Science Spinning on Dublin City FM

Sean Duke
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  • NATURAL SCIENCES

Science Spinning is a half hour weekly popular science show, broadcast from Dublin City, Ireland and presented by science writer, Seán Duke. Regular slots include: What's it all about?The Question is, and Inventive Minds. To suggest items for the show contact the Editor at: sciencespinning@dublincityfm.ie

  1. How Scientific is the Film 'Limitless'?

    04/01/2011

    How Scientific is the Film 'Limitless'?

    Keywords: Limitless, Brain, Untapped Potential Broadcast on East Coast FM, The Morning Show with Declan Meehan, 30th March, 2011 IMAGE: The idea behind the film Limitless is that we don't use up to 90 per cent of our brain, and if we did, we could develop extraordinary abilities [Credit: sciencedaily.com] In the recent film 'Limitless' a writer that is suffering from writer's block takes a drug that enables him to tap into the untapped potential of his mind, to great effect. How real, or scientific is the premise behind 'Limitless'? What do scientists understand about the brain, and it's supposed untapped abilities? Discussion here with Declan Meehan

    16 min
  2. Where is ET?; TB Makes a Comeback

    03/28/2011

    Where is ET?; TB Makes a Comeback

    Keywords: Extra-terrestrial life, TB IMAGE: The Milky Way pictured here, is made up of about 750 billion stars like our Sun, with an even larger number of orbiting planets. Is it conceivable that none of these planets have life, let alone intelligent life? [Credit: NASA]  Broadcast 24th March 2011 on 103.2 Dublin City FM  The Question Is? It has become common for scientists to assume that the Universe is teeming with life, given its vastness, and the potential number of 'Earth-like' planets that exist. But, is this assumption valid? If so, how come we haven't found ET despite 50 years of serious effort? We put the questions to Paul Davies a leading figure in the SETI (search for extra-terrestrial intelligence) project based at Arizona State U.  What's it all about? We might have thought that we knew everything we needed to know about TB, Tuberculosis, or 'consumption', the scourge of 1940s and 1950s Ireland. But, apparently not, as TB has changed, become drug-resistant and is making a menancing comeback in modern Ireland. We ask Joe Keane, Consultant Respiratory Physician at St James's Hospital in Dublin to describe what this new TB threat is all about.  To contact the show, email: sciencespinning@dublincityfm.ie

    29 min
  3. The Human Genome, Space Exploration, Evolution

    03/11/2011

    The Human Genome, Space Exploration, Evolution

    Broadcast 10/03/2011 on 103.2 Dublin City FM PIC: 'Buzz Aldrin' pictured on the Moon, July 1969 by Neil Armstrong. Putting men on the Moon was a tremendous technical achievement, but is space exploration worth the effort & resources put into it? [Credit: NASA]  WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT? The Human Genome Project. What is it? and how will it change our lives? Tommie McCarthy, UCC, explains. THE QUESTION IS? Is space exploration worth all the time, effort and resources put into it? We ask Irish European Space Agency engineer, James Geary, who has worked on several exploration projects.  WRITERS' ROOM We talk to Wallace Arthur, Professor of Zoology, NUI Galway, and author of 'Evolution, A Developmental View', who has a different 'take' on evolution.  To contact the show, email: sciencespinning@dublincityfm.ie

    27 min
  4. Genetics, Super Materials, Recycling Energy

    03/03/2011

    Genetics, Super Materials, Recycling Energy

    Broadcast on 24th February 2011  IMAGE:  Experts estimate that fossil-fuel burning power plants, such as the one pictured here, a peat fired plant in Ireland at Shannonbridge, Co Offaly, lose up to 70 per cent of their energy through heat losses. New nano materials could change all that [Credit: Wikipedia]  WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT? Genetics, past, present and future, explained by Ken Wolfe, Trinity College Dublin (TCD) head of the only Irish laboratory involved in The Human Genome Project.  THE QUESTION IS? We lose over 70 per cent of the energy - as heat - generated by fossil-fuel burning  power plants. Can nano materials improve things? We ask TCD nano researcher Jonathan Coleman.  WRITER'S ROOM Ireland's county Waterford has produced many of Ireland's most famous scientists, including Robert Boyle, of Boyle's Law fame, and Atom splitter, Ernest Walton. Author Donald Brady tells us more.  To contact the show email: sciencespinning@dublincityfm.ie For more about the Presenter & Producer, Seán Duke, click here.

    29 min
  5. Dark Matter, Climate 'Delusion', Solar Flares

    02/25/2011

    Dark Matter, Climate 'Delusion', Solar Flares

    Broadcast on 17th Feb. 2011 on 103.2 Dublin City FM  IMAGE: Solar Flare captured on the Sun by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on 8th Sept. 2010 [Credit: NASA]  What's it all about? Solar flares explained by Peter Gallagher, astrophysicist based at TCD.  The question is? We see only four per cent of the 'stuff' the Universe is made up of. Where is the invisible 'dark matter' and what is it doing? We ask Paul Callanan, physicist at UCC. Writer's room. We talk to Christian Gerondeau, author of 'Climate: The Great Delusion' To contact the show, email: sciencespinning@dublincityfm.ie

    28 min
  6. Sea Floor Spreading, Fossils, Tectonic Plates

    02/23/2011

    Sea Floor Spreading, Fossils, Tectonic Plates

    Broadcast on 10th Feb. 2011 on 103.2 Dublin City FM IMAGE: The Mid Atlantic Ridge (in red) can be seen on land in Iceland [Credit: Elliot Lim, CIRES & NOAA/NGOG] What's it all About? Sea Floor Spreading explained by Bettie Higgs, Geology UCC The Question Is? How solid is the Earth's crust where tectonic plates collide? We ask Sergei Lebedev, of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.  Writer's Room. We talk to Patrick Wyse-Jackson, curator of the Geology Museum at TCD, and author of 'Introducing Palaeontology, A Guide to Ancient Life'  To contact the show email: sciencespinning@dublincityfm.ie Thanks for listening Seán Duke, Presenter & Producer of Science Spinning, 'The Show with an Irish Spin on Science'

    29 min
  7. Geophysics; Nanotechnology; Native Irish Building Stone

    02/07/2011

    Geophysics; Nanotechnology; Native Irish Building Stone

    Broadcast on 103.2 Dublin City FM on 3rd February 2011 IMAGE: Cover of 'Stone by Stone' a guide to the use of building stone in Northern Ireland [Credit: Appletree Press Ltd]  What's it all about? Geophysics explained by Prof Chris Bean, School of Geosciences at UCD.  The question is? Will nanotechnology change the world, and if so, how? We ask Aidan Quinn, Head of the Nanotechnology Research Unit at the Tyndall National Institute  Writer's room. We talk to Dawson Stellfox, editor of 'Stone by Stone' a book that advocates use of native Irish stone in buildings here.  To contact the show email: sciencespinning@dublincityfm.ie For more about the presenter visit: Science Spinning

    29 min
  8. Invasive Species Threat, Brown Trout in Ireland, Tree Pests & Global Warming

    01/29/2011

    Invasive Species Threat, Brown Trout in Ireland, Tree Pests & Global Warming

    Broadcast on 103.2 Dublin City FM, 27th Jan. 2011 IMAGE: Brown Trout, such as the one pictured here, are the subject of an new book by Irish fishery scientist, Martin O'Grady [Credit: Wikipedia] THE QUESTION IS Trees act as a brake on global warming, as they suck up 'greenhouse gases', but new pests are increasingly threatening trees in Ireland and around the world. We ask John Sweeney, climate researcher at NUI Maynooth, how serious is the threat to trees and what can be done about it? IN WRITER'S ROOM We speak to Martin O'Grady, author of 'Ireland's Brown Trout' WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT? Invasive species are creating havoc in Ireland's rivers and lakes. We ask Joe Caffrey, of the Central Fishers Board, to explain what they are, and how they cause environmental damage. To contact the show, email: sciencespinning@dublinclityfm.ie

    26 min
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About

Science Spinning is a half hour weekly popular science show, broadcast from Dublin City, Ireland and presented by science writer, Seán Duke. Regular slots include: What's it all about?The Question is, and Inventive Minds. To suggest items for the show contact the Editor at: sciencespinning@dublincityfm.ie

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