EPISODE · Nov 4, 2025 · 28 MIN
Have scientists created a bionic eye?
from BBC Inside Science · host BBC Radio 4
The 'bionic eye' may make you think of Star Trek’s Geordi La Forge. Now, scientists have restored the ability to read in a group of blind patients with advanced dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). And they’ve done it by implanting a computer chip in the back of their eyes. Professor Francesca Cordeiro, Chair of Ophthalmology at Imperial College London explains how bionic technology might provide future solutions for more people with sight loss.Researchers at the University of Sheffield have come up with a way of extracting hormones from human remains dating as far back as the 1st century AD. Marnie Chesterton speaks to Brenna Hassett, bioarchaeologist at the University of Lancashire to find out how pregnancy testing skeletons could cast new information on human evolution. In a world of automation and AI, its easy to forget that every day, people around the UK record weather observations which contribute to our understanding of climate science. Marnie meets Met Office volunteer Stephen Burt and climate scientist at the University of Reading, Professor Ed Hawkins to find out more. And science broadcaster Caroline Steel brings us brand new discoveries changing the way we understand the world around us.If you want to find out more about volunteering to collect rain data, you can email: [email protected]. If you’re in Scotland, visit the SEPA website: https://www2.sepa.org.uk/rainfall/GetInvolvedTo discover more fascinating science content, head to bbc.co.uk search for BBC Inside Science and follow the links to The Open University.Presenter: Marnie Chesterton Producer(s): Clare Salisbury, Ella Hubber, Jonathan Blackwell, Tim Dodd Editor: Martin Smith Production Coordinator: Jana Holesworth
What this episode covers
The 'bionic eye' may make you think of Star Trek’s Geordi La Forge. Now, scientists have restored the ability to read in a group of blind patients with advanced dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). And they’ve done it by implanting a computer chip in the back of their eyes. Professor Francesca Cordeiro, Chair of Ophthalmology at Imperial College London explains how bionic technology might provide future solutions for more people with sight loss.Researchers at the University of Sheffield have come up with a way of extracting hormones from human remains dating as far back as the 1st century AD. Marnie Chesterton speaks to Brenna Hassett, bioarchaeologist at the University of Lancashire to find out how pregnancy testing skeletons could cast new information on human evolution. In a world of automation and AI, its easy to forget that every day, people around the UK record weather observations which contribute to our understanding of climate science. Marnie meets Met Office volunteer Stephen Burt and climate scientist at the University of Reading, Professor Ed Hawkins to find out more. And science broadcaster Caroline Steel brings us brand new discoveries changing the way we understand the world around us.If you want to find out more about volunteering to collect rain data, you can email: [email protected]. If you’re in Scotland, visit the SEPA website: https://www2.sepa.org.uk/rainfall/GetInvolvedTo discover more fascinating science content, head to bbc.co.uk search for BBC Inside Science and follow the links to The Open University.Presenter: Marnie Chesterton Producer(s): Clare Salisbury, Ella Hubber, Jonathan Blackwell, Tim Dodd Editor: Martin Smith Production Coordinator: Jana Holesworth
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Have scientists created a bionic eye?
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