Podcast
30 Animals That Made Us Smarter
Hosted by BBC World Service · EN
Amazing things humans have learnt from the animal kingdom. Inspiring, fascinating, bingeable. Please note, we are no longer able to receive emails for this series.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Insects and mobile phone
Jan 17, 202200:20:51Tap to summarizeS2 Ep 30. Smart phones could become even smarter – thanks to ants, beetles, moths and spiders! A multi-animal special episode, marking the season 2 finale. Patrick explores what could be an insect inspired phone of the future! There’s the story of the fire ants and bark beetles and a new camera lens with a much greater field of view. The hairs on butterflies, moths and spiders could help with an amazing new microphone. Moths might make it easier to look at our phones in bright sunlight. There’s also a waterproof, anti-bacterial cover which could be based on the wings of cicadas. Thanks for listening and please help us spread the word. #30Animals
Transcribe →Butterfly and eye implant
Jan 10, 202200:17:09Tap to summarizeS2 Ep 29. Not all butterflies are colourful. The transparent wings of the longtail glasswing butterfly may hold the key to more effective eye implants. This could be of huge benefit to people with glaucoma - the second leading cause of blindness in the world. Get in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals #30Animals
Transcribe →Slug and surgical glue
Jan 3, 202200:17:35Tap to summarizeS2 Ep 28. From goo to super glue! Slug slime may hold the key to mending wounds without stitches or staples. Scientists have developed new adhesives based on the properties of slug slime, that are as sticky as any glue, stretchier than a rubber band and aren’t toxic to humans. This sticky substance could be used to repair a delicate organ like the heart or lung without using methods that could damage the organ. Get in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals #30Animals
Transcribe →Dragonfly and sky spy
Dec 27, 202100:15:59Tap to summarizeS2 Ep 27. The amazing agility of a dragonfly leads to the creation of a new spy drone. Their four wings can move independently of each other, enabling them to fly forwards, backwards, sideways, up and down and suddenly stop and hover like a helicopter. This caught the attention of engineers who wanted to develop a small drone that could be used by the military as a spying device. In the future, this sort of technology might send back pictures from areas where it’s too dangerous for humans to go. Get in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals #30Animals
Transcribe →Kingfisher and soil erosion
Dec 20, 202100:14:09Tap to summarizeS2 Ep 26. A very clever solution to a significant environmental problem based on a kingfisher’s eyelids. When the brightly coloured bird dives for food, its eyes are covered in a way that protects the kingfisher’s eyeballs, rather like swimming goggles protect ours. Architects have copied this design to help prevent soil erosion on the banks of the huge Three Gorges Dam in China. Get in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals #30Animals
Transcribe →Bees and fast deliveries
Dec 13, 202100:15:53Tap to summarizeS2 Ep25. Sweet moves! Honey bees have developed an extraordinary form of communication known as the “waggle dance”, which directs other bees to where the best nectar can be found. As more and more bees explore the area, their directions become more refined. This method of refining information has been copied into an algorithm to help delivery drivers save time and fuel, without the need to plot journeys by hand. Get in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals #30Animals
Transcribe →Jellyfish and underwater robot
Dec 6, 202100:14:35Tap to summarizeS2 Ep 24. The world’s most efficient swimmer is the moon jellyfish! It’s the inspiration for a soft underwater robot that is safe enough to use in fragile environments like coral reefs and aquatic archaeological sites. By contracting a ring of muscle, the jellyfish can push water out of their bell-shaped bodies, thrusting them forwards without using much energy at all. Get in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals #30Animals
Transcribe →Polar bear and insulation
Nov 29, 202100:20:27Tap to summarizeS2 Ep 23. The science behind some fascinating fur could help humans keep warm in space. A polar bear’s fur is brilliant at insulating it from freezing arctic temperatures. Each shaft of hair contains multiple chambers which trap heat close to the skin, making it an incredible thermal insulator. Now, scientists have copied its structure to build a light and flexible material which may be useful for the aerospace industry. Let us know what you think. #30Animals Get in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals
Transcribe →Electric eels and medical implants
Nov 22, 202100:17:38Tap to summarizeS2 Ep 22. From heart stopper to heart saver? The electric eel creates energy within its body to shock its prey. Scientists are copying the electricity-producing cells of the eel to develop a new type of soft, fleshy battery which may be used inside the body to power medical implants. Let us know what you think. #30Animals Get in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals
Transcribe →Camel and desert architecture
Nov 15, 202100:15:30Tap to summarizeS2 Ep 21. Take a peek into a camel’s nose! The science inside could help to cool desert homes. A camel re-absorbs the water normally lost in the breathing cycle, keeping its temperature down. An architect has copied this to create a system that could control the temperature of desert dwellings without the need for costly electricity. Let us know what you think. #30Animals Get in touch: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals
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