Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to alter its structure and function in response to new learning or changes in the environment. Therefore, when it is said that the human brain is ‘plastic’, it means malleable and able to change. This may seem impossible, but our brains are constantly changing from the moment we are born. Each time we learn or experience something new, synaptic connections and neural pathways are formed and the more that we use them, the stronger they become. Functional recovery of the brain after trauma is about how the brain manages to adapt and repair its structure and functioning after suffering damage, including head injuries, strokes, tumours and infections. Through neuroplasticity, the brain is able to change in order to compensate for the loss of function. It is thought that the brain is able to rewire and reorganise itself by activating and taking over existing, but rarely used neural pathways close to the area that has been damaged in order to regain functioning. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

Whooping cough, also called ‘the cough of 100 days’, is an acute and highly contagious disease of the upper respiratory tract caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is transmitted via droplets in the air from coughing and sneezing. The main symptoms are severe bouts of coughing, often followed by vomiting. Before the introduction of a whooping cough vaccine in the 1950s, whooping cough was a major cause of infant death, with more than 120,000 infections annually in the UK. Vaccination was incredibly successful and resulted in a 99% fall in incidence. However, worldwide (mostly in developing countries), it still kills nearly 200,000 infants and adolescents annually. In this podcast, I explore why we're now seeing a re-emergence of whooping cough in the UK, particularly in older children and adults. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that can be explained by cognitive psychology and theories of memory. Evidence from fMRI scans show that the brain functions differently in a person with dyslexia, resulting in strengths and limitations. It affects the ability to develop effective reading skills due to difficulties with working memory, processing skills and phonological awareness. The view of dyslexia is moving away from a deficit model to one of difference in cognitive processes, supported by evidence from brain scans and other research. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

Why would someone elect to have their eggs frozen? The main reason is to store these delicate cells so that they can be used in the future. The technique of freezing and storing sperm cells and embryos has been undertaken for many years. However, the use of frozen eggs for infertility treatment is a relatively new technique. Eggs do not freeze as well as embryos, and in fact, fertilisation of a frozen egg is less likely to result in pregnancy. In this podcast, I will explore the processes involved in freezing eggs, namely the use of cryoprotectant and vitrification, and will discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of undergoing such treatment. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

The situational factors that influence any type of social interaction (e.g. the physical environment, the presence of other people) can be applied to sport in very specific ways. This podcast will consider some of the theories and studies that can be applied when considering the topic of sport within social contexts. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

It is crucial that animals with a cardiovascular system can slow (and ultimately prevent) blood loss from injury or damage to body tissues. In addition, the skin (and accompanying secretions from sebaceous glands) is a highly effective barrier to pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. The repair of skin is vital to the prevention of contraction of infectious diseases. The faster the organism can ‘plug the leak’, the less blood loss will occur and the chance of infection will be reduced. In this podcast, I will explain how the blood clotting cascade is initiated, and describe the interactions between the different molecules involved in the process. I'll look in detail at some of the genetic conditions linked to problems with the blood clotting cascade mechanism and will explore how some venomous animals use blood clotting biochemistry to their advantage. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

As we begin to unlock the secrets held in our DNA, we could all live healthier, for a lot longer - but how much longer is the key question…how far can we push the boundaries? How do we defy the natural phenomenon of ageing...but more importantly, what implications would it have? In this podcast, I’d like to explore the current scientific and medical restrictions on life and how with advances in science, we may be able to overcome them. This in itself raises a number of serious concerns; what might the social, economic, and ethical implications be of everyone living the lives truly to the fullest – with an ever increasing population, how does that affect access to resources, which as we know, are limited? (With thanks to Manon S for conducting the research and providing the content for this podcast)

Rewilding offers a possible solution to reverse our rapidly deteriorating rural landscape. The natural world is often seen as a resource merely to exploit and the hunting of wild animals in the UK was only banned in 2004. The reintroduction of key species would have positive ecological consequences; a reduction in the number of invasive species, a reduction in the level of soil erosion and the straightening of river channels thereby creating more diverse wildlife habitats, to name but a few. In this podcast, I will discuss the ability of rewilding to potentially rebalance the UK’s landscape. (With thanks to Grace B for conducting the research and providing the content for this podcast)

Around 273 million sharks are killed each year globally. They’re feared as the archetypal killing machine, and there’s profit to be made from shark-derived products; but they may be more economically and environmentally valuable alive than dead. This podcast will evaluate the psychological, economical, gastronomical, medical, ethical and ecological arguments for killing these creatures as opposed to protecting them, and in doing so, will aim to answer the question of whether: should we continue to kill sharks? (With thanks to Frankie R for conducting the research and providing the content for this podcast)