60 acast.com Making Science with Tom Whipple https://shows.acast.com/making-science en The Times Science stories,Science,Discovery,Weird science,Innovation,History The Times

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]]> false The Times anna.covell@news.co.uk 683da01288331046295cacf1 making-science episodic https://assets.pippa.io/shows/cover/1748868186688-0e032643-c7ac-44aa-8291-18460ce0ca8c.jpeg https://shows.acast.com/making-science Making Science with Tom Whipple Breakthroughs in Cancer Research Breakthroughs in Cancer Research Fri, 21 Nov 2025 18:00:00 GMT 11:09 691f63cd087c4173ab222096 false https://shows.acast.com/making-science/episodes/breakthroughs-in-cancer-research 691f63cd087c4173ab222096 683da01288331046295cacf1 breakthroughs-in-cancer-research bonus

Cancer Research UK is funding the breakthroughs that matter.  Did you know that over the past 50 years, their work has helped double cancer survival in the UK? From cancer vaccines to innovative diagnostic tools and more, the charity believes its researchers are on the cusp of advances that change how we think about cancer. In this bonus episode, Tom hears from leading research scientist, Professor Peter Sasieni to discuss the remarkable recent breakthroughs Cancer Research UK has achieved supporting the HPV vaccine, and the difference this is making to cervical cancer rates in Britain. And we also hear from Dr Sam Godfrey on some of the new developments and how scientists are discovering more about cancer and its prevention, detection and treatment.


This episode was made in partnership with Cancer Research UK.


Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). 


To learn more about Cancer Research UK's breakthroughs click here


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Cancer Research UK is funding the breakthroughs that matter.  Did you know that over the past 50 years, their work has helped double cancer survival in the UK? From cancer vaccines to innovative diagnostic tools and more, the charity believes its researchers are on the cusp of advances that change how we think about cancer. In this bonus episode, Tom hears from leading research scientist, Professor Peter Sasieni to discuss the remarkable recent breakthroughs Cancer Research UK has achieved supporting the HPV vaccine, and the difference this is making to cervical cancer rates in Britain. And we also hear from Dr Sam Godfrey on some of the new developments and how scientists are discovering more about cancer and its prevention, detection and treatment.


This episode was made in partnership with Cancer Research UK.


Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). 


To learn more about Cancer Research UK's breakthroughs click here


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]]> Time-lords and the extra seconds Time-lords and the extra seconds Mon, 11 Aug 2025 23:01:00 GMT 12:01 689a01b35830c847dcade549 false https://shows.acast.com/making-science/episodes/atomic-clocks-and-extra-seconds 689a01b35830c847dcade549 683da01288331046295cacf1 atomic-clocks-and-extra-seconds full 1 10 The start of the New Year in 2017 began in the usual way, with a countdown. But what happens when that countdown is eleven seconds rather than ten? In this final episode of the first series, Tom Whipple explores the evolution of time measurement, the complications a leap second can cause, and the ongoing debate among international 'time lords’ about what's to be done about it.  


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]]> The start of the New Year in 2017 began in the usual way, with a countdown. But what happens when that countdown is eleven seconds rather than ten? In this final episode of the first series, Tom Whipple explores the evolution of time measurement, the complications a leap second can cause, and the ongoing debate among international 'time lords’ about what's to be done about it.  


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]]> The Tree of Life The Tree of Life Mon, 04 Aug 2025 23:01:00 GMT 13:53 68907ffc0bb12601f0b9deb8 false https://shows.acast.com/making-science/episodes/the-tree-of-life 68907ffc0bb12601f0b9deb8 683da01288331046295cacf1 the-tree-of-life full 1 9 Making Science, Tom Whipple tells the story of physician and alchemist Johannes Baptist van Helmont. In the 17th-century Van Helmont believed he had created the Philosopher's Stone, a substance that could turn base metals into gold. Whilst this might have been a pipe dream his work indirectly paved the way for a monumental scientific discovery - photosynthesis. 

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]]> Making Science, Tom Whipple tells the story of physician and alchemist Johannes Baptist van Helmont. In the 17th-century Van Helmont believed he had created the Philosopher's Stone, a substance that could turn base metals into gold. Whilst this might have been a pipe dream his work indirectly paved the way for a monumental scientific discovery - photosynthesis. 

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]]> Glow in the dark cocktails and radioactive health drinks Glow in the dark cocktails and radioactive health drinks Mon, 28 Jul 2025 23:01:00 GMT 9:08 6883a41cf6d4262b078361c2 false https://shows.acast.com/making-science/episodes/glow-in-the-dark-cocktails-and-radioactive-health-drinks 6883a41cf6d4262b078361c2 683da01288331046295cacf1 glow-in-the-dark-cocktails-and-radioactive-health-drinks full 1 8 The Sunshine Dinner of 1904 in New York was known for its glow-in-the-dark theme, featuring illuminated decorations, paint and of course, drinks. But what made these cocktails glow? It turned out to be none other than radium. In this episode of Making Science, Tom Whipple goes back to a time when radioactive products touted alluring health benefits. What they didn’t know then, was that the substance was unstable and would prove deadly.


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]]> The Sunshine Dinner of 1904 in New York was known for its glow-in-the-dark theme, featuring illuminated decorations, paint and of course, drinks. But what made these cocktails glow? It turned out to be none other than radium. In this episode of Making Science, Tom Whipple goes back to a time when radioactive products touted alluring health benefits. What they didn’t know then, was that the substance was unstable and would prove deadly.


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]]> The kilogram that lost its weight The kilogram that lost its weight Mon, 21 Jul 2025 23:01:00 GMT 10:52 687a613c81b46e5956957fb8 false https://shows.acast.com/making-science/episodes/the-kilogram-that-lost-its-weight 687a613c81b46e5956957fb8 683da01288331046295cacf1 the-kilogram-that-lost-its-weight full 1 7 The Times, unpacks the surprisingly dramatic story of the kilo - from the French Revolution’s quest for order, to a quantum reimagining of what “weight” really means. Enter the kibble balance: a machine so precise it can weigh light itself. Sort of.

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]]> The Times, unpacks the surprisingly dramatic story of the kilo - from the French Revolution’s quest for order, to a quantum reimagining of what “weight” really means. Enter the kibble balance: a machine so precise it can weigh light itself. Sort of.

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]]> How do you hide a lump of gold in plain sight? How do you hide a lump of gold in plain sight? Mon, 14 Jul 2025 23:01:00 GMT 8:46 68750bde610560d3ef264580 false https://shows.acast.com/making-science/episodes/how-to-hide-a-nobel-prize 68750bde610560d3ef264580 683da01288331046295cacf1 how-to-hide-a-nobel-prize full 1 6

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]]> How far can bull frogs jump? (And why it matters!) How far can bull frogs jump? (And why it matters!) Mon, 07 Jul 2025 23:01:00 GMT 11:46 6867d79f0b3c0cca54fbdb77 false https://shows.acast.com/making-science/episodes/how-high-can-bull-frogs-jump 6867d79f0b3c0cca54fbdb77 683da01288331046295cacf1 how-high-can-bull-frogs-jump full 1 5

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]]> Are friars electric? Are friars electric? Tue, 01 Jul 2025 16:19:47 GMT 8:53 685aca0a84ae3ce8a416ed4a false https://shows.acast.com/making-science/episodes/200-monks 685aca0a84ae3ce8a416ed4a 683da01288331046295cacf1 200-monks full 1 4 In 1746, Antoine Nolie conducted an experiment with 200 monks to determine the speed of an electric current - by making the monks stand in a circle holding brass poles and connecting them to a large battery. What could possibly go wrong? And what would this experiment reveal about the way electrons flow?


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]]> In 1746, Antoine Nolie conducted an experiment with 200 monks to determine the speed of an electric current - by making the monks stand in a circle holding brass poles and connecting them to a large battery. What could possibly go wrong? And what would this experiment reveal about the way electrons flow?


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]]> Islands of Ice and Straw Islands of Ice and Straw Mon, 23 Jun 2025 23:01:00 GMT 9:04 68590fc773d44a0f7e7a83d4 false https://shows.acast.com/making-science/episodes/latent-heat 68590fc773d44a0f7e7a83d4 683da01288331046295cacf1 latent-heat full 1 3 Making Science, Tom Whipple delves into the intriguing science of latent heat and the thermodynamic properties of water - and how this science played a pivotal role in one of the strangest Allied schemes during World War II - a plan to create an 'iceberg aircraft carrier' known as Project Habakkuk. 

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]]> Making Science, Tom Whipple delves into the intriguing science of latent heat and the thermodynamic properties of water - and how this science played a pivotal role in one of the strangest Allied schemes during World War II - a plan to create an 'iceberg aircraft carrier' known as Project Habakkuk. 

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]]> War, Stones and Metals! War, Stones and Metals! Mon, 16 Jun 2025 23:01:00 GMT 9:23 683ee2040d2b3bac3e6d59d1 false https://shows.acast.com/making-science/episodes/episode-2-stone-age 683ee2040d2b3bac3e6d59d1 683da01288331046295cacf1 episode-2-stone-age full 1 2 When the Stone Age met the Bronze Age? It's time for Tom to explore the profound impact of alloys on a clash of Stone and Bronze Age technologies in battle. Who would have thought blending copper and tin would have such an impact on human history! How are alloys created? What properties made them useful? And what transformative role did they play in ancient toolmaking and modern engineering? 


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]]> When the Stone Age met the Bronze Age? It's time for Tom to explore the profound impact of alloys on a clash of Stone and Bronze Age technologies in battle. Who would have thought blending copper and tin would have such an impact on human history! How are alloys created? What properties made them useful? And what transformative role did they play in ancient toolmaking and modern engineering? 


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]]> Death rays and other would-be inventions! Death rays and other would-be inventions! Mon, 09 Jun 2025 23:01:00 GMT 9:21 683ee134b869995816df58fa false https://shows.acast.com/making-science/episodes/episode-1-death-ray 683ee134b869995816df58fa 683da01288331046295cacf1 episode-1-death-ray full 1 1 In the first of the series of Making Science, Tom Whipple, Science Editor at the Times, explores the strange history of a 'death ray’ that supposedly promised to change modern warfare forever. In 1924, engineer and inventor Harry Grindell Matthews claimed to have created a beam that could stop an engine, ignite gunpowder, and incapacitate enemy soldiers from up to four miles away. Harry Grindell Matthews never revealed how his technology worked and few had seen the ray in action. So was it true? Perhaps the science of electromagnetic spectrum holds the answer.


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]]> In the first of the series of Making Science, Tom Whipple, Science Editor at the Times, explores the strange history of a 'death ray’ that supposedly promised to change modern warfare forever. In 1924, engineer and inventor Harry Grindell Matthews claimed to have created a beam that could stop an engine, ignite gunpowder, and incapacitate enemy soldiers from up to four miles away. Harry Grindell Matthews never revealed how his technology worked and few had seen the ray in action. So was it true? Perhaps the science of electromagnetic spectrum holds the answer.


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]]> Introducing Making Science with Tom Whipple Introducing Making Science with Tom Whipple Tue, 03 Jun 2025 11:12:05 GMT 1:42 683dbb92708e9fc9b444ccad false https://shows.acast.com/making-science/episodes/introducing-making-science-with-tom-whipple 683dbb92708e9fc9b444ccad 683da01288331046295cacf1 introducing-making-science-with-tom-whipple trailer

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