Supermassive numbers

Sir David Attenborough is arguably the world’s favourite broadcaster, and this week he’s blowing out the candles on his 100th birthday cake. Inspired by his significant birthday, we decided to uncover the biology behind centenarians. What are Sir David’s secrets?Speaking of agein ...  Show more

The blockade on the strait of Hormuz has led to an unexpected consequence – condom prices are set to increase by up to 30 percent! This has us delving into all things contraception, starting with koala hormone implants, the lengthy process of providing birth control to elephants, ...  Show more

Helium is full of contradictions. It’s the second most abundant element in the universe, but is relatively rare on Earth. It’s non-reactive, totally inert—yet the most valuable helium isotope is sourced from thermonuclear warheads. And even though we treat it as a disposable gas, ...  Show more

Have you ever considered the lighter side of dark matter? Comedy has proved an unexpectedly succesful way to engage people with science - as today's guest knows first-hand.Astrophysicist Catherine Heymans is a Professor at the University of Edinburgh and the current Astronomer Ro ...  Show more

Today, you’ll learn about mind-reading machines, the brightest object in the known universe, and the potential power punch of cinnamon. Mind-Reading •“Mind-reading devices are revealing the brain’s secrets.” by Miryam Naddaf. 2024. •“The brain-reading devices helping paralysed pe ...  Show more

The abstract numeral that changed everything, according to mathematician Talithia Williams. Before the introduction of zero, mathematics was a tangible subject, where numbers held weight and substance. With zero came the concept of a mathematical “nothing;” it turned our solid un ...  Show more