Discovery

Bodies, brains and computers


Listen Later

We've been building computers to think like us for years, but our ability to replicate human senses has been impossible. Until now.

Evolutionary biologist and broadcaster Professor Ben Garrod, is off to meet some of the sensory innovators and technological pioneers who are developing human like-sensing technology. From skin patches that can read our sugar levels, to brain implants that could use our thoughts to control computers. This is the technology that could blur the boundary between body, mind, and computer chip.

We meet Jules Howard, a zoologist who uses VR to help us explore the anatomical worlds inside animals. Jules shows us the inner-workings of a ducks vagina. We meet Anagram, who’s augmented reality experiences can visualise the inner-worlds of those experiencing schizophrenia and ADHD. We play with the health monitors and wearable tech that claim they could make us fitter, happier, and more productive humans. And meet Dr David Putrino, a clinician with Mount Sinai in New York, who’s conducting some of the first medically-approved surgery for brain implants.

Presenter: Professor Ben Garrod

Producer: Robbie Wojciechowski
Production co-ordinator: Jonathan Harris

(Image: Artificial intelligence robot and binary. Credit: Yuichiro Chino/Getty Images)

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

DiscoveryBy BBC World Service

  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4

4.4

933 ratings


More shows like Discovery

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,723 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

881 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,036 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,513 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,814 Listeners

Witness History by BBC World Service

Witness History

956 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,876 Listeners

In Our Time: Culture by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Culture

606 Listeners

In Our Time: Science by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Science

724 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,828 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,075 Listeners

The Naked Scientists Podcast by The Naked Scientists

The Naked Scientists Podcast

612 Listeners

Nature Podcast by Springer Nature Limited

Nature Podcast

761 Listeners

Health Check by BBC World Service

Health Check

92 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

436 Listeners

Science Weekly by The Guardian

Science Weekly

417 Listeners

Science Magazine Podcast by Science Magazine

Science Magazine Podcast

824 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

739 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

249 Listeners

Science In Action by BBC World Service

Science In Action

354 Listeners

Unexpected Elements by BBC World Service

Unexpected Elements

352 Listeners

CrowdScience by BBC World Service

CrowdScience

476 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,162 Listeners

The world, the universe and us by New Scientist

The world, the universe and us

111 Listeners

Cyber Hack by BBC World Service

Cyber Hack

1,635 Listeners