Coronavirus variants and vaccines, climate change resistant coffee, dare to repair and how to get rid of moths

BBC Inside Science

BBC

Technology, Science

4.5 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 22 April 2021

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week has seen a huge surge in Covid- 19 in India leading to concern of a "double mutant" variant, but what do we know about this B.1.617 as it is otherwise known. It was first described in October and is now in other countries including the UK. Virologist Dr Muge Cevik looks at the emerging evidence around vaccines and new variants. Climate change threatens coffee crops so it's exciting to know that researchers have found an ancient coffee variety that is drought resistant and can tolerate higher temperatures than the highly prized Arabica coffee used to make your latte - but it wasn't easy to find. In Sierra Leone Daniel Sarmu spent 4 years searching for it and Dr Aaron Davis from Kew helped to track it down using historic samples from the Herbarium at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Clothes moths do enormous damage to our jumpers and carpets, Marnie finds out how best to protect your clothes. And we hear from Mark Miodownik about the right to repair.

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 a leading journalist, experienced
0:12.2	pundits and the biggest sport stars.
0:14.3	Together we bring you untold stories and fascinating insights straight from the players'
0:18.5	mouths.
0:19.5	But the best thing about doing this at the BBC is our unique access to the sport world.
0:25.0	What that means is that we can bring you podcasts that create a real connection to
0:28.8	dedicated sports fans across the UK.
0:31.2	So if you like this podcast, head over to BBC Sounds where you'll find plenty more.
0:41.1	You have downloaded the episode of the Inside Science podcast that was first broadcast on the
0:46.0	22nd of April 2021.
0:48.6	Hello and welcome to Q Gardens.
0:50.8	It's a beautiful place, it's a beautiful day and the Inside Science team know that your chances
0:56.5	of spreading coronavirus are greatly reduced if you're outside.
1:00.3	So we thought, hang the studio, let's do the programme here.
1:04.9	Coming up on the show, Mark Meardovnik from Dare to Repair will be sharing top tips on
1:10.2	fixing electronic kit and we'll be popping into the Herbarium here at Q to hear about
1:15.0	a long lost species, some serious scientific searching and some good news for all you
1:20.4	coffee lovers.
1:21.4	Mmm, I've got a thermos of the stuff with me.
1:24.3	But apparently some coffee beans have a much less desirable flavour profile.
	...

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