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Episode 13 - The World of Robotics Pt. 2

The topic of robotics is particularly expansive and with so many advancing, adapting fields it’s hard to keep track – however Dr James Hilder of the University of York helps answer some of the most peculiar queries in this second part of our robotics episode.
How do robots process the spoken word? Are they vulnerable to cyber-attack? What are swarm robots? How easy is it to understand the software and can young people get involved? All this and more answered in our second episode of this thrilling two-parter.

Episode 12 - The World of Robotics Pt. 1

From robot lawnmowers to automated delivery machines, the world of robotics has certainly grown massively in the last few years, but how far will it go exactly? Should we expect to see fully automated, humanoid AI machines doing our housework or will there be a mass robot rebellion on the horizon?
We talk to Dr. James Hilder, a Senior Research Engineer at the University of York, soon to be affiliated with a brand-new building and department – the Institute for Safe Autonomy. He guides us through both autonomous and semi-autonomous machinery and gives us an insight into what the future may hold.
How safe will these robotic advancements be? Stay tuned to find out.

Episode 11 - Zero Emission Aviation pt. 2

We're diving right back in for the second half of our thrilling episode on the wonders of zero emission aircraft with Bethany Hall and David Debney. 
We touch upon the exciting new project, FlyZero, being undertaken by Aerospace Technology Institute which aims to progress the developments of commercial, emission-free flights. Such a feat may seem impossible, with an average commercial flight needing over 10,000 times the power required to boil a kettle, but the technology may be much closer than you think...buckle your seatbelts.

Episode 10 - Zero Emission Aviation pt. 1

Every day there are approximately 100,000 flights taking people across the globe, which overall equals an average of 150 billion miles travelled by plane - that's practically equivalent to flying to the Sun and back! When considering an aircraft such as a Boeing 747 uses roughly 4 litres of fuel every second, it becomes clear that the impact on the environment will be substantial.
Now more than ever it is imperative that a greener alternative for commercial and private planes is found, and today we discuss the advancements and potential problems of Zero Emission aircraft with two experts from the Aerospace Technology Institute - Bethany Hall and David Debney. Listen in as they navigate us through this intriguing topic.

Episode 9 - Exoskeletons pt.2

For this second half we're diving right back into the enthralling discussion with Dr. Matthew Dickinson as he shares his knowledge on the exciting world of exoskeletons and their multiple surprising uses.
Tune in to learn about how schools are getting involved in 3D printed projects, how exoskeleton suits could be used for sports, and discover how exoskeleton technology may be applicable for worlds beyond our planet...

Episode 8 - Exoskeletons pt.1

On the surface, wearable external systems known as exoskeletons sound like something you would find only in comic books or classic sci-fi movies, when in fact the science is much closer to reality than it may seem...
Today we had the pleasure of chatting to Dr. Matthew Dickinson, a senior lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, about how incredible exoskeleton developments are being made via ingenious 3D printing, and what exactly this may mean for disabled people across the globe.

Episode 7 - Nuclear Power pt.2

For the second part of this compelling interview, we dive back into the science of Nuclear Power with Evan Bolle-Jones, who chats with us about nuclear waste disposal sites and - more surprisingly - why locations are almost fighting to get one of these facilities in their back gardens.
Listen in to this great next half to hear mind-bending stats about carbon footprints, and find out what the Nuclear Power industry has in common with a hockey puck.

Episode 6 - Nuclear Power pt.1

Nuclear power could perhaps win the prize for being the energy source with the worst reputation. It's the one that scares most people but is also the energy source that is least well-understood. Is its bad-rep deserved or could there be a good side to nuclear energy?
The answers are – "to an extent" and "yes, emphatically".
In this episode we speak to Evan Bolle-Jones, a technical lead in the simulation and verification group at the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) at the University of Sheffield. He puts forward a strong case in favour of nuclear energy in the UK, as he talks about the problems of radiation and how the nuclear industry has dealt with them – evidentially it is one of the safest industries in the nation.
We touch on topics including the new "modular" reactors, the innovations being introduced at the new large scale reactors at Hinckley and Sizewell C, and the incredible facts surrounding underground waste storage. Definitely not one to miss. 

Episode 5 - Quantum Computing

What are quantum computers? Do they even exist and what are they used for? What is quantum superposition and entanglement and are they anything more than just science fiction?
In this episode we answer these questions by talking with Dr Mark Jackson, a Quantum Evangelist at Cambridge Quantum. The company, founded just seven years ago at the University of Cambridge, is a powerful advocate for the future of quantum computing, and Mark is at the forefront of such innovation. 
After a mind-blowing investigation of quantum effects we settled down to explore the many ways in which Quantum Computing is helping a surprisingly wide array of industries to use the technology - pharmaceuticals, finance, chemistry and materials science are among the first. Could we ever have a future in which our medical treatment and drugs were specially tailored to our individual bodies? The answer is yes, so listen in and be amazed.

Episode 4 – Satellites and Swarms

These days satellites are taken for granted. Most people never give a second thought to how their smartphone knows where they are located, how the City of London manages to conduct financial business across the globe, how films are streamed onto their TVs, why we can predict the weather so accurately, and so on. All depends on one or more of the thousands of satellites that now orbit the Earth and a good proportion of those artificial moons are built in the UK – many of them by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.
Today's guest is Andrew Cawthorne who is SSTL's Director of Earth Observation and Customer Training. He talks about how SSTL got started, some of their major successes and current projects, and a swathe of fascinating topics such as how satellites are powered, what might happen with the new swarms of internet satellites, space debris clearance, and much more. And you won't want to miss what he has to say about their new satellite which will circle the Moon.