BBC Inside Science
Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.
Find out how to listen to other BBC stations
Radio 4,·27 Aug 2026,·28 mins
Available for 13 days
Reports about the impacts of datacentres, including carbon emissions, water usage and power consumption, vary drastically and the truth can be hard to decipher. Deborah Andrews, Emeritus Professor at London South Bank University, joins us for some myth busting. Plus, science journalist Caroline Steel has been scouring the journals and brings us some of this week’s most exciting science news, including the failed attempts to save the Swift space telescope. Presenter: Tom Whipple Producers: Alex Mansfield, Katie Tomsett, Keiran Manetta-Jones Editor: Ilan Goodman Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
Read the full story at BBC ↗
BBC Inside Science, a 28-minute Radio 4 podcast, examined recent developments in synthetic biology, historical science methodology, and sports science. The episode centered on Kate Adamal's team at the University of Minnesota publishing research into 'SpudCell', a laboratory-created organism. Science journalist Kai Kupferschmidt provided context on the research's significance and associated debates. The program also featured analysis of scientific approaches to determining Hannibal's historical route across the Alps, and discussed research monitoring seismic activity from spectator celebrations at a Tokyo football venue.
Read the full story at BBC ↗
Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.
Find out how to listen to other BBC stations
Radio 4,·27 Aug 2026,·28 mins
Available for 13 days
Reports about the impacts of datacentres, including carbon emissions, water usage and power consumption, vary drastically and the truth can be hard to decipher. Deborah Andrews, Emeritus Professor at London South Bank University, joins us for some myth busting. Plus, science journalist Caroline Steel has been scouring the journals and brings us some of this week’s most exciting science news, including the failed attempts to save the Swift space telescope. Presenter: Tom Whipple Producers: Alex Mansfield, Katie Tomsett, Keiran Manetta-Jones Editor: Ilan Goodman Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
Read the full story at BBC ↗
Kate Adamal and her team at the University of Minnesota published research into the lab-created 'SpudCell' This represents a significant step towards building life from scratch Science journalist Kai Kupferschmidt discussed the research's implications and controversies Science has helped understand Hannibal's route across the Alps Research was carried out at a Tokyo football match monitoring seismic waves from fan celebrations
Read the full story at BBC ↗
- BBC Inside Science podcast episode from July 9, 2026 features synthetic biologist Kate Adamal's research on lab-created 'SpudCell', representing progress toward artificial life creation
- Science journalist Kai Kupferschmidt discusses implications and controversies surrounding the synthetic biology research
- Episode also covers research on Hannibal's Alpine crossing and seismic analysis of fan celebrations at a Tokyo football match