THE SCIENCE INSIDE

Our very first feature scientist for year is Mpho Tshisaphungo, who is the first female to head the space weather centre at the South African National Space Agency. She talks about how her career in space weather found her and how being the best keeps her on her toes. On unscience, we look at unconventional uses of poop and pee! In the news, we look at a new discovery by the Mars rover and its new uses and finally, the story of the controversial Chinese researcher, He Jianku who was fired for carrying out his gene- editing research theory on human babies wits.journalism.co.za

It’s our very last show for the year and we close it off with a feature scientist, physicist, Zamaswazi Tshabalala of the CSIR (The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research).She specialises in nanotechnology applications that improve gas-sensing mechanisms. In the news we hear about the world’s first genetically-edited human twins and highly accurate atomic clocks that enable scientists to even measure gravity with intense accuracy. On Unscience we learn about high-tech lingerie that self-detaches by a voice command.

Lastly we wrap up the show with Zamaswazi telling us about her ambitions, her winning several CSIR research awards and more… wits.journalism.co.za

Tuberculosis remains one of the top 10 causes of death in the world, with South Africa being high on the list not only in terms of incidences but study of the disease. Prof Robin Wood from University of Cape Town explains how they are testing the air someone with TB breathes out, to see how transmissions can be lowered.In Unscience find out about an emotion called Schadenfreude.

Later in the show, we explore how TB interacts with HIV by speaking to Lucy Mupfumi, a PhD research fellow with the Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership. wits.journalism.co.za

Turning salty water into drinkable water is one of the ways to address droughts like the one to hit Cape Town in recent times. Leslie Petrick from University of Cape Town explains the worrying health effects of desalinated water. Our Unscience is about how women on the contraceptive pill blink more. Later, Jemitias Chivavava and Benita Aspeling from UCT explain how dual desalination is used in industry for an interesting purpose. wits.journalism.co.za

This week we spend time with Dr Dyllon

Randall from UCT who was part of world first research where human urine was used to make building bricks. In Unscience in gets delicious with a mathematical formula for the perfect pizza. Later in the show we visit Cape Town's package free 'nude' stores to understand how it all works. wits.journalism.co.za

Our Feature Scientist this month is Natalie Benjamin-Damons, who has worked on improving the lives of children living with HIV through the use of physiotherapy. We speak to her about her work and journey as a scientist. In Unscience we ask ourselves whether lizards also have nightmares. Our science news finds out about jumping genes and who is donating blood in SA. wits.journalism.co.za

Elon Musk recently announced that the Hyperloop transport system will be unveiled in Los Angeles soon and able to travel at up to 250km/h. We find out how it works with Dr Geoffrey Beck from the Physics Department at Wits University and explore how South Africa's transport system could evolve with Prof Roger Behrens from the department of Civil Engineering at the University of Cape Town. Also on the show we chat human hibernation and gamma ray constellations in our news. Our Unscience finds out why birds help each other for their own benefit. wits.journalism.co.za · wits.journalism.co.za

Young maths whizz Sbahle Zwane, has become popular on social media with his incredible skills. We speak to him and his mother as well as Professor Kate Cockcroft from Wits University about the origins of intelligence. In Unscience we find out about fainting goats. Later in the show, Dr Shirley Kokot explains how gifted children cope socially and later in life. In our science news we speak about life on Venus and the how the centre of the earth is squishier than previously thought. wits.journalism.co.za

With increasing petrol prices and the UN calling for more radical restrictions on fossil fuels, we explore alternative vehicles. In our science news, Senegal struggles with containing trachoma and we discover that bees are affected by the solar eclipse. Winstone Jordaan from GridCars explains if electric vehicles are the way forward. In UnScience, poultry scientists and engineers develop a machine that learns how to talk fowl. Later on, we speak to Dr Mkhulu Mathe at the Integrated Energy Research Centre at the CSIR Council for Scientific and Industrial Research about hydrogen fuel cell powered cars. wits.journalism.co.za

Find out about the recent discovery of the first dinosaur graveyard in the Eastern Cape with Dr Jonah Choiniere from Wits University and James Rhalane from the community of Qhemerha . In our science news we discuss an unusual HIV organ transplant and a new kind of glasses that block out digital screens. In UnScience, we learn that bold male birds are better at finding partners. Later on, geomythology in Africa provides a close link between folk tales and science. We hear from Charles Helm and Lebohang Mofokane. wits.journalism.co.za