Should Pluto become a planet again?
BBC Inside Science
BBC
4.6 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 7 May 2026
⏱️ 27 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"Make Pluto a planet again" was the call this week from Donald Trump’s NASA Administrator, Jared Isaacman.
The icy body was first seen in 1930 and was the only planet whose discovery was claimed by the United States. In 2006, though, it was officially stripped of its planet status.
Tom Whipple is joined by astronomer Chris Lintott to discuss the debate that has raged ever since over whether Pluto should or shouldn’t be reinstated as the solar system’s 9th planet.
We also hear about the big money scientific prize hoping to lead to breakthroughs in how humans can communicate with animals. Head judge Professor Yossi Yovel, from Tel Aviv University, and finalists Dr Catherine Crockford, from the CNRS Institute for Cognitive Sciences in Lyon, and Professor Nicolas Mathevon, from the University of Saint-Etienne, tell us what the Coller Dolittle Challenge is hoping to uncover.
Plus, Penny Sarchet from New Scientist brings us the science news that might have slipped under the radar this week, including why there’s a scientific gap in the dating lives of over 50s.
Presenter: Tom Whipple Producer: Alex Mansfield Editor: Ilan Goodman Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:07.0 | If you need help on money matters, you're not alone. |
| 0:10.4 | In the Martin Lewis podcast, I'll give you tips to keep more cash in your pocket |
| 0:13.9 | and answer your important questions. |
| 0:16.7 | Now that we're starting from scratch, what is the best way for us to move forward? |
| 0:21.2 | To help your everyday finances just add up. |
| 0:24.8 | Let's see what we can do. |
| 0:26.2 | The Martin Lewis podcast, listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:30.0 | Hello, I'm Tom Whipple and welcome to Inside Science from the BBC World Service. |
| 0:36.2 | This week, there's a $10 million prize up for grabs. |
| 0:40.9 | It's called the Collar Doolittle Prize. |
| 0:43.3 | And yes, the doolittle bit is a clue. |
| 0:46.0 | It's for talking to animals and for them talking back. |
| 0:52.3 | That's a message to my dog and loyal listener Wellington, telling him that also on the show, |
| 0:58.1 | we have one of the most contentious debates in science, should Pluto be a planet. |
| 1:03.4 | And Roland brings us an update on last year's mega tsunami in the fjords of Alaska. |
| 1:10.2 | All that and Penny Sarshe managing editor at New Scientist, |
| 1:14.4 | who is here to sift through the best of the research published this week. |
| 1:19.0 | Penny, give us a tease. |
| 1:20.7 | I'm going to be telling you how little we know about dating over 50. |
| 1:25.3 | Fascinating and potentially sordid. |
| 1:28.8 | First, is it time to make Pluto great again? |
... |
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