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PODCAST

Oxford Sparks Big Questions

"Will my bacon sandwich kill me?", "Is vaping better than smoking?", "How do you become an astronaut?" - just some of the Big Questions we ask some of the brightest minds behind Oxford science. Join us in each podcast as we explore a different area of science.

science natural sciences

All Episodes

11:24

Why are we searching for water on the moon?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2021/03/31

The moon may be the closest planetary body to us, but we still have a lot to learn about it. For example, what is the water-cycle like on an airless body such as the moon? How much water can be found there, and could we one day utilise this water for space exploration? In this episode of the Big Questions Podcast, we chat to Dr Katherine Shirley, a planetary scientist at the University of Oxford who is also a member of the science team for NASA's Lunar Trailblazer mission. A hydroponic station on

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14:56

Has lockdown made me bad at sleeping?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2021/03/17

We're over a year into the coronavirus pandemic, and it's affected our lives in many ways - including, for many of us, how we sleep. You may have experienced changes to your sleep pattern (particularly if you waved goodbye to your commute last March), your quality of sleep, or even had some very weird or vivid dreams! If so, you're not alone. Join us as we chat to sleep expert Prof Colin Espie about his latest research, which looks at the impact of lockdown on sleep across 14 European

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13:39

Do all lions sound the same?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2021/03/03

If you've ever been lucky enough to hear a lion roar (whether that's at the zoo or in the wild - hopefully at a safe distance!), you'll know that it's a truly bone-shaking experience. But do lions have a unique roar, or do they all sound the same? How could knowing this help with conservation efforts? Join us for this episode of the Big Questions podcast as we chat to lion biologist Dr Matthew Wijers - a researcher who has trawled through a whopping 1440 hours of lion audio, all in the name of

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10:43

When did dogs become our best friends?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2021/02/17

In this year's Valentine's episode, we're exploring one of the most special relationships around. That's right - the one between us and our dogs! We often hear pooches described as "(wo)man's best friend", but for how long has this been the case? Join Prof Greger Larson, an expert in palaeogenomics and bio-archaeology, as we journey back thousands of years to explore the possible origins of this remarkable inter-species bond.

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11:50

Who should get the vaccine first?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2021/02/03

It's a question that's on the lips of politicians, scientists and policy-makers right across the globe - who should get the COVID-19 vaccine first? Should it be the elderly and clinically vulnerable, healthcare professionals and other frontline workers, or another group entirely? We chat to Dr Alberto Giubilini, a philosopher at the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, about why this decision is so ethically complicated.

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13:12

Should we edit genes to make nicer people?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2021/01/20

Is it possible to edit someone's genes before they are born to make them a nicer, kinder, more moral person? Not only that - but, importantly, should we do this? When it comes to gene editing for moral enhancement, there are many ethical points to consider. Join us as we chat to Tess Johnson, a Philosophy PhD student at the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, about this very big question.

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11:28

Are video games good for my mental health?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2021/01/06

Most of us have probably heard of video games being described as "addictive", but is there evidence of this? Are they damaging to our mental health, or could they actually have a positive impact on our metal wellbeing? In this episode of the Big Questions podcast we're booting up our consoles, and asking Prof Andrew Przybylski, Director of Research at the Oxford Internet Institute, all about his latest study (fans of Animal Crossing and Plants vs. Zombies - this one's for you!).

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13:09

Should I buy a real or a fake Christmas tree?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2020/12/16

It's that time of year - the festive jumpers are going on, the lights are going up, and we're ready to decorate our Christmas trees. But when it comes to choosing your fir, what do you go for - real or fake? Perhaps you have a trusty old family-favourite that comes down from the attic each year? Or maybe going to choose a real tree gets you into the festive spirit? Either way, have you ever wondered which is best for the environment? In this episode, we're chatting to forest scientist Henry Hung

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12:14

How do I win Fantasy Football?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2020/12/02

Did you know that the winner of the 2019/2020 Fantasy Premier League, beating over 7 million other players, was Dr Joshua Bull - a researcher at Oxford's Mathematical Institute? How did he win? Turns out that 'mathematical thinking' and a strategic approach, combined with "gut instinct and a healthy dose of good luck" might just be the answer! Could you be next year's winner? Join us as Joshua shares his tips!

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15:02

How is technology being used to track Black Lives...

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2020/11/18

We've probably all heard the phrase 'Big Brother is watching you' (a reference to the fictional character in George Orwell's dystopian novel '1984') - but are we really under constant surveillance? Is it actually possible to be a fully functioning member of modern society without being tracked by some sort of surveillance system? And how is technology being used to track protestors - such as those involved in the Black Lives Matter demonstrations? We catch up with Anjuli Shere, from Oxford's

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12:40

Can celebrities save the pangolin?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2020/11/04

'Influencers' are here like never before...log on to social media, and there will be someone there to tell you what to cook or what to wear...But what about when it comes to wildlife conservation? For instance, how much impact can a celebrity have when it comes to saving an endangered species? In this episode of the Oxford Sparks Big Questions Podcast, we're asking zoologist Alegria Olmedo "Can celebrities save the pangolin?"

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13:35

What does the 'R Rate' really mean?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2020/10/21

We're back with a brand new series of the 'Oxford Sparks Big Questions Podcast'! And - in the Autumn of 2020 - where else could we start but with an episode answering a big question related to COVID-19? We're all used to hearing a lot of pandemic terminology now, but it can be difficult to get to grips with exactly what all these terms mean. For instance, what does the 'R Rate' really mean? We asked Emmanuelle Dankwa, a statistical epidemiologist from Oxford's Department of Statistics, to help us

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15:16

How do you measure pain?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2020/07/15

We all feel pain differently. What to one person may be the worst pain in the world, might be a mild irritation to another person; but why? At the moment, we don’t have a thorough understanding of how pain is processed, meaning it is difficult to devise treatments for chronic pain. In this episode of the ‘Big Questions’ podcast, we are lucky enough to join Dr Andy Segerdahl – a neuroscientist at the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN) and the Nuffield Department of Clinical

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13:58

How are we using energy in lockdown?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2020/07/01

Things have changed a lot over the past few months – including, for many of us, our daily routine. But how has this impacted our energy usage? In this week’s episode of the Big Questions podcast, we chat to Dr Philipp Grünewald from Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute about his ‘JoyMeter’ survey, which has given a fascinating insight into how our daily schedules, energy usage, and even our enjoyment of a cup of tea, have changed during lockdown.

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13:24

Why is Oxford's Botanic Garden Making Gin?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2020/06/17

Established in 1621, the Oxford Botanic Garden was the first botanic garden in the UK. It has been - and remains – an invaluable resource for education, scientific research, and conservation. But recently it’s added another feather to its cap, teaming up with The Oxford Artisan Distillery to produce a ‘Physic Gin’. So what exactly is this gin, and what inspired Prof Simon Hiscock, Director of the Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum, to take on this new endeavour?

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14:55

How tricky is it to make a COVID-19 tracing app?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2020/05/20

As we search for a way out of the global coronavirus crisis, there’s been plenty of discussion surrounding a potential COVID-19 tracing app. Many of us carry a mobile phone with us wherever we go, so it seems logical to use this pre-existing infrastructure in the transition towards a ‘new normal’. But how tricky is it to make such an app? What’s more, what challenges must be overcome for it to be an effective measure of preventing virus transmission? In this episode of the Big Questions podcast, Dr

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14:46

How do you fight malaria in the back of a van?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2020/05/06

Just one mosquito bite is enough to infect someone with malaria. Tackling this serious – sometimes fatal – subtropical disease is a key priority for the World Health Organisation; but how can we move forward in the fight against it? Specifically, how could a small team of researchers, taking to the roads in a custom-built ‘Landrover Lab’, help in the fight against it? Listen to hear how Dr George Busby and his team took genetic sequencing techniques into the field, on a 7350km journey, to work

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12:34

What's in the Indian Ocean?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2020/04/22

Much less is known about the Indian Ocean than either the Atlantic or Pacific. It's also the least protected. What secrets lie beneath the waves? What new species wait to be discovered…? Dr Paris Stefanoudis tells us all about the Nekton project, its past and planned missions, and the role it’s playing in helping us to find out “What’s in the Indian Ocean?”.

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16:14

Should we trust scientists?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2020/04/08

We’re living in extraordinary times, where graphs and statistics are splashed across newspaper front pages, and misinformation is rife. How do we know which sources of information are reliable? How do scientific researchers go from having an idea to publishing their findings, and advising on policy? In this week’s episode of the ‘Big Questions’ podcast, we’re asking Brian Earp, a Research Fellow at the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, ‘Should we trust scientists?’.

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10:39

How garlicky is your garlic?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions ·

2020/03/25

When it comes to mass-producing food, it’s important to make sure the taste is consistent, and good! But how can we detect the taste of something without eating it ourselves? Prof Richard Compton and his team in the Department of Chemistry are experts in electrochemical sensors, and in this episode of the Big Questions podcast he tells us all about their new sensor…to detect the strength of GARLIC.

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206 results

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