Why We Need Zip Lines On The Moon

The Rest Is Science

Goalhanger

Science, Physics, Mathematics

4.5 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 1 April 2026

⏱️ 58 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Why would a zip line be the best form of transport on the Moon? Why exactly can your feet still feel other textures right through your socks? Hannah and Michael tackle the spectacular physics of extreme commutes and everyday biomechanics. They unpick the orbital chaos and terrifying vacuum of space, proving why a lunar theme park ride is essentially a brilliant, fiery death trap. Back down on Earth, they dive into the hypersensitive neurology of touch, revealing how your brain decodes microscopic vibrations through layers of cotton to perfectly map the floor beneath you. To top it all off, Hannah shares her very old school, steam punk esq, mechanical calculator. ------------------- For more information about Cancer Research UK, their research, breakthroughs and how you can support them, visit ⁠⁠https://cancerresearchuk.org/restisscience⁠⁠ Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ. ------------------- Find The Rest Is Science all over the internet by ⁠⁠clicking here.⁠⁠ ------------------- Video Producer: Adam Thornton + Oli OakleyVideo & Social: Bex TyrrellProducer: Simona RataSenior Producer: Lauren Armstrong-CarterHead Of Digital: Samuel OakleyExec Producer: Neil Fearn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to The Rest of Science. This is Field Notes, which is our Thursday edition, our podcast expedition diary, as it were.
0:08.7	That's right. We answer questions from you, which you can submit by emailing the rest is science at goalhanger.com.
0:15.5	Now, after the break, I have got what I like to describe as a steampunk iPad.
0:22.4	That's one I've got for you today.
0:31.4	This episode is brought to you by Cancer Research UK.
0:34.5	If you wanted to type out the entire human genome, you would have to type at
0:39.8	60 words a minute for eight hours a day for about 50 years. Okay, that's the scale of the DNA
0:47.2	rulebook inside each one of your cells, telling it when to grow, when to divide, and when to
0:53.2	stop. And different tissues read that same rule book in different ways.
0:56.7	So a skin cell doesn't behave like a lung cell.
0:59.9	And cancer can begin when those instructions change.
1:03.6	Not one dramatic moment, but through small, gradual edits over time.
1:08.2	Now, cancer isn't one disease.
1:10.2	It is more than 200 types shaped by where
1:13.9	those changes to the rulebook happen and how cells respond. Cancer Research UK is the world's
1:20.4	largest charitable funder of cancer research, backing studies across all types of cancer.
1:26.0	Work that takes years of very careful, steady progress
1:29.1	to deliver each breakthrough. For more information about Cancer Research UK, their research,
1:35.3	breakthroughs and how you can support them, visit cancerresearchuk.org forward slash the rest is science.
1:44.3	Selling your car can be super simple, if you choose we buy any car.
1:49.1	Now in their 20th year, they're on average 11 minutes away, so help is never far.
1:54.5	If only, they could make finding a good driving song simpler.
	...

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