logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2022
54m 36s

Icelandic volcano erupts again

Bbc World Service
About this episode

We talk to volcano scientist Ed Marshall in Iceland about working at the volcano which has burst into life spectacularly again after a year of quiet.

Also in the programme, we'll be following migrating moths across Europe in light aircraft to discover the remarkable secrets of their powers of navigation, and hearing how synthetic biology promises to create smarter and more adaptable genetically engineered crops.

Imagine waking up to the smell of freshly baked bread. Doesn’t it make your mouth water? Now imagine the smell of a fish market on a warm day… still feeling hungry? CrowdScience listener Thanh from Vietnam is intrigued by the effects of smell on our appetite, and wants to know whether certain aromas can make us feel more full than others. Never averse to a food-based challenge, presenter Anand Jagatia takes us on a journey from the nose to the brain, where we find out what exactly happens when we get a whiff of various foods. He discovers how the digestive system prepares for a meal and the extent to which our stomach has a say in whether or not we want to eat, based on how appetizing the smells are around us. Anand also explores our cultural differences. In some parts of the world a stinky Limburger cheese is considered a delicacy, while in other places it could make people lose their lunch. We’ll find out why some of us get triggered in different ways than others.

(Image: Lava spews from the volcano in Fagradalsfjall. Credit: Getty Images)

Up next
Nov 21
Some Beautiful Science
<p>The Miss Universe pageant final has us considering the science of beauty. How much of our perception of beauty is genetic, and how much is down to personal experiences? We also look at the science behind competitions and the audience effect. Why do we sometimes perform better ... Show More
49m 30s
Nov 14
A keg of beer-based science
A 150-year-old bottle of Arctic Ale is being uncapped, which got the team talking about all things related to yeast, beer, and opening things. First, we hear about a rare condition where the body brews its own alcohol. Next up, we find out that small amounts of alcohol make male ... Show More
49m 30s
Nov 7
A storm of science
As rescue and relief efforts in the Caribbean are ongoing after Hurricane Melissa, Unexpected Elements looks at the science of storms. We explore how AI might help us better predict the weather patterns, and whether it could act as an early warning signal to help us prepare for n ... Show More
49m 29s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2022
Can smells fill you up?
<p>Imagine waking up to the smell of freshly baked bread. Doesn’t it make your mouth water? Now imagine the smell of a fish market on a warm day… still feeling hungry? CrowdScience listener Thanh from Vietnam is intrigued by the effects of smell on our appetite, and wants to know ... Show More
33m 4s
Aug 2022
Icelandic volcano erupts again
We talk to volcano scientist Ed Marshall in Iceland about working at the volcano which has burst into life spectacularly again after a year of quiet. Also in the programme, we'll be following migrating moths across Europe in light aircraft to discover the remarkable secrets of th ... Show More
28m 59s
Mar 2017
Comet 67P images; Etna eruption; Brain navigation; Octopus intelligence
The recent Rosetta mission to image and land a probe on a comet was an astounding achievement. Rosetta took thousands of photos mapping the entire surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko , as it dramatically changed over 2 years. This week analysis of 18000 67P pictures are ou ... Show More
28m 18s
May 2019
Did cooking make us human?
Many of us enjoy cooking – but when did we switch from eating our food raw, to heating it? Listener Logan enjoys his beef burgers rare, but wants to know why he still feels compelled to grill them? Presenter Anand Jagatia travels to a remote South African cave where our ancestors ... Show More
30m 46s
Oct 2022
The World's Weirdest Volcano
<p>On today’s episode: Avocado toast is finally healthy, says the FDA! And we explore the world’s weirdest volcano. All that and more today on All Around Science.</p> LINKS: <p></p> <p></p> <ul id="block-be762846-1518-4d74-a27a-99530209f1dc"> <li><a href= "https://arstechnica.com ... Show More
53m 18s
Dec 2021
Can the weather trigger a volcano?
Which came first the volcano or the rain? Volcanic eruptions are known to influence global climate systems, even leading to the cooling of the planet. However local weather conditions can also influence the timing and ferocity of volcanic eruptions. As volcanologist Jenni Barclay ... Show More
33m 37s
Oct 2022
The suspicious smell
Why are some smells so nasty and others so pleasant? Rutherford and Fry inhale the science of scent in this stinker of an episode.Our sleuths kick off with a guided tour of the airborne molecules and chemical receptors that power the sense of smell. Armed with a stack of pungent ... Show More
28m 17s
Sep 2019
Eating with Etna
What’s it like to live and farm on one of the world’s most active volcanoes? Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy, regularly erupts, blasting lava and ash over the Mediterranean island and causing dozens of earthquakes each year. So why do so many food producers stake their livelihoods on ... Show More
26m 28s
Jun 2022
Venus, Volcanoes & Virtual Clothing
In this week's programme we are going to be sharing some science highlights - sci-lights, if you will - going in depth with some of the latest science news from the past month plus some fascinating science stories. We ask researchers what policies need to be in place to protect b ... Show More
59m 6s