “Fat Duck” restaurant in Berkshire. He was giving a talk in Cambridge for the Cambridge Society for the Application of Research. (Listen to show at the link below below or just  the interview here). You can find more talks at the C.S.A.R. website. (http://www.csar.org.uk) TOUR DE FRANCE - IMPROVING CYCLING PERFORMANCE with PSYCHOLOGY A surprising report, from guest Science Show presenter Daniel Edward, on how cycling performance is being improved with a programme to change not physique but cyclists’ attitude to the pain of working at their limits. SCIENCE NEWS in this show The Emperor penguin is in peril and deserve endangered species status. http://www.eurekalert.org/emb_releases/2014-06/whoi-sfe062714.php The Malaria parasite changes your body smell in order to attract other mosquitoes to your skin. http://www.eurekalert.org/emb_releases/2014-06/ez-bor062714.php WHAT’S ON AT Cambridge Science Centre Extreme Engineering - discover how to build the world’s tallest buildings, design an earthquake-proof structure, and find out how shrinking electronics is changing our lives. The Science Centre has new exhibits on 'materials for on extreme environments' and also 'engineering and speed'. Find the summer programme dates at http://www.cambridgesciencecentre.org

Hear about a cute animal with the less cute name of the Tasmanian Devil. It is fast becoming extinct as it can suffer from an unusual cancer that is contagious. The Science Show’s Chris Creese asks Sanger Institute researcher Elizabeth Murchison what’s going on. Follow-up links Watch Elizabeth Murchison on “Fighting a contagious cancer” in a TED talk (disturbing images) www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_murchison.html. The Sanger Institute on the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus www.sanger.ac.uk Save the Tasmanian Devil at www.tassiedevil.com.au

The sponsors of the London Olympic games included a fizzy drink maker; a fast food restaurant and a chocolate brand, so we go in search of advice on a healthy diet. Cambridge doctor Simon Poole offered his knowledge on healthy food. He talks about the difference between Omega-3 and Omega-6 and the Mediterranean diet. Follow-up links Dr Poole can be contacted via the website: the Taste of the Mediterranean at www.tasteofthemed.com Tagged biology, health 23/04/2012

When the news told of the discovery of ‘another’ Mona Lisa, Roger Frost visited local inventor Lawrence Robinson of OPUS Instruments.  He learned about the OSIRIS infra-red camera which had been used to verify the find by ‘seeing’ under the paint of paintings. Follow-up link OPUS Instruments www.opusinstruments.com. Tagged infrared, technology, physics, Roger Frost First played on the Science Show 05/02/12

Chris Cox  of IPACCESS in Cambourne explains to Roger Frost how mobile phones talk to radio masts; how signals decrease inside buildings and how femtocells (aka ‘small cells’) can improve a weak signal. Follow-up link IP access ipaccess.com Tagged technology, physics, Roger Frost 05/02/12

Neil and Lottie invited us to their Breakfast Show on Cambridge 105 radio. We answer questions about how the show came about. There was giggling but it was an informative chat too.

Cambridge science teacher Dr William Hirst tells Roger Frost how learning the language of science can improve children’s success at school. Dr Hirst is the author of a science dictionary for ages 10 -14 called “William’s Words in Science” Follow-up link see www.williamswords.co.uk

The ‘International Union for Conservation of Nature’ is the world’s oldest and largest environmental organisation and has a base in Cambridge in Huntingdon Road. Nicola Terry hears from with the IUCN’s Rebecca Miller about her work. Read more at iucn.org Find the “IUCN Red list” of threatened species at iucnredlist.org Enter your own species sightings at www.inaturalist.org

As the season switched from spring to summer we look at weedkillers. How do weedkillers (aka herbicides) work? How can a weedkiller target one plant and not another? Roger Frost asked plant scientist, Chris Creese and gained some intriguing answers.

Journal editor Sally Hirst talks about a group of micro-organisms called parasites. Tagged biology, health 30/06/2012

Looking for a place at Oxbridge? This show looks at the information available to help students make a better choice of university. Roger Frost talks to former college admissions tutor John Green on the need for scientific data and intelligent ways to analyse it. Read more at myoxbridgechoice.com. Tagged biology, university, admissions, statistics, maths 07/04/2012

Roger Frost speaks with Matt Bruff of Altela Inc, a Denver company making technology that turns the most polluted water useful again. The company licence large-scale water recycling plants that handle the massive quantities of polluted water that arise when extracting oil and gas. Matt Bruff in Cambridge and he tells how their technology gives water that’s pretty much fit to drink. Thanks by the gallon to Altela Inc altelainc.com Tagged chemistry, Chris Creese, physics, Roger Frost 14/07/2012

Science Show reporter Nicola Terry asked a local environmental scientist Dr Ray Galvin to tell us about houses and heat loss. He offers a scientific look at ways to reduce our use of energy in the home. He also suggests that we might look at dehumidifiers and heat pumps to reduce our energy bill.

Stuart Dye from Granta Design in Cambridge explains how the company help engineers choose materials to make a product. Tagged engineering, chemistry, materials, choosing, physics, Granta Design, Cambridge, Nicola Terry, Stuart Dye 22/01/2012

Roger Frost visits a super-insulated city home that minimises its use of energy and has a garden for insulation on the roof. He talks to architect Jeremy Ashworth about the ways that his building saves energy. Thanks to Ashworth Parkes Architects Limited www.ashworthparkes.co.uk For case studies see openecohomes.org Cambridge Carbon Footprint cambridgecarbonfootprint.org Tagged home energy, physics, architect, openecohomes, ecohomes, cambridgecarbonfootprint,Cambridge Carbon Footprint, cambridge 05/05/2012

Nicola Terry hitches a ride on the Heatseekers vehicle in Cambridge as speaks with Dawn Morley.  Dawn explains how their infra red camera is able to see where a house loses its heat. They take their infra red camera on the streets and use it to measure the temperature of the outside walls of a house and see which walls and windows waste heat. Follow-up link Heat Seekers on 0800 111 4968 or homeheatseekers.co.uk Tagged home energy, Nicola Terry, physics, Heat Seekers, Dawn Morley, infra red camera,infrared, camera 10/03/12

Roger Frost visits the British Antarctic Survey HQ at Madingley. We hear from scientist Dr Alastair Graham about the work of BAS and about the life around hydrothermal vents. Follow-up links: BAS at www.bas.ac.uk www.antarctica.ac.uk/about_bas/news/news_story.php?id=1688 Tagged biology,hydrothermal vents,British Antarctic Survey,BAS, Antarctic, crabs, Alastair Graham Roger Frost 10/03/12

Chocolatier Cheryl Brighty of Artistry in Cocoa, tells Nicola Terry how chocolate is made from a cocoa pod. Cheryl works at Artistry in cocoa www.artistryincocoa.co.uk Tagged biology, making chocolate, cocoa, chemistry, Nicola Terry 19/05/2012

With water shortages and hosepipe bans in summer, Nicola talks to plant scientist Dr Helen Holmes about the importance of water and how plants respond to a lack of it. Helen is based at the University of Cambridge Department of Science and works on projects with Rothamstead Research in Hertfordshire. Tagged biology, plant, stress, water uptake,Rothamstead, Nicola Terry, Helen Holmes 24/03/2012