logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2021
14m 59s

Cicada and safe surfaces

Bbc World Service
About this episode
<p>S2 Ep13. Bye-bye bacteria! How an insect’s wings inspired materials that could keep surfaces free from bacterial infections. The wings of cicadas are covered with tiny spikes which burst the walls of bacteria and kill them. Replicating this remarkable design could lead to the development of antibacterial materials with potential for industrial and medical ... Show More
Up next
Jan 2022
Insects and mobile phone
S2 Ep 30. Smart phones could become even smarter – thanks to ants, beetles, moths and spiders! A multi-animal special episode, marking the season 2 finale. Patrick explores what could be an insect inspired phone of the future! There’s the story of the fire ants and bark beetles a ... Show More
20m 51s
Jan 2022
Butterfly and eye implant
S2 Ep 29. Not all butterflies are colourful. The transparent wings of the longtail glasswing butterfly may hold the key to more effective eye implants. This could be of huge benefit to people with glaucoma - the second leading cause of blindness in the world. Get in touch: www.bb ... Show More
17m 9s
Jan 2022
Slug and surgical glue
S2 Ep 28. From goo to super glue! Slug slime may hold the key to mending wounds without stitches or staples. Scientists have developed new adhesives based on the properties of slug slime, that are as sticky as any glue, stretchier than a rubber band and aren’t toxic to humans. Th ... Show More
17m 35s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2011
Passengers in a Bacterial Body
The good side of microbes goes under the microscope this week as we explore how the 100 trillion bacteria that thrive on us and in us, and even outnumber our own cells ten times over, work with the body to maintain good health. We also hear from the Nobel prizewinner who's turnin ... Show More
1h 2m
Jan 2023
Tooth and Claw: Wasps
Why do wasps exist? While many see them as unfriendly bees who sting out of spite, their aggression could be interpreted as a fierce form of family protection. They are hugely understudied and even more underappreciated, with hundreds of thousands of different species carrying ou ... Show More
27m 38s
Mar 2023
How to build a virus-proof cell
00:47 An edited genetic code that prevents viral infectionResearchers have engineered bacteria with synthetic genomes to be immune to viral infection. The team streamlined the bacteria’s genetic code, and re-engineered the protein-producing machinery to insert the wrong amino aci ... Show More
31m 38s
Jul 2021
BrainStuff Classics: How Do City Birds Benefit from Cigarette Butts?
Birds everywhere add insect-repelling plants to their nests, but urban birds have to get a little creative. Learn how cigarette butts help city birds stay healthy in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/urban-birds-ous ... Show More
3m 28s
Jul 2022
Are viruses the key to fighting infections?
We are running out of ammunition against certain infections, as bacteria increasingly evade the antibiotics we’ve relied on for nearly a century. Could bacteriophages – viruses that hunt and kill bacteria – be part of the solution? In 2019, CrowdScience travelled to Georgia where ... Show More
32m 28s
May 2023
Ep 117 Bedbugs: Bug-bitten and bedeviled
This just might be our itchiest episode yet, and for that we sincerely apologize. But it might also be one of our most fascinating and fun episodes yet, and for that we are proud. Whether or not you have personal experience with bedbugs, the mere mention of these vampiric critter ... Show More
1h 29m
May 2024
Lizard-inspired building design could save lives
In this episode:00:45 A recyclable 3D printing resin from an unusual sourceMany 3D printers create objects using liquid resins that turn into robust solids when exposed to light. But many of these are derived from petrochemicals that are difficult to recycle. To overcome this a t ... Show More
31m 27s
Sep 2023
Ep 125 Blastomycosis: How fungus became amongus
Fungal infections don’t often make an appearance on this podcast, but when they do, you know you’re in for a wild ride. In this episode, we explore the rare but potentially deadly fungal infection blastomycosis. We trace the journey of Blastomyces spores as they depart from their ... Show More
1h 18m
Jul 2014
Wind Beneath My Surgical Wings, Part 1
Can science give us the wings we've always envied in birds? Can plastic surgery elevate us to a higher human form? In this episode, Robert and Julie discuss Joseph Rosen's posthuman philosophy and ponder what we'd have to do to transform arms into wings. Learn all about it in thi ... Show More
22m 55s
Sep 2023
Parasites
On today’s episode: Spicy foods might be more dangerous than we thought. And what happens when a parasite messes with the wrong organism? All that and more today on All Around Science... LINKS: SOURCES The room-temperature superconductor that wasn’t Teen’s death after eating a si ... Show More
54m 54s
Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami