RAZOR Sounds

Today on the Razor Podcast Shini and Emma look at the origins of Covid-19. Allegations that the coronavirus may have escaped from a laboratory, or even been created, are part of an info-demic of misinformation. 

Razor producer Neil Cairns spoke to Susan Weiss who has been studying coronaviruses for most of her career. He started off by asking if she believed that the coronavirus was created in a lab. She says that it’s highly unlikely that this is the case [01:20]. She tells us why she hopes that we’ll be ready for the next pandemic and what scientists will be doing to make sure that something like Covid-19 doesn’t catch us unawares again [05:13]. 

As we emerge from lockdown and begin to return to work, we need to start looking at how we commute without breaking the principles of social distancing.  John Irving might have the solution to the problem. John  is the founder and CEO of AER Electric, a company that manufactures e-scooters for the United States market. At the moment the scooters are banned on UK roads, but there is hope that that might be changing in the not too distant future [16:17]. Shini also tells us about her experience with her e-scooter and why she thinks it might be the perfect tool for  a socially distanced commute [17:30]. 

In today’s episode of the Razor Podcast we look at how science is fighting COVID-19. 

In our first story, Shini Somara tells us how understanding aerodynamics can help us better understand how COVID-19 spreads. Shini speaks to Bert Blocken about his study, which has mapped the flow of particles we breathe out to see how they are affected by rapid movement. 

Blocken explains why countries around the world have issued different advice on social distancing [02:03]. We also learn why cycling and running can lead to greater spreading of COVID-19 and how we can help limit the virus’s reach [04:00]. 

In our second story, Emma Keeling speaks to Emma Hodcroft, co-developer of Nextstrain, an open-source project to harness scientific data on pathogens, the organisms that cause disease. Nextstrain tracks Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and is essential to limiting our exposure to it. 

Hodcroft explains how it works and how the hunt to better understand seasonal flu led to a greater understanding of the seasonal patterns of the disease [09:05]. We also learn why this tracking might have a Western bias and what’s being done to ensure countries won’t be excluded due to a lack of resources [14:30]. 

Today we’ll be looking at women in Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics [STEM]. Not too long ago, we interviewed two young women making massive strides in the STEM arena. Michelle Hicks and Inge-Sarah Andersen both work in traditionally male dominated areas, and we wanted to get a take on their experiences in their fields. We interviewed them on international women’s day earlier this year and thought we’d like to share that discussion with you here on the podcast. 

We talk about the importance of role-modelling if we are to inspire young women into entering STEM [04:26]. Both women also underline the need for representation and why it matters in fields where there’s not always a clear entry-point for young people [16:30]. They also explain who a greater representation of women in the workplace is also advantageous for men, and why we should actively and be more inclusive when considering a greater spectrum of emotions and personalities in the workplace [12:20]. 

At the time of recording, Michelle was a project manager at Merlin Entertainment, which is the job title she gives in the interview. She's since moved on to being a Managing Director at Firefly Creations.

Facebook Live link: https://www.facebook.com/cgtneuropeofficial/videos/525854411404728/

Human beings have been fascinated by Mars for centuries. Since 2012, NASA's Curiosity Rover has been traversing the red planet to see if it could support microbial life. In today’s episode Emma went to speak to the ExoMars team who are attempting to search deeper with the Rosalind Franklin Rover which will be launched to Mars in 2022.

At the core of this mission to Mars is  the Rosalind Franklin Rover. An autonomous machine that is going to be traversing the landscape on Mars and gathering information. Emma spoke to Abbie Hutty, a lead structures engineer on the project. Abbie introduces Emma to Bruno, a version of the Rosalind Franklin Rover. Abbie explains the challenges involved with a project this size, and how they hope to overcome the difficult Mars terrain. 

Missions to Mars have a success rate of approximately 50% so those involved have to have a clear idea what can go wrong while their machine is in space.  Emma also went to speak to Andrew Coates, ExoMars Special Investigator, who outlined a litany of risks associated with the project.

Since the beginning of time we’ve looked up at the sky and wondered what it would be like to be able to fly.  In our first story, our very own Shini Somara tries on a jetpack and tells us exactly what it's like!

To find out more, Shini goes to visit Richard Browning, the founder of Gravity Industries.  Richard is the innovator behind a jet pack that allows him to partake in the miracle of personal flight. She found out how Richard thought of the idea and what inspired him to develop the machine. Shini also takes the jet pack for a spin and tells us exactly how difficult flying actually is. 

A fair portion of discarded electronics ends up in landfills and that ends up harming our planet. A recent UN report found that we’re throwing away more than 48 million tons of electronics a year. The Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Sciences in Zurich have developed a wood-derived material which is an alternative to traditional plastics and polymers. Shini Somara speaks to Gilberto Siqueira, the lead scientist at the facility, to find out more.

Siquera explains how this new technology works and why it can be a game-changer in his industry [02:00]. This new technology depends on cellulose, the material found in the walls of plants. Shini also spoke to Gustav Nystrom, the head of the cellulose lab. Gustav explains what is still lacking in the process but remains hopeful about finding a solution to the technology’s shortcomings [06:01]. 

In our second story, Emma Keeling heads to Gothenburg in Sweden, to investigate a new way of recycling plastic that could break our dependency on fossil fuels. She speaks to Henrik Thunman and his team at Chalmers University about this new form of technology that aims to increase the amount of plastic we can recycle, thereby minimising the amount that is polluting the planet. Henrik explains how his team uses a process called “steam-cracking” and also reveals the surprising ingredient that makes it all possible [11:17]. 

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One of the reasons we need more trees is because of photosynthesis. This is the process through which plants make their own food, but it’s also how they help us get rid of excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It's a vital process, but one of the misconceptions about it is that it's just about plants creating oxygen, which isn't the case. It's about plants taking energy from the sun, and storing it chemically. 

Today on the Razor Podcast, Shini goes to see a new technology that takes sunlight and CO2 and creates fuel [01:30]. She speaks to Virgil Andrei from Cambridge University’s department of Chemistry, who explains why this new technology can be a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Shini also spoke to Professor Erwin Reisner who explains the challenges they’re facing when it comes to putting this technology into everyday commercial use [04:52]. 

The maritime industry is one of the major contributors to pollution worldwide, with over 90% of the world’s trade being by sea. In our second story, Emma tells us about her time spent on a hydrogen boat, and why it could be the solution to fixing one of the biggest contributors to global pollution. 

She speaks to the engineer of The Energy Observer -  a boat that is on a six year mission around the world - using only solar, wind, hydrogen and battery power [07:30]. Emma also explains why this boat remains safe even with highly flammable hydrogen on-board [12:00]. She also speaks to the captain of the boat, Victorien Erussard, about what it's like to manoeuvre and maintain the The Energy Observer [13:45]. 

Every year there are around 1 million amputations globally – that’s one every 30 seconds. But not everybody can afford a bionic limb or even a basic prosthetic. One scientist wants to change all of that. Emma went to speak to a professor at Glasgow University about a new technology that could be revolutionary for amputees – a prosthetic arm powered by solar panels that also gives tactile feedback like a real limb. 

Emma speaks to double-amputee Corinne Hutton about her challenges, and how exciting this new technology can be [01:50]. The Razor team also spoke to Andrew Hart, one of Corinne’s surgeons, who explained what patients are looking for when it comes to a new prosthesis [02:54]. Corinne went to go and see Ravinder Dahiya at the University of Glasgow where she got to see what Dr. Dahiya’s team is producing [06:30]. 

Vitamin D is vital for a healthy life. It's important for our internal body clock, also known as our circadian rhythm.  It can play a big role in mental health and personal happiness levels. 

Scientists have found that something as simple as changing the type of lighting in nursing rooms can have a profound influence on certain types of patients. The Razor team went to visit a care home where the light bulbs mimic natural light. Javid Abdelmoneim went to speak to Dr. Anders Soder West about this revolutionary new therapy in Copenhagen [13:03]. We learn that the key to this is an emphasis on “blue light”; light that operates on a different frequency to what we find with everyday light bulbs.  Javid also speaks to Torbin Hansen, the chief technology officer at Chromoviso the company behind this new technology [17:05]. 

On this episode of RAZOR we delve deeper into our DNA and take a closer look at who we really are. Shini and Emma look at how we map and understand our DNA and why it's not as clear-cut as you might think. 

The Human Genome Project was one of the most ambitious projects undertaken by science. An international team of scientists spent 13 years mapping our genetic data; pinpointing and laying out the sequence of all our genes.

However, there is a problem.  Seventy percent of its first DNA sequence came from the genetics of just one man while the rest came from about 50 other volunteers. Their data formed the backbone of the Human Genome Project's first DNA sequence which has since become a reference; the standard to which every human DNA sequence is compared. 

Shini speaks to Dr. Julia Wilson from the Wellcome Sanger Institute about the lack of diversity in the project could be holding us back [01:54]. The RAZOR team goes further and investigates exactly how the “mapping” of the human genetic sequences happen [04:02]. To do this she speaks to Sumit Jamuar, the CEO of Global Gene Corp, a company that is spearheading efforts to diversify genomics by collecting genetic data from India.

The RAZOR team also looks at a new company that has found a way to look at how DNA testing can help us make better nutritional choices on a day-to-day basis. DNA Nudge is a company that focuses on on-site DNA testing that could highlight genetic predispositions and help their customers to adapt their lifestyles accordingly. 

Jo Colan went to investigate exactly how the company plans to do this [09:52]. Jo also speaks to the founder of the company Chris Toumazou who talks about the deeply personal inspiration behind the company [14:30]. 

On today’s episode of the RAZOR Podcast Shini and Emma look at the most cutting edge issues in science today.  

How can something “be” and “not be” at the same time?  To answer this question, Shini went to talk to Winfried Hensinger, a professor of Quantum Technologies at Sussex University. Hensiger is at the forefront of developing quantum computers and does his best to explain what quantum mechanics is [01.52].  Professor Hensinger also shows Shini some of the technology they are using to isolate ions for computing purposes [03.31]. 

The German company Siemens Mobility are testing a system like this on the roads, with electric or hybrid trucks, so they can continually charge their battery as they drive along a highway. In this episode, our reporter Guy Henderson goes to Berlin to speak to the CEO of Siemens’s mobility department about a way that might potentially decarbonise Europe’s transport system [06.51].  Guy also spoke to one Hasso Grunjes from Siemens Mobility about how far away we are from this technology becoming a reality [09.08].

And finally Emma found out how a viral treatment developed by former Soviet scientists could potentially be used to combat brain cancers. Phages or ‘bacteriophages’, to give them their full name,  are a type of virus that infects bacteria. Emma went to speak to Dr Matthew Williams, a consultant oncologist at Imperial College London explained why brain cancers are difficult to treat  and how phages can help to address this issue [12.23]. Emma also talks to Professor Amin Hajitou who is passionate about phage therapy and has been working for 12 years on a cancer treatment using bacteriophages [14.16]. 

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On today’s episode of the RAZOR podcast Emma and Shini discuss the development of a new snakebite anti-venom being made in Liverpool. The World Health Organization calls snakebites one of the world's priority neglected tropical diseases. Up to one hundred thirty eight thousand people die every year from snake bites due to a drastic global shortage of anti-venoms. Our reporter Jo Colan goes out to the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine to talk to a group of scientists taking steps to address the situation [01.40] .

 According to NASA, the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are higher than they’ve  been at any time in the past four hundred thousand years. Scientists think one way of reducing levels is right under our noses. Emma went out to a power plant in Iceland where they're taking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and turning it into stone [08.06].

Cars are essential to the hustle and bustle of modern city life, but as the globe gets warmer and their emissions more toxic, it's important to find alternatives.  Shini goes to the Shell Eco-Marathon, where innovators and engineers are competing against each other to design, build and race energy efficient cars of the future.  The stakes are high as engineers compete to see who can design the most efficient car that can last the longest around the track [11.06].