Tim and Syma talk to Professor Dora Biro about animal behaviour and cognition. Want to know why your kitten behaves differently from you, or discover that chimps become less competent at using tools as they age? This is the podcast episode for you. You can read Dora’s recent paper on tool use in chimps here: https://elifesciences.org/articles/105411 Our sponsor for this episode is Grace and Garbo! Thank you. https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/GraceandGarbo 'At Grace and Garbo we are passionate about v...
Aug 14, 2025•46 min•Ep. 29
In this weeks episode, Tim and Syma get the run down on wasps, courtesy of Seirian Sumner , entomologist and behavioural ecologist. Will Syma now forgive the wasps, following a recent encounter? Seirian's book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Endless-Forms-Secret-World-Wasps/dp/0008394512/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 Our sponsor for this episode is Grace and Garbo! Thank you. https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/GraceandGarbo 'At Grace and Garbo we are passionate about vintage knitwear. From classic fair isle, to one-o...
Aug 07, 2025•43 min•Ep. 28
Tim and Syma talk to Ray Pirrehumbert, author of Planetary Systems: A Very Short Introduction, about planets orbiting far away stars. They learn how these distant objects that we will never visit are detect, a little bit about a few of them, and how we might detect life on a far-away planet. If you are interested where aliens might live, this is the podcast episode for you. Ray's Book: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/planetary-systems-9780198841128?cc=gb&lang=en& Ray's Bluesky: h...
Jul 31, 2025•40 min•Ep. 27
Tim and Syma talk to Adam Becker about his stunning new book, "More Everything Forever". They explore how the philosophy of effective altruism aligns with flawed scientific ideas about how humanity can create super-intelligent AI before colonizing the galaxy. The philosophy is as flawed as the science. Your likes and subscriptions are really important for our growth. Please like and subscribe! Adams fantastic book: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/adam-becker/what-is-real/9781473661349/ If you ...
Jul 24, 2025•46 min•Ep. 26
Tim and Syma talk to dinosaur expert, Roger Benson, from the American Museum of Natural History. They learn why there were no small dinosaurs, how the animals lived their lives, and why they are relevant today. Interested in #T.Rex #Diplodocus or #Velociraptor? This is the episode for you. Our sponsor for this episode is Grace and Garbo! Thank you. https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/GraceandGarbo 'At Grace and Garbo we are passionate about vintage knitwear. From classic fair isle, to one-of-a-kind art...
Jul 17, 2025•37 min•Ep. 25
Syma gives the second annual Ibn Sina lecture in Bradford City Hall. The event was hosted by the Muslim Institute and the Lord Mayor of Bradford. She discusses her work on using computer simulations to understand how harmful bacteria protect themselves. It is important we understand how they do this, so we can thwart them with new antibiotics. To view the full vide go here: https://youtu.be/OlTE0n9Bc00?feature=shared For more information on the Muslim Institute, visit them here: https://muslimin...
Jul 10, 2025•22 min•Ep. 24
In This episode Tim & Syma talk to Jonathan Amos - recently retired science correspondent at the BBC. Jon talks us through his fascinating journey falling in love science through exposure to it via journalism and then going to study it more formally. From setting up the BBC website to breaking some of the big science stories - Jon tells his story honestly and engagingly. Whether your interest is science, journalism or both - please listen in! Our sponsor for this episode is Grace and Garbo! ...
Jul 03, 2025•36 min•Ep. 23
Some biological molecules can be left handed or right handed - the sugars that are found in nucleic acids are right handed, whereas 19 of the 20 amino acids that make up proteins are left handed. And intriguingly samples of amino acids found on meteorites such as those brought back from the OSIRIX-REx missing from Bennu were present in mixtures containing roughly equal amounts of the left and right handed versions. So why does biology on our planet favour left handed amino acids? A team of resea...
Jun 26, 2025•34 min•Ep. 22
Migration is in the news continuously and everyone has an opinion. What does the science of migration reveal? Tim and Syma talk to Ian Goldin, an expert on the pros and cons of migration and migrants. Ian's book: http://oldstreetpublishing.co.uk/100/the-shortest-history-of-migration Do you have any questions you would like to ask Tim and Syma? Drop us a line: scienceofthetimespodcast@gmail.com Our first sponsor on this episode is PinGui-Bags! Thank you. https://www.pingui-bags.com/ Starting in t...
Jun 19, 2025•48 min•Ep. 21
This week Tim and Syma talk to Max Telford, author of The Tree of Life: Solving Science's Greatest Puzzle published by John Murray. They explore LUCA, penis worms, and other oddball species. Max's book 'The Tree Of Life' can be found here: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/max-telford/the-tree-of-life/9781399806374/ Do you have any questions you would like to ask Tim and Syma? Drop us a line: scienceofthetimespodcast@gmail.com Our first sponsor on this episode is PinGui-Bags! Thank you. https://...
Jun 12, 2025•45 min•Ep. 20
In our latest science explainer release Syma chats to David Pyle, world renowned volcanologist, about the recent Mount Etna eruption.
Jun 08, 2025•8 min
In this episode Syma and Tim conduct a Q and A session for the many fantastic questions that have been hitting our email inbox over the last three months or so. They also review some of their favourite episodes so far. Do you have any questions you would like to ask? Drop us a line at: scienceofthetimespodcast@gmail.com Or leave a comment on our YouTube channel! Our sponsor for this episode is Grace and Garbo! Thank you. https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/GraceandGarbo 'At Grace and Garbo we are passi...
Jun 05, 2025•35 min•Ep. 19
Surely there is not much more to football than kicking a ball.? Wrong, There is a whole science behind it. Professor Robbie Wilson explains his work in this area and even puts Tim and Syma through their paces in the park! Our sponsor for this episode is Grace and Garbo! Thank you. https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/GraceandGarbo 'At Grace and Garbo we are passionate about vintage knitwear. From classic fair isle, to one-of-a-kind artisan hand knits and vibrant mohair. Visit our Etsy store, Grace and G...
May 29, 2025•39 min•Ep. 18
In this explainer, Syma discusses some of the methods bacteria use to defend themselves from attack from external threats such as antibiotics. These ostensibly simple organisms have elaborate and sophisticated defence mechanisms which is why it is so hard to kill bacteria.
May 26, 2025•6 min
Dan MacNulty has studied the wildlife in Yellowstone National Park since 1995. His research, and that of his colleagues, has revealed that the narrative that wolves have changed the park, leading to forests coming back, and rivers being diverted is not true. The Yellowstone story is more complicated than you might think, and endlessly fascinating. Join us as we talk about wolves, mountain lions, elk, beavers, bison and bears and learn how wolves have been good for the park, but not in quite the ...
May 22, 2025•48 min•Ep. 17
Tim breaks down a game-changing shift in global science research: as U.S. funding for future research faces uncertainty, UK funding agencies are seizing the moment—offering incentives to attract scientists currently working in the US to relocate and thrive in the UK.
May 19, 2025•3 min
In this short bonus episode Syma talks to Philipp Kukura. Philipp led the development of a technique called mass photometry which enables tracking the movement of individual proteins. Here he briefly describes the technique, but importantly emphasises the need for more women in the areas of instrument and technology development in the physical sciences. Link To Philipp's Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-021-01261-w...
May 19, 2025•4 min
In this third quick hit explainer of the week. Why are most ginger cats male? Simple genetics — the orange fur gene is on the X chromosome. Males only need one to flaunt that fiery coat, while females need two, making ginger ladies much rarer. And as for wolves — not all are grey! Some are black. Nature loves a remix.
May 16, 2025•3 min
If we don’t build a more sustainable world our civilisation will collapse, potentially in the coming decades. Paul Behrens spends his time researching our impact on the world, and working out how civilisation can transition to a sustainable future. Covering multitudes of Lego to plant-based diets and solar power, we explore how we can create a civilisation to help humanity thrive in the future. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53230928-the-best-of-times-the-worst-of-times Our sponsor for this...
May 15, 2025•55 min•Ep. 16
In our second quick-hit explainer episode this week, Tim breaks down how AI might be disrupting—not advancing—health science. Is the hype overshadowing real medical insight? Tune in for a sharp take on where AI could be leading us astray.
May 14, 2025•5 min
In this quick bonus episode, Tim breaks down one of science’s most intriguing mysteries as featured in BBC News today: the difference between matter and antimatter. Join us for a bite-sized explainer that sheds light on the surprising facts behind this cosmic puzzle!
May 13, 2025•5 min
Theoretical physics has two theories at its core that are not straightforward to link – quantum mechanics and general relativity. Lee Smolin, one of the world’s greatest living theoretical physicists, has spent his career working out why the theory of quantum mechanics is incomplete and how it might link to general relativity. He is an advocate of versions of quantum loop gravity. His work to marry the two theories resulted in him developing the theory of cosmological natural selection. Join Sym...
May 08, 2025•33 min•Ep. 15
Biodiversity is under threat, and there are many ongoing efforts to help save it, including from within universities. But are academic contributions doing any good? Our cohost Tim Coulson discussed this topic with Professor Dame EJ Milner-Gulland in the Oxford Martin School (OMS) in April. Thanks to Carlyn Samuel, OMS and the OMS team for hosting the debate and allowing us to record.
May 02, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 14
Artificial intelligence is a modern-day technology that will impact the way we live much as past innovations like mastering fire, and inventing the printing press, home computers and the internet changed civilisation. But what exactly is it, how does it work, and what are the opportunities and risks of its continued development? We talk to Chris Summerfield about Artificial Intelligence and his fabulous new book, “These Strange New Minds: How AI Learned to Talk and What It Means” recently publis...
Apr 25, 2025•56 min•Ep. 13
Colossal Bioscience has brought genetic variation back from the grave. It is a remarkable technological achievement, but is it species de-extinction? In this second part of this podcast we talk to Professor Peter Hudson FRS, a world-leading ecologist, who is concerned by Colossal’s claims and what they might mean.
Apr 18, 2025•34 min•Ep. 12
Colossal Bioscience has brought genetic variation back from the grave. It is a remarkable technological achievement, but is it species de-extinction? We talk to Professor Bridgett vonHoldt, a world-leading dog geneticist, who was involved in Colossal Bioscience’s recent dire wolf de-extinction work that has caused some controversy. In part 2 of this podcast we talk a world-leading ecologist who gives us his - different - take. The link below is a genetics paper, not talking about de-extinction. ...
Apr 17, 2025•38 min•Ep. 11
A bonus episode in which Tim and Syma discuss how the zombie ant-based creatures seen on popular dystopian future drama Last of Us are based on real fungi (Cordyceps) which infect ants - and then exploit the now zombie ants to produce more fungi, killing the ants in the process. Yes it’s a bit gruesome, but it’s science!
Apr 16, 2025•5 min•Ep. 10
Syma and Tim are joined by Nobel Laureate David Baker, one of the winners of the 2024 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his work on computational protein design. This follows the interview with Tim Jenkins, and Susana Vasquez in Episode 7 who worked with David. After the interview Tim asks Syma to explain in simple terms the process of protein design and what may be possible in the future.
Apr 13, 2025•12 min•Ep. 9
Colassal says it has de-extincted an animal. Is this a dire wolf or a dire mistake? Join Tim and Syma on this short bonus edition!
Apr 10, 2025•8 min•Ep. 8
Proteins are the workhorses of life, with thousands overseeing and getting involved in reactions within our cells. Biologists have long dreamed of being able to make designer proteins to do specific tasks, and recently a team of scientists have made this happen. Syma and Tim talk to researchers who designed, and then made, a protein that neutralises a type of snake venom. In the first release we talk to Susana Vázquez and Tim Jenkins who were key members of the team, and in the second release, o...
Apr 10, 2025•42 min•Ep. 7
