This episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast features Dennis Sherwood, a consultant and author who helps individuals and organizations boost their creativity.

Sherwood has drawn on his experiences to write the book Creativity for Scientists and Engineers: a Practical Guide and in a wide ranging interview he gives examples of creativity in physics ranging from Archimedes’ work on density to a more recent breakthrough in optical imaging. Sherwood also looks at the barriers to creativity and gives tips on how these can be overcome by scientists.

Also in this podcast, Physics World editors chat about a curious star system that could someday enrich the Milky Way with gold and platinum; and a new artificial skin that is designed to be bitten by mosquitoes.