Answers to Your Science Questions

BBC Inside Science

BBC

Technology, Science

4.5 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 15 May 2025

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We’ve thrown open the airwaves to you. Marnie Chesterton puts your science questions to Penny Sarchet, Managing editor of New Scientist, Mark Maslin, Professor of Earth System Science at University College London and Catherine Heymans, Astronomer Royal for Scotland and Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Edinburgh.

So, if you’ve ever wondered why planets are round… or what geese are saying to each other as they fly in groups through the sky, listen in for the latest science and some educated hypothesising. Presenter: Marnie Chesterton Producers: Dan Welsh & Debbie Kilbride Editor: Martin Smith Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

Transcript

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0:00.0	Before you listen to this BBC podcast, I'd like to introduce myself.
0:03.7	My name's Stevie Middleton and I'm a BBC Commissioner for a load of sport podcasts.
0:08.4	I'm lucky to do that at the BBC because I get to work with leading journalists, experienced
0:12.2	pundits and the biggest sports stars.
0:14.3	Together we bring you untold stories and fascinating insights straight from the player's mouths.
0:19.1	But the best thing about doing this at the BBC is our unique access to the sporting world.
0:24.8	What that means is that we can bring you podcasts that create a real connection to dedicated sports fans across the UK.
0:31.3	So if you like this podcast, head over to BBC Sounds where you'll find plenty more.
0:37.1	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:40.7	Welcome to the podcast of BBC Inside Science with me, Marnie Chasterton.
0:45.3	The show was first broadcast on the 17th of April 2025.
0:50.6	Humans are curious creatures.
0:53.4	I'd say it's the key to our success on this planet, this fundamental desire to ask why, what and how, what's beyond this mountain, how can I preserve my milk supply, why am my feet cold? It's how we spread across every continent on the earth, and invented cheese and socks.
1:13.1	And what is science but a systematized desire to understand, to scratch that curiosity itch
1:20.0	in a methodical manner that gives you reliable, evidence-based answers?
1:25.2	And since inside science is your hub for Science on Radio 4, it's no surprise that
1:30.5	some of you have contacted us with questions about how the world works. And yes, knowing that today
1:36.9	was coming up, I have actually also been asking you to email Inside Science at BBC.com.uk with anything
1:44.0	science flavoured that's been puzzling you.
1:47.0	Today, we've assembled a panel with decades of dedicated study between them and we'll be
1:52.0	tackling a selection of your questions on everything from the cosmos to the direction of snail travel.
1:58.3	Let's meet them. Hi, I'm Professor Catherine Hayman's. I'm a professor of astrophysics
	...

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