Episodios

  • S06EP02 The ghost-like particle: What are neutrinos and why are the so elusive?

    S06EP02 The ghost-like particle: What are neutrinos and why are the so elusive?
    Mar 3 2026
    Episode 6.2 of Science Basement: The ghost-like particle: What are neutrinos and why are the so elusive? Have you ever wondered what a neutrino really is? How does it fit in with protons, neutrons and electrons? And why is it so ghost-like? In episode 6.2 of The Science Basement podcast we sit down with Dr. Timo Kärkkäinen, a particle physicist currently based at the University of Helsinki, to talk about his favourite particle: the neutrino! Join us to learn all about Timo’s research into testing new theories of the standard model of physics and why the neutrino might hold the key to the Universe. Dr. Timo Kärkkäinen has held postdoctoral positions in Hungary and Estonia and is currently a visiting researcher at the University of Helsinki. He is also writing a popular science book on neutrinos in Finnish. Your hosts for this episode are Aarti Venkatesan and Rhiannon Newman. Editing by Ernesta Nesta. Episode cover by Aarti Venkatesan. TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano. Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com Follow more about The Science Basement through our Website: www.thesciencebasement.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement Instagram: @sciencebasement Twitter: @ScienceBasement Email: podcast@thesciencebasement.org
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    40 m
  • S06EP01 The Science Basement Roundtable: 2025 in Review

    S06EP01 The Science Basement Roundtable: 2025 in Review
    Feb 3 2026
    Episode 6.1 opens Season 6 of Science Basement with a roundtable discussion reflecting on the year 2025 in science. The hosts share their favourite scientific discoveries, influential papers, emerging research trends, and personal highlights from the past year. The conversation also looks ahead to 2026, discussing the questions, ideas, and developments that the team is most excited to follow in the coming year. This episode offers a reflective and forward-looking perspective on science beyond headlines, grounded in curiosity, context, and conversation. Hosts: Aarti Venkatesan Rhiannon Newman Sujai Banerji Touqeer Gill Sound editing: Ernesta Nesta Episode cover: Aarti Venkatesan
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    37 m
  • 5.9 On Thin Ice: How Data and Models Reveal Antarctic Sea-Ice Thickness/ w Shreya Trivedi, Sujai & Touqeer

    5.9 On Thin Ice: How Data and Models Reveal Antarctic Sea-Ice Thickness/ w Shreya Trivedi, Sujai & Touqeer
    Dec 26 2025
    Welcome to the last episode of this season! We dive beneath the flat maps of Antarctic sea ice and ask a deeper question: how thick is the ice—and why does that matter? As Antarctic sea ice reaches record lows, we explore why ice extent alone cannot capture the real state of the system. Joined by cryosphere scientist Dr. Shreya Trivedi, we unpack how satellites use radar and lasers to estimate sea-ice thickness, why winter remains the toughest season to observe, and how ice volume shapes climate, weather, ocean circulation, and polar ecosystems. A clear, engaging conversation on why thickness is the missing dimension in understanding Antarctic change. The guest for this episode were: Dr. Shreya Trivedi, Postdoctoral Program Fellow, at the Goddard Space Flight Centre, NASA (US) Hosts: Sujai Banerji & Touqeer Gill Editing by Touqeer Gill Episode cover by Anubhuti Bhatnagar TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com Follow The Science Basement: Homepage: www.thesciencebasement.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement Instagram: @sciencebasement Twitter: @ScienceBasement Email: podcast@thesciencebasement.org
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    56 m
  • 5.8 Journey from Junior Researcher to Principal Investigator- w/ Heli, Nidal, Veijo & Rhiannon

    5.8 Journey from Junior Researcher to Principal Investigator- w/ Heli, Nidal, Veijo & Rhiannon
    Nov 14 2025
    Are you wondering what your next career step is and if academia is for you? Join us for our live podcast event for the 2nd HiLIFE science days where we explore the dynamic career path of three newly established principal investigators: Heli Mönttinen, Nidal Karagic, and Veijo Salo. Our guests share their personal experiences in the world of research, offering an inside look at the challenges, triumphs, and pivotal moments that shaped their careers. We discuss key topics including securing funding, building a team, and the key differences from PhD to Postdoc to PI. You'll gain practical advice and inspiration, whether you're a student, a postdoctoral fellow, or a researcher at any stage of your career. The guests for this episode were: Dr. Veijo Salo, Postdoctoral Researcher, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg (DE) Dr. Heli Mönttinen, Senior Researcher, University of Helsinki (FI) Dr. Nidal Karagic, Academy Research Fellow, University of Helsinki (FI) Editing by Kerttu Kalander Episode cover by Aarti Venkatesan TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com Follow The Science Basement: Homepage: www.thesciencebasement.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement Instagram: @sciencebasement Twitter: @ScienceBasement Email: podcast@thesciencebasement.org
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    56 m
  • 5.7 Seeds of the Sky: From Boreal Forests to Penguin Poop w/ Zoé, Matthew, Sujai & Touqeer

    5.7 Seeds of the Sky: From Boreal Forests to Penguin Poop w/ Zoé, Matthew, Sujai & Touqeer
    Oct 6 2025
    In Episode 5.7, we journey into the hidden world of particles that shape the sky. We speak with Zoé Brasseur, who studies the rare ice nucleating particles drifting from boreal forests into clouds, and Matthew Boyer, who traces how distant penguin colonies in Antarctica release gases that spark the birth of new aerosol particles, tiny seeds of clouds. Together we travel from forest towers in Finland to the drifting ice of the Arctic and the frozen stations of Antarctica. We hear how these almost invisible specks decide when clouds freeze, rain, or snow, and how life on the ground can ripple upward to influence the climate above. Join us for a conversation that blends fieldwork adventure with discovery, revealing how the smallest of particles can shape the vastness of the atmosphere. Zoé Brasseur is a Scientific Integration and Data Officer at the Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System and has a doctorate from Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), University of Helsinki, Finland Matthew Boyer is a Post-doctoral Researcher at INAR, where he also received his doctoral degree. Read their amazing open access paper here: Penguin guano is an important source of climate-relevant aerosol particles in Antarctica (https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02312-2) Your hosts for this episode are Sujai Banerji & Touqeer Gill Editing by Touqeer Gill Episode cover by Anubhuti Bhatnagar TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com Follow The Science Basement: Homepage: www.thesciencebasement.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement Instagram: @sciencebasement Twitter: @ScienceBasement Email: podcast@thesciencebasement.org
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    37 m
  • 5.6. Ancient Clues, Modern Risks: How Paleontology tells the future-w/ David Polly, Emmi & Rhiannon

    5.6. Ancient Clues, Modern Risks: How Paleontology tells the future-w/ David Polly, Emmi & Rhiannon
    Sep 9 2025
    Have you ever wondered what fossils really are? And how can looking into the past tell us anything about our future? In this episode of The Science Basement, we talk with Professor David Polly, a palaeontologist based at Indiana University, who studies ancient carnivores and the environments that shaped them. Join us to unpack what fossils are (and aren’t), how they record evolution, and how fossils can be used to predict future landscapes and the effects of climate change. Prof David Polly is the Chair of the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Indiana University, Bloomington and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS) Your hosts for this episode are Emmi Olkkonen and Rhiannon Newman. Editing by Kerttu Kalander. Episode cover by Anubhuti Bhatnagar. TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano. Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com Follow more about The Science Basement through our Website: www.thesciencebasement.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement Instagram: @sciencebasement Twitter: @ScienceBasement Email: podcast@thesciencebasement.org
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    1 h y 1 m
  • 5.5. Why Science? The Motivations, Challenges, and Triumphs- w/ Victor & Roselydiah

    5.5. Why Science? The Motivations, Challenges, and Triumphs- w/ Victor & Roselydiah
    Jul 11 2025
    How do you know if you should pursue an advanced degree in science—and once you do, how do you set yourself up for success? In this episode of The Science Basement, we sit down with Dr. Victor Oria, to explore the real challenges and rewards of life in research. From growing up in rural Kenya to conducting research across the UK, Germany, the USA, and now Denmark, Victor shares his inspiring journey through academia, and opens up about: 🔹 Navigating self-doubt in academia 🔹 Building resilience through failure 🔹 Why work-life balance is essential to scientific creativity He says “Research can be tough, but if it was easy, everyone would do it.” This episode is especially valuable for early-career researchers and students starting their scientific journey. Tune in for honest reflections and practical tips for traversing your scientific path. Dr. Victor Oria is an Assistant Professor at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Your host for this episode is Roselydiah Makunja with help in pre-production from Emmi Olkkonen. Editing by Kerttu Kalander. Episode cover by Anubhuti Bhatnagar. TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano. Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com Follow more about The Science Basement through our Website: www.thesciencebasement.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement Instagram: @sciencebasement Twitter: @ScienceBasement Email: podcast@thesciencebasement.org
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    45 m
  • 5.4 Breast Milk, Babies, and the Microbiome- w/ Dollwin, Roselydiah & Rhiannon

    5.4 Breast Milk, Babies, and the Microbiome- w/ Dollwin, Roselydiah & Rhiannon
    Jun 6 2025
    Have you ever wondered why breastfeeding is so highly recommended for newborns? What makes breast milk truly special compared to formula? In this episode of the Science Basement podcast, we sit down with Dr. Dollwin Matharu, who specializes in the infant gut microbiome. Dr. Matharu shares her findings about human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs)—the unique sugars found only in breast milk—and explains how these molecules support babies’ immune systems and overall development. She also highlights how her research connects HMOs with the developing infant microbiome, helping us understand the early foundations of long-term health. Dr. Dollwin Matharu is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki. Your hosts for this episode are Roselydiah Makunja & Rhiannon Newman. Editing by Touqeer Gill. Episode cover by Anubhuti Bhatnagar. TSB podcast logo by Tomás Garnier Artínano. Jingle by Havelocke: www.thisishavelocke.bandcamp.com Follow more about The Science Basement through our Website: www.thesciencebasement.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScienceBasement Instagram: @sciencebasement Twitter: @ScienceBasement Email: podcast@thesciencebasement.org
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    38 m