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PODCAST

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering discussion

Dive deep into the world of science and engineering with engaging discussions and thought provoking debates. The team share insights from careers in science and engineering, combining expert knowledge and scientific thinking with a touch of humour to make even the most complex topics accessible and entertaining for both enthusiasts and casual listeners. Sometimes we’re funny, often we’re opinionated, always we’re entertaining. Support us: https://ko-fi.com/techspeak_podcast X/Twitter:

science

All Episodes

31:31

How is the safety of drugs determined?

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/10/09

It takes a long time for medicines to be developed. Looking at drugs used in women's health and more, Laura and Ellie look at what goes into their development, how the risks are weighed against the benefits, and how the known benefits of a drug can change as we learn more about them.Fact check: A review of paracetamol/Tylenol development Statistics on drug development How much paracetamol is consumed in the UK in a year Thalidomide is still in use, but not for treating morning sickness Quinine for

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22:18

How does cloning improve diversity?

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/09/25

Saving endangered species is vital for a healthy planet and cloning individual animals can help. Ellie and Laura look at the black-footed ferret, discuss some other endangered species that cloning is helping to save, and look at the history and challenges of cloning.Fact check: Cloning the black-footed ferret Prairie dogs A history of cloning Controversy around claims of human cloning Dolly the sheep Endangered wild sheep in the Mediterranean

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22:58

What would we do with infinite research funding?

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/09/11

When you care about sustainability, you can bet that becomes your focus. Laura and Antonia look at how to solve climate change through social engineering and behavioural science that involves brain chemistry as well as solving the problem of having finite resources that create inequality.Fact check: MRI scans can lead to better understanding of the brain One gene variation can affect serotonin signalling in the brain

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25:19

Can we get smarter when it comes to constructing...

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/08/28

We’re using more energy and in the UK a lot of this goes into heating or cooling our homes but can we use natural processes to make this happen? Laura, Rwayda and Antonia discuss how using traditional clay in the Caribbean keeps houses cool while a smart architect in India has used fundamental physics to achieve the same feat. In the UK, passive houses with thick insulation are a thing but could we use these smart ideas to work with natural processes, rather than against them?Fact check: Building

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23:13

Are the seasons changing?

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/08/14

In the UK it feels like winters are getting warmer but the entire year is usually rainy. We remember things being a bit different when we were younger. Laura, Antonia and Ellie discuss evidence for changing of the seasons and look at the effect this has globally on extreme events such as wildfires, animal migration and plant growth. They also look at some research that identified new seasons and suggests humans should change their relationship with them.Fact check: Seasons on a social

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34:18

Why is a novel type of fertility treatment in the news?

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/07/31

A special type of in-vitro fertilisation, that uses material from three people, has made some interesting headlines recently. Laura and Ellie discuss the technique and consider some of the major advancements that went into in-vitro fertilisation, also known as creating test-tube babies, and uncover some surprising facts. Did you know that research began in the 19th century? Fact check: Recent news coverage with what we think is a sensible headline News on the first baby born using the three-parent

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30:02

What are we doing to the oceans?

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/07/17

From unintentional acidification to fishing and conservation, there’s a lot going on. Antonia, Laura and Ellie talk about the link between greenhouse gas emissions and changing ocean chemistry which is affecting the delicate balance of marine life, speculate about what a rather nifty deep-sea research station could uncover as well as how biochemistry discovered in the deep sea has already proven useful, and discuss why trawling the sea bed for food is bad whereas marine conservation can actually be

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27:55

What amazing science has the international space...

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/07/03

It’s due to be retired on 2030 when it will crash back to Earth so was it worth it? Ellie, Antonia and Laura look at just some of the scientific discoveries it’s helped with, including the many processes involved in ageing, getting a clearer understanding of how plaques form in the brain, the fundamental physics of water boiling and some nifty science of scent molecules. Fact check: Cost of keeping the ISS alive Low gravity water boiling The NPR article Laura mentioned which gives an overview of

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19:55

How do gut microbes affect our behaviour?

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/06/19

New research has found a startling link between types of bacteria that live in our gut and whether we become addicted to food. Laura, Jasmin and Emma discuss this, wonder about the connection between the gut and the brain which seems to provide two way communication, and speculate about the challenges of doing this research as well as what the future might hold.Fact check: The research that shows the correlation between gut microbe communities and addiction A quick summary of some ways the gut and

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29:31

Remember when we all had a particle accelerator in...

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/06/05

Tech has advanced rapidly and the future hold exciting possibilities, even some of the stuff that’s now obsolete was pretty nifty. Ellie, Laura and Antonia start off by looking at cathode ray tubes, which are a pretty old way of generating moving pictures. They also look at the large hadron collider and consider what sort of technology we might have in the future, whether that is teleportation or autonomous plants.Fact check: Particle acceleration at CERN The particle accelerator with the largest

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29:16

How do you make T-rex leather?

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/05/22

Why would you do it and how does it compare to other alternatives to cow hide? Ellie, Laura and Antonia look at the process of growing skin in the lab to turn in to leather, so-called vegan alternatives, and what animal skins you can make leather from. They also consider ethics and sustainability. Are we better off continuing to make leather from livestock or should humanity pursue alternatives?Fact check: News about making T-rex leather because the collagen has endured for millions of years A

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19:30

Technical short: cow gut microbiome

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/05/08

Taking a deeper dive into the biology behind how cows produce methane, and the two methods being researched to reduce production. Jasmin and Laura discuss feed additives, the importance of hydrogen and the various ways it can be used to make things that aren't methane. They also review some genetics research that focusses on the microbiome and how hereditable traits of the cow can influence it. They draw on experience of chemical engineering to consider how the microbiome can be optimised for energy

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34:36

How much physics is there in engineering?

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/04/24

With an audience from the Engineering Development Trust’s virtual routes to STEM course, Laura, Emma, Antonia and Rwayda talk about their diverse careers in physics and engineering to find common ground. They talk about how they chose what to study at university and provide details on what some engineers do beyond applying scientific principles to solve a challenge.Emma talks about how a degree in physics led her to study a doctorate in DNA and cancer, Antonia explains how chemical engineering led

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27:40

Should cows produce less methane?

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/04/10

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas which contributes to the climate emergency. Intensive farming can lead to cows contributing significantly to levels of this gas in the atmosphere. Antonia, Ellie and Jasmin discuss the latest research to reduce the amount of methane cows produce through burps and flatulence. They look at additives to cow feed, using seaweed as an alternative feed, and selectively breeding the cows. They consider whether people should eat less meat and look at cultural and

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26:44

What’s the latest research into recycling clothing?

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/03/26

Most clothes are made of a mix of natural and synthetic fibres which makes them difficult to recycle back into clothing once they’re worn out. Antonia and Laura discuss an exciting new research project that has separated four different types of fibre from a single scrap of cloth using microwaves. They compare this to an alternative method which uses enzymes found in bacteria to recycle polyester and consider what these efforts might mean for a future circular economy where clothing is infinitely

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24:37

How do you build a tunnel underwater?

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/03/13

And what does it take to win an award for it? Ellie, Rwayda and Laura discuss the Dalian Bay Undersea Tunnel in China which won Global Project of the Year 2024 for its novel construction methods and use of first-of-a-kind technologies, including floating giant concrete tubes into the bay to submerge and then connect them, an on-site laboratory so that experiments can inform the construction, and use of sensors in the specially developed cement which is designed to last an impressive 100 years in the

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39:46

Why are things like crab blood and scorpion venom so...

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/02/27

Science is always finding new ways to harness nature. Antonia, Ellie and Laura discuss what the blood from a certain type of sea creature is used for, and how scorpion venom is being studied for a whole host of medical research. They also look at Pangolin scales used to treat some ailments and a giant tuna which sold for a small fortune, but might not necessarily be worth their price tag.Fact check: The cost of crab blood The news article from NPR about crab blood Facts about bacterial toxins News

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32:25

Are we all mutants?

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/02/13

And can natural genetic changes lead us to develop superpowers? Laura, Emma and Jasmin talk about different natural processes can lead to mutations, how our bodies detect and repair some mutations, and how some changes can lie hidden.The article that inspired this episode: We are all genetic mosaics, from Knowable Magazine. Fact check: How many cells are in the adult human body How long it takes for most cells in the human body to divide Some more background on cell division The DNA molecular

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33:30

Are glass bottles really better for the environment...

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/01/30

The UK has plans to change how drinks containers are collected from consumers for recycling, but recent news stories indicate that glass could be excluded from this scheme. Laura, Antonia and Jasmin discuss what responsibilities packaging producers have, how glass and plastic are currently recycled, and consider what changes need to be made.There were a lot of references in this fact-filled episode: Government target for recycling rates at gov.uk Amounts of litter, from Keep Britain Tidy

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34:28

Can you learn anything you want from the internet?

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering... ·

2025/01/16

Is the internet really a useful tool for learning or is it a place where you shouldn’t believe what you see or read? Laura, Antonia and Ellie discuss what they have learned online, from detailed scientific information to practical skills like fixing a bicycle, and what they struggle to find. Laura and Ellie also share their insight as professional science communicators while Antonia explains how she finds information in her job as an energy analyst where she focusses on sustainability. There's a lot

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119 results

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