Royal Society Publishing

Claire Birch interviews Dr Jon Agar who has published a paper in Notes and Records which looks at Margaret Thatcher's early career as a scientist, an area of her life often overlooked by biographers. He then discusses how this training may have influenced her political career.

In this video podcast Claire Birch interviews Drs Phil Manning and Roy Wogelius who, along with their colleagues, have published a paper in Proceedings B which describes a new non-destructive method for studying fossilised soft tissue. They have demonstrated that infrared mapping can be used to study fossil reptile skin and in future could provide a valuable insight into the biochemistry of extinct organisms.

Philosophical Transactions B has published a theme issue which showcases the scientific knowledge of the processes involved in the development, physiology and pathology of the ocular lens. In this video podcast Joanna Bolesworth talks to one of the guest editors, Michael Wormstone, about how the unique properties of the ocular lens and how it can act as a model for disease.

Dr Martin Bidartondo, Professor Jeff Duckett and their colleagues have published a paper in Biology Letters which studies the symbiosis between plants and fungi. In this video podcast Charlotte Wray asks them about their findings which suggest that fungi of the Mucoromycotina rather than the Glomeromycota enabled the establishment and growth of early land colonists.

Charlotte Wray reports novel findings in how bumblebees perceive colour in a paper written by 8-10 year old pupils at Blackawton School in Devon under the supervision of scientist Beau Lotto.

Claire Birch talks talks to Drs Hugo Williams, Richard Ambrosi and Nigel Bannister about their paper in Proceedings A which studies the feasibility of building a Mars hopping vehicle.

Wendy Barnaby talks to Dr Mim Bower about her co-authored paper in Biology Letters which traces the origins of Thoroughbred foundation mares.

Wendy Barnaby talks to Professor Tom Daniel and Professor Andrew Biewener about their paper on Control and Dynamics of Animal Movement.

Wendy Barnaby talks to Dr Alex Thornton about the paper he co-authored in Proceedings B which looks at what time meerkats get up in the morning.

Wendy Barnaby interviews Cyril about his article on the history of how flat panel electronic displays were developed..