Stupid Questions for Scientists | World Podcasts

Can researching the past help us build for our future? In this episode geographer Dr Iain White joins comedian Andre King to discuss how we should build our future cities with host Dr Michelle Dickinson. Discussing everything from the speed of light to the possibility of building future cities on movable tracks, the design and […]

If the oceans are warming, then wouldn’t that be good for summer swimming? In this episode physical oceanographer Dr Craig Stevens joins comedian Nick Rado to discuss oceanography and our changing planet with host Dr Michelle Dickinson. Covering everything from how far will your urine travel if you pee in the ocean, what happens when […]

  Viruses, are they mass murderers trained to kill other living organisms, or can you train them to only target certain enemies?  Senior Lecturer Dr Heather Hendrickson joins comedian and presenter Dai Henwood to discuss the role of viruses with host Dr Michelle Dickinson. Recorded with a live audience, topics including whether or not cold […]

Can you use mathematics to win the lottery?  Senior Lecturer in mathematical sciences Dr Robin Hankin joins actress and presenter Jaquie Brown to discuss maths and statistics with host Dr Michelle Dickinson.  Covering everything from why traffic seems to move faster in other lanes to how to pick the best supermarket checkout line, the definition […]

How can a diet full of fat help you to lose weight?  Professor of public health Grant Schofield and comedian Robin Ince join host Dr Michelle Dickinson for a fascinating and entertaining discussion about diet and how what we eat affects our health. For decades, a low fat diet has been marketed as the ultimate […]

            Medicinal cannabis is a hot topic, having been legalised in some areas but not other,the debate is ongoing. So what is cannabis, how can it be taken and what is it’s effect on the brain. Cannabinoid researcher Associate Professor Michelle Glass and pot smoking comedian Tim Batt join host […]

            What are aliens, and how would we know if we found one?  Astrobiologist Professor Steve Pointing joins comedian Ben Hurley and host Dr Michelle Dickinson on a journey of discovery starting with his research into life forms that survive in hostile environments here on earth.  Armed with this knowledge, […]

What’s scarier – Bacteria or Viruses?  In a world of deadly infectious diseases, which bugs should we be more scared of and can we protect ourselves from a potentially deadly disease? In this show Microbiologist Dr Siouxsie Wiles and comedian Jeremy Elwood join host Dr Michelle Dickinson for a frighteningly entertaining discussion which may send […]

    Are humans really the smartest animal in the animal kingdom, and how do we measure intelligence anyway? In this show, evolutionary biologist Dr Alex Taylor and comedian Jeremy Corbett join host Dr Michelle Dickinson to talk about the different types of intelligence shown by different animals around the world.  From dolphins knowing when […]