logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2024
15m 46s

What does it take to become an astronaut...

The Guardian
About this episode
It’s a dream for many children, but what does it actually take to become an astronaut? Science correspondent Hannah Devlin tells Ian Sample about her trip on a zero gravity flight with the European Space Agency (Esa). Back on solid ground she also got to speak to Rosemary Coogan, one of Esa’s newest recruits, about the rigorous process that led to her being ... Show More
Up next
Mar 12
Exercise and brain function, hedgehog hearing, and can AI change our minds? – podcast
The Guardian’s science editor, Ian Sample, talks to Madeleine Finlay about three eye-catching science stories from the week, including a study that explores the link between exercise and brain health. Also on the agenda: the discovery that hedgehogs can hear high-frequency ultras ... Show More
20m 3s
Mar 10
Was Iran really building a nuclear weapon?
Among the many justifications Donald Trump has presented for the US and Israel attacking Iran has been the supposedly imminent threat posed by its nuclear weapons programme. But how close was the country really to developing an atomic weapon? Ian Sample hears from Kelsey Davenpor ... Show More
16m 31s
Mar 5
Will China own the green energy future?
The conflict in the Middle East has sent energy prices soaring, and for countries that import a high proportion of their fuel, it’s a reminder of the perils of energy dependence. As the recipient of almost 90% of Iran’s crude oil, China knows this only too well. Which partly expl ... Show More
17m 20s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Tim Peake on his journey to becoming an astronaut and science in space
What's it like living underwater for two weeks? What's the trickiest part of training to be an astronaut? What are the most memorable sights you see from space? Several extreme questions, all of which can be answered by one man: Major Tim Peake.After a childhood packed with outdo ... Show More
1 h
Jun 2025
The Life Scientific - Tim Peake
What's it like living underwater for two weeks? What's the trickiest part of training to be an astronaut? What are the most memorable sights you see from space? Several extreme questions, all of which can be answered by one man: Major Tim Peake. After a childhood packed with outd ... Show More
26m 29s
Jun 2011
So You Want To Be An Astronaut?
Robin Ince and Brian Cox are joined by comedian Helen Keen ("It is Rocket Science") and space medicine expert Dr Kevin Fong, to discuss the future of human space travel. As NASA's space shuttle program comes to a close, what does the future hold in terms of humans bid to leave th ... Show More
28 m
Mar 2025
Why were NASA astronauts ‘stuck’ in space?
Imagine going on a work or school trip for eight days, but ending up away from home for nine months. Now, imagine that journey was to space. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore’s spacecraft launched in June last year from Cape Canaveral in Florida. They were taking pa ... Show More
13m 47s
Jul 2024
An Astronaut’s Advice on High-Stakes Collaboration
It's hard to imagine a more challenging work environment than the International Space Station. During her 24 years as a NASA astronaut, including a six-month stint on the ISS, Cady Coleman learned pivotal lessons about everything from managing stress and assessing risk to cross-c ... Show More
28m 32s
Aug 2025
The Life Scientific: Claudia de Rham
Claudia de Rham has rather an unusual relationship with gravity.While she has spent her career exploring its fundamental nature, much of her free time has involved trying to defy it - from scuba diving in the Indian Ocean to piloting small aircraft over the Canadian waterfalls. H ... Show More
26m 29s
Jun 2025
How Lying In Bed For 60 Days Helps Astronauts
In space, microgravity changes the body. Body fluids shift from the legs toward the head, the back of our eyes flatten, we lose muscle strength, our bones lose some of their density, and even the amount of blood pumped by the heart with each beat drops. To learn more about how mi ... Show More
27m 17s
Feb 2024
Space Exploration
2024 is an exciting year for lunar exploration. For Inside Science this week Marnie Chesterton investigates the planned missions to the Moon over the next twelve months. It’s been more than fifty years since the last manned mission to the Moon was completed. But that’s about to c ... Show More
28m 45s
May 2022
Kalpana Chawla: Astronaut
<p>Meet Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian-born woman to fly in space. Join Rebecca Sheir on a journey from her journey to studying engineering in India to reaching new heights as a NASA astronaut. Discover more about her courageous story and head to <a href="http://whowhenwow.com/ ... Show More
25m 13s
Oct 2011
What's the good of multi-vitamins?
Dr Karl and Dr Rhod are joined by Alastair Reynolds, a sci fi author and former European Space Agency scientist. Topics under the spotlight are: the science of toenails, how being in space affects astronauts and what's the good of multi-vitamins? 
47m 23s