BRAIN BOX: A High-Tech Science Question Chamber 🧠⚡

About this episode

This episode explores various scientific topics including space missions, DNA mapping, and kitchen chemistry.

It's time for another BIG and BRILLIANT adventure into the world of science on this week’s Science Quest! In Science in the News, humans have travelled further into space than ever before as Artemis II orbits the Moon, scientists achieve a world first by mapping the DNA of a monkey, and Richard Wall from the University of Bristol joins Dan to explain the spread of a dangerous flesh-eating fly and why experts are keeping a close eye on it. It’s time for your questions too. Ryan wants to know why Earth spins on a wonky axis, and Brian Diffey from Newcastle University explains how your body makes vitamin D from sunlight. Dangerous Dan introduces the secretary bird, a fierce and fascinating hunter with a very unusual way of catching its prey. Then it’s time for Brain Box, where Dan’s high-tech question chamber puts top scientists to the test. This week, analytical chemist Kirsty Penkham takes on the challenge. Plus, in Kitchen Chemistry, K-Mistry explores the science of solids, liquids and gases, turning your kitchen into a chemistry lab. From deep space missions to DNA discoveries and dangerous insects, this episode is packed with brilliant science. What we…

People in this episode

Host: Dan

Guests: Richard Wall, Brian Diffey, Kirsty Penkham

Topics covered

• space exploration
• DNA mapping
• flesh-eating fly
• Earth's axis
• vitamin D production
• secretary bird
• kitchen chemistry

Keywords

• Artemis II
• DNA
• flesh-eating fly
• Earth axis
• vitamin D
• secretary bird
• kitchen chemistry

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Bristol, Newcastle University, NASA

Books & works: Brain Box, Kitchen Chemistry

Places: Moon, Earth, Kitchen

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