Naked Scientists Special Editions Podcast

Could plankton hold the key to understanding ancient climate conditions? New research suggests ocean temperatures from 200 million years ago could be encoded in sea shell chemistry. Simon Bishop spoke to Professor Simon Redfern from the University of Cambridge, about the work. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Tuberculosis is a major world problem, but extremely difficult to treat - vaccines are toxic to humans, and the disease-causing bacteria have a habit of hiding in the very cells tasked with destroying them. Immune system bodyguard drugs that fend off TB before it can hide could soon be possible, according to new research. Simon Bishop speaks to Professor Kurt Drickamer about the work. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Super energy-rich biofuels could soon be possible because of new research, dramatically reducing the environmental impact of intensive farming. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Dr. Jack Gilbert explains some of the surprising effects that microorganisms can have on our lives. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

How do you look for the cause of a brand new medical problem? Simon Bishop speaks to Professor David Goldstein about using genetic sequencing to uncover the cause of new disorders. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

HIV attacks the immune system, invading one type of cell called a CD4 lymphocyte. The virus encourages infected cells to sidle up alongside healthy, uninfected cells before making them unload an infectious cargo of HIV, passing on the virus. Now researchers have discovered that a molecule called ADAP plays a critical role in this process. They've found a way to alter this ADAP molecule so that it can still do its normal job inside an immune cell - so the cell stays healthy - but it can't cooperate with HIV, stopping the virus spreading. Chris Rudd from Cambridge University is the lead author... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

One of Perth, Western Australia's best-loved and most striking birds - the red-tailed black cockatoo - once common, is now in severe decline. Victoria Gill met Murdoch University's Dr Kristen Warren who has been trying to find out why, by using tracking devices... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Until recently, it has been extremely difficult to track the progression of Alzheimer's disease, as the neurons of the brain which are affected by the disease are impossible to view directly. However this week a Japanese research group, writing the the Journal Neuron, announced the development of a new radioactive compound which could be used, in conjunction standard medical imaging, to track the progression of Alzheimer's in the brain. Naked Scientist Priya Crosby spoke to lead author on the paper, Dr Makoto Higuchi, to find out more about this exciting new possibility for Alzheimer's... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

The Victorian Science Spectacular came to Newcastle as part of the British Science Festival, and Ginny Smith went along to see what it was all about, and caught up with some of the performers afterwards. Dr Aileen Fyfe and Prof. Iwan Morus showed what new technologies the Victorians would have been astounded at, and discussed why we need to think about the past when doing science. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Ancient parasites could be used to cure severe allergy sufferers according to new research from the University of Cambridge. Matt Burnett discovers how Dr Piers Mitchell has unearthed which parasites infected our ancient ancestors. Doctors could use these parasites, which have co-evolved with us, to divert the attention of an overactive immune system away from allergens. This could be the best way to treat patients with severe allergies like asthma and hay fever, and may even have implications for other diseases like inflammatory bowel disease. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

This week after public vote, the Blobfish was announced to be the world's ugliest animal. The poll was run by Ugly Animal Preservation Society, a group of comedians and scientists who are part of a comedy show aiming to champion some of nature's more aesthetically challenged creatures. Naked Scientist Priya Crosby spoke to president of the society Simon Watt, along with some other members of the cast, to find out more about the project.Warning: This podcast contains one instance of strong, manure-based language. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Sugata Mitra's 'Hole in the Wall' experiments in a New Delhi slum showed how easily children can learn using the internet, with no adult supervision or guidance. He terms this Minimally Invasive Education, and has since repeated the experiment in many different countries. This year, he has been awarded the TED prize to develop his idea further, so Ginny Smith tracked him down at the British Science Festival to find out more about how children can learn, without a teacher. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Is real-time blood sugar monitoring on your phone a pipe dream? Not according to Professor Mike Trenell at Newcastle University. Matt Burnett finds out about the diabetic athletes testing a new diabetes monitoring system on a 2100km bicycle tour from Brussels to Barcelona... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Inspired by biological systems that can self-repair, Diane Gardner is working on polymer 'ligaments', micro capsules of regenerative fluid and even embedded bacteria that can help concrete to repair itself when it cracks. The technology has the potential to dramatically increase the lifespan of concrete instillations, reducing their carbon footprint and maintenance costs. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

The population of the modern world is ageing. However, not everyone's quality of ageing is equal and simple factors, such as where we live, can have a major impact on how healthy we are in to old age. Peter Gore, Professor of Practice for Ageing and Vitality at Newcastle University is part of a group which is using real people in a simulation to investigate how we can improve our quality of life in to old age. Naked Scientist Priya Crosby spoke to Professor Gore at the British Science Festival 2013 to find out more about how this simulation could change the way that we cope with ageing. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Dancing is a complicated skill, and learning a new routine changes the brain. Ginny Smith caught up with Antonia Hamilton and Emily Cross at the British Science Festival to find out more about their research, and how it might be shedding light on the differences in the way children with autism learn. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Physicist Chris Frost explains, at the British Science Festival 2013, how cosmic rays disrupt the everyday technologies we rely on, as he outlines for Naked Scientist Priya Crosby... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Rutherford Appleton Central Laser Facility scientist Dr Ceri Brenner enlightens Ginny Smith about the world of lasers at the British Science Festival, 2013. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Today marks the first day of the fourth test in the Ashes and while England have already retained the urn, they're hoping that their spin bowlers, including the likes of Monty Panesar can help secure a series win.Dominic Ford wanted to find out the science behind spin bowling so he visited the Australian 'spin doctor', Professor Hugh Hunt to bounce some balls around in his office at Trinity College Cambridge Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Diamonds are the new best friends of laser scientists.A new world of lasers is now being created through research which is harnessing the exceptional qualities of diamonds. It will open up new possibilities in the way that lasers can be used in areas such as medicine.Jane Reck from the EPSRC has been finding out more.... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists