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The Naked Scientists Podcast

Repairing the Retina and Spinal Cord

The Naked Scientists Podcast

Dr Chris Smith

Natural Sciences, Science, Science Radio, Naked Scientists, Health & Fitness, Engineering, Medicine, Technology, Life Sciences

4.6958 Ratings

🗓️ 26 November 2006

⏱️ 55 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Repairing damage in the nervous system is incredibly challenging, but our guests this week have some promising solutions. Consultant ophthalmologist Robert MacLaren and colleagues at University College London have discovered a way to encourage the growth of photoreceptors in the retinas of blind mice, and Geoff Raisman will discuss his research into spinal cord repair. In Kitchen Science, Derek Thorne and Hugh Hunt take a closer look at the aerodynamics of a ping pong ball. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Transcript

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0:00.0

Stripping down science, the naked scientists.

0:07.0

Hello, welcome to this week's edition of the naked scientists with me, Chris Smith and with

0:11.8

Katani. Hello. How scientists this week have made the

0:15.4

world's smallest piano will be hearing how the strings are literally just a few atoms

0:19.2

across. Also sticking with the very small molecular movies will be hearing how scientists can now watch

0:24.4

individual parts of molecules fluttering and flattering around and bacteria have joined the battle

0:29.1

against cancer. Scientists have found that bacteria can now help chemotherapy drugs to home in on tumors.

0:34.4

Cat.

0:35.4

And also this week we'll be exploring the science of brain repair, including how to overcome paralysis

0:40.3

caused by spinal cord injuries and how to treat blindness caused by damage to the

0:44.3

retina. We're going to be joined later by Jeff Raisman and Robert McLaren who are going

0:48.5

to tell us all about their work and all about how we may have better brains and

0:52.2

better nerves in the future.

0:53.6

So if you've got any questions for them on those subjects or anything at all about science, technology,

0:58.2

medicine, call in now or email us and we'll be giving out those details shortly.

1:02.1

And if you're in an experimental mood, this week's kitchen science is all about aerodynamics,

1:06.0

and we've got an awesome experiment for you to try at home.

1:08.0

If you're going to, to do this, you're going to need a hair dryer and a ping pong ball to take part and if you're the first

1:14.2

person to get through on the phone with the correct results you're going to win a prize.

1:18.2

A fabulous prize I'm sure it's probably Chris's book. How much better could it be?

1:22.6

Anyway, another reason to get in touch with us is have a go at our teaser, and this week we want

1:27.2

to know, what is the name of the gas that comes out of a volcano and smells like rotten eggs.

...

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