Stupid Questions for Scientists

Dr Iain White and Andre King join host Dr Michelle Dickinson to talk about the future of our cities in an ever-changing landscape. Should we build for the future knowing how likely natural disasters may become or continue to grow where the dangers are high?

Dr Craig Stevens and Nick Rado join host Dr Michelle Dickinson to talk about how scientists use robots to measure changes in our oceans, what type of ice researchers put in their drinks, and what the consequences of warmer oceans could be on our planet.

Viruses, are they mass murderers trained to kill other living organisms, or can you train them to only target certain enemies? Senior Lecturer in 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 sores are more likely to appear when you are stressed, how antiretroviral treatments are helping patients with HIV and why having more friends could help you to fight off the flu virus!

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 of randomness is not only defined in this show but also experienced through a fascinating assortment of topics.

Professor Grant Schofield and comedian Robin Ince join host Dr Michelle Dickinson for a fascinating and entertaining discussion about how going against the norm by eating fat and limiting carbohydrates can reduce levels of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

Medicinal cannabis is a hot topic, having been legalised in some areas but not others 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 Dr Michelle Dickinson for a fascinating discussion about cannabis as a medicine, what it is, how it’s taken and what the scientific research shows about its effectiveness.

Astrobiologist Professor Steve Pointing and comedian Ben Hurley join host Dr Michelle Dickinson for a fascinating and entertaining discussion about aliens, what are they, how do we research them, will we find them soon and what could they look like?

Microbiologist Dr Siouxsie Wiles and comedian Jeremy Elwood join host Dr Michelle Dickinson for a frighteningly entertaining discussion on infectious diseases spread by viruses and bacteria that will send you running to scrub your hands after listening.

Comedian Jeremy Corbett and scientist Dr Alex Taylor join host Dr Michelle Dickinson for an entertaining discussion on intelligence. Where do different animals sit in the smartness stakes – including crows, dogs, dolphins, elephants and humans?