We’re taking a break from Eureka for the time being. We love making the show and we’re hoping to resume soon - so keep your eyes peeled for a new season. In the meantime, please enjoy our back catalogue, there are about sixty episodes ready for you to get stuck into. We’ll see you soon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s easy to get very excited about nuclear fusion - but are we all getting ahead of ourselves? This week, Michael explains the basics of nuclear fusion, why the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) has been disastrous and what we’ve actually managed to achieve with nuclear fusion so far. We also take a look at whether nuclear fusion is a wise investment and we consider whether our money could be better spent on other energy sources! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re on a mission to understand phobias, manias and obsessions! We look at where our phobias come from, how people use obsessions as a coping mechanism and how you define a phobia. We also find out about a fascinating case of ‘dancing mania’, we consider the evolutionary purpose behind phobias and we look at how our fears have changed over time.Special thanks to today's expert, Kate Summerscale. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the coronation just around the corner, we’ve decided to dig into the science behind leadership. We examine the history of leadership and how events like WWI have had an impact on our relationship with leaders. We also look at what personality traits make a good leader and we find out whether society is evolving beyond the need for leadership…Special thanks to today’s expert, Professor André Spicer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prepare to get your head in a spin this week, as we have a go at cracking one of science’s greatest enigmas: consciousness. We delve into the complexities of what it means to be conscious, we explore the history of our understanding of consciousness and we look at some mind-blowing ways that it can be manipulated!Special thanks to today’s expert, Professor Anil Seth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we take a closer look at the fascinating world of astrology and consider how it has managed to maintain its popularity in the age of science. We find out how astrology historically interacted with science, why decision fatigue can make it so appealing and how some businesses use astrology to make choices. Michael also shares a fascinating way that the month you are born CAN have an impact on your life (with some scientific evidence to back it up) and we find out whether astrology is actually doing anyone any harm…Special thanks to today's expert, Mystic Michael. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rick has recently become a father, so this week we are on a mission to make him the best parent possible. We get some advice on the best ways to bond with a child and we look at how the role of fathers has evolved throughout history. We also look into the benefits of having a good father and we take a look at the fascinating ways your brain and hormones change when you become a Dad!Special thanks to today’s expert, Anna Machin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time to delve into one of science’s most fascinating discoveries of all time: evolution! This week, we revel in ten of our favourite organisms and look at how they’ve evolved in amazing ways. We uncover the plants that have developed the ability to hunt, the mould that can navigate its way through a maze (despite not even having a brain) and the ants that can take down a chicken. There’s some seriously freaky stuff out there and this episode will have you thinking ‘wtf’ from start to finish - in a good way, of course. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s undeniable that technology is creeping further and further into our lives - but are we going to end up living inside a virtual reality? Mark Zuckerberg certainly hopes so.This episode, we uncover what the metaverse might look like, we examine some of its potential benefits (and take a critical view of just how good they actually are) and we consider some of the drawbacks. We also discover how close the metaverse is to becoming a reality and we find out whether anyone actually wants any of this in the first place…Special thanks to today’s expert, Professor Victoria Baines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All of us (except Michael) have had our hearts broken at some point - but why does it hurt so much? And what is the evolutionary purpose of all that pain? This week we’re finding out exactly what goes on in our bodies when we experience heartache, whether we might be able to cure a broken heart and if it’s possible to actually die from heartbreak.Special thanks to today’s expert, Associate Professor Mary-Frances O’Connor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re giving Rick yet another opportunity to speak enthusiastically about his beloved octopuses, as we try to determine: what is the most intelligent animal. This episode is full of fascinating animal experiments, involving crows, elephants, chimpanzees, horses and more. We also discover what the challenges are when measuring intelligence and how we can compare intelligence between different species. Rick is in his absolute element this week!Special thanks to today’s expert, Dr Marta Halina. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we find out about the weird and wonderful world of bioelectricity and how we might be able to use electricity to aid us... We hear about some unfortunate electric fish who have been used for prolapsed anuses, we consider whether electricity could be used for cancer treatments and wound healing, and we find out what the future of the field looks like. Our expert also shares her experience of having her brain ‘zapped’ and Michael shows us his own brain hacking equipment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The rise of artificial intelligence can be a scary concept - so this week we tap into the fascinating world of ChatGPT. We find out exactly how the technology works, how accurate it actually is and how evil tech companies have been getting their hands dirty (as always). We also find out about the world of online FlirtBots, we discuss whether chatbots can be used to write school essays and we find out whether we actually need to be worried about the power of chatbots. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we want to introduce you to one of our favourite podcasts: The Luke and Pete Show. Join Luke Moore and Pete Donaldson for an unplanned half an hour every Monday and Thursday where they talk about just about anything, from UFOs, to AI and Ancient History. In this episode, Pete recounts a story from his holiday, where he came face to face with death and Luke rejoices about some American bin men.Look out for a new episode of Eureka next week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re bringing you a very special episode, as Michael reflects on some of his favourite moments from the series so far!Rick’s very excited about the giant insects that might be replacing humans, we hear about a fascinating cancer trial which could be the key to beating the disease and we pull apart the European Academy of Paediatrics’ statement about vaping. We also look back at a hilarious moment from our episode on swearing and we hear about some fascinating research into concussion. There’s a little bit of everything in this episode - and it’s all fascinating. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve all done something bad at some point in our lives, but why? This week, we explore how we can quantify a ‘bad’ thing, what’s going on in our brains when we do something wrong and why sometimes it feels really good to do something we know is a little bit naughty. We also look at how group mentality affects our behaviour and Rick shares a truly awful story about a friend known only as ‘Evil Damien’...Special thanks to today’s expert, Dr Jack Lewis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elon Musk has been promising self-driving cars for years, but is it actually even possible? We’re exploring whether self-driving cars could reduce the number of traffic collisions, what some of the ethical issues are surrounding the vehicles and how close we are to actually seeing them on our roads. We’re also taking a look at the history of self-driving cars, considering what might happen if they were hacked and finding out how businesses like Uber have been reacting to the developing science…Special thanks to today’s expert, Professor Jack Stilgoe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you didn’t already know, we love maths! This week, Michael welcomes us to his new cult, as we talk about whether maths is provably true and whether it was invented or discovered. We’re also choosing some mathematical ‘saints’ and chatting about some of the great things maths has done for civilisation. Is our passion for maths really that different to following a religion? Let’s find out…Special thanks to today's expert, Dr Michael Brooks (not a real doctor). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve made some new year's resolutions and you’re hoping for a ‘new year, new me’ this is the episode for you. This week, we’re finding out if it’s really possible to consciously improve our personalities (although Rick seems to think there’s no need to improve on perfection). We’re also examining the validity of personality tests, finding out whether it’s true to say that animals have ‘personalities’ and we’re exploring the fascinating developments by machine-learning AI in personality research!Special thanks to today’s expert, Dr Christian Jarrett. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you given up meat for Veganuary? This week we’re looking at the fascinating history of human meat consumption and finding out whether we *really* need it in our diets. We’re assessing the alternatives – including introducing insects to our mealtimes, lab-grown food and meat substitutes – and we’re looking at the true effect farming animals has on the environment.Special thanks to today’s expert, Dr Melanie Joy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s been an increasing amount of research to suggest that repeated concussions can have serious consequences and we want to find out more. This week, we’re looking at how concussion affects men and women differently, how long we’ve been aware that this might be a problem for sportspeople and why some big sports organisations might be quite keen to cover it up…Special thanks to today's expert, Hana Walker-Brown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Christmas around the corner we thought it was the perfect time to whip out some of our favourite blue language! This week, we’re finding out the science behind why we swear, including the history of bad language and the effect swearing has on our brains. Also, do animals swear? And can swearing really help alleviate pain? Plus, we find out a little bit more about tourettes and how swearing can impact on your social capital. This episode is f***ing fascinating.Special thanks to today’s expert, Dr Emma Byrne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re whittling down our final eight scientists to crown our winner. We’re digging into the work of Isaac Newton, Henrietta Leavitt, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Lynn Margulis, Archimedes, Vera Rubin and Charles Darwin, before determining which one is the greatest scientist of all time.This was NOT an easy task. Let us know if you agree or disagree with our decision on Twitter, @EurekaPod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re putting more incredible scientists head to head this week on our mission to crown the greatest scientist of all time! This episode, we’ve got some seriously tough showdowns, like Richard Dawkins vs Lynn Margulis and some *slightly* less tricky battles, like J.B.S Haldane vs Archimedes… We’re also discussing the amazing work of Tu YouYou, Charles Darwin, Dorothy Hodgkin and Vera Ruben! Join us next week to find out who will reign supreme!@EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the course of the next three weeks, we’re pitting sixteen incredible scientists against each other to decide which of them is the greatest scientist of all time. This episode, we’ve got world famous, heavy hitters like Stephen Hawking and Marie Curie, as well as unsung legends like Henrietta Leavitt and Barbara McLintock all going head to head! We’re also weighing up the work of Albert Einstein, Enrico Fermi, Francis Crick and Isaac Newton this week, so you can expect heated debates and tight battles…Who do you think deserves the title? Let us know your thoughts on Twitter @EurekaPod and join us for Part 2 next week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re marrying up two of our greatest loves: football and science! As the World Cup kicks off in Qatar, we’re looking at just how much artificial intelligence could improve a team's performance. We’re finding out how data transformed Jurgen Klopp’s career, how Germany used data to aid their win in 2014 and we’re looking at an interesting job advert for a role at Man City… Can something as unpredictable as sport really be predicted by scientists? We’re going to find out!Special thanks to today’s expert, Sven Schwerin Wenzel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cancer will affect almost all of us in some way during our lifetimes, so this Movember we’re trying to understand it a little bit more. We’re finding out how cancer treatment has changed, we’re debunking some common myths about cancer and we’re finding out more about cancer in animals - and even in the dinosaurs. How close are we to curing cancer? Find out in today’s episode.Special thanks to today’s expert, Dr Kat Arney. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Humans have been trying to interpret and understand dreams for thousands of years, but do they actually mean anything at all? This week we’re getting to grips with what happens when we have a dream, whether any animals experience dreaming and what benefits dreaming can have! If you like this episode, you might also enjoy our episode ‘How can I get myself to sleep?’Special thanks to today’s expert, Dr Caroline Horton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As spooky season draws to a close, we’re looking at why we enjoyed being freaked out so much. We’re discussing what determines what we’re afraid of (with reference to a very morally dubious experiment from the 1920s), how being scared can contribute to social bonding and whether the general social mood has an impact on our appetite for horror. We’re also finding out whether there’s any difference in how easily men and women experience fear and we’re hearing about an experiment Rick’s affectionately called ‘the pussy mice experiment’.Special thanks to Professor Steven Schlossman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the 90s, Michael has been talking passionately about the huge problems caused by the lack of diversity in science. On today’s episode, we’re talking about some very important scientists forgotten by history due to the colour of their skin, as well as why Black British children are less likely to pursue careers in science and the impact of the continual exclusion of indigenous people in conservation efforts.  We’re also looking at some appalling experiments, the response to COVID-19 and why healthcare is failing so many people. Plus, we discuss some of the ways the situation is improving and what the science community can do to address this issue further. Special thanks to today’s expert Angela Saini. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re having a go at predicting the future this week, as we take a fascinating look at what life might look like for animals once humans go extinct. We’re discussing what the key factors are to becoming a dominant species, including size, intelligence and adaptability. We’re also exploring evolution as we examine how animals are already changing in response to climate change and we’re taking a look at what has successfully survived previous extinctions! Will the octopus reign supreme for Rick? Find out! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the number of smokers in the UK continues to decline, there’s a new trend sweeping the country: vaping. How much do we actually know about these addictive e-cigarettes and the chemicals they contain? Could they be more harmful than cigarettes? And why are they so appealing to young people? This episode we’re uncovering all of that, as well as finding out whether we need to worry about ‘popcorn lung’ and how the tobacco industry manipulated scientists for decades.Special thanks to today's experts, Eve Taylor & Dr Katie East. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael’s in his element this week as we dive into quantum physics! We’re getting our teeth into the history of cosmology, exploring the inflation of the universe and we’re doing our best to explain what the multiverse is. Strap in guys, this one is pretty mind blowing! Special thanks to today’s expert, Laura Mersini-Houghton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re examining the fascinating topic of pain and uncovering what makes us feel it and how our experiences differ. We’re also unlocking the causes of chronic pain, how our brains can trick us into feeling pain (or not feeling it) and we’re finding out whether hypnotherapy and virtual reality could be able to help patients with their ailments. Rick’s also got a hilarious story about his most painful experience! It’s painfully embarrassing too…Special thanks to today’s expert Dr Monty Lyman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether they were the best days of your life, or a grim memory you avoid at all costs, your school days are incredibly formative. This week we’re unpicking the school system, as we examine where the modern system comes from and find out why it fails so many people. We’re also uncovering whether there’s any truth behind ‘learning styles’, why it’s so hard to make changes to the school system and how electric shocks might be able to help us learn! Thank God our school days are over… Special thanks to today’s expert Guy Claxton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Humans’ love of festivals is something that transcends time and culture, so as summer draws to a close, we’re getting our teeth into some neuroscience and finding out why we love them so much! From historic carnivals, to modern day raves, we’re looking at the science behind groups, bonding and rituals, and uncovering the science behind it all in the process.Special thanks to today’s expert Dimitris Xygalatas! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The possibilities of what geneticists might be capable of in the future is exciting and ethically concerning in equal measure. That’s why this week, we’re looking at the possibility of de-extincting animals, designer babies and accidental mutations. We’re also wondering whether gene editing could help agriculture and we’re finding out exactly what a gene drive is. Join us and today’s expert, Professor Matthew Cobb! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re bringing you an extra special episode, where we look back on some of the highlights of the series so far. We’re revisiting whether gender can have an impact on your mathematical ability, who decides which endangered animals to save and why one of our experts is recommending you have an orgasm. We’re also reminiscing on two of our favourite topics - warp drives and ghosts! See you next week!@EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re not getting any younger, so on this week’s episode we’re discussing face transplants! Our expert is Dr Brian Gastman, one of the very few surgeons to ever perform a successful face transplant. We find out about the process of receiving a transplant, the ethical considerations, what’s needed from a donor and who’s likely to get one. Are face transplants the future of cosmetic surgery? Dr Brian Gastman will be giving us the answer.@EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the heat wave rages on, we’re exploring whether water shortages could lead to the next war. We’re finding out how scarce drinking water actually is, how climate change is having an impact and whether desalination could be the answer! Special thanks to today’s expert, Dr Benjamin Pohl. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You may be surprised to learn that dating apps are slightly alien to us, but we’re absolutely fascinated by them and the data behind it all! This week we’re learning whether it could really be possible to predict attraction, what the science behind love is and how chemicals can change our behaviour. We also discover a curious piece of artificial intelligence making waves in the Japanese dating scene! Special thanks to today’s expert (a NASA rocket scientist AND the founder of a dating app) Rashied Amini. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a bit hot recently, hasn’t it? The heatwave has got us thinking a lot about the climate crisis, which is why this week we’re exploring whether geoengineering could be the answer to all of our problems. We’re finding out how it works, what the drawbacks might be and whether it could actually provide a long term solution. Special thanks to today’s expert Gernot Wagner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode, we’re uncovering why humans love music so much. We look into how music helps us form bonds, how drugs can enhance our enjoyment of it and which animals can also enjoy it just like us! Sort of... Plus, did you know that a small minority of people’s brains just aren’t wired to enjoy music? Listen on to find out why!  Special thanks to today’s expert Professor Robert Zatorre. We're @EurekaPod on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Immortality has fascinated humans for centuries, but are we getting any closer to finding the key to everlasting life? This week we’re uncovering why our life expectancy has changed, ways scientists are looking at reversing ageing and whether it’s even ethical to extend people’s lives in the first place… If you’ve ever wished you could live forever, this one’s for you! Special thanks to today’s expert Dr Brandon Milholland.@EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re exploring the exciting world of space mining! We’re finding out whether we could mine the moon, how space mining could impact the global economy and how practical it really is…  We’re also exploring the ethics of extracting resources from space and we’re learning how Apple are developing new technology to improve recycling! @EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael’s confronting his terrible navigation skills this week, as we discover what determines our sense of direction. We’re finding out how gender plays a role in how you find your way, how technology is impacting us and whether it’s possible to improve your skills - let’s hope so for Michael’s sake! Special thanks to today’s expert Professor Mary Hegarty. If you’d like to suggest a question for the show, get in touch on Twitter or send an email to [email protected].  @EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re sticking our beaks into the world of scent this week, as we go on a journey to discover the best smell in the world! We’re uncovering how covid has impacted research, how brands use smells to sell more and what determines whether we like a smell or not. Special thanks to today’s expert Professor Charles Spence. If you’d like to suggest a question for the show, get in touch on Twitter or send an email to [email protected].  @EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re looking at the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence. We’re asking whether AI will ever be able to develop emotions, how it could aid our healthcare and how it might actually learn to discriminate against us. We’re also looking at how AI could become creative and how it could over power and take advantage of humans in the future… Consider this a warning! Special thanks to today’s expert Junaid Mubeen.  If you’d like to suggest a question for the show, get in touch on Twitter or send an email to [email protected].  @EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You might think that wasps are nothing more than unlovable, angry pests, but you’d be wrong! On today’s episode, we’re discovering how wasps are aiding cancer research, how they can be trained to sniff out bombs and how they help agriculture.  We’re also learning about how wasps ‘zombify’ spiders and we’re getting some solid advice on what to do if a wasp is hounding you this summer!  Special thanks to today’s expert, Professor Seirian Sumner. If you’d like to suggest a question for the show, get in touch on Twitter or send an email to [email protected].  @EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re diving into the world of sex and finding out what determines who we want to have sex with! We’re exploring the science behind monogamy and discovering which animals have sex for pleasure. Plus, we uncover whether exposure to hormones in the womb, or our genetic makeup, can influence our sexuality and learn how sexual arousal differs between men and women. Special thanks to today’s expert, Gerulf Rieger.@EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rick’s getting heated about animal conservation this week! We explore some of the problems with conservation, including how organisations allocate funding, how colonialist attitudes are impacting local communities, and the lazy attitudes people have towards ‘protected areas’. We also find out how human instinct affects our decision making and wonder whether animals going extinct might just be a fact of life. Special thanks to today’s expert, Rebecca Nesbit.@EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael’s absolutely beside himself, because this week we’re diving into the world of physics! We talk about the limitations of rockets, how technology could change the way we’re exploring space and whether warp drives could be in our future… Special thanks to today’s expert, the fascinating Sabine Hossenfelder.@EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a time where global poverty rates are rising, your knee jerk reaction to billionaires might be that they shouldn’t exist, but could they play a fundamental role in solving global crises?  In this episode we’re exploring how billionaires could be taxed in order to address wealth disparity, whether our next global leader could be a tech billionaire and if we’re all going to lose our jobs to AI. Special thanks to today’s expert, Professor of International Relations and Global Risk: Maha Aziz.@EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we’re examining ghosts through the lens of science and asking why someone might believe in the paranormal! With the help of Professor Chris French, we discuss the evolutionary advantages of getting spooked, why haunted houses feel so creepy and we find out whether science might soon eliminate ghosts from our culture altogether...@EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rick’s got a cold, so we’ve enlisted immunologist Professor Sheena Cruickshank to tell us all about the immune system! She’s unpacking what it does, the impact your diet has and she’s debunking some common myths about home remedies and enemas. There’s also some fascinating examples of how the brain and our mood affects the immune system and some amazing facts about vaccines!@EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They’re plastered across pop culture and we’ve all wondered at some point if somebody we know could be a psychopath, but what makes somebody psychopathic in the eyes of science? Today we’re speaking to Dr Mark Freestone about the psychopathy checklist and brain differences in psychopaths. We’re also finding out how many psychopaths there are in the general population and whether it’s possible to cure psychopathy…@EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Rick’s sleep pattern is all over the place! He’s desperate to hear from one of the UK’s leading sleep experts, Dr Maja Schaedel. She’s sharing a fascinating insight into what makes a good kip - including how sex can affect your sleep and whether technology or hormone supplements can help us out. We’re also discussing the sleep cycle, insomnia and how harmful caffeine can be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since records began, humans have been finding ways to intoxicate themselves - but that doesn’t always come without a cost. Today, we’re exploring how recreational drugs affect the brain, whether alcohol is more harmful to society than heroin, and the science of addiction.We’re also exploring the ways illegal drugs could be effective in treating mental health conditions, the impact the war on drugs has had on research and this week’s expert, Professor David Nutt, is telling us about the new, hangover-free, non-addictive alternative to alcohol he’s developing!@EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bloody hell, it’s a big one this week! We’re doing a deep dive on all things blood, as we ponder whether we could live without it. We’re going back in time to learn about a gruesome, blood-sucking tradition in ancient Rome and the very first blood transfusions, which involved some very unusual (hilarious) ingredients. Plus, the story of the very first scientific fraud recorded, could your blood type really determine your personality, and we find out just how close we are to creating synthetic blood...Special thanks to this week’s expert, the legendary Professor Ashley Brown, whose work at the Advanced Wound Healing Lab is breaking the boundaries of what science thought was possible.@EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The more we learn about the universe, the harder it is to believe we’re alone. But if aliens do exist, how likely are they to pay us a visit? And if they did, would it be such a bad thing? The answer to this week’s question is either going to be a great comfort, or a terrifying prediction!On today’s episode we’re joined by Professor Avi Loeb, who’s offering us a detailed insight into all things extra-terrestrial. We’re discussing what the current global protocol is if an invasion occurs, what proof we may already have that aliens exist and why we might be easier to find than we think…@EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re getting under the skin of one of Rick’s pet peeves: people being proud to say they’re bad at mathematics! We’re discovering if some people are just born bad at numbers, whether gender has any effect on our ability to manage sums and if any of this is even important in the age of calculators?!As always, we've got an expert on the show to help us. Enter Director of Cambridge Mathematics, Lynne McClure OBE. She'll help us answer the question 'does it matter if you can't do maths?'@EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Human fascination with animals dates back to our earliest known history - but just how close are we to breaking the communication barrier? This episode features an animal menagerie, as we examine the communication methods of prairie dogs, sea creatures and more! We’re even learning about a fascinating ape, who’s rumoured to have learnt American Sign Language... As always, we’ll also be asking one of the leading experts on animal communication, Professor Barbara King, to answer our question: 'will we ever talk to animals?’@EurekaPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Eureka!, the show that gets under the skin of the science questions that really matter! Join science enthusiast Rick Edwards and actual real-life scientist Dr Michael Brooks every week, as they dissect some of the universe’s most puzzling questions with the help of the world’s leading experts. Subscribe now and catch the first episode on Wednesday 16th March, with new episodes dropping every Wednesday! Find us on Twitter @EurekaPod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.