Episodios

  • How flowers played a key role of the evolution of life on Earth

    How flowers played a key role of the evolution of life on Earth
    Apr 12 2026
    For most of us, our experience of flowers is limited to sending a bouquet to our loved ones on special occasions or perhaps picking up some pretty plants from the garden centre to cheer up our homes. But if we take a wider, more nuanced view, it quickly becomes clear that flowers have played an essential role in the evolution of the vast and varied ecosystems of the planet we live on. The fact is, without them, the Earth would be a very different place indeed. In this episode, we’re joined by David George Haskell, adjunct professor of environmental sciences at Emory University and author, to talk about his latest book, How Flowers Made Our World – The Story of Nature’s Revolutionaries. He tells us how the emergence of flowering plants around 130 million years ago triggered a massive cascade in biodiversity that we’re still feeling the effects of today, how their genetic flexibility has allowed them to be so evolutionarily successful, and talks us through the huge influence they continue to have on human life and culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    32 m
  • How chemistry underpins every area of our lives

    How chemistry underpins every area of our lives
    Apr 9 2026
    While we may not always be consciously aware of it, chemical processes are busy whirring away every second of every day, no matter what we’re doing or where we look. Be it the reactions that continuously occur in our own bodies to keep us alive, the manufacturing processes used to make the clothes we wear, the homes we live in and the products we rely on to make our lives more comfortable, or even in the development of the medicines we use to treat disease. In this episode, we’re joined by Prof Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu, professor of pharmaceutical neuroscience at University College London, and president of Wolfson College, Cambridge, to talk about her latest book, Chain Reaction – The Wondrous Chemistry of Everyday Life. She tells us how all of the bodily functions we take for granted are grounded in the chemistry of the atoms and molecules we’re made of, how we’ve harnessed the processes of chemistry to create the materials we rely on for our survival every single day, and how taking a moment or two to think about these fascinating processes can open us up to a whole new way of looking, not only at ourselves, but also at the world we live in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    35 m
  • How to engage more deeply with the natural world

    How to engage more deeply with the natural world
    Apr 5 2026
    Perhaps due to poor weather, the COVID pandemic, or a simple lack of motivation, these days many of us spend a lot of our time indoors. However, wherever we live, there are always opportunities to get out into nature and learn more about the world we live in. Doing so can not only enrich our own lives by more deeply engaging with the environments that surround us but can also help scientists and researchers to gather data and make new insights that are vital for the survival of our flora and fauna. In this episode, we’re joined by Jo Harris, the education manager at the Field Studies Council. She tells us about her work helping people of all ages to get outside and learn more about the rich environments and ecosystems that are on our own doorsteps and the huge contribution that we can all make to deepen our collective knowledge of the natural world by engaging in citizen science projects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    24 m
  • You’ve been pooping wrong, but here’s how to fix it

    You’ve been pooping wrong, but here’s how to fix it
    Apr 2 2026
    Smelly, dirty and a bit embarrassing – we tend to treat our poo as a private matter, to be dealt with in the bathroom and then stringently ignored. But, while we may not want to discuss toilet time at the dinner table, our bowel movements can give us invaluable information about our wider health. In this episode, we speak to Dr Trisha Pasricha, a gastroenterologist, medical doctor and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, and the author of the upcoming, You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong. Trisha argues that we should treat our faecal matter with a little more curiosity and respect, as clues about our mood, diet, brain health – and more. She also explains how to upgrade your poops, in an effort to reach poophoria. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    36 m
  • Why it’s not too late to reverse Earth’s extinction crisis

    Why it’s not too late to reverse Earth’s extinction crisis
    Mar 29 2026
    Planet Earth is currently facing its sixth mass extinction event, with hundreds of species of plants and animals being lost for good every single day. For the first time in history, this devastating loss of the world’s flora and fauna is not being caused by natural phenomena, but by the actions of human beings. However, there is still hope that, if we start to take steps in the right direction, this looming crisis can be averted. In this episode, we’re joined by environmentalist and author Natalie Kyriacou to talk about her latest book, Nature’s Last Dance – Tales of Wonder in an Age of Extinction. She tells us how the influence of humans on the planet has become so profound that many researchers say the era we are now living in should be called the Anthropocene, talks us through some of the innovative solutions conservationists around the world are putting in place to save endangered species, and explains why we need to seriously reassess our current systems of economy, law and commerce if we are to turn the situation around. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    31 m
  • Why gout is on the rise, and how to lower your risk

    Why gout is on the rise, and how to lower your risk
    Mar 27 2026
    If you were to mention the term gout, the chances are that most of us would think of the gluttonous sovereigns of yesteryear who ended up with the condition after years of gorging on rich foods and drinking fortified wines. But the fact is, cases of gout have been climbing significantly over the past few decades. So, what’s behind this increase and what measures can we all take to help us avoid this painful condition? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Daniel Baumgardt, a GP and lecturer in health and life sciences at the University of Bristol, to talk about what happens in our bodies when we suffer from gout. He tells us how gout is caused by jagged acidic crystals forming in and around joints, how, far from only affecting the elderly, it’s beginning to affect more and more people in their 20s and 30s, and how suffering from an acute gout attack could be a warning sign that your cardiovascular system is also in poor health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    27 m
  • How our intimate relationship with animals shaped human evolution

    How our intimate relationship with animals shaped human evolution
    Mar 23 2026
    Thanks to our highly developed brains, sophisticated ability to communicate and use of advanced technology, it can be easy to think that we humans are separate from, and even superior to, the animals we share the Earth with. But the truth is that animals have profoundly influenced the progress and evolution of human beings for tens of thousands of years. In this episode, we’re joined by science writer Michael Bond to talk about his latest book, Animate – How Animals Shape the Human Mind. He tells us what the elaborate cave paintings found across the globe can teach us about our ancient ancestors’ relationship with animals, how evolution has finetuned our brains to help us recognise animals and understand their behaviour, and what we can learn about ourselves by more deeply investigating the way we treat other living beings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    33 m
  • Why our brains struggle to keep up with a rapidly changing world

    Why our brains struggle to keep up with a rapidly changing world
    Mar 20 2026
    The human brain is undoubtedly one of the true marvels of nature. But many of the neural mechanisms that evolved to keep our ancestors alive over thousands of years are now leaving us feeling dissatisfied, anxious and depressed thanks to the rapid advances in technology and culture we now find ourselves faced with. The simple fact is, we’re living in an environment that our brains were not built to survive in. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Paul Goldsmith, an evolutionary neuroscientist, author and visiting professor at Imperial College London, to talk about his latest book, The Evolving Brain – An Ancient Tool in a Modern World. He tells us how the pressures and goals many of us are now confronted with are vastly different from the challenges faced by our ancestors, the huge impact this is having on our mental wellbeing by excessively triggering our natural stress responses and shares some advice from neuroscience we can all use to navigate the trials of modern life more healthily. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    35 m