Eureka!

You may be surprised to learn that dating apps are slightly alien to us, but we’re absolutely fascinated by them and the data behind it all! This week we’re learning whether it could really be possible to predict attraction, what the science behind love is and how chemicals can change our behaviour. We also discover a curious piece of artificial intelligence making waves in the Japanese dating scene!

Special thanks to today’s expert (a NASA rocket scientist AND the founder of a dating app) Rashied Amini.

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It’s been a bit hot recently, hasn’t it? The heatwave has got us thinking a lot about the climate crisis, which is why this week we’re exploring whether geoengineering could be the answer to all of our problems. We’re finding out how it works, what the drawbacks might be and whether it could actually provide a long term solution.

Special thanks to today’s expert Gernot Wagner.

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This episode, we’re uncovering why humans love music so much. We look into how music helps us form bonds, how drugs can enhance our enjoyment of it and which animals can also enjoy it just like us! Sort of... 

Plus, did you know that a small minority of people’s brains just aren’t wired to enjoy music? Listen on to find out why! 

Special thanks to today’s expert Professor Robert Zatorre. We're @EurekaPod on Twitter!

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 Immortality has fascinated humans for centuries, but are we getting any closer to finding the key to everlasting life? This week we’re uncovering why our life expectancy has changed, ways scientists are looking at reversing ageing and whether it’s even ethical to extend people’s lives in the first place… If you’ve ever wished you could live forever, this one’s for you!

Special thanks to today’s expert Dr Brandon Milholland.

@EurekaPod

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This week we’re exploring the exciting world of space mining! We’re finding out whether we could mine the moon, how space mining could impact the global economy and how practical it really is… 

We’re also exploring the ethics of extracting resources from space and we’re learning how Apple are developing new technology to improve recycling!

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Michael’s confronting his terrible navigation skills this week, as we discover what determines our sense of direction. We’re finding out how gender plays a role in how you find your way, how technology is impacting us and whether it’s possible to improve your skills - let’s hope so for Michael’s sake!

Special thanks to today’s expert Professor Mary Hegarty.

If you’d like to suggest a question for the show, get in touch on Twitter or send an email to [email protected]. 

@EurekaPod

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We’re sticking our beaks into the world of scent this week, as we go on a journey to discover the best smell in the world! We’re uncovering how covid has impacted research, how brands use smells to sell more and what determines whether we like a smell or not.

Special thanks to today’s expert Professor Charles Spence.

If you’d like to suggest a question for the show, get in touch on Twitter or send an email to [email protected]. 

@EurekaPod

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Today we’re looking at the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence. We’re asking whether AI will ever be able to develop emotions, how it could aid our healthcare and how it might actually learn to discriminate against us. We’re also looking at how AI could become creative and how it could over power and take advantage of humans in the future… Consider this a warning!

Special thanks to today’s expert Junaid Mubeen. 

If you’d like to suggest a question for the show, get in touch on Twitter or send an email to [email protected]. 

@EurekaPod

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You might think that wasps are nothing more than unlovable, angry pests, but you’d be wrong! On today’s episode, we’re discovering how wasps are aiding cancer research, how they can be trained to sniff out bombs and how they help agriculture. 

We’re also learning about how wasps ‘zombify’ spiders and we’re getting some solid advice on what to do if a wasp is hounding you this summer! 

Special thanks to today’s expert, Professor Seirian Sumner.

If you’d like to suggest a question for the show, get in touch on Twitter or send an email to [email protected]. 

@EurekaPod

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This week we’re diving into the world of sex and finding out what determines who we want to have sex with! We’re exploring the science behind monogamy and discovering which animals have sex for pleasure. Plus, we uncover whether exposure to hormones in the womb, or our genetic makeup, can influence our sexuality and learn how sexual arousal differs between men and women. Special thanks to today’s expert, Gerulf Rieger.

@EurekaPod

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