We all have our favourite songs - The ones that remind us of childhood memories, give us a boost of energy or the ones we play to make us cry. But where did music come from and what makes us connect so strongly to it? Luke answers these questio

162. The Science of Longevity

8 days ago 14m 47s

How can we increase our life expectancy? Do we have any control over it or is it all to do with our genetic makeup? A new study into microscopic worms has revealed how their genes allow them to enter a 'dauer' state of almost hibernation during

161. The Science of Daylight Savings

15 days ago 12m 7s

Why did we all put our clocks forward by an hour a few weeks ago? And why will we push them back again come autumn? The historic justifications were to allow for brighter mornings in the autumn and winter and extra daylight at the end of the

160. The Science of Self Driving Cars

22 days ago 13m 22s

Is 2024 the year we'll finally see self driving cars on our roads? While there are already some 'Robo-cabs' in service in the United States aiming to provide a 'safer' driving experience, there are still big challenges for the futuristic techno

159. The Science of Tech Neck

Mar 21st, 2024 10m 4s

When new machinery was first invented, researchers notices that frequent users such as factory workers or typists were developing repetitive strain injuries. And, now that technology has become such a crucial part of all our lives, and we all s

158. The Science of Smoking and Immunity

Mar 14th, 2024 13m 43s

Why does the immune system differ from person to person? Why do some people seem more resistant to infections or viruses than others? New research has sought to answer these questions, and in the process shown the impact of smoking on your immu

157. The Science of Long Covid

Mar 7th, 2024 13m 4s

An Irish research team has just had a breakthrough on their research into Long Covid. Luke recaps what we already know about the condition which causes brain fog and fatigue in roughly 1 in 3 patients infected with Covid-19.He also explained wh

156. The Science of Neuralink

Feb 29th, 2024 15m 57s

Elon Musk's latest venture 'Neuralink' which aims to place a chip within the brain of a human has shown 'promising neural spike detection'. This means that down the line a brain implant could pick up on our thoughts and communicate them directl

155. The Science of Viagra

Feb 22nd, 2024 17m 56s

Could Viagra an erectile dysfunction drug, have a second function working to prevent Alzheimer's? Luke recalls how the drug was initially created to treat angina before it's accidental side effect made it a huge success for Pfizer. He explains

154. The Science of Morning People

Feb 15th, 2024 14m 29s

Are you a night owl looking to become more of a morning person? There are lots of health benefits to waking up earlier but is it even possible to become a morning lark if it's against your nature? Luke explains the role our genes and even the N

153. The Science of Showers

Feb 8th, 2024 10m 46s

How many times should you shower each week? Or should we shower at all? The average changes depending on location and culture, ranging from 12 per week in Brazil to 5 per week in the UK. We all know the obvious risks of not showering enough, bu

152. The Science of Multiple Sclerosis

Feb 1st, 2024 17m 7s

Multiple sclerosis also known as MS is an auto immune disease that causes symptoms such as muscle weakness, pins and needles, double vision, poor balance and fatigue. There are various factors that affect your chances of developing MS including

151. The Science of Covid-19 Anniversary

Jan 25th, 2024 10m 56s

Although it might seem like it was just yesterday, it's already been 4 years since the first fatality as a result of Covid-19. Luke takes us back to what we knew then and shows just how quickly science reacted to the disease with things like va

150. The Science of Itch

Jan 18th, 2024 13m 17s

We might understand what causes an itch in theory: an insect bite, a healing wound, a poisonous plant. But, where does the urge come from? And what's going on within our bodies to make us scratch? Luke explains the science and the latest resea

149. The Science of Near Death Experiences

Jan 11th, 2024 13m 8s

A dark tunnel with a light at the end, family and friends who have already passed on, or a religious figure are all common visions following near death experiences. But, what really happens when our hearts stop? And where do these visions come

148. The Science of 2023

Jan 4th, 2024 12m 10s

As we begin a new year bound to bring with it a multitude of exciting scientific discoveries, Luke takes stock of the year just gone and all of the exceptional breakthroughs from 2023. It was a big year for science, as aging was reversed, Alzhe

147. The Science of Protein Supplements

Dec 28th, 2023 13m 31s

Proteins are the work horses of life and the building blocks for everything from enzymes and antibodies to hormones and of course muscles. Many gym goers add additional protein to their diet in order to build extra muscle. Luke explains how you

146. The Science of Myrrh and Frankincense

Dec 21st, 2023 12m 21s

Frankincense and myrrh are probably most famous for being two of the three gifts brought by the Wise Men to the newborn baby Jesus, along with gold. But, they are also ancient herbal remedies. The salve extracted from the myrrh tree was used to

145. The Science of Tumours

Dec 14th, 2023 13m 14s

Our immune system is constantly working hard to protect us from infection and disease, but try as it may it has always struggled to defend our bodies from tumours and cancerous growths. For years, scientists have been looking for a way to stimu

144. The Science of Mental Fatigue

Nov 23rd, 2023 15m 39s

We all know that our muscles get tired after we use them, but what about our brain? Does it need rest too after strenuous use? Luke delves into the world of mental exhaustion to explain what we know, as well as the latest breakthroughs and how

143. The Science of Heavy Metal

Nov 16th, 2023 12m 37s

Did you know that being a heavy metal music fan might actually help the climate crisis - Or at the very least that's one of the aims of the musical genre where the lyrics frequently call out inequality and problems within society. Listening to

142. The Science of Motion Sickness

Nov 9th, 2023 13m 11s

Everyone loves a trip away, but when you're afflicted by motion sickness it can make the journey and any necessary travel plans very arduous - Be they on a plane, in a car or onboard a ship. Luke explains the causes of motion sickness, the vari

141. The Science of Nobel Prize Winners

Nov 2nd, 2023 14m 48s

The winners of the 2023 Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology have been announced! And the coveted prize has been awarded to two scientists, Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their research on how to use RNA in a vaccine. Luke tells us abou

140. The Science of Child Psychiatric Illnesses

Oct 26th, 2023 10m 10s

Could bacteria and viruses cause psychiatric disorders?This week Luke receives a request from a concerned grandmother and is happy to seek out the answers she needs. He explores a fascinating new arena of medical science, and tell us about work

139. The Science of AI

Oct 19th, 2023 15m 25s

Artificial intelligence is a new frontier for scientists and researchers to explore. Luke talks us through some of the applications of the new technology, including as an educational tool, as a way of filtering online hate, and even to speed up