BBC Inside Science

Cassini’s death, scrapping diesel, weather balloon, satellites monitoring volcanos


Listen Later

The Cassini-Huygens mission has been monumental for science. For thirteen years the probe has gathered data on Saturn, revealing more about the gas giant than we have ever known before. But now, Cassini is running out of fuel. Adam Rutherford talks to Professor Michele Dougherty of Imperial College about the plans for Cassini's spectacular end, which will be to burn up in Saturn's atmosphere later this year. The descent begins this week and Cassini will collect exciting new data until the end.

Next week, Theresa May will unveil her plans to kerb air pollution and it is believed that some diesel drivers could be paid up to £2,000 to trade in their vehicles. Diesel cars emit nitrogen oxides - a pollutant that has been linked to nearly 12,000 UK deaths in 2013. This is the second highest in Europe after Italy. However, this isn't the first scrappage scheme to be brought in. Philippa Oldham from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Adam discuss the merits and pitfalls of an initiative like this.

Thousands of balloons are launched every day to measure temperature, pressure and humidity of the air. Kerri Nicoll from the University of Reading wants to add cheap, volcanic ash sensors to these balloons which are going up anyway. This could vastly improve the limited information we currently have on volcanic eruptions, allowing us to quickly see rises in ash particles and therefore improve ash cloud forecasting.

Many of the world's volcanoes aren't monitored but a new technology from the University of Leeds should mean that scientists can keep track of all 1,500 them by the end of the year. The technology involves monitoring changes in ground deformation from satellites in space, which will give clues as to whether a volcano is about to erupt. For those living near unmonitored volcanoes, this could provide an early warning system and save their lives.

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

BBC Inside ScienceBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4

4.4

283 ratings


More shows like BBC Inside Science

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,728 Listeners

Business Daily by BBC World Service

Business Daily

529 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

881 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,042 Listeners

World Business Report by BBC World Service

World Business Report

286 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,487 Listeners

In Our Time: Science by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Science

726 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,929 Listeners

The Naked Scientists Podcast by The Naked Scientists

The Naked Scientists Podcast

614 Listeners

Health Check by BBC World Service

Health Check

92 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

961 Listeners

Science Weekly by The Guardian

Science Weekly

419 Listeners

Inside Health by BBC Radio 4

Inside Health

85 Listeners

Curious Cases by BBC Radio 4

Curious Cases

833 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

247 Listeners

Science In Action by BBC World Service

Science In Action

352 Listeners

Unexpected Elements by BBC World Service

Unexpected Elements

353 Listeners

CrowdScience by BBC World Service

CrowdScience

479 Listeners

Evil Genius with Russell Kane by BBC Sounds

Evil Genius with Russell Kane

370 Listeners

Have You Heard George's Podcast? by BBC Sounds

Have You Heard George's Podcast?

227 Listeners

Elis James and John Robins by BBC Radio 5 Live

Elis James and John Robins

325 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,183 Listeners

The world, the universe and us by New Scientist

The world, the universe and us

111 Listeners

Sport's Strangest Crimes by BBC Radio 5 Live

Sport's Strangest Crimes

64 Listeners

Uncanny by BBC Radio 4

Uncanny

835 Listeners

Dua Lipa: At Your Service by BBC Sounds

Dua Lipa: At Your Service

1,001 Listeners

Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley by BBC Radio 4

Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley

499 Listeners

Believe in Magic by BBC Sounds

Believe in Magic

612 Listeners

Uncharted with Hannah Fry by BBC Radio 4

Uncharted with Hannah Fry

116 Listeners

The Global Story by BBC World Service

The Global Story

285 Listeners

Miss Me? by BBC Sounds

Miss Me?

274 Listeners

The History Podcast by BBC Radio 4

The History Podcast

65 Listeners

Rory Stewart: The Long History of... by BBC Radio 4

Rory Stewart: The Long History of...

82 Listeners

Havana Helmet Club by BBC Sounds

Havana Helmet Club

2 Listeners