Ancient Roman writings revealed

BBC Inside Science

BBC

Technology, Science

4.5 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 7 March 2024

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

As part of the Vesuvius Challenge, computer scientists have used machine learning to successfully reveal 2,000 characters from the Herculaneum scrolls. These artefacts were charred to a crisp following the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Papyrologist Federica Nicolardi has been translating the writings, and tells us what exactly has been deciphered.

Following this week’s launch of NASA’s PACE satellite, NASA scientist Dr Susanne Craig tells us how the mission will be giving our planet a health check.

Bird flu is still an issue. This month, scientists have reported that hundreds of penguin chicks have died from the virus in the Falklands. Meanwhile, in Argentina, avian flu has killed huge numbers of elephant seal pups. Professor Wendy Barclay, a virologist from Imperial College London, tells us more about the virus and how it can jump between species.

Sunday 11th February is International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Physicist Dr Jess Wade, who has written hundreds of Wikipedia biographies of women and underrepresented scientists, reveals one of her favourite scientists that people haven’t heard of.

Presenter: Victoria Gill Producers: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, Florian Bohr, Louise Orchard Assistant Producer: Jonathan Blackwell Researcher: Imaan Moin Editor: Martin Smith Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth 

BBC Inside Science is produced in collaboration with the Open University.

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds.
0:02.0	Hello everyone, it's Michelle Vassage, and welcome to my podcast Rule Breakers.
0:06.0	But you sit down and be bright.
0:08.0	Celebrating women's voices.
0:10.0	You're very welcome to now you're asking with me, Marion Keys Keys and me Tara Flynn.
0:14.8	This is juicy. No limits, no limits.
0:17.2	Celebrating women.
0:18.8	Where to be a woman is the podcast celebrating the best of women's well-being. We're on a quest to find out
0:24.4	where in the world women are living their best lives. Celebrate yourself.
0:28.8	Lesson on BBC Sounds.
0:36.0	BBC Sounds, Music, Radio Podcasts. Hello you lovely curious-minded people and welcome to Inside Science.
0:40.0	This week we're heading into orbit with NASA but turning our gaze back on our own precious planet
0:45.5	Because this morning a rocket blasted off with a satellite that will monitor Earth's health from above
0:50.6	She is going to essentially measure the health of the oceans and how these wonderful
0:58.0	gigantic planet-sized systems of atmosphere and ocean interact.
1:03.0	And we'll be hearing about how bird flu has caused the deaths of huge numbers of elephant
1:08.7	seals.
1:09.7	I never imagine I will see something like this. The mean the site of the beach is full of the animals
1:15.8	was devastating. More on that later as we delve into how this virus can move between birds and
1:22.0	mammals and we are celebrating this year's
1:25.2	International Day of Women and Girls in Science which is on Sunday and I'm
1:29.2	joined in the studio today by physicist and real-life woman Dr. Jess Wade. Hi Jess welcome to the
	...

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