Technically Speaking | a science and engineering discussion

Feb 27 2025 103 ep. 30 mins 111

Technically Speaking | a science and engineering discussion Podcast artwork

Dive deep into the world of science and engineering with engaging discussions and thought provoking debates. The team share insights from careers in science and engineering, combining expert knowledge and scientific thinking with a touch of humour to make even the most complex topics accessible and entertaining for both enthusiasts and casual listeners. Sometimes we’re funny, often we’re opinionated, always we’re entertaining. Support us: https://ko-fi.com/techspeak_podcast X/Twitter: @TechnicallySp11 Instagram: technicallyspeaking.podcast Reddit: techspeak_podcast Email: [email protected]

Science Education Comedy

Copy RSS

Subscribe on Podcast Addict

Why are things like crab blood and scorpion venom so valuable?

Feb 27 2025 39 mins

Science is always finding new ways to harness nature. Antonia, Ellie and Laura discuss what the blood from a certain type of sea creature is used for, and how scorpion venom is being studied for a whole host of medical research. They also look at Pangolin scales used to treat some ailments and a giant tuna which sold for a small fortune, but might not necessarily be worth their pri

Are we all mutants?

Feb 13 2025 32 mins

And can natural genetic changes lead us to develop superpowers? Laura, Emma and Jasmin talk about different natural processes can lead to mutations, how our bodies detect and repair some mutations, and how some changes can lie hidden. The article that inspired this episode: We are all genetic mosaics, from Knowable Magazine. Fact check:How many cells are in the adult human bodyHow

Are glass bottles really better for the environment than plastic?

Jan 30 2025 33 mins

The UK has plans to change how drinks containers are collected from consumers for recycling, but recent news stories indicate that glass could be excluded from this scheme. Laura, Antonia and Jasmin discuss what responsibilities packaging producers have, how glass and plastic are currently recycled, and consider what changes need to be made. There were a lot of references in this f

Can you learn anything you want from the internet?

Jan 16 2025 34 mins

Is the internet really a useful tool for learning or is it a place where you shouldn’t believe what you see or read? Laura, Antonia and Ellie discuss what they have learned online, from detailed scientific information to practical skills like fixing a bicycle, and what they struggle to find. Laura and Ellie also share their insight as professional science communicators while Anto

How can we protect ourselves from cybercrimes?

Dec 12 2024 42 mins

What is cyber hacking and what can we do about it? Jasmin, Ellie and Antonia explore the different types of cyber hacking, compare it to the movies, and consider whether it can ever be ethical or "good"? They also discuss the best ways to combat cyber-attacks personally, and what companies are doing to protect us and their client information.

Are there any alternative uses for nuclear power?

Nov 28 2024 23 mins

You might know that nuclear reactors are used along with turbines to generate electricity but what else could nuclear technology power? While battling brain fog brought on by fatigue, Laura and Antonia discuss future uses of high temperature heat to feed industrial clusters and look at two novel uses of nuclear power production that don't require reactors, but could be used to powe

How can we tell if something is true?

Nov 14 2024 29 mins

How do we debunk myths and see through fake news? Ellie, Antonia and Emma come together to discuss common myths and how they resist change both in academia and in a general population. They also discuss the impact of social media, AI and how we can learn to look at things with a critical eye. Watch the video from Münecat. Read research about countering misinformation and how one r

What is antibiotic resistance?

Oct 31 2024 33 mins

And how are researchers tackling it? Antonia, Emma and Ellie discuss how we got here and what might be done in the future to counteract these drug resistant bacterial strains. Plus we take a sneak peak into the life of PhD student Emma and explore how computational simulations could be helping develop the antibiotics of the future.

How does science shape a nation's policy?

Oct 17 2024 24 mins

We’ve seen how science can rapidly alter how nations respond to emergencies like a pandemic, but why is the response to the climate emergency so slow? Laura and Antonia discuss multiple ways that scientists can help shape national policy, how people’s beliefs and behaviours are accounted for, and how the general public can have a voice too. A guide by the British Ecological soc

How successful are human interventions for helping wildlife?

Oct 03 2024 29 mins

Everything humanity does has an impact on the natural world, but we’re also highly dependent on it. Laura, Ellie and Jasmin discuss how panda populations have declined and then improved, the work of zoos, instances of adapting nature to live with us, and how research is uncovering complex way that wildlife, farming, fishing and garden birds interact with us. Here’s the study th