Life Solved

In this episode, we explore the real risks of nuclear radiation – and how incorrect information can cause unnecessary concern.

You might have read about Japan’s Fukushima power plant releasing its wastewater into the Pacific Ocean – and potentially some of the accusations or fears around the decision. But often it’s misinformation and lack of understanding that leads to negative news stories – with the reality of radiation being very different to what we might read.

Professor Jim Smith from the University of Portsmouth explains the science behind radiation, the real story behind this internet-led panic, and what we can do to understand the nuclear industry better.

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

Professor Jim Smith: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/jim-smith

The Fukushima wastewater release: https://wakelet.com/wake/vCMQEBvBJl1OM657QMcv-

Fukushima misinformation: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230905-afp-fact-check-fukushima-wastewater-release-spawns-misinformation#

Atomik Vodka: https://www.atomikvodka.com/

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To celebrate the start of season 13 of Life Solved, and as we record this just a few days before Halloween, we’re taking a deep dive into the world of horror.

And what better way to record the episode, than at one of the most haunted places in Portsmouth, The New Theatre Royal. 

Dr Rebecca Janicker, Senior Lecturer in Film and Media Studies at the University of Portsmouth, explores the history of the horror genre, the development of scary movies, TV shows and computer games, and how it reflects our current-day culture and concerns. 

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

The New Theatre Royal: https://www.newtheatreroyal.com/

Dr Rebecca Janicker bio: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/rebecca-janicker

University of Portsmouth’s School of Film, Media, and Communication: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/organisational-structure/our-academic-structure/faculty-of-creative-and-cultural-industries/school-of-film-media-and-communication

Anne Rice novels: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Anne-Rice/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3AAnne+Rice

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AI and the likes of Chat GPT are possibly the biggest technological development of our age – and the subject of much discussion. But with artificial intelligence evolving at speed, this episode asks what the dangers and benefits are; both now and in the future? And if you’re still grappling with understanding what AI actually is, we tackle that too.

From the creative arts to governments trying to keep up with legislation, the world of Artificial Intelligence is affecting us all – and 3 experts in the field take us through it: Oleksandra Ozcan, Lecturer in International Business; Sercan Ozcan, Reader of Innovation & Technology Management and Adrian Hopgood, Professor of Intelligent Systems at the University of Portsmouth.

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].

You can also find out more about this work and other research at the University of Portsmouth website: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/ 

This is the last episode of Life Solved in the current series. We return with Season 13 on Thursday October 26th 2023.

USEFUL LINKS

What is AI?: https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-is-ai-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-artificial-intelligence/ 

The UK AI Safety Summit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/iconic-bletchley-park-to-host-uk-ai-safety-summit-in-early-november

AI Copyright: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/sep/24/an-old-master-no-its-an-image-ai-just-knocked-up-and-it-cant-be-copyrighted

Oleksandra Ozcan bio: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/oleksandra-ozcan

Sercan Ozcan bio: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/sercan-ozcan

Professor Adrian Hopgood bio: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/adrian-hopgood

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In this episode, we take a look at something nearly all expectant parents do – the reading of self-help books – and ask whether the advice they’re picking up is actually teaching unattainable goals.

Dr Lexie Scherer is a senior lecturer at the University of Portsmouth and her research has discovered that parenting manuals can lead to a parent-shaming culture, affecting mothers, fathers and often children as a result.

How can online forums and communities create a healthier and more supportive community for mums and dads? And how is an Australian website leading the way in supporting young families with sleep?

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].

You can also find out more about this work and other research at the University of Portsmouth website: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/ 

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

USEFUL LINKS

Dr Lexie Scherer’s research: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/chso.12714

The Milk Meg: https://themilkmeg.com/

The Beyond Sleep Training Project Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/beyondsleeptrainingproject/

Little Sparklers: https://littlesparklers.org/

Dr Lexie Scherer bio: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/lexie-scherer

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

In this episode, we take a look at something most of us take for granted – the two-day weekend. But are two days enough?

Brad Beavan is a professor in social and cultural history at the University of Portsmouth. As you’ll hear, even the weekend as we know it is a relatively new development in the western world. So how did we get to where we are today, how likely is it that we’ll be enjoying a four-day working week any time soon, and how do both employees and employers feel about it?

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].

You can also find out more about this work and other research at the University of Portsmouth website: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/ 

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

USEFUL LINKS

History of the two-day weekend offers lessons for today’s calls for a four-day week: https://theconversation.com/history-of-the-two-day-weekend-offers-lessons-for-todays-calls-for-a-four-day-week-127382

4 Day Week: https://www.4dayweek.co.uk/

A short history of the two day weekend: https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2023/0309/1361274-weekend-two-days-off-history/

Professor Brad Beaven bio: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/brad-beaven

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With World EV Day on the 9th of September, in this episode we’re looking at the power behind electric vehicles – the batteries themselves. As more of us consider ditching our petrol cars, in favour of ones we simply plug in, we’re going to explore both the positives and negatives – and the charges for-and- against this developing technology.

Jamie Foster is Professor of Applied & Industrial Mathematics at the University of Portsmouth and in this wide-ranging episode, you’ll hear how batteries work, how sodium (salt) might be the replacement for the finite ingredients currently used, such as nickel and cadmium – and the steps that need to be taken to get us all comfortable with EVs when we next buy a car.

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].

You can also find out more about this work and other research at the University of Portsmouth website: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/ 

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

USEFUL LINKS

Dr Jamie Foster bio: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/jamie-foster

University of Portsmouth’s battery modelling research: https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/news/fresh-cash-boost-for-university-of-portsmouth-battery-research

World EV Day: https://www.worldevday.org/

The future of sodium-ion batteries: https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/05/11/1072865/how-sodium-could-change-the-game-for-batteries/

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

In this episode of Life Solved we take a look at nature’s role in cleaning our waters. There’s no doubt that us humans need to do much more to clean up our own damage, but there are experts here – and around the globe – who are giving nature the opportunity to lend a helping hand as well.

Jo Preston is a Professor in Marine Ecology and Evolution at the University of Portsmouth and Gordon Watson is Professor of Marine Zoology.

You’ll hear from Jo and Gordon how investing in the wellbeing of our waters – from humble kelp to sophisticated oysters – pays off in more ways than you might even imagine.

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].

You can also find out more about this work and other research at the University of Portsmouth website: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/ 

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

USEFUL LINKS

Professor Gordon Watson bio: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/gordon-watson

Professor Joanne Preston bio: 

https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/joanne-preston

Institute of Marine Sciences: 

https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/our-facilities/lab-and-testing-facilities/institute-of-marine-sciences

Solent Seascape Project:

https://www.bluemarinefoundation.com/projects/solent-seascape-project/

Scientists farm seaweed in the Solent to test water quality and commercial benefits:

https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/news/scientists-farm-seaweed-in-the-solent-to-test-water-quality-and-commercial-benefits

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

In this episode we take a look at the realities of Crime Scene Investigation or CSI. Zoe Cadwell from the University of Portsmouth and Selina Robinson from Winchester University both used to be Crime Scene Investigators.

We ask how does the CSI activity we see in films and TV dramas compare to the real world? How do investigations differ around the world? And what are the myths of Crime Scene Investigation?

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].

You can also find out more about this work and other research at the University of Portsmouth website: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/ 

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

USEFUL LINKS

University of Portsmouth School of Criminology and Criminal Justice:

https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/organisational-structure/our-academic-structure/faculty-of-humanities-and-social-sciences/school-of-criminology-and-criminal-justice

Zoe Cadwell bio:

https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/zoe-cadwell

Selina Robinson bio:

https://www.winchester.ac.uk/about-us/leadership-and-governance/staff-directory/staff-profiles/robinson-1.php

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

If you’re outside of specific communities, you may not have heard of Chemsex. But the modern day use of drugs to enhance the sexual experience has its more complex side – and there are many who are either trying to leave that world, or are in – for want of a better word - recovery.

In this episode, Veronika Carruthers, Lecturer in Victimology & Criminal Justice at the University of Portsmouth, and Ignacio Labayen de Inza, CEO of the charity, Controlling Chemsex, help us explore what Chemsex is, the harms it potentially causes to individuals, and what can be done to keep people safe.

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].

You can also find out more about this work and other research at the University of Portsmouth website: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/ 

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

USEFUL LINKS

Controlling Chemsex:

https://controllingchemsex.com/

Let’s Talk About It: Chemsex Support:

https://www.letstalkaboutit.nhs.uk/directory-of-services/chemsex-support/

Veronika Carruthers bio:

https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/roni-carruthersova

New chemsex study seeks participants:

https://www.gscene.com/news/new-chemsex-study-seeks-participants/

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

Life Solved is back for its 12th series – and its 100th episode!

As a special anniversary episode, we invited Chief Presenter at the BBC News Channel, Maryam Moshiri, to host a round-table discussion, exploring why our plastic waste in the Global North often ends up in low-income countries – and the efforts that retailers and governments are making to reduce plastics on the shelves to create a more sustainable future.

The panellists met at the Royal Institute of British Architects in central London and included Esrat Karim, Director and Founder of the Amal Foundation;  Kené Umeasiegbu, Responsible Sourcing Director at Tesco; Dr Cressida Bowyer, Deputy Lead for the University of Portsmouth’s Revolution Plastics initiative; and Dr Marcus Gover, Director of the No Plastic Waste Initiative, the Minderoo Foundation.

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].

You can also find out more about this work and other research at the University of Portsmouth website: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/ 

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

USEFUL LINKS

The plastic waste ‘loophole’:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/12/loophole-will-let-uk-continue-to-ship-plastic-waste-to-poorer-countries

The world’s poorest at higher risk from floods:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/24/plastic-waste-puts-millions-of-worlds-poorest-at-higher-risk-from-floods

The Amal Foundation: www.amal.org.uk

Packaging & Plastics at Tesco: https://www.tescoplc.com/sustainability/planet/packaging-and-plastic

The No Plastic Waste Initiative (Minderoo Foundation): https://www.minderoo.org/

Revolution Plastics: https://www.port.ac.uk/research/themes/sustainability-and-the-environment/revolution-plastics

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