It was the first ever drug ever made by a drug company, but  for decades nobody knew exactly how it worked.

It is also a drug that has led to many other drugs we now know so well. This week Luke explores the science of aspirin, a drug that changed the world.

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Are you tired of winters? Sick of the those long dark months when not a lot happens? Would a bout of hibernation interest you?

Well, science and space travel may soon bring about that possibility, and this week Luke explores how it might work.

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Sleep can be a tricky one for all of us - getting enough good quality snoozing time can seem an elusive, sometimes unattainable, goal in a busy life. But science may have some answers.

This week Luke looks at why our sleep is disturbed, what impacts it can have on our bodies, and how we can make it better. One thing science tells us, as Luke learns, is if you want to sleep - don't count sheep.

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One of earth's most fascinating creatures, and also perhaps the species with the biggest influence on the scientific life of one Professor Luke O'Neill.

This week Luke explores the vast and complex world of whales, and why whale poo (or the artificial version of it anyway) could turn out to be quite an incredible resource for the planet.

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For better and worse beer has been intertwined with human history for centuries, but what is the science behind one of the world's favourite drinks? This week Luke explores the experiments and discoveries that have guided the evolution of beer, from the earliest imbibers to the tap in your local pub.

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There are things in life you cannot change - the past, the weather, your family - but there could be one less sure thing in this world, because your blood group could soon become a lot less definite.

This week Luke has news of a startling new development that could have huge positive implications for medicine and transplants in particular.

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We know dogs are close to the top of the pecking order of animal intelligence, but the breadth of dog intelligence might just surprise you, from empathy to jealousy, and lots in between, our canine companions have plenty on their minds.

This week Luke explores how, and why, humans domesticated dogs, and what intellectual traits of those first wild animals remain today, and what upgrades and improvements domestication has conferred on them.

And then, of course, there’s the big event – ranking the most intelligent dog breeds.

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It makes your belly shake, make your eyes water, and binds us to each other - the power of a good laugh can be monumental. But why do we laugh, why are we prone to giggling a lot more depending on how many people we are around, and are we humans the only species who enjoy a good chuckle?

This week Luke explores the science of laughter, and why some things can be good when they're contagious.

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This week Luke asks if it might all be in our heads? Or a lot of it anyway. While many of us are surely familiar with the idea of the placebo effect, what about the nocebo effect and the incredible power of suggestion on our minds? Luke picks apart the science that tries to understand why real physical conditions can be brought about not by illness, but by the power of suggestion.

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The humble fungi is the focus of this week's podcast, and it really is a lot more complex and brilliant than we might have expected. Luke explores the fascination of the "wood wide web", the beauty and benefits of fungi to life on earth, and why there wouldn't even be life on land, of any kind, if it weren't for fungi.

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