Life Solved

To mark UN English Language Day (23 April), we consider how English became one of the world’s most widely spoken languages. And we find out how a mathematical model developed at the University of Portsmouth might predict its future. 

Dr Mario Saraceni, Associate Professor in English Language and Linguistics, explains how English spread and changed around the globe, and why speakers overseas influence how it’s spoken here in the UK.

Dr James Burridge, Associate Professor in Probability and Statistical Physics, reveals how principles of physics and maths help him forecast how certain dialects of English will sound in the year 2066.

We’d love you to be part of the discussion, too. Email your questions on this episode or ideas for future episodes to [email protected].

If you’ve been inspired by this episode, and want to support our research then head to port.ac.uk/lifesolved to find out how. You can also find out how to work or study with us.

Life Solved is released on Thursdays and available on all major podcast platforms.

Host: John Worsey

Producer: Robyn Montague 

Sub Editors: Robyn Montague and Glenn Harris

USEFUL LINKS

Dr Mario Saraceni bio: www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/mario-saraceni

Dr James Burridge bio: www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/james-burridge

The problem with English: https://aeon.co/essays/how-do-you-decolonise-the-english-language

Ey up northern English to become as lost as the hoddy dod:

www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/news/ey-up-northern-english-to-become-as-lost-as-the-hoddy-dod

UN English Language Day:

www.un.org/en/observances/english-language-day

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What does sport, science, the sea, and space all have in common? While this sounds like the start of a bad joke, the answer is actually the GB Row challenge. Using state-of-the-art equipment, rowers were able to gather incredible insights into the state of our ocean on their 2,000 mile journey.

We've caught up with Maggie Hodge, one of the rowers from GB Row's all-women ⁠Team Ithaca⁠, and ⁠Laura Fantuzzi⁠, a data analyst from the University of Portsmouth and 2024 competitor. In the episode, find out what it’s like circumnavigating Great Britain’s coastline, what they’ve learnt about the state of our seas, and how sport can be a driving force for change.

We’d love you to be part of the discussion, too. Email your questions on this episode or ideas for future episodes to [email protected].

If you’ve been inspired by this episode, and want to support our research then head to port.ac.uk/lifesolved to find out how. You can also find out how to work or study with us.

Life Solved is released on Thursdays and available on all major podcast platforms.

Host: Robyn Montague

Producer: Robyn Montague 

Sub Editors: John Worsey and Glenn Harris

USEFUL LINKS

Assessing Pollution With GB Row: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/research-projects/gb-row

GB ROW 2022 IMPACT REPORT: www.port.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2023-03/gb_row_2022_impact_report.pdf

GB Row Challenge website: www.gbrowchallenge.com/

Ocean rowers set new world record for fastest female team around Great Britain: www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/news/ocean-rowers-set-new-world-record-for-fastest-female-team-around-great-britain

RS Aqua: www.rsaqua.co.uk/

OrcaPod (RS Aqua podcast): www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orcapod/id1599056224

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In this episode, we peer inside a place that most people want to be kept out of, but one University of Portsmouth researcher has worked hard to get into - prisons.

Professor Francis Pakes from the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice purposefully incarcerated himself in an Icelandic prison for two weeks to find out what life on the inside is really like. 

For Life Solved, he looks at how incarceration has evolved over time, what current systems are in place around the world, and what could be done to improve them. 

We’d love you to be part of the discussion, too. Email your questions on this episode or ideas for future episodes to [email protected].

If you’ve been inspired by this episode, and want to support our research then head to port.ac.uk/lifesolved to find out how.

You can also find out how to work or study with us.

Life Solved is released on Thursdays and available on all major podcast platforms.

Host: John Worsey

Producer: Robyn Montague 

Sub Editors: John Worsey and Glenn Harris

USEFUL LINKS

Professor Francis Pakes bio: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/francis-pakes

Francis Pakes piece for The Conversation, ‘I deliberately sent myself to prison in Iceland – they didn’t even lock the cell doors there’: 

https://theconversation.com/i-deliberately-sent-myself-to-prison-in-iceland-they-didnt-even-lock-the-cell-doors-there-105257

Out in the cold? The experiences of foreign national prisoners in Iceland's open prisons:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756061623000526?via%3Dihub

Cell Block Studios: https://www.port.ac.uk/collaborate/coworking-and-office-space/cell-block-studios

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EPISODE 01: What will happen when there’s no water left to drink?

TX DATE: 21 March 2024

Water is our most precious resource; it underpins all aspects of life. But despite this, experts warn many of us around the world could be faced with the prospect of running out of fresh water.

To mark World Water Day, in this episode we’ll be speaking to researchers from the University of Portsmouth, to find out what’s being done to help shift water habits, both here and further afield, to ensure a more sustainable future for everyone.

Dr Julia Brown, Associate Professor in Sustainable Environmental Management in the School of Environment, Geography and Geosciences, is joined by Rebecca Gale, Head of Sustainability at Waterscan and PhD student. Together, they’ll unpack the growing water crisis and reveal exciting new projects to tackle the issue.

We’d love you to be part of the discussion, too. Email your questions on this episode or ideas for future episodes to [email protected].

If you’ve been inspired by this episode, and want to support our research then head to port.ac.uk/lifesolved to find out how.

You can also find out how to work or study with us.

Life Solved is released on Thursdays and available on all major podcast platforms.

Host: Robyn Montague

Producer: Robyn Montague 

Sub Editors: John Worsey and Glenn Harris

USEFUL LINKS

Dr Julia Brown bio: www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/julia-brown

School of the Environment, Geography, and Geosciences: www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/organisational-structure/our-academic-structure/faculty-of-science-and-health/school-of-the-environment-geography-and-geosciences

Waterscan: waterscan.com/

Life Solved: The Politics of Water ft Dr Julia Brown 2020: /www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/podcasts/episode-6-the-politics-of-water

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This is the time of year when the Christmas bills start arriving through the letterbox and with national economies continuing to struggle in many places of the world, January might be feeling something of a challenge for you.

Dr Robert Gausden is a senior lecturer in the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance and Dr Joe Cox is Associate Professor of Digital Economy at the University of Portsmouth.

In this episode they explain the key economic terms that we need to understand. What the challenges that our financial systems currently face, And when we can expect things to feel just a little bit easier as we wait for our January pay packets to arrive.

We’d love you to be part of the discussion. Email your questions on this episode or ideas for future episodes to [email protected].

If you’ve been inspired by this episode, and want to support our research then head to port.ac.uk/lifesolved to find out how. You can also find out how to work or study with us.

This is the last episode of series 13 of Life Solved. We’ll be back in the Spring with more.

Host: John Worsey

Producers: Robyn Montague & Glenn Harris for the University Of Portsmouth, Rick Simmonds & Katharine Kerr for Podcast Pioneers 

USEFUL LINKS

Dr Robert Gausden: www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/robert-gausden

Dr Joe Cox:

www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/joe-cox

University of Portsmouth’s Faculty of Business and Law:

www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/organisational-structure/faculty-of-business-and-law

Bank of England:

https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/

The productivity puzzle - Office for Budget Responsibility:

https://obr.uk/box/the-productivity-puzzle/

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For many of us, January is the time for New Year’s resolutions, whether that be cutting out chocolate, carbs or coffee. But to what extent do our cravings come down to smell? In this episode, we explore the science of smells, and how our noses tell us more about the world than we often give them credit for.

Dr Lorenzo Stafford is Associate Professor in Psychobiological Psychology at the University of Portsmouth. He will be helping us explore how understanding aromas can be a key part in treating addictions, understanding how our taste buds work alongside our olfactory senses, and why Covid-19 taught us to appreciate our sense of smell more.

We’d love you to be part of the discussion. Email your questions on this episode or ideas for future episodes to [email protected].

If you’ve been inspired by this episode, and want to support our research then head to port.ac.uk/lifesolved to find out how. You can also find out how to work or study with us.

This is the 7th episode of series 13 of Life Solved. The final episode of the series will be released on Thursday 25th January.

Host: John Worsey

Producers: Robyn Montague & Glenn Harris for the University Of Portsmouth, Rick Simmonds & Katharine Kerr for Podcast Pioneers 

Production Assistant: Vilma Olofsson

USEFUL LINKS

Dr Lorenzo Stafford: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/lorenzo-stafford

How do cravings affects senses: https://www.labmate-online.com/news/laboratory-products/3/breaking-news/how-do-cravings-affect-senses/49335

What the nose knows: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/02/how-scent-emotion-and-memory-are-intertwined-and-exploited/

University of Portsmouth Faculty of Science and Health: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/organisational-structure/faculty-of-science-and-health

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In this episode, we explore the concept of democracy – and ask whether it’s under threat.

Leila Choukroune is Professor of International Law and Director of the Democratic Citizenship Thematic Area at the University of Portsmouth, whilst Daniel Bedford is Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead for the Law School.

At a time when democracy seems particularly at risk, we take a look at its history, what is happening today – and, assuming we want to continue to live in a democratic world, how to ensure its future.

We’d love you to be part of the discussion. Email your questions on this episode or ideas for future episodes to [email protected].

If you’ve been inspired by this episode, and want to support our research then head to port.ac.uk/lifesolved to find out how. You can also find out how to work or study with us.

Life Solved is released every Thursday and available on all major podcast platforms – although we’re taking a Christmas break, returning in January.

Host: John Worsey

Producers: Robyn Montague & Glenn Harris for the University Of Portsmouth, Rick Simmonds & Katharine Kerr for Podcast Pioneers 

Production Assistant: Vilma Olofsson

USEFUL LINKS

Professor Leila Choukroune:  https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/leila-choukroune

Daniel Bedford: https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/en/persons/daniel-bedford

Are we losing our right to protest: https://news.sky.com/story/public-order-laws-are-we-losing-the-right-to-protest-12878592

Armistice Day protests: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/09/london-pro-palestine-armistice-day-march

King Charles III Coronation protests: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/09/world/europe/uk-police-coronation-arrests.html

Human Dignity and Democracy in Europe: https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/human-dignity-and-democracy-in-europe-9781789902839.html

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we discover how social media is increasingly a breeding ground for so-called ‘Incel’ content, perpetuating misinformation, misogyny, sexism and even violence – and increasingly accessible on mainstream platforms.

Anda Solea is a PhD researcher and Teaching Fellow, and together with Dr Lisa Sugiura, Associate Professor in Cybercrime & Gender in the School of Criminology & Justice at the University Of Portsmouth, you’ll hear why we should all be concerned and the steps that need to be taken by both the tech companies and internet users to keep women safe, online and in person.

If you’re affected by the issues discussed, some helpful links to support are below.

We’d love you to be part of the discussion, too. Email your questions on this episode or ideas for future episodes to [email protected].

If you’ve been inspired by this episode, and want to support our research then head to port.ac.uk/lifesolved to find out how. You can also find out how to work or study with us.

Life Solved is released every Thursday and available on all major podcast platforms.

Host: Robyn Montague

Producers: Robyn Montague & Glenn Harris for the University Of Portsmouth, Rick Simmonds & Katharine Kerr for Podcast Pioneers 

Production Assistant: Vilma Olofsson

USEFUL LINKS

Anda Solea:  https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-an...

Dr Lisa Sugiura: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/struc...

Lisa's book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Incel-Rebell...

Lisa & Anda’s research: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10610-023-09559-5

Links to support: https://www.report-it.org.uk/organisations_that_can_help

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, whilst many of us talk about ‘UFOs’, we take a fresh look at the rebranded term ‘unidentified anomalous phenomena’ (UAPs). This comes as NASA investigates many years’ worth of seemingly out of this world sightings.

Dr Chris Pattison is a research software engineer at the University of Portsmouth’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, and also hosts a popular YouTube channel discussing all things ‘space’ (link below). In this podcast, you’ll hear how NASA is getting on with its probe into UAPs, how some supposed evidence of alien lifeforms can have hilarious real-world explanations, and how technology is being used to search for extraterrestrial life.

We’d love you to be part of the discussion, too. Email your questions on this episode or ideas for future episodes to [email protected].

If you’ve been inspired by this episode, and want to support our research then head to port.ac.uk/lifesolved to find out how. You can also find out how to work or study with us.

Life Solved is released every Thursday and available on all major podcast platforms.

Host: Robyn Montague

Producers: Robyn Montague & Glenn Harris for the University Of Portsmouth, Rick Simmonds & Katharine Kerr for Podcast Pioneers 

Production Assistant: Vilma Olofsson

USEFUL LINKS

Dr Christopher Pattison: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/christopher-pattison

University of Portsmouth’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/research-groups-and-centres/institute-of-cosmology-and-gravitation

NASA promises further study: https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/nasa-finds-no-evidence-ufos-are-extraterrestrial-promises-further-study/

Mexico ‘aliens’:  https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/aliens-not-confirmed-by-mexican-government-ufo-hearing-2023-09-15/

Chris Pattison’s YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/c/chrispattisoncosmo 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we take a look at seaside towns. Often portrayed in books and films as being a unique combination of pleasure and danger, the modern day coastal town carries a lot of its past alongside the challenges of the current day.

Associate Professor, Dr Tom Sykes & Dr Louis Netter from the University of Portsmouth have collaborated to produce a book called ‘Coast Of Teeth’, exploring Britain’s seaside towns through words and pictures. You’ll hear how they used a method called ‘psychogeography’ and discover some surprising facts about coastal communities around the world.

We’d love you to be part of the discussion, too. Email your questions on this episode or ideas for future episodes to [email protected].

If you’ve been inspired by this episode, and want to support our research then head to port.ac.uk/lifesolved to find out how. You can also find out how to work or study with us.

Life Solved is released every Thursday and available on all major podcast platforms.

Host: John Worsey

Producers: Robyn Montague & Glenn Harris for the University Of Portsmouth, Rick Simmonds & Katharine Kerr for Podcast Pioneers 

Production Assistant: Vilma Olofsson

USEFUL LINKS

Dr Tom Sykes: https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/en/persons/tom-sykes

Dr Louis Netter: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/louis-netter

University of Portsmouth’s School of Art, Design & Performance: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/organisational-structure/our-academic-structure/faculty-of-creative-and-cultural-industries/school-of-art-design-and-performance

Psychogeography: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/p/psychogeography

Coast Of Teeth: https://www.coastofteeth.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.