Shows
Not Another Science PodcastBiology and Batteries: Using Bacteria to Recycle Waste MetalsOn season seven, episode three we learn about some amazing research which is at the intersection between chemistry and biology.On this episode our podcast hosts Erin and Emily are joined by Louise Horsfall, for an inspiring conversation about her work as Chair of Sustainable Biotechnology at The University of Edinburgh. You’ll hear from her about her research on using bacteria to recycle metal ions, how this applies to real-world problems such as sourcing lithium for electric car batteries and how her work helps to build a circular economy.You can find out more ab...
2025-05-2233 min
Not Another Science PodcastPreserving the Past: Weaving Science into Art and HistoryOn season seven, episode two we learn about an industry at the intersection between science, art and
history.
On this episode our podcast hosts Erin and Emily are joined by Caitlin Hartmann, a tapestry conservation intern at Hampton Court Palace of Historic Royal Palaces. We hear from her about her work in tapestry conservation
as well as the science behind textile conservation in general, including a fun fact
about why historic textiles often have a blue hue to them!
You can find Caitlin on Instagram @caitlinannatextiles.
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Not Another Science Podcast...
2024-12-2342 min
Not Another Science PodcastA Sea of Possibility: Replacing Microplastics with Seaweed-CelluloseWe’re kicking off season 7 with an episode on how we can replace microplastics with seaweed!
Our new podcast hosts, Emily and Erin, talk to Mark Dorris and Dominic O'Rourke who are Edinburgh-based researchers and founders of the company Mercel.
On this episode we hear about the far-reaching potential of seaweed-derived cellulose and the work Mercel is doing in using this sustainable material to create products which replace microplastics in industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and even in laundry products! We also hear about the challenges involved in the journey from scientific research to founding a s...
2024-11-1958 min
Not Another Science PodcastJurassic Times Call for Jurassic Measures (Paleontology Part 2)In the Season 6 Finale we talk to Hollywood dinosaur consultant Professor Steve Brusatte for Kelsey and Katie's final episode. Steve talks about the joy of discovering new dinosaur species right here in Scotland, and how he got involved as an advisor for the Jurassic World movie franchise. Get ready for some phenomenal fossil facts and some insider info on the biggest dinosaur blockbusters.
You can follow Steve on Twitter @SteveBrusatte or Instagram @steve.brusatte to keep in the loop about his books, public talks and generally all things dinosaur and evolution.
And if you missed...
2024-10-1029 min
Not Another Science PodcastBetween a Rock and a Research Place (Paleontology Part 1)What did the very first animals look like? Pretty weird, apparently. PhD student Ruaridh Alexander is studying the fossils of the earliest animals to understand how they evolved on the cusp of the Cambrian explosion, a period over 500 million years ago where the diversity of animal life suddenly skyrocketed.
Ruaridh tells us about the average day on a dig in the desert finding fossils, how you go about classifying a new species, and what these incredibly ancient rocks can tell us about life on Earth through the ages. You can keep up with Ruaridh's work on Twitter...
2024-10-0333 min
Not Another Science PodcastMaths of the MissingIf you need reminding why maths and statistics are fun and fundamental to all areas of science, look no further!
Our guest this episode, Professor Ruth King, uses statistics to understand populations where it’s impossible to count every single individual. She explains how similar mathematical tools can help fill in the blanks regardless of missing data points, across vastly different contexts. Find out how monitoring populations of rare and endangered animals can develop methods that also help us better understand human social issues, like improving policies to help people who inject drugs.
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2024-05-1338 min
Not Another Science PodcastSustainable Science with Greiner Bio OneScientific research depends on some of the most environmentally destructive practices to ensure high-quality science: single-use plastic, thousands of tonnes of packaging, quick delivery of equipment just to name a few. Many would say manufacturers have a responsibility to try and reduce the impact their products have on the environment but questions remain: do these companies actually care about the environment? And what exactly are the multinational companies doing to save our little green rock?
This episode Katie and Kelsey talk to Nermina Cuzovic, Global Sustainability Manager for Greiner Bio One and Executive Assistant to the...
2024-03-1940 min
Not Another Science PodcastMagnetic Secrets of the Northern Lights
What causes the Northern Lights? Why are they becoming more common in the UK? How can you maximise your chances of seeing them?
In this episode, Kelsey and Katie talk to geomagnetism PhD student Frederik Dahl Madsen about all things aurora. Find out why these pretty lights appear in the sky, understand the magnetic science behind the phenomenon, and discover the wonders of space weather.
Keep an eye out for aurora alerts from https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ or on Twitter/X @aurorawatchuk, @BGSauroraAlert and @BGSspaceWeather and find Frederik @fdmadsen.
2024-02-0830 min
Not Another Science PodcastQueer Data with Dr Kevin GuyanQueer Data: who decides who counts?
Can we accurately count and capture everyone's identities, and do we always need to? Who does it help? And how can methodology for collecting data on LGBTQ+ people be used in other, completely unconnected fields?
In this episode we’re joined by Dr Kevin Guyan, a researcher and historian focusing on the intersection of data and identity, to talk about how his work answers these questions - and many more - through the lens of queer identities in Scotland and the wider world.
So grab a hot dri...
2024-01-0941 min
Not Another Science PodcastThe Predictive Power of Panda PeeAre giant pandas really just too lazy to breed?
To kick off season six, new hosts Kelsey and Katie are joined by Dr Kirsten Wilson, who has spent her PhD studying panda reproduction with the aim to unlock the predictive power of their pee.
Marking the departure of the panda pair at Edinburgh Zoo, we delve into the quirky biology of these cute and charismatic bears, and get an insight into why it's so difficult to tell whether or not a panda is pregnant.
Join us as we discuss their celebrity status as con...
2023-12-0538 min
Not Another Science PodcastReduce, Re-use, Robotics with Amy MaCould artificial intelligence and robotics revolutionise recycling? How do you go about creating a start-up as a student?
We talk to Amy (Xiaoyan) Ma, CEO of Danu Robotics and a High Performance Computing MSc graduate from the University of Edinburgh. Danu Robotics’ technology uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to identify and sort recyclable material so that waste can be processed more efficiently. Amy tells us how her ideas were developed and discusses the challenges, opportunities and lessons involved in setting up your own company.
You can find out more at https://danurobotics.com/ or...
2023-10-2021 min
Not Another Science PodcastFuture fertility: hope after cancer -Reproductive Health #3 with Dr Kathleen DuffinCancer treatment in children is clearly vital and lifesaving, but can unintentionally impact the future fertility of cancer survivors. In this episode, Emily Southworth talks to Dr Kathleen Duffin about her research on the provision of fertility preservation services for childhood cancer patients and the different methods that can be used to achieve this important aspect of cancer care.
Not Another Science Podcast was co-created by Helena Cornu (@helenacornu) and Tom Edwick (@edwicktom), brought to you by Edinburgh University Science Magazine (@EUSci). The hosts are Emily Southworth (@EC_Southworth) and Emily Oliver. Our podcast manager is Katie...
2023-10-1230 min
Not Another Science PodcastThe tale of the 8-year diagnosis: the endometriosis ‘enigma’ -Reproductive Health #2Endometriosis can cause debilitating pain beyond what a ‘normal’ period might feel like, caused by tissue that would normally line the womb growing in places it shouldn’t. We talk to Professor Philippa Saunders to find out why endometriosis can take so many years to diagnose, why progress in treatment development has been so slow, and what level of period pain should be investigated by a healthcare professional.
Philippa is part of the EXPPECT research centre in Edinburgh, a multi-disciplinary team focused on endometriosis and other types of pelvic pain. To find out more about the important work E...
2023-04-3031 min
Not Another Science PodcastNew Perspectives on Male Contraceptives: Reproductive Health #1 with Dr John Reynolds-WrightWhy has the development of male contraceptives been so slow in comparison to female methods? Would current female contraceptives pass a modern day clinical trial?
Dr John Reynolds-Wright is part of a team in Edinburgh running clinical trials for a gel that reduces sperm count. He gives us a brief history of contraceptive development, digging into the key reasons there has been less attention given to male contraceptive trials in the past. We discuss willingness in uptake of male-driven methods and the importance of improving options for everyone, as well as an exciting insight into when new...
2023-03-1231 min
Not Another Science PodcastThe Fuel Behind Climate ConversationsHow strongly tied to the fossil fuel industry is the University of Edinburgh? Where should the responsibility lie in trying to minimise destruction caused by climate change? What role should the university be playing in combating the climate crisis?
Elizabeth Simmons, Alys Daniels-Creasey and Sarah Manning are postgraduate Earth Fellows with the Edinburgh Earth Initiative (EEI), conducting research on a range of climate projects through the university. We chat about the Fossil Fuel Ed project where the EEI are delving into university archives with the aim of uncovering exactly how much the university has benefited from the...
2023-01-2037 min
Not Another Science PodcastMould-breaking Musical Theatre with Dr Meghan Perry and Robin HileyWhat do you get when you mix musical theatre with antimicrobial resistance -and throw in Alexander Fleming for good measure?
To kick off season five of Not Another Science Podcast, we talk to Dr Meghan Perry, an infectious diseases doctor and researcher who embarked on a somewhat unusual scientific adventure to spread the word about the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through song and dance. Alongside musician and composer Robin Hiley, they created ‘The Mould That Changed the World’, a musical telling the story of Alexander Fleming, his discovery of penicillin, and its relevance to the worl...
2022-10-1835 min
Not Another Science PodcastMapping the Mysteries of the Galaxies, with Professor Romeel DavéThis week, NASP host Alix meets with universe-ready Professor Romeel Davé - computational and theoretical astrophysicist and Chair of Physics from the University of Edinburgh's School of Physics and Astronomy - for a special extended episode. He takes us "Around the Galaxies in 80+ Computer Models" by introducing us to galaxy-creating computer simulations that aim to help the world better understand what has been, what is, and what will be out beyond Earth's reach. Alix and Romeel venture out from the world of academia, and into the (theoretical) world of the yet-to-be-mapped universe by discussing the scientific field that involves c...
2022-06-2241 min
Not Another Science PodcastThe Secret Science of Hosts, with our co-host Hannah MuirIn this week's episode we say a big farewell and thank you to Hannah Muir - our awesome co-host who is moving onto starting her PhD candidacy studying blue carbon (the carbon trapped in the ocean) at the National Oceanography Centre in Swansea University. Travelling through her multidisciplinary life, we learn about the motivations that led Hannah to where she is today in her professional and academic life. A whirlwind of opportunities, such as studying chemistry in her undergrad degree, joining a film club in America, and working at the publishing company Wiley uncovers some life-lessons that Hannah passes...
2022-05-1140 min
Not Another Science PodcastLife on Mars?!This is the moment you've been waiting for since your childhood and probably into your adulthood. Not Another Science Podcast hosts, Hannah and Lili, reveal the answer to the question: "Is there, and has there ever been, life on Mars?" by talking to Ophelia Gunn, PhD student and researcher at the University of Edinburgh's UK Centre for Astrobiology and the School of Physics and Astronomy. Ophelia studies whether or not the salt structures in Martian brines (not the olive kind) would have ever held Martian life (Mars aliens!) in the past. She joins us to bust long-held myths about...
2022-04-0629 min
Not Another Science PodcastEngage Your Stem CellsHow does the history of trust in scientists play a role in understanding the current ethical and practical dilemmas within communicating science? Join hosts Alix and… well, just Alix this time… as she speaks with Dr. Jan Barfoot about the power of two-way communication in science communication & public engagement. With a background in cancer cell biology, an extensive history communicating complex topics, and an affinity towards lichen, fungi and mosses, Jan engages us with top tips and insights that she has accumulated as she works on making science more accessible to you and I. Who knew you could cross face...
2022-03-2333 min
Not Another Science PodcastArts, Crafts, and Soft RoboticsWhat do you get when you cross a passion for knitting, the intricacies of nature’s movements, and the love of engineering robots? In conversation with Ruby Marshall, a PhD student in the Soft Systems Group at the University of Edinburgh, we discover the diverse set of skills that knit together to become the cross section of biomimicry and soft-robotics. Think, taking the motion of a jet-propelled squid and using mechanical engineering to transform it into a functional robot using tightly woven textiles. While we discover that creating bionic mermaid tails is not yet the future of her work, Ru...
2022-03-0728 min
Not Another Science PodcastLess Commotion in the OceanDive into the noisy + wet world of the marine environment with Dr. Lauren McWhinnie and PhD student Emily Hague from Heriot-Watt University. These two are self-professed whale-geeks and researchers on the stressors that humans put on our cetacean friends. Turns out, whales don’t want anything to do with big boats who make annoying acoustics, nor particularly enjoy being entangled in fishing nets, nor do they fancy being run over by these larger vessels. Our hosts coast down the fascinating and challenging world of marine conservation - learning about the response that the UK, Russia and Arctic indigenous communities ha...
2022-02-1634 min
Not Another Science PodcastFollow the MathsWe kick off season 4 of Not Another Science Podcast with a mind-blowing conversation about Dr. Ana Rita Pires’ journey in unfolding origami - not the paper kind as we previously thought, but being of the symplectic mathematical manifolds type. Ana Rita is a lecturer at the School of Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh and (in our opinion) - the most recent reason why we love talking about maths.
Our hosts learn more about the importance of using engaging food-related metaphors for teaching complex topics, the excitement of discovering that maths is right for you, and the di...
2022-02-0228 min
Not Another Science PodcastPlastic is the new VanillaEver been so hungry that you have considered eating a mound of plastic as your next meal? Dr. Jo Sadler is a newly appointed Principal Investigator at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Biological Sciences and an innovative builder of new molecules. Synthetic biology - the ability to manipulate biological systems using chemistry and biological processes - is Joanna’s way of breathing new life into so-called ‘waste’ materials. Jo’s newly released research paper uses polyethylene therapthlatate, or PET, found in plastic bottles to synthesize vanilla flavouring that is identical to the vanillin extracted from the natural plant. Lis...
2021-12-0122 min
Not Another Science PodcastFeeding Whisky to FishGet ready for this second food-themed episode to lift your spirits as Dr. Jane White - research scientist and Director of Undergraduate Studies for Distilling and Brewing at Heriot-Watt University - deep-dives into the pot of knowledge behind the ale and whisky industry in Scotland. Find out what happens chemically to the by-products of whisky and beer and answer those burning questions you have about Scotland’s alcohol such as “What is pot ale?”, “Can salmon get drunk?”, “Do alcohol proteins make good protein drinks?” and “How much whisky is produced in Scotland, really?”. To top it off, our team discusses how...
2021-11-1727 min
Not Another Science PodcastPutting the Me in GastronomyThink you know a lot about food? Wait until you have met Stan Blackley: Co-Programme Leader of the MSc in Gastronomy at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. In this episode, we hear about the importance of diverse food in creating healthy lifestyles (it’ll surprise you to hear how many types of potatoes there are in the world!), how to tackle the current climate change crisis using our stomachs and food choices, and why food sciences and production can be the key to challenging social inequalities all over the world.
To start on our food-themed series of po...
2021-11-0327 min
2021-09-0701 minEUSci ReadoutsExploring Edinburgh: Roslin Institute (Issue 28: Home)Location: Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Campus
Join Ben Oscroft as he dives into the history of cloning research at the Roslin Institute, best known for the creation of Dolly the sheep.
Exploring Edinburgh is an audio project by the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, featured in Issue 28: Home. (Re)discover Edinburgh's current and historical science through eight locations throughout the city.
This project was produced by Apple Chew and Helena Cornu. The full map and further details can be found in Issue 28, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
2021-09-0407 minEUSci ReadoutsExploring Edinburgh: Calton Hill (Issue 28: Home)Location: Royal Observatory, Calton Hill
Take a walk around Calton Hill with Helena Cornu and explore some of Edinburgh's astronomical history. Kind thanks to Gregor Penman for his impersonation of Robert Louis Stevenson.
Exploring Edinburgh is an audio project by the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, featured in Issue 28: Home. (Re)discover Edinburgh's current and historical science through eight locations throughout the city.
This project was produced by Apple Chew and Helena Cornu. The full map and further details can be found in Issue 28, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28...
2021-09-0407 minEUSci ReadoutsExploring Edinburgh: Union Canal (Issue 28: Home)Location: Union Canal
Join Harry Carstairs as he explores how the Union Canal inspired the discovery of the soliton, or solitary wave.
Exploring Edinburgh is an audio project by the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, featured in Issue 28: Home. (Re)discover Edinburgh's current and historical science through eight locations throughout the city.
This project was produced by Apple Chew and Helena Cornu. The full map and further details can be found in Issue 28, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Find out more at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0404 minEUSci ReadoutsExploring Edinburgh: Murray Library (Issue 28: Home)Location: Murray Library, King's Buildings
If you're a King's Buildings regular, you will be familiar with the Murray Library. But how much do you know about Noreen and Kenneth Murray, for whom the library is named? Listen in as Eva Guinane and Hannah Smith delve into the story of this scientific power couple.
Exploring Edinburgh is an audio project by the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, featured in Issue 28: Home. (Re)discover Edinburgh's current and historical science through eight locations throughout the city.
This project was produced by Apple Chew and Helena...
2021-09-0404 minEUSci ReadoutsExploring Edinburgh: Forth Bridges (Issue 28: Home)Location: Forth Bridges
All aboard! Apple Chew lays out some astounding facts about the constructions of the Forth Rail Bridge.
Exploring Edinburgh is an audio project by the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, featured in Issue 28: Home. (Re)discover Edinburgh's current and historical science through eight locations throughout the city.
This project was produced by Apple Chew and Helena Cornu. The full map and further details can be found in Issue 28, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Find out more at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0406 minEUSci ReadoutsExploring Edinburgh: Surgeon's Hall (Issue 28: Home)Location: Surgeon's Hall
Explore Edinburgh's weird and wonderful medical history, as Allie McWhinnie takes you on a tour of Surgeon's Hall.
Exploring Edinburgh is an audio project by the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, featured in Issue 28: Home. (Re)discover Edinburgh's current and historical science through eight locations throughout the city.
This project was produced by Apple Chew and Helena Cornu. The full map and further details can be found in Issue 28, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Find out more at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0410 minEUSci ReadoutsExploring Edinburgh: Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh (Issue 28: Home)Location: Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh (RBGE)
Have you met Marley, the Botanic Gardens' self-domesticated cat? Huang Wu explores RBGE through his feline's eyes, including the best spots for sunny afternoon naps.
Exploring Edinburgh is an audio project by the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, featured in Issue 28: Home. (Re)discover Edinburgh's current and historical science through eight locations throughout the city.
This project was produced by Apple Chew and Helena Cornu. The full map and further details can be found in Issue 28, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
...
2021-09-0404 minEUSci ReadoutsExploring Edinburgh: Edinburgh Innovations, with Asma Al-Murtadha (Issue 28: Home)Location: Edinburgh Innovations, King's Building Campus
Meet Asma Al-Murtadha, a young entrepreneur currently enrolled in Edinburgh Innovations' summer accelerator course. Asma is developing her idea for SMARTLABS, a microbial culture monitoring system.
This episode was created by Helena Cornu. The music is Fullest Self from Wistia's 'Songs from the Vault', available at wistia.com.
Exploring Edinburgh is an audio project by the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, featured in Issue 28: Home. (Re)discover Edinburgh's current and historical science through eight locations throughout the city.
This project was...
2021-09-0409 minEUSci ReadoutsThe Neuroscience of Nostalgia, by Simar Mann (Issue 28: Home)Simar Mann investigates the science behind nostalgia, and its impact.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the author. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0409 minEUSci ReadoutsLife Life Baby, by Elle Bethune (Issue 28: Home)How much do we really know about the origin of life on our home planet? Elle Bethune explores the evidence for how the first cells emerged on Earth.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read and produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0408 minEUSci ReadoutsFood memory: a sensory recollection of home, by Sophia Schubert (Issue 28: Home)Memories of food are amongst the strongest memories humans can make. Sophia Schubert explores why.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the author. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0408 minEUSci ReadoutsThe Internet: an pandemic lifesaver or health threat? by Maria Avram (Issue 28: Home)Maria Avram discusses the neurological and psychological effects of increased daily use of the internet on humans at home due to the pandemic lockdown.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the author. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0409 minEUSci ReadoutsScotland prepares to launch, by Jessie Hammond (Issue 28: Home)The Scottish space sector is booming, and plans are in place to launch satellites into orbit from the far north of the country. Jessie Hammond asks what makes Scotland an ideal launchpad.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the author. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0404 minEUSci ReadoutsThe skies have eyes, by Mika Kontiainen (Issue 28: Home)Mika Kontiainen explores how data from Earth observation satellites help scientists keep an eye on our home planet.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the author. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0410 minEUSci ReadoutsThe hospitable human home, by Miranda Ferguson (Issue 28: Home)You are home to a lot of microscopic creatures. Miranda Ferguson explores the extensive roles of microbes in the human body and where they come from.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by Apple Chew. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0406 minEUSci ReadoutsThere and back again, by Heather Jones (Issue 28: Home)Heather Jones explores the science behind finding your way home (via magnetic fields).
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the author. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0404 minEUSci ReadoutsNot just a gaming gimmick: could virtual reality revolutionise our future?, by Katie Pickup (Issue 28: Home)Katie Pickup explores the more unusual ways in which virtual reality may transform our lives: from therapeutic interventions to changing social attitudes.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the author. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0409 minEUSci ReadoutsThe IDEAL home, by Hrichika Nag (Issue 28: Home)How can we keep our homes warm without hurting the planet? Hrichika Nag looks under the hood of various machine learning projects that are helping to answer this question.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the author. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0409 minEUSci ReadoutsA slice of life, by Helena Cornu and Tom Edwick (Issue 28: Home)Bread fanatics Helena Cornu and Tom Edwick follow the trail of breadcrumbs on their quest to understand the ancient art of sourdough.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the authors. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0410 minEUSci ReadoutsAir pollution behind closed doors, by Cerys Walsh (Issue 28: Home)Indoor air pollution contributes to the death of almost four million people annually, primarily in communities and geographic regions that are already experiencing systemic inequality. In a global crisis which necessitates staying at home, is it time to finally tackle this silent killer? Cerys Walsh describes this complex problem.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the author. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0409 minEUSci ReadoutsClashing homes, by Cristina Huguet Suárez (Issue 28: Home)Cristina Huguet Suárez investigates how urbanisation and fragmentation of natural habitats is leading to the emergence of new infectious diseases in humans.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the author. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0409 minEUSci ReadoutsThe water of life: the complex chemistry behind Scotland's national drink, by Giulia Roselli (Issue 28: Home)Giulia Roselli explores the science behind whisky production and the combat against fraudulent bottles of Scotch whisky, a quality spirit drink of great economic and cultural importance to Scotland.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the author. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0408 minEUSci ReadoutsHome is where the womb is, by Diana Barreiros Jorge (Issue 28: Home)Diana Barreiros Jorge explores an often overlooked and non-conventional idea of home in which every single human being has been accommodated in, a mother’s womb.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the author. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0410 minEUSci ReadoutsScience from my home: New forests capture carbon emissions, by Ian Yang (Issue 28: Home)Ian Yang investigates how successful China’s tree-planting projects have been at mitigating climate change.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the author. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0406 minEUSci ReadoutsScience from my home: Why does the king of fruits smell so good? by Apple Chew (Issue 28: Home)Apple Chew is a durian lover. Here, she investigates the evolution of this extremely smelly fruit, and finds that it has a surprisingly close relationship to chocolate.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the author. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0406 minEUSci ReadoutsScience from my home: The didgeridoo, the world’s oldest and most mysterious musical instrument, by Jessie Hammond (Issue 28: Home)Jessie Hammond explores the science behind how the didgeridoo, a musical instrument developed by northern Australian Aboriginal peoples, produces its distinctive sounds.
Didgeridoo music from Didgerimbu Didgeridoos on Soundcloud.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the author. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0405 minEUSci ReadoutsScience from my home: Slovak honey laboratory, by Anna Motýľová (Issue 28: Home)Author Anna Motýľová reviews honey’s health benefits, sheds light on the issue of low honey quality standards in the European Union, and introduces a Slovak research group tackling this problem.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the author. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0406 minEUSci ReadoutsAltruism will save our home, by Samantha Dougary (Issue 28: Home)Samantha Dougary argues that a unique type of altruistic behaviour in humans could be the key to avoiding ecological catastrophe on planet Earth.
Originally published in issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the author. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0408 minEUSci ReadoutsGreen Therapy, by Lara Watson (Issue 28: Home)Are houseplants really good for your health? Lara Watson takes a look at the science that suggests it is worth having a leafy friend in your home.
Originally published in Issue 28 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine, available at: https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusci_28_home
Read by the author. Produced by Helena Cornu.
Find out more about the EUSci at eusci.org.uk.
2021-09-0407 min
Not Another Science PodcastWe have liftoff! Space microbiology, with Dr. Rosa SantomartinoThis final episode of the season is truly out of this world. The team speaks to Rosa Santomartino, a space microbiologist in the School of Physics and Astronomy. Rosa was one of the lead scientists on the BioRock and BioAsteroid experiments, which sent microbe samples to the International Space Station, to study how the microbes reacted to different gravity conditions. This could impact both biomining on Earth, and potential future planet-settling missions. You can find Rosa on Twitter @RosaBioRosa.
Not Another Science Podcast is co-created by Helena Cornu (@helenacornu) and Tom Edwick (@edwicktom), brought t...
2021-07-0739 min
Not Another Science PodcastTurn Up the Base: Making Music From Scientific Data, with Professor Colin CampbellIt’s time to let your creativity juices flow with this bonus episode for international music day. New host Alix speaks to Professor Colin Campbell who wants to bring science out of the lab and into the recording studio. But how do you take some scientific data and turn it into music? There’s no one answer, but Colin takes us through the thinking behind some of his awesome and varied pieces of music. Check out the full songs with full animations at ChemistryEdinburgh.
2021-06-2137 min
Not Another Science PodcastA Welshman On Whales: A World Ocean Day Special with Tom GroveEver wondered what drones and whales have in common?...
In honour of World Oceans Day 2021, guest host Jake talks to PhD student Tom Grove about his inspiring research, investigating the ecological impacts of the Icelandic whale-watching industry. Get ready for some whaley-good chat covering everything from spirituality and icelandic cultural history to cutting-edge research technology and gob-smacking whale encounters!
Tom Grove is @whalewise on Instagram and @WhaleWiseLive on Twitter, and Jake Edmiston is @JakeWEdmiston on Twitter.
Not Another Science Podcast is co-created by Helena Cornu (@helenacornu) and Tom Edwick (@edwicktom), brought to you...
2021-06-0837 min
Not Another Science PodcastBonus material: A physics medley, with Daniel BrenerIn this bonus to the main episode, we bring you extra sections of our conversation with Daniel Brener, including why he's the black sheep of the family, what PhDs used to be like, the origin of the "butterfly effect", concerns over communicating complexity, and the metaphysics of quiche.
Daniel is on Twitter @daniel_brener. To find out more about him, make sure to check out his website: https://www2.ph.ed.ac.uk/~s1704203/
Not Another Science Podcast is co-created by Helena Cornu (@helenacornu) and Tom Edwick (@edwicktom), brought to you by Edinburgh University Science M...
2021-05-2623 min
Not Another Science PodcastRamance isn't dead: Raman Spectroscopy, with Heather McEwanRamen? Raman! We all love Ramen noodles, but this week is about Raman spectroscopy with PhD student Heather McEwan. It’s time to explore the ups and downs of starting a PhD and how to move from Physics to Chemistry. Heather has used her Physics background to move into an exciting multidisciplinary project which uses the light scattering technique Raman spectroscopy on human tissues and has fantastic applications in the field of healthcare. You can find Heather on her LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-mcewan-74645b20a/
Find out more about the detector Heather is wo...
2021-05-1228 min
Not Another Science PodcastBonus material: A physics medley, with Daniel BrenerHere are some extra parts of our conversation with Daniel Brener that we weren’t able to include in the main episode, but are well worth a listen. We chat about Daniel’s second career as a baritone, how his PhD is structured in the way that PhDs used to be done, how “the butterfly effect” has nothing to do with butterflies, why physicists may be reluctant to discuss their work, how scientists and activists alike don’t always know how to communicate complexity, and finally, the metaphysics of quiche.
Not Another Science Podcast is co-crea...
2021-04-2823 min
Not Another Science PodcastA Physics Medley: Panspermia, Weather Forecasting, and General Chaos, with Daniel BrenerA self-described "cloud guy", Daniel Brener has been fascinated by weather forecasting for years. But he is also an all-around physics nerd (a compliment we do not bestow lightly). As part of Prof. Arjun Berera's group at the University of Edinburgh, Daniel has been working out whether panspermia — the idea that particles from Earth could be knocked out of the upper atmosphere and seed life on other planets — is theoretically possible. We delve into these two topics, stopping to examine the difficulties of bridging the gap between theory and observation, the competitive nature of physics research, and how to comm...
2021-04-2834 min
Not Another Science PodcastRecording the Dawn Chorus, with Ben PorterThis spring, Ben Porter, Lucy Hodson (AKA Lucy Lapwing), Nina Constable and Indy Greene are running a project for people to make their own DIY parabolic reflectors to record birdsong, encouraging people to get out on their doorsteps and connect with the avian chorus in a way they might not have before. Then, on May 2nd — International Dawn Chorus Day — the plan is for as many people as possible to head out (weather permitting) in their local areas to record the dawn chorus with their makeshift parabolic reflectors. Nina will piece the audio clips together into a ‘Dawn Orchestra’ of birds...
2021-04-2122 min
EUSci ReadoutsAuthor's comment: A bombshell discoveryHelena Cornu comments on her piece, A bombshell discovery, which was published in Issue 27 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine: New Beginnings, available at https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusciissuenewbeginnings.
2021-04-1603 minEUSci ReadoutsA bombshell discovery (Issue 27: New Beginnings)Helena Cornu investigates how the development of the atomic bomb led to the discovery of stem cell therapy. Originally published in Issue 27 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine: Issue 27, available at https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusciissuenewbeginnings. Read by the author.
2021-04-1604 min
EUSci ReadoutsFrom the ashes: how war has shaped science (Issue 27: New Beginnings)Ailie McWhinnie investigates the ways in which war has moulded the technology in our daily lives and even driven changes in the foundations of the scientific system. Originally published in Issue 27 of the Edinburgh University Science Magazine: New Beginnings, available at https://issuu.com/eusci/docs/eusciissuenewbeginnings. Read by the author.
2021-04-1610 min
Not Another Science PodcastA Future Without Plants? No thanks!, with Carlos Magdalena (Plants and Our Health #10)This week we close the series with Carlos Magdalena, Senior Horticulturist at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Carlos is known widely as The Plant Messiah for his innovative successes assisting rare and endangered plants to reproduce and for thereby saving them from extinction. Together we muse on everything to do with The Future of Plants, from the ethics of deciding which plants live and which can’t be saved, to how we might tackle the lack of empathy for plants in order to get people excited enough to fight for their preservation. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it seems we all have a...
2021-04-1647 min
Not Another Science PodcastMasterclass: the art of Science Communication, with Dr. Sarah-Jane Judge and Dr. Farrie NzvereThe place where science and creativity meet: the diverse and wonderful world of Science Communication! Dr Sarah-Jane Judge, Public Engagement Manager at the Wellcome Centre for Cell Research, and Dr Farrie Nzvere, ChatSci Manager for InterSci, talk about the importance of sharing science with different audiences, teaching scientists to communicate, and their own engagement activities. They also explore the surprising ways the arts have been used to bring the general public into high level research and share their advice on how to get started in SciComm. There are so many ways to give science a voice, and we want...
2021-04-1435 min
Not Another Science PodcastThe Future of Plants, with Pete Hollingsworth (RBGE) (Plants and Our Health #9)What will the future of plants look like if currently 2 in 5 are threatened with extinction? That depends on how we act now! Join us as we dive into our last theme of the mini-series, Conserving Plants, with Dr Pete Hollingsworth, Director of Science and Conservation at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Pete shares with us a diversity of ways plants are being conserved that give us hope for safeguarding biodiversity for the future. We also explore how conservation decisions are made, the need to integrate plant conservation with how we live alongside nature, and what you can do to help...
2021-04-0923 min
Not Another Science PodcastProtecting the plants of a nation, with Nicola Spence (Plants and Our Health #8)Do plants need passports? And why did some members of the UK public receive mysterious seeds through the post that they didn’t order last summer? The plant health inspectors and officers of the UK are tasked with keeping the country’s plant life healthy, which means keeping an eye on, and eradicating if possible, all plant pests and diseases of concern. Leading the team is Nicola Spence, Chief Plant Health Officer for the UK. Nicola joins us on this episode of Plants & Our Health to discuss the UN International Year of Plant Health, how she advises government ministers on h...
2021-04-0225 min
Not Another Science PodcastLoaf in the Time of COVID: The Quest for Sourdough, with Karl de Smedt (AKA the Sourdough Librarian)Sourdough is a form of bread baking that leverages a complex community of yeasts and bacteria to give it flavour and rise. Thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt, the practice has since spread to communities all over the world, each with a unique method of creating and maintaining their starter. Behind each starter is a human story: dangerous journeys, mass migrations, traditions and cultures. The Sourdough Librarian, Karl de Smedt, runs the Sourdough Library in Belgium, where they maintain and study the most interesting starters from around the globe. In the Quest for Sourdough he tells these stories...
2021-03-3131 min
Not Another Science PodcastPlants and Their Own Health, with Dr Katy Hayden (RBGE) (Plants and Our Health #7)What do evolutionary ecology research, the health of plants and public engagement have in common?... Dr Katy Hayden! As a researcher and Plant Health Officer at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Katy helps safeguard the Garden’s plant collections against pests and diseases. This week, Katy takes us on an audio tour of her working life in the gardens as we explore a new and perhaps less understood theme: Plants and Their Own Health. Research in plant health is not only of great academic interest, but is also important to improving biosecurity practices now. And as Katy explains, plant health is...
2021-03-2622 min
Not Another Science PodcastGet with the program(ming): Accessible Data Science, with Dr. Mine Çetinkaya-RundelMine Çetinkaya-Rundel started her maths career as an actuary, where she spent her days wrangling data and studying after work for her exams. She loved working with data, but doing the exams… not so much. So she embarked on a PhD in statistics, where she discovered a love for teaching and all things pedagogical. Mine’s career since has combined these two passions, and now she works to promote accessibility in data science and statistics, and boost the representation of women and other minority groups. Tune in to find out more, and stick around ‘til the end to meet Mine’s...
2021-03-1729 min
Not Another Science PodcastBonus Episode: Dude, where's my parcel? with Ivona Gjeroska, Paula Fermín Cueto and Albert Solà Vilalta (Pi Day Special)How many mathematicians does it take to optimise your internet shopping deliveries? In conversation with the Winners of the 12th AIMMS-MOPTA Optimization Modeling Competition, we hear how team NP Die Hard discovered their previously untapped skills to solve this problem in 3 months… and get a paper published from their work! From choosing your warehouses, to using the most appropriate optimisation to arrange deliveries, the team solved a very relevant problem for all of us in lockdown. After presenting their unique solution, they were contacted by a journal editor in the audience who wanted to publish their innovative work. What be...
2021-03-1416 min
Not Another Science PodcastWhy you should save yews, as yews might save you (from cancer), with Dr Ramchandra Poudel (Plants and Our Health #6)Could one of the most important anti-cancer compounds really have come from the bark of infamously poisonous yew trees? And as these yews were already threatened, how did we harvest enough bark to produce the drugs we needed without killing them all off? In this second Plants as Our Medicines episode, we dive into the recent history of yews and Taxol, the anti-cancer drug they provide. We’re joined by Dr Ramchandra Poudel, Senior Scientist at Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, who has a background in community-based conservation of medicinal plants. Ram discloses how yews have long had a...
2021-03-1224 min
Not Another Science PodcastIs the Herb in Your Supplement What It Says on the Package?, with Dr Markus Ruhsam (RBGE) (Plants and Our Health #5)Less than 1% of tropical plants have been screened for their potential medicinal uses. Yet many common drugs today are derived from plants. On this episode of Plants & Our Health, we talk with Dr Markus Ruhsam on the impressive potential of plants to the pharmaceutical industry and to help us look after our own health, now and in the future. We also discuss a research project Markus led using DNA barcoding to identify whether herbal supplements contained the plants they say they do, which turned out some intriguing results.
To learn more about Markus’ investigations into the contents of...
2021-03-0525 min
Not Another Science PodcastNo Bones About It: Biomineralisation, with Dr Fabio NudelmanDid you know some plants grow crystals to scatter light? And some bacteria can sense the Earth's magnetic fields? This week, we chat to Dr. Fabio Nudelman from the University of Edinburgh's School of Chemistry, who tells us about how living organisms incorporate minerals into their biological structures, the wonderful uses they have for such materials, and how studying them can help us create new materials.
Not Another Science Podcast is co-created by Helena Cornu (@helenacornu) and Tom Edwick (@edwicktom), brought to you by Edinburgh University Science Magazine (EUSci). Our podcast manager is Alix Bailie. The logo w...
2021-03-0326 min
Not Another Science PodcastHow Protecting Wild Cousins of Our Crops Fights Food Insecurity, with Dr Nigel Maxted (Plants and Our Health #4)Close relatives of wheat, tomato and all other major crops still grow in the wild. However, human impacts are increasingly placing these species under threat. This week on Plants & Our Health we talk with Dr Nigel Maxted, Professor of Plant Genetic Conservation at the University of Birmingham, about turning research into policy and action, the importance of crop wild relatives and his global-scale efforts to protect them. Continuing on our theme ‘Plants on our Plates’, Nigel discusses how conserving the wild cousins of our crops is essential to global food security and future-proofing agriculture against climate change.
To d...
2021-02-2623 min
Not Another Science PodcastCommunity Growing for Health & Wellbeing, with Elinor Leslie (RBGE) (Plants and Our Health #3)Where would we be without the plants that feed us? Why should we grow our own, and grow them together? This week on Plants & Our Health, we dive into the delicious new theme of ‘Plants on our Plates’ with Elinor Leslie, Community Gardener at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Elinor works on the Edible Gardening Project, assisting diverse groups with horticultural interests to engage in growing their own fruit and vegetables. As Elinor stresses however, the produce is not the only goal or joy of community growing. Wonderful, unexpected things happen when people toil at the soil over a long grow...
2021-02-1924 min
Not Another Science PodcastRobocrop: Seagrass Restoration with Robocean, with Niall McGrath and Isobel HarrisWho do you go to when you have problems with crabs? Meadows Share obviously! This was only one of the fascinating questions that arose when we spoke to the team from Robocean in our second episode of season 2. The team recently won the Edinburgh Innovations Students Business Ideas Competition with their plan to restore the UK’s seagrass — a vital natural mechanism for carbon capture. Hear about the unique challenges of building subsea robots, with the added difficulty of never meeting your team in person.
Follow their progress as they attempt to code and assemble their creation from...
2021-02-1727 min
Not Another Science PodcastBotanic Gardens as Wellbeing Providers, with Simon Milne MBE (RBGE) (Plants and Our Health # 1)What do you think of when you hear ‘botanic gardens’? In the very first episode of Plants & Our Health, a new miniseries exploring how plants support human health and wellbeing, we discuss with Simon Milne MBE how botanic gardens are much more than collections of plants. Simon is Regius Keeper at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), an institution that, through its diversity of engagements ranging from science to community engagement, is critical to the wellbeing of the people of Scotland and the world.
‘Plants & Our Health’ is a brand new 10-part miniseries made in collaboration with the Royal...
2021-02-1223 min
Not Another Science PodcastWhy Your Doctor Might Soon Prescribe You Nature, with Elaine Bradley and Dr Louise Bailey (Plants and Our Health #2)How could a doctor prescribe you nature? Does it work? And who is it for? On this second episode of our new miniseries Plants & Our Health, we continue to explore the theme ‘Plants & Our Mental Health’ with Nature Prescriptions Project Development Executive Elaine Bradley, and Edinburgh GP Dr Louise Bailey. Our two guests share their experiences working on the Nature Prescriptions project in Scotland, through which doctors are prescribing time in nature for their patients, assisted by resources made by RSPB. After a successful rollout across Shetland, the project has its sights now set on getting the people of Edin...
2021-02-1222 min
Not Another Science PodcastIn Deep Water: Corals in a Changing Climate, with Nadia JogeeIs a coral a really smart rock or a very stupid plant? In the first episode of season 2, we dive into the biology of corals with Nadia Jogee, a PhD student at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Geosciences. More specifically, Nadia studies coralliths, a type of mobile coral, and the role they might play in reef recovery and expansion — a particularly important topic in the current changing climate.
You can find out more about Nadia on her website (https://nadiajogee.wordpress.com/about/), and follow her on Twitter @nadiajogee, and Instagram @nadia_jogee
Not...
2021-02-0337 min
Not Another Science PodcastEverything is Better with Maths: Optimisation, with Prof. Miguel Anjos and Dr. Lars ScheweFor the final episode of the season, we have another joint interview! Prof. Miguel Anjos and Dr. Lars Schewe both work in the field of mathematical optimisation, looking at different aspects of energy networks. They dive into how optimisation can be used to solve problems at any scale, from sorting out your local bus route to managing the decarbonisation of a country's energy system. And ultimately (spoiler alert!) we conclude that maths is everywhere.
Find out more about the Edinburgh Research Group in Optimization, a collaboration within the University of Edinburgh School of Mathematics. You can also v...
2020-11-2539 min
Not Another Science PodcastBirds of a Feather: Promoting Diversity in Birding, with Sorrel LyallThis week’s guest is Sorrel Lyall, a third-year ecology student at the University of Edinburgh, a stupendously talented birder and artist, and president of the Edinburgh University Ornithological Society (also known as BirdSoc). We talk birdwatching, running a society during a pandemic, and about how we can promote diversity in birding.
Sorrel can be found on Twitter (@SorrelLyall), and you can find her art, photography, and blog on her website. For further information, check out her article about diversity in birding for Rare Bird Alert, and her talk for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. You can find Bi...
2020-11-1129 min
Not Another Science PodcastTeamwork Makes The (Scientific) Dream Work, with Drs Ed Hutchinson and Sara ClohiseyDr Ed Hutchison almost dropped his cup of tea when he found out that the research he had been working on since his postdoc, on which he had founded his lab, had been scooped. What followed is a heartwarming story of collaboration, teamwork, generosity, and kindness in science. Today we bring you our conversation with Dr Hutchinson, and with one of his collaborators from the University of Edinburgh, Dr Sara Clohisey.
You can follow the Hutchinson lab and Dr Sara Clohisey on Twitter, and read the Twitter thread that Dr Hutchinson wrote about this research. Make sure...
2020-10-2828 min
Not Another Science PodcastDistilled: Lessons from a Life in Science, with Prof. Jamie Davies (Part 2)“There’s a terrible myth that scientists are supposed to be all-knowing. And no, we’re blunderers around in the dark. The whole of science is about that: if we knew what we were doing it wouldn’t be research.”
Jamie Davies has had a fascinating career in academia, and along the way he’s learned some important lessons. In this episode, he passes on his wisdom and treats us to some great stories from a life in science.
You can find out more about Professor Davies and his work on his lab’s website, his University...
2020-10-1428 min
Not Another Science PodcastFrom the Simple to the Complex: Building Organs with Prof. Jamie Davies (Part 1)At school, Jamie Davies was fascinated by how impossibly complex things can arise from very simple beginnings. He decided that he would become a radio astronomer and investigate the formation of galaxies from the stars and planets of our universe. But then he went to university. During his degree in Natural Sciences at Cambridge, he came across the field of developmental biology and instantly knew he had found his calling. What could be a better challenge than trying to find out how human bodies are built from a sperm and an egg? Now, in his lab at the University...
2020-10-0128 min
Not Another Science PodcastTackling Bias Using Wikipedia, with Dr. Jess WadeWikipedia is an online, open-source encyclopaedia that attracts 1.5 billion unique visitors every month, and has 54 million articles written in more than 300 different languages. Not just a place to learn interesting facts (or cheat in a pub quiz), Wikipedia is an incredibly important resource used by journalists, teachers, media teams, companies, scientists, and those without access to physical textbooks. But Wikipedia is not perfect, and many of our societal biases are reflected in the makeup of articles added to the site - on English Wikipedia, only 1 in 5 biographies are of women. Ultimately, this comes down to who edits and creates...
2020-09-1642 min
Not Another Science PodcastMeet the Parents, with Helena Cornu and Tom EdwickWelcome to the first episode of our new season! Before we kick off the season properly, we thought we’d introduce ourselves.
We’d also love to meet you all, so be sure to attend the events we’re organising for Welcome Week — more details in the episode, and on our social media.
Not Another Science Podcast is edited by Helena Cornu, hosted by Tom Edwick and brought to you by Edinburgh University Science Magazine (EUSci). Our podcast logo was designed by Apple Chew. The podcast cover art was designed by Heather Jones, with artwork by Karolin...
2020-09-0231 min
Not Another Science PodcastTracing Transmission (Science During a Pandemic #4), with Dr. Samantha LycettThe SARS-Cov-2 (Covid-19) pandemic swept around the world in a frighteningly short amount of time. With each news update, the number of affected regions, the number of cases, and the number of deaths climbed. In such a frantic situation, where the virus was seemingly everywhere, how do you determine how the disease spread through populations and across the world?
This is where researchers like Dr. Samantha Lycett come in. Since the start of the pandemic, scientists have been collecting and cataloguing samples of SARS-Cov-2, sequencing their genetic information, and publishing it with open access. Dr. Lycett has b...
2020-08-1223 min
Not Another Science PodcastNear and IUPHAR: Repurposing Drugs For Covid-19 (Science During a Pandemic #3), with Prof. Jamie DaviesDrug development is a slow process at the best of times. So the best way to rapidly find treatments for Covid-19 was to find known drugs that could be repurposed to fight the new disease. But with the confusion created by the myriad of studies published about Covid-19, often without peer-review, how do you keep track of everything?
This is where Jamie Davies stepped in. His lab created a curated database of known drugs and drug targets that should be prioritised in the fight against Covid-19, and provided a reliable source of information about new research. In...
2020-07-2928 min
Not Another Science PodcastCan I Borrow Your Printer? I'm Fighting a Pandemic (Science During a Pandemic #2), with Jess CoxWhen a pandemic disrupts your 3D printing operations, what do you do? Well, if you’re the team at Augment Bionics, you shift gears and start mass producing Personal Protective Equipment. Augment Bionics is a student start up from the University of Edinburgh, and in normal times their engineers design and print prosthetic limbs. Financed by a GoFundMe campaign, they are currently making 10 000 face shields a week, which are donated to the NHS. Tom talks to Jess Cox, the social media and marketing lead at Augment Bionics, to find out more.
You can find Augment Bionics on Tw...
2020-07-1521 minNot Another Science PodcastExploiting Our Genes to Fight Disease (Science During a Pandemic #1), with Max FourmanWhy do some people get more sick than others? The answer could lie in our genes.
In this episode we talk to Max Fourman, who is part of the Baillie Lab run by Dr Kenneth Baillie, and based at the Roslin Institute at The University of Edinburgh. They use genomics - the sequencing, study, and mapping of the genome - to search for the genes that make some people more susceptible to disease. The lab is using this knowledge to study COVID-19, leading a large, collaborative, open-source research study called GenOMICC (the Genetics Of Mortality In Critical C...
2020-07-0119 min
Podcasters and Radio MakersGBA 49 FrankIn GBA 49 we get better acquainted with Frank. He talks machine learning, science communication, the social situation in Luxembourg, living in Edinburgh, podcasting and more. It was recorded early in the morning during last year’s Edinburgh Festival in a sound proofed science fiction complex deep below Edinburgh University.
This episode, with the two before it, forms a sort of accidental miniseries about people who are involved in making audio. This wasn’t fully intentional but is welcomed nevertheless. I do programme the show for variety and there is still variety within these three episodes; however GBA is not always abou...
2012-03-2149 minScience EpisodesGBA 49 FrankIn GBA 49 we get better acquainted with Frank. He talks machine learning, science communication, the social situation in Luxembourg, living in Edinburgh, podcasting and more. It was recorded early in the morning during last year’s Edinburgh Festival in a sound proofed science fiction complex deep below Edinburgh University.
This episode, with the two before it, forms a sort of accidental miniseries about people who are involved in making audio. This wasn’t fully intentional but is welcomed nevertheless. I do programme the show for variety and there is still variety within these three episodes; however GBA is not always abou...
2012-03-2149 minGetting Better AcquaintedGBA 49 FrankIn GBA 49 we get better acquainted with Frank. He talks machine learning, science communication, the social situation in Luxembourg, living in Edinburgh, podcasting and more. It was recorded early in the morning during last year’s Edinburgh Festival in a sound proofed science fiction complex deep below Edinburgh University.
This episode, with the two before it, forms a sort of accidental miniseries about people who are involved in making audio. This wasn’t fully intentional but is welcomed nevertheless. I do programme the show for variety and there is still variety within these three episodes; however GBA is not always abou...
2012-03-2149 minGetting Better AcquaintedGBA 49 FrankIn GBA 49 we get better acquainted with Frank. He talks machine learning, science communication, the social situation in Luxembourg, living in Edinburgh, podcasting and more. It was recorded early in the morning during last year’s Edinburgh Festival in a sound proofed science fiction complex deep below Edinburgh University.
This episode, with the two before it, forms a sort of accidental miniseries about people who are involved in making audio. This wasn’t fully intentional but is welcomed nevertheless. I do programme the show for variety and there is still variety within these three episodes; however GBA is not always abou...
2012-03-2149 minAcademicsGBA 49 FrankIn GBA 49 we get better acquainted with Frank. He talks machine learning, science communication, the social situation in Luxembourg, living in Edinburgh, podcasting and more. It was recorded early in the morning during last year’s Edinburgh Festival in a sound proofed science fiction complex deep below Edinburgh University.
This episode, with the two before it, forms a sort of accidental miniseries about people who are involved in making audio. This wasn’t fully intentional but is welcomed nevertheless. I do programme the show for variety and there is still variety within these three episodes; however GBA is not always abou...
2012-03-2149 min