 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LEADING EDGE
|
 |
|
 |
MISSED A PROGRAMME?
Go to the Listen Again page |
|
|
|
|
|
|
PROGRAMME INFO |
|
|
|
|
|
Leading Edge brings you the latest news from the world of science. Geoff Watts celebrates discoveries as soon as they're being talked about - on the internet, in coffee rooms and bars; often before they're published in journals. And he gets to grips with not just the science, but with the controversies and conversation that surround it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contact Leading Edge |
|
|
|
|
LISTEN AGAIN 30 min |
|
|
|
 |
PRESENTER |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
"If what interests you are new and exciting ideas, it's science you should be turning to. And whether it's the Human Genome Project or the origins of the Universe, Leading Edge is the place to hear about them."
Geoff Watts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PROGRAMME DETAILS |
|
|
|
 |
|
| Sea lions: under threat? |
Abel Maths Prize 2006
The Abel prize of the Norwegian Academy is regarded as the new Nobel Prize of Mathematics. Alfred Nobel didn't like maths so didn't leave any money for a maths prize. And until the Abel prize, mathematicians had to be under 40 to have any hope of winning the most prestigious prize - the Field's Medal.
This new prize is given to mathematicians of any age and usually acknowledges their work over a lifetime. This seems to make more sense as maths is getting harder and gone are the days of the genius having a eureka! moment in his 20s. You need to be around for longer just to get the sums done! Geoff Watts talks to mathematician Marcus du Sautoy about the lifetime achievements of this year's winner: Lennart Carleson.
Ocean Pollution
Geoff Watts speaks to Professor Andrew Dobson, Princeton University and vet Frances Gulland from the Marine Mammal Centre in Sausalito, California, about the worrying increase in the numbers of sea lions found convulsing on beaches in the California area.
Andrew and Frances have found that algal blooms produce a toxin called domoic acid which is the cause of the seizures. But the cause of the blooms is unclear and it's thought that the build up of man's waste could be responsible. Could what's happening to the sealions be the 'miner's canary' to what could happen in humans?
North London Drug Trials
Following the shocking events of the drug trial in North London last week, Geoff Watts discusses the science behind the new drugs being tested. One of the reasons for the surprise reaction is that drugs are moving beyond simple chemical reactions. The new generation of drugs are 'biological agents', compounds that multiply to react to the infection and help the body build up its own defence system to fight disease.
Geoff Watts talks to the scientists working in this new area to see how we can stop this extreme reaction happening again. Do we need to rely more or less on the animal tests done before trials in humans? And should we be meddling with the body's immune system or are we asking for trouble?
|
|
|
RELATED LINKS
Abel Prize
Marine Mammal Centre
BBC Radio 4 Science
BBC Science and Nature
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites
|
|
|
|
|
|
