THE SCIENCE INSIDE

Facebook's recent data scandal has us rethinking our data security online. We find out about the ethics and policies in data mining from Dr Vukosi Marivate from the CSIR. In Unscience, who thinks they are smarter - men or women? Later we speak to the scientist behind the science with Dr Mark Williams-Wynn, a post-doctoral fellow from UKZN. wits.journalism.co.za

A recent study accused Coca-Cola and other brands of having levels of microplastics in their bottled drinking water. We find out how this could happen and what it does to our bodies with Bettina Genthe from the University of Pretoria and Douw Steyn from Plastics SA. In Unscience this week, poison from a worm may be the next way to kill pesky cockroaches. Later we speak to the scientist behind the science with Professor Yasien Sayed from Wits University, who is a protein biochemist and HIV researcher. wits.journalism.co.za

It's Family Day on the show. Your family's genes may be why you hate coriander leaves. If you're hoping to start a family, Dr Mohamed Iqbal Cassim from the BioArt fertility centre says trends in fertility have changed. In Unscience, there is a reason why you might have the sensation to nibble a cute baby. Our scientist behind the science is UCT FameLab winner, Nyasha Chimhandamba. wits.journalism.co.za

We find out what happens to contaminated meat, such as the products recalled after the recent Listeria outbreak. We hear from food control experts and microbiologists, Dr. Juno Thomas, the head of Enteric Diseases at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and Dr. Lucia Anelich. In this week’s Unscience, find out how living abroad changes how much you think you know yourself. Our scientist behind the science this week is Professor Elelwani Ramugondo from the University of Cape Town, who gives us an insight into occupational therapy. wits.journalism.co.za

The current outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria is much higher than the yearly norm. We find out what’s happening with Prof Lucille Blumberg, deputy director of NCID.

In Unscience, your personality might be the reason you are addicted to social media.

Later Dr. Bianca Verlinden, a malaria researcher at the University of Pretoria, explains why she is so passionate about antimalarial compounds wits.journalism.co.za

Following the controversy at the Seven Angels Church in Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape, we look at the psychology of belief with religion specialist Dr Karen van der Merwe from the North West University.

In Unscience, we look at the big bang theory and a time before time began.

Later we find out about the scientist behind the science with Dr Valentine Saasa from the CSIR, who is working on a breathalyser to manage diabetes. wits.journalism.co.za

Following Joburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba’s decision for government to take over dilapidated buildings and abandoned properties in the city, we looked at property hijackings and how these spaces are being used for urban living and use. Margot Rubin, senior researcher at the South African Research Chair in Spatial Analysis and City Planning at Wits University explains. On Unscience we discover why scientists are looking at squids and octopuses for clues on how to master the art of camouflage. Finally, we had a chat with biologist professor Colleen Downs from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, who explains how space can be used for all living creatures the negative impacts of misuse. wits.journalism.co.za

Tragedy struck Hulene, a town on the outskirts of Mozambique when twenty-one people living on the town’s only landfill, were killed by a 50m high rubbish heap which collapsed on their homes. This week’s show was inspired by this topic and we had a chat with a consulting engineer and landfill designer, Jan Palm. He unpacked the disastrous effects of garbage on our environment and how the mishandling of rubbish at official landfills could cause leakage into groundwater. On Unscience, we had a look at the University of Catania’s study of how luck, rather than talent, hard work or intelligence affects our success! Lastly, we interviewed ‘gold farmer’, geologist Tshiamo Legoale about small-scale mining and how her research in phytomining uses wheat to extract gold residue from gold dumps. wits.journalism.co.za

The 23rd Winter Olympics are underway in Pyeongchang, South Korea. We

look at how fake snow is made and the effects of climate change on

snow sports with professor Marius Mayer of the Ernst Moritz

Arndt-University in

Greifswald, he tells us more. In Unscience, mining other planets for

diamonds could be a thing of the future. Lastly, Professor Robert

Millar from the University of Pretoria explains his work in reproductive

neuroendocrinology and how it's been successfully used in treating

life-threatening diseases. wits.journalism.co.za

Inxeba (The wound), a South African film which sparked nationwide conversation around issues of culture, initiation, circumcision, and masculinity, inspires our show this week and we are looking at the medical aspects of male circumcision (MMC). We speak to Dr. Thabani Nkwanyana and he unpacks all you need to know about MMC. In Unscience, we look at Telepresence technology, an innovation which enables one to get the experience of being somewhere without really being there. Lastly, in our new feature we speak to Biophotonics scientist, Charles Maphanga, he talks about his research which investigated the use of laser technology to administer drugs into cells.

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Find us on www.journalism.co.za/science

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/thescienceinsidepodcast wits.journalism.co.za