PODCAST · science
The science ramble
by Simon Lichtinger
For "the science ramble", each month we look at a part of the human experience and how it links to a recently published advance in the natural sciences.
Episodes
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Last regular episode: Chance encounters
From the diffusion of particles to the foraging patterns of animals, random walks are a useful mathematical model to describe many statistical processes. But just as one might walk randomly across a new city to get a feel for the place, simulated walks can also be used to study the structure of...
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Swaying reefs
The richness and beauty of coral reefs stems from a juxtaposition between the smallness of animals that construct them and the huge features that emerge, of relationships between animals and algae, and the sessile nature of corals combined with miniscule movements that are essential for animal...
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Therapeutic highs
Used for centuries in spiritual ceremonies, psychedelic drugs such as LSD have become known to Western society as fuel to the 1960s counterculture movement. But since they first sparked the interest of researchers in the late 19th century, there has also been a keen interest in their medical use....
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Flickering shapes
Style may change rapidly in our day and age, but the making of art predates written history. Thousands of paintings and engravings have been discovered world-wide, yet often the context of their creation and use has been lost. Experimental archaeology tries to fill in the gaps with experiences…
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Separating light from dark
Many lines of evidence in modern physics indicate that 85% of all matter in the universe is invisible because it doesn't interact with light, and only weakly interacts with the matter we know. However, we have only hypotheses as to what this dark matter is composed of. This month for the science...
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Broken wings?
That humans can behave deceptively is well-known. Commonly, it is attributed to our mental capacity and ‘theory of mind’. This makes evidence of intentional deceptive behaviour in the realm of other animals particularly intriguing. For the science ramble this month, let’s look at birds performing...
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Bloody good at transport
How do organisms adapt to low oxygen environments, and why are there no Mexican cave fish swimming at the bottom of your tequila bottle? Join me with Matthew Harris for the first ever episode of 'the science ramble' in conversation! Further resources --------------------------- Mexican cave fish...
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Photobomb
Following the commercialisation of space flight, larger and larger numbers of satellites orbit the earth at low altitudes. The streaks they leave in images when passing through the field of view of a telescope can impact ground-based astronomical studies, and this is expected to become much more...
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Virtual Cell
With ever-increasing computational power, simulations of biological systems have advanced exponentially over decades. For this month’s science ramble, let’s look at how close we are to simulating whole cells, and what our ability to simulate might teach us about the reality we inhabit. Further...
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Suncatcher
One of the big challenges for increasing the contribution of solar power to the global energy mix is storage. Power from solar cells needs to be extracted just as it is produced, but we don't always blow-dry out hair when the sun is shining. This necessitates expensive infrastructure for...
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Biology inspired technology inspires biology
Computing by biological systems doesn't only happen in the brain: all cells are capable of regulation reminiscent of logic gates in silicon-based processors. For this month's episode of the science ramble, we look at how two groups of synthetic biologists have recently completed the circle of...
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Barely Floating
About 7km off the coast of Yemen, a degrading oil tanker threatens Red Sea ecosystems and residents alike. Off-loading the oil could help avert disaster, but the ongoing conflict has prevented this for a few years now. In the science ramble this month, we look at a recent computational study…
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Hidden Cravings
Animals eat plants and then animals eat other animals? Not necessarily! A small group of plants - termed carnivorous plants - have fascinated researchers and interior designers alike, since their description by Charles Darwin in 1875. With a new research paper out this summer, we may welcome...
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Veil of time
The past, in the form of cultaral heritage, bears the marks of passing time. Art conservators fight the constant uphill battle of conservation and restoration, and are increasingly supported by advances of natural scientists in a range of fields. Join in for this episode of 'the science ramble',...
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Strange symmetry
The development of nuclear weapons has altered the course of history forever. New research on minerals formed at the first ever test-site in Alamogordo, New Mexico, has now revealed that it also accounted for the first, albeit accidental artificial synthesis of an unusual type of solid called a...
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Surprisingly sweet
Between the renaissance of home baking and 'anosmia', the loss of smell and taste with COVID, the last year had a rather diverse impact on the nature of taste. In fact, we're surrounded by surprising tastes. Join in for the 'science ramble' this month to discover how a simple variant of water…
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Between code and function
Our cells use different types of molecules for storing information and for performing vital functions. One type of molecule, however, stands out because it does a bit of both: RNA. In this episode of the science ramble, we look at RNA, which extended functions it performs in humans and how all of...
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Vast amounts of randomness
Even in an age of digital and precise information, random numbers are in high demand. The need to create very large amounts of them to high quality prompts research into their fast generation. In this episode of "the science ramble", we look at what makes a number random, how they are used in...
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What are you thinking?
What are you thinking? The question requires awareness of others' thoughts and beliefs, termed a theory of mind. For the first episode of "the science ramble", we look at what that entails, and how a recent study (linked below) begins to explain it at the level of single cells in the human brain....
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
For "the science ramble", each month we look at a part of the human experience and how it links to a recently published advance in the natural sciences.
HOSTED BY
Simon Lichtinger
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The science ramble have?
The science ramble currently has 19 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The science ramble about?
For "the science ramble", each month we look at a part of the human experience and how it links to a recently published advance in the natural sciences.
How often does The science ramble release new episodes?
The science ramble has 19 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The science ramble?
You can listen to The science ramble on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The science ramble?
The science ramble is created and hosted by Simon Lichtinger.
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