THE SCIENCE INSIDE

In honour of Mental Health Awareness Month this July we discuss how mental illnesses function within support systems with clinical psychologist Liane Lurie. In Unscience, find out if brain scans should be used in the law. Later, is it science or fiction that there could be tiny worms in your teeth? Dentist Dr Yashken Lindy sets us straight wits.journalism.co.za

A recent spike in cash in transit heists has us speaking to Dr. Hendrik Lochner from UNISA and Zero Foundation Africa's Benedict Weaver about the tech behind this. In Unscience, find out whether men are more likely to take risks when crossing the road. Later, we question the science behind polygraph or 'lie detection' tests with Niel Visser, Clifton Coetzee from the SA Polygraph Academy, and George Maschke from Antipolygraph.org wits.journalism.co.za

The iconic African baobab tree can live up to several thousands of years, but recently there’s been an increase in the trees dying. Stephan Woodborne is the senior accelerator mass spectrometry scientist at iThemba Labs in Johannesburg and explains how they found this out. In Unscience this week, is it really possible that you could be brushing your teeth with a little part of the Sterkfontein caves? Later in the show, we find out what scientist have to say about water dowsing, the practice of finding underground water reserves by walking around with an egg or certain sticks. wits.journalism.co.za

The recent fossil discovery of two new species of tetrapods in South Africa reveals that the evolution of fish to land animals could have taken place differently than previously thought. We hear from Dr. Robert Gess and Professor Per Ahlberg. In Unscience, hear how sleep paralysis and hallucinations affect student athletes. Later we speak to the scientist behind the science, Aviwe Matiwane, a paleobotanist and Ph.D. candidate at Rhodes University. wits.journalism.co.za

Recently TV and radio personality Relebogile Mabotja went into anaphylactic shock after eating a salad that contained nuts. We take a closer look at allergies with pediatrician and allergologist, Dr. Claudia Gray.

In Unscience, find out how a boiled egg can now be unboiled.

Our scientist behind the science is Dr. Siphephile Ncube, a Ph.D. student from Wits School of Physics. She speaks about her recent work into the potential of carbon nanotubes for faster devices and magnetic memory applications. wits.journalism.co.za

Following the opening of a large pharmaceutical facility, we go through the long and expensive process of developing a medicine from idea to shelf.

Our guests are Dr. Nicola Lister, Chief Scientific Officer at Novartis Southern Africa, Professor Kelly Chibale, Chair in Drug Development and Department of Chemistry at the University of Cape Town, and Alison Dyer, a consultant for Spoor and Fisher.

In Unscience, scientists suggest that walking like a penguin could be beneficial. Our scientist behind the science is Dr. Roelof Burger, a physical geographer, currently at North West University; wits.journalism.co.za

A video of Shamba the lion attacking the man who raised him has gone viral. We speak to Dr. Kelly Marnewick from the Endangered Wildlife Trust and others about wild animals in captivity.

In Unscience we ask what will happen when our sun dies.

As cardiovascular diseases continues to be a worldwide problem, we had a chat with heart specialist Dr. Ntobeko Ntusi from the University of Cape Town, who focuses on this in an African context. wits.journalism.co.za

In light of Burns Awareness Month we unpack how plastic surgery can treat these scars. Listen to Dr Wayne Kleintjies as he unpacks this treatment. In Unscience, brown widow spiders are ready to die for love and have Ben Ten tendencies. Later on, we speak to Dr Sudhakar Muniyasamy, who helps us imagine a future with no plastic waste through his biodegradable plastic invention. wits.journalism.co.za

A tiny beetle is threatening the life of Johannesburg's trees. Hear from the people working on this, Prof Wilhelm de Beer and Neil Hill. In Unscience we find out how a bug might be the answer to the world's plastic problem. Our scientist behind the science, Professor Mandeep Kaur, explains how she identifies biomarkers for diseases like cancer. wits.journalism.co.za

A recent rise in cases of rabies makes us look at this disease that can harm both animals and humans. We speak to University of Pretoria’s Professor Andrew Leisewitz. In Unscience, sleeping too little could lead to health problems and a shorter life span.

We speak to Dr. Nolwazi Nombona from the University of Pretoria about creating cheaper solar energy cells with nanomaterials. wits.journalism.co.za