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How do you sequence the genomes of 70,000 species?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions

Release Date: 10/30/2024

What's it like for women working in F1? show art What's it like for women working in F1?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions

Historically, only two women have ever started a Grand Prix race, and as of the 2026 season, no women are competing in Formula One. This male dominancy is by no means restricted to the track, with social scientist Dr Kate Bancroft estimating that a mere 5% of technical motorsport roles (that is, the engineers and mechanics) are taken by women. We hear from Kate about her research into the F1 gender gap, which she hopes - alongside revealing some of the barriers and struggles faced by women - will start a wider conversation about the divide that exists in top-level motorsports.

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How do you convert CO2 to rock? show art How do you convert CO2 to rock?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions

We're living in an age of rapid technological development which - alongside many benefits - comes at an environmental cost. We speak to Dr Shurui Miao, an experimental chemist who aims to decouple technological advancement from the impacts of increased carbon emissions, by finding a way to safely store carbon underground. As he explains, by finding a way to convert CO2 from the atmosphere into minerals, we could store carbon securely and sustainably into the future, and ultimately begin to mitigate the effects of climate change.

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From the Milk on the Move podcast: Purity and Danger show art From the Milk on the Move podcast: Purity and Danger

Oxford Sparks Big Questions

This week we are featuring a special bonus episode from our friends at the Milk on the Move podcast. Milk on the Move explores milk’s deep cultural roots, evolving scientific narratives and the systems that shape its production today. Hosts Johanna Zetterstrom-Sharp and JC Niala uncover the fascinating interaction of tradition, knowledge and morality that makes milk so much more than just an everyday drink. Available on Apple Podcast, Spotify or head to for more information.

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What was Einstein doing in Oxford? show art What was Einstein doing in Oxford?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions

If you've had the chance to visit Oxford's History of Science Museum, you may have found yourself gazing upon a rather special blackboard. Featuring equations that connect the age, size and density of the Universe, the penmanship is that of Albert Einstein himself, who used the blackboard during a lecture on 16th May 1931. But what was Einstein doing in Oxford, and how did he spend his time there? We chat to Dr JC Niala, Head of Research, Teaching and Collections at the History of Science Museum, to find out more about the man (and musician!) behind the genius.  Dr JC Niala also hosts her...

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Where do baby penguins come from? show art Where do baby penguins come from?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions

For this year's Valentine's Day episode, we are getting up close and personal with those most beloved of birds - penguins. Giving us an insight into the love lives of our feathered friends are penguinologists (yes, that's a real word) Dr Ignacio Juarez Martinez and Dr Fiona Suttle, who have both graduated from Oxford's Department of Biology, and spent multiple field seasons in Antarctica monitoring penguin breeding behaviour. We hear how penguin breeding patterns appear to be shifting with changing temperatures, and how you can get involved in their research - just head to to take part....

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How can I use AI to raise my salary? show art How can I use AI to raise my salary?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions

How much more money could you earn - doing the exact same role - if you're in possession of some solid AI skills? That's one of the core questions that Dr Fabian Stephany, a researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute, hopes to answer. Leading the 'SkillScale' project, Fabian looks into the impact of AI tools on the labour market, with the ultimate hope of advising workers on the best ways to secure jobs and increase their salaries. So, far from a discussion about 'AI stealing our jobs', we ask Fabian - how can we use AI to secure a bigger pay packet?  Find out more:

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Could stuff be living on Saturn's moon? show art Could stuff be living on Saturn's moon?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions

Are we alone in the Universe? It's surely one of the biggest questions out there. In our first episode of 2026 we chat to Dr Carly Howett, Associate Professor of Space Instrumentation in Oxford's Department of Physics. Specialising in the study of the 'icy worlds' found in our outer Solar System, Carly explains why she thinks one of Saturn's moons, Enceladus, could be a prime candidate for life, and shares the latest updates on how we might find it.

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What happened to the birds in 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'? show art What happened to the birds in 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions

We all know it. We've all sung it. Perhaps we've even answered a quiz question about it*. The Twelve Days of Christmas has become as quintessentially festive as a figgy pudding, or the bad joke in your Christmas cracker. But why exactly is your 'true love' gifting all these birds? And importantly, how are they faring nowadays? Prof Andy Gosler (from the Edward Grey Institute in the Department of Biology, and Institute of Human Sciences in the School of Anthropology) is the only professor of 'ethno-ornithology' in the world, specialising in the study of the relationships between birds and...

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What is quantum computing? show art What is quantum computing?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions

Want to make something feel immediately complicated, inaccessible or downright mysterious? Stick the word 'quantum' in front of it. Or, at least, that's how many of us feel. But don't worry! Experimental physicist William Cutler from Oxford's Department of Physics is here to break things down, explaining exactly what a quantum computer is, and sharing the remarkable potential that quantum computing holds for advancing fields ranging from drug-discovery to internet security.

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Could vaccinations stop people from getting cancer? show art Could vaccinations stop people from getting cancer?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions

Finding a cure for cancer is unarguably one of the biggest medical challenges that we face. But what if we could find a way to prevent cancer before it even starts? In this special extended edition of the Big Questions Podcast, we chat to Professor Sarah Blagden, an experimental oncologist at the University of Oxford, and Anna Fry, who has the cancer predisposing condition Lynch Syndrome - putting her at increased risk of developing colorectal and other cancers. Sarah explains how clinical trials of vaccines targeting 'pre-cancer' could revolutionise the fight against cancer, beginning with...

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More Episodes

Welcome back to the new series of the Oxford Sparks Big Questions Podcast! We are here to answer weird and wonderful questions about our world, with the help of science. And we’re starting with a very big question! How do you sequence the genomes of 70,000 species?

 

Dr Liam Crowley, from the Department of Biology, tells us about the ground-breaking Darwin Tree of Life project, which aims to sequence the genomes of over 70,000 species in Britain and Ireland. Discover the challenges and technological advances that make this monumental task possible, and explore the potential applications in fields like conservation genetics and evolutionary biology.

 

Tune in to find out how this project could revolutionise our understanding of biodiversity and the future of life on Earth!