Head in the Clouds - Owain Wyn Evans, Gavin Pretor-Pinney, Amanda Maycock

Head in the Clouds - Owain Wyn Evans, Gavin Pretor-Pinney, Amanda Maycock

From The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

December 10, 2025 · 42 min

About this episode

The episode explores the science of clouds with experts discussing their formation, impact on climate, and fascinating characteristics.

Robin Ince and Brian Cox look up to the heavens as they try to ‘de-mistify’ the foggy science of clouds. They’re joined by Cloud Appreciation Society founder Gavin Pretor-Pinney, climate scientist Amanda Maycock, and former weather presenter and drummer Owain Wyn Evans, for a whirlwind tour of our too often-overlooked aerial realm. The panel explores how clouds form, why they take such extraordinary shapes, and how satellites and weather balloons help us keep track of them. They discover why low clouds cool the planet but high clouds warm it and why a cloud that weighs as much as a jumbo jet manages to stay up in the sky. From the physics of a crisp packet balancing on a cumulonimbus to the shimmering beauty of noctilucent clouds, tune in for this cirrus-ly fascinating episode. Series Producer: Mel Brown Researcher: Alex Rodway Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem A BBC Studios Production

People in this episode

Hosts: Robin Ince, Brian Cox

Guests: Gavin Pretor-Pinney, Amanda Maycock, Owain Wyn Evans

Topics covered

  • cloud science
  • climate
  • weather
  • satellites
  • cloud formation
  • aerial phenomena

Keywords

  • clouds
  • climate science
  • weather patterns
  • satellites
  • cloud shapes
  • aerial phenomena
  • cumulonimbus
  • noctilucent clouds

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Cloud Appreciation Society, BBC Studios

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