That's Science!

Think social media algorithms completely control what you watch? What if the idea that we're helpless against the 'black box' is actually a myth?Right now, you’re listening to a science podcast. Digital platforms have made learning easier than ever, with YouTube leading the way in science video content. But there’s a persistent myth that social media algorithms are an all-powerful, mysterious 'black box' that controls everything we see, trapping us in echo chambers with zero control over our feeds.Joining us this episode is Jake Allcock, a PhD researcher from the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures. He’s here to demystify the algorithm, break down how climate change is communicated on YouTube, and reveal how much power content creators and viewers actually have over what pops up on their screens.

Think saving turtles is just about skipping plastic straws? The biggest threat to sea turtle survival might actually be happening hidden deep inside their eggs.Having survived for over 200 million years, sea turtles are essential marine ecosystem engineers. But they're facing complex reproductive challenges. University of Sheffield researcher Alessia Lavigne joins us on That’s Science! to explain how techniques adapted from bird conservation are helping scientists diagnose adult infertility, analyse embryonic mortality, and mitigate the dangerous effects of warming nest temperatures.

Have you been told video games rot your brain? What if cognitive neuroscience proves they actually make your mind more adaptable, fast, and resilient?From high-stakes decision making to fighting off cognitive decline, video games present some of the most complex stimuli our brains ever encounter. Join us as University of Sheffield researcher Eleanor Hyde talks to us about the potential benefits that gaming has on our brain.

Have you ever wondered why you feel anxiety or excitement right in your stomach? Turns out, 'trusting your gut' isn't just a metaphor - it's actual biology.You’ve probably heard people tell you to 'go with your gut' or 'trust your instincts' when making a tough decision. But is 'gut feeling' just a clever metaphor, or does your gut actually know what it’s doing?In this episode Nikolaos Stefanidis, talks to us how he’s combining developmental biology, mathematics, and computer modeling to unpack how the gut builds its very own 'second brain' - and why what happens in your tummy has a massive impact on your mental and physical health.

Ever wonder why some scientific ideas change the world while others end up in the history books' reject pile?In part 2 of this special crossover event, we’re handing the mic to Rita (Cosmology Researcher) and Sofie (PhD Student) from the University of Sheffield, the brilliant minds behind the Good in Theory podcast. Last time, they discussed how science is the process of being less wrong over time. In this part, Rita and Sofie are looking at the social impacts of mistakes in science theory.So listen now to find out how a wrong theory helped clean up our cities, and at what happens when ideology keeps a dead theory on life support.

Ever wonder why some scientific ideas change the world while others end up in the history books' reject pile?In this special crossover event, we’re handing the mic to Rita (Cosmology Researcher) and Sofie (PhD Student) from the University of Sheffield, the brilliant minds behind the Good in Theory podcast. Rita and Sofie bring us some of their favourite theories that just didn’t turn out to be right.From the mysterious planet Vulcan to what light needs to travel - Science isn't always a straight line to the truth, it's a messy journey filled with dead ends, wrong turns, and spectacular failures. Join us for part one and let's rethink how scientific progress actually works.

We often think of fire as purely destructive, but for some plant species, it’s actually the key to life!In our latest episode of That’s Science, we are joined by Dr Kimberley Simpson to  examine the complex relationship between wildfire and plant ecology. While fire is a destructive force, it is also a powerful evolutionary driver.

Have you ever been having a perfectly normal chat with your favorite AI large language model, only to realise it's been confidently lying to your face?In this episode of That’s Science, we dive into the glitchy, often confusing world of AI hallucinations - those moments when a large language model confidently feeds you a lie with a straight face. You aren't alone if you’ve felt misled by a chatbot.Joining us is Dr Wei Zing to break down why these digital delusions happen and explore the surprising reality that while developers have the power to eliminate these errors, they might just choose to keep them around.

The majority of us have heard about the placebo effect and the impact it can have on the brain and body. But have you heard of the nocebo effect? Placebo’s evil twin can affect us all and it is having a real impact on our health. This episode we talk to Dr Rebecca Webster about her research on the nocebo effect, a relatively new area of psychology research, and the impact that it is having on our health - particularly women's health and the relationship many women have with the contraceptive pill. We look at the factors that can cause it, the difficulties in researching this area and what might come next in the field. Dr Rebecca Webster is a lecturer in the School of Psychology whose research is in Health Psychology.

This episode we take a ride into the solar system and beyond. How are planets formed and how was our solar system formed? What are the long believed rules of planetary systems and why we now believe there is not one model that fits all. Dr Richard Parker is an astrophysicist in our School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. During the episode he takes us around the solar system and further into the Milky Way galaxy - discussing migrating planets and even whether life can jump between planetary systems.