Imperial College Podcast
The latest news and features on science, medicine, engineering and business from one of the world's top universities: Imperial College London.
info_outline
Podcast: Filming with Attenborough, global development goals, and lab-grown meat
01/24/2024
Podcast: Filming with Attenborough, global development goals, and lab-grown meat
In this edition: David Attenborough meets our newest robot, progress towards global goals, and supporting the future of lab-grown meat. News: Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster – We find out what it was like to have Sir as he met a robot sea monster and the researcher who built it. Global goals for 2030 – The at Imperial brings together researchers working on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We hear from Hub Co-Chair and sanitation researcher and solar energy researcher on how some of these targets are being tackled. Lab-grown meat – We meet Reka Tron, co-founder of , an Imperial startup supporting lab-grown meat. She tells us about their innovation and how they began by winning the competition.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/29626118
info_outline
Podcast: Best of 2023, sustainable flight fuel, and better bones
12/20/2023
Podcast: Best of 2023, sustainable flight fuel, and better bones
In this edition: 2023 in review, the first transatlantic flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel, and improving bone quality. News: Best of 2023 – We hear about some of the best quantum breakthroughs and how science has met art at Imperial in 2023, as told by our science communication interns. Sustainable aviation fuel flights – We talk to and , two of the researchers involved in the world’s first transatlantic flight , made primarily of waste fats and cooking oil. The Imperial team helped assess the potential impact of such flights, including the formation of contrails. Bone up on bones – We catch up with the podcast, which discusses everything about bones: how we make them, why we break them, and what we still don’t fully understand about them. In this clip, we hear about how improving diet and lifestyle can impact the quality of bones and help prevent fractures in the most vulnerable people.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/29096823
info_outline
Podcast: Climate conference, COVID and pregnancy, and inspiring careers
12/15/2023
Podcast: Climate conference, COVID and pregnancy, and inspiring careers
In this edition: The latest climate science ahead of COP28, how COVID impacts pregnancy, and founding a MedTech startup. News: COP coming – We look ahead to the upcoming COP28 climate conference, and discuss a few recent Imperial studies on the , , and avoiding overreliance on . COVID and pregnancy – We speak to , who says that while pregnancy carries higher risk of complications from COVID-19, vaccination is extremely effective and safe for the baby, passing on immunity in the womb. Too Long; Don’t Listen – We hear from the , featuring inspiring stories to help people make career decisions. This excerpt features the founder of reproductive health startup , Imperial alumna .
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/28755468
info_outline
Podcast: NASA science alum, vaccines for TB, and the generational wealth gap
10/18/2023
Podcast: NASA science alum, vaccines for TB, and the generational wealth gap
In this edition: We meet an Imperial alum who is now Head of Science at NASA, discuss the generational wealth gap and find out how to tackle TB. News: Is the generational wealth gap real? – We that finds evidence that there is more solidarity between generations than the “Millennials versus Boomers” narrative would suggest. NASA’s Head of Science – We sit down with Imperial physics alum, and now NASA Head of Science, Dr Nicky Fox, to find out which missions she’s excited about and how we can encourage more girls to take up physics. Tackling TB – We hear from about how TB patients in India can be empowered to seek proper care, how new technologies can help expand screening programmes, and what we need to do to make a new vaccine. This is an extract from – a new podcast that explores where global disease and health overlap with other fields, including epidemiology, ecology, economics, and engineering.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/28355675
info_outline
Podcast: Bedtime rituals, recycling clothes and data bias in AI
09/27/2023
Podcast: Bedtime rituals, recycling clothes and data bias in AI
In this edition: How getting ready for bed is hard-wired, how clothing dyes can be recycled, and what we can do about data bias in AI. News: Getting ready for bed – When mice are sleepy, they make a safe nest, and now researchers have discovered the both in mice and likely in ourselves. Making fashion greener – We talk to the people behind – an Imperial startup that uses a new chemical process to recover dyes and colours from waste textiles, vastly reducing the water and energy use of the industry. The team recent secured an . Data bias in AI – We listen in to the as they chat data bias in AI – discussing questions including can we eliminate biases, how much should we blame big tech, and what can we do about the issue?
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/28157546
info_outline
Podcast: Childhood illness, planetary protection, and sustainable finance
08/23/2023
Podcast: Childhood illness, planetary protection, and sustainable finance
In this edition: A better test for diagnosing childhood illness, improving planetary protection and financing sustainability. News: Diagnosing childhood illnesses – We learn about a that can determine what’s causing fevers in children in only an hour, by analysing the distinctive pattern of genes being ‘switched on or off’ by the body in response to specific illnesses. Improving planetary protection – How do we make sure we don’t contaminate other worlds with our space missions, or contaminate Earth with samples returned from elsewhere in the Solar System? We speak to Professor Mark Sephton about a new project to make better risk assessments and improve planetary protection. Sustainable finance – We tap into the Green Minds podcast to hear from Bloomberg’s Nadia Humphreys about how ‘taxonomies’ can lay out how business can be greener. on IB Podcasts.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/27828798
info_outline
Podcast: Monkey sex, walking robots, and DNA health
07/19/2023
Podcast: Monkey sex, walking robots, and DNA health
In this edition: We learn how same-sex sexual behaviour is common in macaques, how to teach robots to walk like dogs, and how DNA affects your health. News: Same-sex sexual behaviour in monkeys – We learn how research has revealed that among male macaques in one colony is widespread and may be beneficial. How do you make a robot walk? – We talk to about what goes into making a functional robot. Should they walk on four legs like dogs or two legs like humans? What if one of the legs fails? And how do you integrate the latest AI? DNA and your health – From the podcast, we get a refresher on the basics of DNA, and learn how is hoping to improve prediction and diagnosis in healthcare, moving from treatment to prevention.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/27507369
info_outline
Podcast: Data poisoning, living with HIV, and climate art
06/21/2023
Podcast: Data poisoning, living with HIV, and climate art
In this edition: How hackers can ‘poison’ AI training data, the modern experience of living with HIV, and a climate change art prize. News: Smart meters in India and physics scholarships – We hear about a smart meters project being selected as one of the top 75 ideas for promoting green lifestyles by the government of India, and meet the winners of new physics PhD diversity scholarships. Data poisoning in AI – AI algorithms are trained on data, but what happens when hackers manipulate the data so the AI gives the ‘wrong’ answers, such as letting spam through email filters? We explore this question with , including what can be done to guard against such ‘data poisoning’. Living with HIV – We hear from about some of the results from the , which for 10 years has been following the health of people living with HIV. While cognitive function doesn’t seem to be affected, people living with HIV have a much higher prevalence of mental health issues. This is an excerpt from a series of podcasts about living with HIV, including the sting of stigma. You can listen to the full series on our . Climate change art prize – We hear how young people have the chance to create a piece of art that will be turned into a mural for the . The theme this year is palette for the planet: a hopeful vision for imagining a greener, cleaner future world.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/27223029
info_outline
Podcast: Celebrity visitor special
05/23/2023
Podcast: Celebrity visitor special
In this edition: We revisit interviews with some celebrity guests: singer Ana Matronic, Queen’s Brian May, and astrophysicist and author Katie Mack. Ana Matronic meets the robots – Scissor Sisters singer Ana Matronic to meet robotics researcher Dr Aldo Faisal. She spoke about her book, her passion for robots and her devotion to the international, intellectual movement called transhumanism. Brian May submits his PhD – In 2007, a rather extraordinary PhD student submitted his thesis – Queen guitarist Brian May. He returned to Imperial to before the band took off, and we caught up with him to talk space dust, how Imperial has changed since the 1970s, and whether his thesis or Bohemian Rhapsody is his biggest achievement. Dr Katie Mack contemplates the end – Astrophysicist and author gave a guest lecture at Imperial in 2019 for a ‘Science for Fiction’ event. We asked her about her favourite way the universe might die, whether she ever gets melancholy about the ultimate end, and how science fiction helps her unwind.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/26923842
info_outline
Podcast: Analysing Trump voters, Jupiter mission launch, and COVID oximeter test
04/25/2023
Podcast: Analysing Trump voters, Jupiter mission launch, and COVID oximeter test
In this edition: What links Trump voters, how we’re going to investigate Jupiter’s moons, and why it’s a good idea to ask if a medical trial is fair. News: Surface COVID transmission and the sounds of space – We hear about the first evidence of COVID-19 transmission occurring , and find out how the public can help space research by . Who votes for Donald Trump? – We chat to Sanaz Talaifar, who recently collaborated on in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. She talks about how areas with higher neuroticism and those suffering more economically were more likely to vote for Trump – a continuation of a pattern of populist voting throughout history. On the way to Jupiter – Before the JUICE mission on its way to study Jupiter’s moons and their potential for hosting life, we caught up with magnetometer instrument lead Professor Michele Dougherty. A fair trial – Medical programmes are often assessed by whether they ‘work’ – whether they save lives and money – but what about whether they are ‘fair’? We talk to Dr Jonathan Clarke, an Imperial researcher who looked into this dimension for a during the COVID-19 pandemic.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/26648298
info_outline
Podcast: Supersonic flight, toxic pet treatments and fighting TB with maths
03/23/2023
Podcast: Supersonic flight, toxic pet treatments and fighting TB with maths
In this edition: The future of supersonic flight, how toxic flea and tick products are reaching the environment, and how maths can help eradicate TB. News: News: Psychedelic scans and caffeine benefits – We discover that show the drug DMT increases connectivity across the brain’s imagination centres, and find out how keep you slim. Supersonic and hypersonic flight – We look back on the popularity of Concorde and look forward to the future of commercial, and sustainable, high-speed air travel. This is an except from the Zero Pressure podcast – and explore the archive on the . Toxic effects of pet parasiticides – We hear from the authors of a new that brings together all the evidence showing pet flea and tick treatments are finding their way into UK waters, potentially causing problems for the local wildlife. Fighting TB with maths – We speak to mathematical modeller Professor Nimalan Arinaminpathy, who is working with India’s TB elimination program to optimise interventions in different areas and finally eradicate the disease.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/26317062
info_outline
Podcast: Credit rating inequalities, making mosquito music, and better batteries
02/22/2023
Podcast: Credit rating inequalities, making mosquito music, and better batteries
In this edition: How AI has magnified credit disparities, how malaria research was translated into sound, and how batteries can make a better world. News: Boosting sex drive and sourcing dark energy – We hear about how the hormone kisspeptin can help , and why black holes may be the . Magnifying disparities with machine learning – We talk to about new research that shows how machine learning is – and who gets approved for a mortgage. Sonifying malaria research – How do you turn data about genetically modified mosquitos and their egg-laying rates into music? Target Malaria scientist Dr Federica Bernardini brought in creative composer Jamie Perera to . Batteries for a sustainable world – We catch up with Dr Billy Wu to find out the state of battery research, and how more sustainable batteries can help power a fossil-fuel-free world. Find out more about at Imperial.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/26011104
info_outline
Podcast: Fighting fungi, the music of the moons, and self-healing crystals
01/25/2023
Podcast: Fighting fungi, the music of the moons, and self-healing crystals
In this edition: We join the fight against deadly fungal pathogens, listen to music inspired by moons, and discover how some crystals heal themselves. News: Fixing bones in conflict zones and award-winning sustainable business education – We hear how engineers have being trialled in Sri Lanka, Gaza and Ukraine, and how the Business School has for their Sustainability Leadership programme. Fighting fungal pathogens – Fungal infections can be deadly, and a new WHO priority list has been drawn up to fight them. We hear from , who is working on two of these worrying pathogens. Music of the Moons – We listen in as astronaut Helen Sharman and conductor Amanda Lee Falkenberg lead ‘’ – an outreach event about the science behind our neighbouring planets’ moons and the music Falkenberg has created to illustrate them. The self-healing power crystals – We learn how crystals of surprising materials including paracetamol and ethanol can ‘heal’ themselves, , and how this could help researchers manipulate their growth. This section is an extract from the podcast by the .
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/25721712
info_outline
Podcast: Treating diabetes, boardroom diversity, and avoiding hangovers
12/21/2022
Podcast: Treating diabetes, boardroom diversity, and avoiding hangovers
In this edition: We meet a clinician investigating diabetes, find out how boardroom diversity benefits companies, and hope for a hangover cure. News: World’s first net-zero flight and air pollution monitoring – We hear how the powered with sustainable aviation fuel will launch in 2023, and how communities are being empowered to in real time. Feeling like a scientist: the clinician – When does a scientist first start to feel like one? We continue our with , a clinician and researcher who sees diabetes patients and studies the condition. Boardroom diversity is good for business – We hear how diverse views help avoid groupthink, improving innovation and performance and guiding companies through changes. Diverse boards also reflect the real world, allowing companies to find talent in the whole pool. This is an excerpt from the from the Imperial College Business School. Can we avoid hangovers? – We learn what happens to the body and brain when we drink alcohol (and drink too much), and discover how researchers are trying to make synthetic alcohol that doesn’t cause hangovers.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/25393914
info_outline
Podcast: Winter viruses, being an engineer, and improving energy efficiency
11/23/2022
Podcast: Winter viruses, being an engineer, and improving energy efficiency
In this edition: What flu and COVID-19 might do this winter, being an engineer, and how the UK can improve energy efficiency to fight fuel poverty. News: Exoplanet atmosphere and impact on Mars – We find out about new molecules and the recording of a huge . Winter virus warnings – What does this winter hold for COVID-19, flu, and other seasonal viruses? gives us a low-down of the current situation and what we might expect as temperatures lower. Feeling like a scientist: the engineer – When does a scientist first start to feel like one? We continue our with , a mechanical workshop technician in the Faculty of Engineering. Improving homes to tackle the energy crisis – Fuel poverty is on the rise, but retrofitting homes can help. , and what needs to be done to improve UK energy efficiency.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/25109496
info_outline
Podcast: Smashing atoms at the LHC, becoming a medic, and finding Arctic bees
10/19/2022
Podcast: Smashing atoms at the LHC, becoming a medic, and finding Arctic bees
In this edition: We discover the latest science at the Large Hadron Collider, meet a medical student, and help the BBC find bees in Lapland. News: New health funding and Lates programme preview – We celebrate the to develop new treatments, technologies and diagnostics and branch into new areas, and look forward to the of science outreach events. What’s new at the Large Hadron Collider – We catch up with to find out what the LHC has found so far, what it’s still looking for, and what upgrades might allow researchers to discover. Feeling like a scientist: the medical student – When does a scientist first start to feel like one? We continue our with , a medical student looking forward to applying science in a clinical setting. Helping the BBC find bees in the Arctic – We hear about Dr Richard Gill’s adventures in Lapland, team tell the story of his research subjects: bumblebees.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/24733500
info_outline
Podcast: Feeling like a scientist, wastewater disease tests, and summer droughts
09/28/2022
Podcast: Feeling like a scientist, wastewater disease tests, and summer droughts
In this edition: When a scientist begins to feel like one, monitoring wastewater for diseases like COVID-19, and how droughts led to hosepipe bans. News: Flu campaign kick-off and 3D-printing drones – We find out as the vaccination drive gets going, and learn about new , working together as a fleet. Feeling like a scientist: the space scientist – When does a scientist first start to feel like one? We introduce a , beginning with , who studies space propulsion technology. Testing wastewater for disease – We meet Claire Trant, Imperial alum and co-founder of , a company that automatically tests wastewater in communal buildings including factories and offices to identify the presence of diseases like COVID-19. When droughts lead to hosepipe bans – We get the lowdown on this year’s droughts from , who explains how droughts are defined, what causes hosepipe bans, and how climate change could impact droughts of the future.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/24513549
info_outline
Podcast: New President, treating cystic fibrosis and updating medical education
08/24/2022
Podcast: New President, treating cystic fibrosis and updating medical education
In this edition: We meet Imperial’s new President and researchers transforming cystic fibrosis patients’ lives and medical education. News: COVID-19 isolation and bees’ response to changing climate – We learn that the first real-world study of COVID-19 infectiousness suggests , and that museum specimens show from hotter and warmer conditions since 1925. Meet Imperial’s new President – We sit down with , Imperial’s new President, and hear about his academic career in medicine, his views on student issues, and his plans for the College. Transforming cystic fibrosis treatment – As part of a series on the people behind our world-leading research, we meet , who leads clinical trials for drugs that have transformed the lives of cystic fibrosis patients. A community approach to medical education – We talk to about her pioneering work creating a new approach to medical education that embeds students in the community from the start, via the (MEdIC).
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/24151602
info_outline
Podcast: Space sounds, climate kitchen and landscapes through time
07/19/2022
Podcast: Space sounds, climate kitchen and landscapes through time
In this edition: Making the magnetosphere audible, climate-friendly cooking, and exploring the Earth’s deep past. News: Life-like lasers and capturing carbon – We find out how much carbon dioxide has been since 1996 and discover how could enhance smart displays, novel lighting, and future computing. Space sounds – Researchers can detect the way magnetic fields interact in space around the Earth, but the data can be quite abstract for people to understand. We meet , who led a project to make the , allowing people to hear space as never before and contribute to science. Climate kitchen – explains how people can eat a more climate-friendly diet, including eating more plant-based foods and reducing food waste. Landscapes through time – As part of a series on the people behind our world-leading research, , who reconstructs landscapes through time, revealing everything from the and .
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/23789945
info_outline
Podcast: Calculating risk, Black founders, and Beatrix Potter’s nature
06/22/2022
Podcast: Calculating risk, Black founders, and Beatrix Potter’s nature
In this edition: Calculating risk in business, Black-heritage founders and entrepreneurs, and Beatrix Potter’s fascination with nature. News: Omicron immunity and ancient coral reefs – We hear about new research that shows the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus is against further infection, and explore a new expedition that will study ancient coral reefs to learn more about past climate change. Calculating risk – We chat to Dr Enrico Biffis about his in businesses, including how his current work intersects with sustainability and environmental risks, from the threat of climate change to the opportunity of reforestation. Black & Found – We meet the host of a new Imperial Enterprise Lab podcast called , which explores the stories of Black heritage founders and their ventures, and hear a few teasers for the latest episodes. Listen to Black & Found at: www.blackandfoundimperial.com The art and science of Beatrix Potter – At the , we meet the curator of the new at the V&A, exploring the great author and illustrator’s love of nature and interest in science and conservation.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/23505128
info_outline
Podcast: HIV vaccine progress, COVID and brains, and saving Brazil’s forests
05/18/2022
Podcast: HIV vaccine progress, COVID and brains, and saving Brazil’s forests
In this edition: We hear how close we are to an HIV vaccine, how severe COVID-19 affects brain power, and how one ecologist is saving Brazil’s forests. News: Great Exhibition Road Festival preview – We hear from two ‘Young Producers’ for the , who are working on an event called , which investigates how the summer sun influences culture. HIV vaccine progress – We talk to about the successes and challenges in creating a successful vaccine for HIV, and what the future could hold. You can also listen to an extended version of this interview on our Imperial Soundcloud account. How COVID affects brains – We hear from how the could be a loss of 10 IQ points or the equivalent of 20 years of ageing, as measured by slower reaction times and less accuracy in cognitive tests. Saving Brazil’s forests – As part of a series on the people behind our world-leading research, , whose work is helping preserve biodiversity in Brazil's precious forests.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/23139566
info_outline
Podcast: Making malaria history, psychedelics for depression and a new diet
04/27/2022
Podcast: Making malaria history, psychedelics for depression and a new diet
In this edition: We discover what it will take to eradicate malaria, how psychedelics affect the depressed brain, and how a new diet can keep us full. News: New medical school and dragonfly wings – We hear about Imperial’s with the University of Cumbria, and learn how could help us design better airplane wings. Making malaria history – We meet Professor Faith Osier, who is taking a new approach to designing malaria vaccines by mimicking natural immunity, and also find out why the fight against malaria is so important to her. Read more about Imperial’s work on malaria in our latest feature: on Imperial Stories. Psychedelics for depressed brains – We catch up with the latest research into how psilocybin– the active compound in magic mushrooms – get out of negative thought patterns. You can also listen to an on Imperial's Soundcloud account. The ‘Full’ Diet – We meet the author of the ‘Full Diet’ – a new regime based on a – and one of the patients that took part in the dietary study.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/22926752
info_outline
Podcast: Child COVID condition, health inequalities, and a healthy planet
03/23/2022
Podcast: Child COVID condition, health inequalities, and a healthy planet
In this edition: A COVID-linked condition in children, how AI could magnify health inequities, and 9 things you can do for your health and the planet. News: What nuclear war would look like and new European grants – We learn what one of our experts said about the , and find out what new science the is funding at Imperial, from drones to lasers. AI and health inequalities – AI is increasingly being used in healthcare, for example to analyse images like X-rays, but biases mean they may not benefit everyone equally, and may actually . We meet the researchers highlighting this issue and suggesting ways it can be tackled. Child COVID condition – We meet Dr Liz Whittaker, a paediatric researcher who was part of a group that recognised and characterised (PIMS) – an inflammatory condition in children linked to COVID-19. She tells us how it was first discovered, and what we’ve learned since. 9 things you can do for your health and the planet – We explore the , and what people can actually do to improve both at the same time – from buying less ‘stuff’ to encouraging changes that make cities easier to walk and cycle.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/22542362
info_outline
Podcast: Debating vaccines, LGBTQ+ history month, and humans of health research
02/16/2022
Podcast: Debating vaccines, LGBTQ+ history month, and humans of health research
In this edition: A scientist countering vaccine misinformation, members of Imperial’s LGBTQ+ network, and the people behind an impactful asthma trial. News: Yeast mini-factories and inspiration from nature – We learn about researchers who have to act like mini factories producing dementia drug compounds, and engineers who have taken inspiration from insect wings and shark skin to that pop bacteria and reduce drag. Primetime COVID vaccine debate – We catch up with following his appearance on countering COVID-9 vaccine misinformation, hearing how he decides when to engage with sceptics and the best techniques for doing so. LGBT+ history month – We meet Ji Young Yoon and Josh Hodge from , the College's network for LGBTQ+ staff, postgraduate students and their allies. We talk about what LGBT+ history month means to them, who some of their heroes are, and what issues could be tackled next. You can also listen to an and the community . Humans of health research – We meet Jilly Ellis and Cielito Caneja, who participated in a research trial for a severe asthma treatment, as patient and Research Nurse Practitioner, respectively. We talk about why each got involved in the research, how it felt to reunite for a , and what they hope people take away from their stories. You can also listen to an on our Soundcloud account.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/22152638
info_outline
Podcast: The marine carbon cycle, teaching robots, and a mental health zine
01/26/2022
Podcast: The marine carbon cycle, teaching robots, and a mental health zine
In this edition: How fishing may impact the carbon cycle, how to teach a robot to make toast, and sharing research in the form of a short magazine. News: Latest REACT study and discovering the holobiont – We learn that the REACT coronavirus surveillance study has shown that infection rates in January were three times higher than in December, and discover what a holobiont is, and what a focusing on it will do. Fishing and the carbon cycle – We explore the links between fishing and the oceans’ ability to take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and store it away, identifying potential problems and their solutions. You can also listen to an extended version of this interview on Imperial’s Soundcloud account. How to teach a robot to make toast – We drop into the to discover a human-friendly way to teach robots how to do physical tasks, such as operate a toaster. Mental health zine – We celebrate the launch of a new mini-magazine created with and for young people facing mental health issues. ‘’ presents the results of research at the Institute of Global Health Innovation in an accessible print and digital format, going above and beyond the academic paper.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/21901847
info_outline
Podcast: Women’s hearts, psychedelic worldviews, and nanotechnology for children
12/22/2021
Podcast: Women’s hearts, psychedelic worldviews, and nanotechnology for children
In this edition: Differences between men’s and women’s hearts, how psychedelics can change our worldview, and introducing children to nanotechnology. News: Omicron latest and Three Wise Women – We learn about the latest research into Omicron and how it might , the , and hear about working on different aspects of the pandemic. Women’s hearts – We meet Dr Paz Tayal, who is researching the differences between men’s and women’s hearts and why the problem has been understudied. Psychedelics and worldview – How can taking psychedelics change your worldview, and your perceptions of reality? We meet the team exploring this question and how research into the effects can be conducted safely. Nanotechnology for children – We catch up with Dr Jess Wade, hearing how her passion for both art and atoms collided in the children’s book Nano, of which to UK primary schools thanks to the Department of Materials and the Royal Academy of Engineering. You can also listen to an extended version of this interview on Imperial’s Soundcloud account.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/21571178
info_outline
Podcast: HIV tests, infectious reading, and the fight for cheaper drugs
11/17/2021
Podcast: HIV tests, infectious reading, and the fight for cheaper drugs
In this edition: A new test to monitor treatment-resistant HIV, a book tracing the fight against infection, and how the NHS can make cheaper drugs. News: COP26 roundup and detecting illegal images – We discuss the progress and shortcomings of the and hear about worrying findings that algorithms designed to discover illegal images are . Simple HIV test – As drug-resistant strains of HIV rise across Africa, we hear from Dr Catherine Kibirige, who has designed a new to measure viral load to help manage these new strains. Infectious reading – We hear from author of a new book called , , about the progress we have made in fighting infectious diseases so they are no longer the leading cause of death. In the book he uses examples from HIV and COVID-19, and meets some of the frontline’s more colourful characters. You can also listen to an extended version of this interview on Imperial's Soundcloud account. The fight for cheaper drugs – We meet , who argues the NHS should make its own generic medical drugs in response to ‘’, where private companies hike up the process of drugs. In , he suggests this would save the NHS millions of pounds.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/21192410
info_outline
Podcast: Healthy environments, polio progress, and colour-change hygiene checker
10/20/2021
Podcast: Healthy environments, polio progress, and colour-change hygiene checker
In this edition: What makes a healthy environment, the final steps to eliminate polio, and a test for proper cleaning. News: Life expectancy and a new space mission – We discover even before the pandemic, and celebrate Imperial physicists for a new NASA mission. What is a healthy environment? – We chat to researchers who interviewed underrepresented groups about what they thought made a , and what research they would like to see to help these environments thrive. Polio progress – To mark World Polio Day on 24 October, we find out from Imperial researchers how close the world is to eradicating the disease, and what still needs to be done. Fresh check – We meet the Imperial-alumni makers of – a colour-change solution that can tell if a surface has been properly cleaned – and find out where they’re taking the company next.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/20877188
info_outline
Podcast: Climate justice, climate change anxiety, and quantum computing
09/22/2021
Podcast: Climate justice, climate change anxiety, and quantum computing
In this edition: We tackle climate change injustice and anxiety, and hear about a new way to build quantum computers. News: Imperial at COP26 and previewing the Great Exhibition Road Festival – We hear about Imperial’s priorities for the , and find out what’s happening at the new hybrid , for which this year’s theme is ‘one world’. Solving climate injustice – We meet two researchers from Imperial and the Royal College of Art trying to tackle climate injustice – where those who have contributed the least to climate change face the worst impacts – through design and finance. You can hear more from the experts in a at the Great Exhibition Road Festival, in-person and streamed online, on Saturday 9 October. The climate crisis and mental health – We hear all the ways climate change itself, and worries about the future, can , and discuss how people can deal with these issues including building a better future. A new way to do quantum computing – We meet Physics , who co-founded a company called PsiQuantum that is , and has just received a multi-billion-dollar valuation. You can also listen to an of this interview on our Soundcloud account.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/20560313
info_outline
Podcast: Wildfires, climate action tipping points, and helping stroke patients
08/18/2021
Podcast: Wildfires, climate action tipping points, and helping stroke patients
In this edition: Art-science collaborations around wildfire research, joining the climate fight, and an app to aid stroke rehabilitation. News: New test for eye disease – We learn about a new for a debilitating eye disease that can cause blindness, and how warming temperature may . The art and science of wildfires – We hear about a that brought together scientists and artists, who found differences but also surprising similarities between their approaches to studying – and sharing – the world of wildfires, both devastating and beneficial. Tipping points – What motivates people to study and fight climate change? PhD student Peter Knapp talks to scientists who have joined the Extinction Rebellion movement, and we’ve got a preview of some of his interviews. You can listen to the full interviews in the . On track for stroke rehabilitation – We meet the makers of an the activity of their arms following a stroke, and hear how the platform is already helping people make progress and build confidence.
/episode/index/show/imperialcollegepodcast/id/20180600