Podcast
Eureka!
Hosted by Stak · EN
Welcome to Eureka!, the show that gets under the skin of science with questions that really matter! Join science enthusiast Rick Edwards and actual real-life scientist Dr Michael Brooks every week as they dissect some of the universe’s most puzzling questions with the help of the world’s leading experts. From alien invasions and AI robot takeovers, to face transplants and talking animals, Rick and Michael are getting to the bottom of it all! Subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10episodes
Episodes
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We’re taking a break… Back soon!
May 24, 202300:00:45Tap to summarizeWe’re taking a break from Eureka for the time being. We love making the show and we’re hoping to resume soon - so keep your eyes peeled for a new season. In the meantime, please enjoy our back catalogue, there are about sixty episodes ready for you to get stuck into. We’ll see you soon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Will we ever use nuclear fusion power?
May 17, 202300:36:54Tap to summarizeIt’s easy to get very excited about nuclear fusion - but are we all getting ahead of ourselves? This week, Michael explains the basics of nuclear fusion, why the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) has been disastrous and what we’ve actually managed to achieve with nuclear fusion so far. We also take a look at whether nuclear fusion is a wise investment and we consider whether our money could be better spent on other energy sources! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Where do irrational obsessions come from?
May 10, 202300:59:48Tap to summarizeThis week we’re on a mission to understand phobias, manias and obsessions! We look at where our phobias come from, how people use obsessions as a coping mechanism and how you define a phobia. We also find out about a fascinating case of ‘dancing mania’, we consider the evolutionary purpose behind phobias and we look at how our fears have changed over time.Special thanks to today's expert, Kate Summerscale. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Why do we need leaders?
May 3, 202300:57:48Tap to summarizeWith the coronation just around the corner, we’ve decided to dig into the science behind leadership. We examine the history of leadership and how events like WWI have had an impact on our relationship with leaders. We also look at what personality traits make a good leader and we find out whether society is evolving beyond the need for leadership…Special thanks to today’s expert, Professor André Spicer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Will we ever understand consciousness?
Apr 26, 202300:42:16Tap to summarizePrepare to get your head in a spin this week, as we have a go at cracking one of science’s greatest enigmas: consciousness. We delve into the complexities of what it means to be conscious, we explore the history of our understanding of consciousness and we look at some mind-blowing ways that it can be manipulated!Special thanks to today’s expert, Professor Anil Seth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Why does anyone still believe in astrology?
Apr 19, 202300:45:57Tap to summarizeThis week, we take a closer look at the fascinating world of astrology and consider how it has managed to maintain its popularity in the age of science. We find out how astrology historically interacted with science, why decision fatigue can make it so appealing and how some businesses use astrology to make choices. Michael also shares a fascinating way that the month you are born CAN have an impact on your life (with some scientific evidence to back it up) and we find out whether astrology is actually doing anyone any harm…Special thanks to today's expert, Mystic Michael. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →What makes a great father?
Apr 12, 202300:45:52Tap to summarizeRick has recently become a father, so this week we are on a mission to make him the best parent possible. We get some advice on the best ways to bond with a child and we look at how the role of fathers has evolved throughout history. We also look into the benefits of having a good father and we take a look at the fascinating ways your brain and hormones change when you become a Dad!Special thanks to today’s expert, Anna Machin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →What are evolution’s greatest hits?
Apr 5, 202300:53:07Tap to summarizeIt's time to delve into one of science’s most fascinating discoveries of all time: evolution! This week, we revel in ten of our favourite organisms and look at how they’ve evolved in amazing ways. We uncover the plants that have developed the ability to hunt, the mould that can navigate its way through a maze (despite not even having a brain) and the ants that can take down a chicken. There’s some seriously freaky stuff out there and this episode will have you thinking ‘wtf’ from start to finish - in a good way, of course. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Is the metaverse going to be sh*t?
Mar 29, 202300:42:37Tap to summarizeIt’s undeniable that technology is creeping further and further into our lives - but are we going to end up living inside a virtual reality? Mark Zuckerberg certainly hopes so.This episode, we uncover what the metaverse might look like, we examine some of its potential benefits (and take a critical view of just how good they actually are) and we consider some of the drawbacks. We also discover how close the metaverse is to becoming a reality and we find out whether anyone actually wants any of this in the first place…Special thanks to today’s expert, Professor Victoria Baines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →What’s the use of a broken heart?
Mar 22, 202300:54:32Tap to summarizeAll of us (except Michael) have had our hearts broken at some point - but why does it hurt so much? And what is the evolutionary purpose of all that pain? This week we’re finding out exactly what goes on in our bodies when we experience heartache, whether we might be able to cure a broken heart and if it’s possible to actually die from heartbreak.Special thanks to today’s expert, Associate Professor Mary-Frances O’Connor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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