Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea

Guests:Science Communicator Eoin MurphyDCU's Shelley BradyDr Tom Reader, Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecologist, University of Nottingham

Is maths just about numbers and equations? Not even close. Today we’re exploring the hidden power of mathematical thinking with Junaid Mubeen, mathematician and author of Think Like a Mathematician. From decoding conspiracy theories to escaping political echo chambers, calculus and dimensionality shape the way we see the world, even if we don’t realise it.

We recently got an email in from a listener to the show about a topic they thought we should cover, and we’d encourage you to get in touch too if there is something you’d like to learn more about – [email protected]. The email was from Dr John Regan, the Royal Society - SFI University Research Fellow in the Department of Theoretical Physics at Maynooth University.He said: “One of the postdocs in my group recently published a paper on Primordial Black Holes left over from the Big Bang being possible ‘seeds’ for super massive black holes. The JWST (James Webb Space Telescope) has, over the last two-three years, been discovering way more and way more massive black holes than was expected.In short, the results from the very early Universe being returned from JWST are both puzzling and electrifying. Primordial black holes may explain some of these results (as well as possibly being a candidate for dark matter)! I think this would be a very cool topic for Futureproof. I would be delighted to discuss these results and perhaps also provide some context to what JWST is seeing and why it is so exciting.”Dr John joins us on the show.

Can life be programmed like software? Synthetic biology says yes. We’re entering an era where DNA is code and biology is becoming a programmable platform. You can now order synthetic DNA online and use AI to design brand-new proteins. Today, we’re diving into the frontlines of this biotech revolution — and joining us is microbiologist, geneticist, and futurist Andrew Hessel to explore what’s possible now and what’s coming next.Also featured in Newsround are Dr Shelley Brady of DCU and Dr Shane Bergin of UCD.

Guest: Dr Christian Ginski, School of Natural Sciences at the University of Galway

Guests:Dr David Duffy, Assistant Professor of Wildlife Disease Genomics at the University of FloridaDr Thomas Davies, Associate Professor of Marine Conservation at the University of Plymouth

Guests:Eoin Murphy & Shelley BradyDr Bob Brier AKA Egyptologist 'Mr Mummy'

They’re tiny, silent, and often go unnoticed – but their bite can change your life. Ticks are on the rise in Ireland, and with them, a disease that’s both underreported and often misunderstood: lyme disease. Joining us is Dr Eoin Healy, retired research associate at UCC’s School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences.

The Earth’s core was thought to be a sealed vault 3,000 kilometers beneath our feet, isolated from the layers above. But now, new evidence is shaking that assumption to its core. Is the earth’s core leaking? Professor Matthias Willbold from the Department of Geochemistry and Isotope Geology at the University of Göttingen in Germany joins Jonathan to discuss.Also featured, Newsround with Dr Tara Shine from Change by Degrees and Dr Jessamyn Fairfield from the University of Galway.

Guest: Laurence Hurst, Professor of Evolutionary Genetics at the University of Bath and the author of ‘The Evolution of Imperfection’

Guests:Professor David Webb, Professorial Research Fellow at Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies at Aston University in the UKDr Shelley Brady of DCUDr Shane Bergin of UCD

Are we alone in the universe? Could there be other civilisations out there that we could possibly contact?In 1961, Astrophysicist Frank Drake tried to formulate an equation that could answer these questions.Today, we have finally reached a technological level that allows us to search for signs of life and technology on planets in distant star systems.So, “Is There Anybody Out There?”We’ll be asking that question on this very special episode of Futureproof...Guests:Sean Jordan - Associate Professor in Biogeochemistry and Astrobiology at Dublin City University @SeanFJProfessor Johanna Vos - Astrophysicist specialising in exoplanet atmospheres in Trinity College Dublin @TCD_physicsProfessor Lisa Kalteneger - Professor of Astronomy at Cornell and current Director of the Carl Sagan Institute @KalteneggerLisa

Guest: Dr Clare Cousins, Reader in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of St Andrews

Guests:Susan Kelleher of DCULaura Hayes of DIASTim Friede

Guest: Prof Cliona O’Farrelly, Chair in Comparative Immunology at TCD

Guests:Dr Shane Bergin, UCDProfessor Annie Curtis, RCSIDr Shelley Brady Postdoctoral Researcher at the Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data Analytics at DCU

Guest: Adam Kucharski, Mathematician and Epidemiologist, and Author of 'Proof: The Uncertain Science of Certainty'.

Guests:Dr Shane BerginDr Jessamyn FairfieldProfessor Anya Hurlbert

Guest: Don Ross, Experimental Economist and Philosopher of Science

Guests:Dr Lorina NaciDr Andrew Godfrey, Medical & Scientific Director of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service

Guest: Dr Bronagh Keane

Guests:Dr Shane BerginDr Ruth FreemanGlynn Tallon

Guest: Nikita Greenidge

Guests:Dr Laura HayesDr Shane BerginBrian Schmidt

Guest: Lisa Baik, Postdoctoral researcher with the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at Yale University

Guests:Dr Jessamyn Fairfield from the University of GalwayMedic and Immunologist Dr Lara DunganDr Sarah Williams, Assistant Professor of High Energy Physics at Cambridge University

Guest: Dr Daniel Jolley, Assistant Professor in Social Psychology at the University of Nottingham

Guests:Dr Ruth FreemanDr Lara DunganDr Giovanni Traverso, Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT and a Gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the US

Guest: Dr Chris MacDonald, Univeristy of Cambridge

Guests:Dr Laura HayesDr Jessamyn FairfieldJoe Roman, Biologist at the University of Vermont

Guest: Dr Wen-Sung Chung

Guests:Dr Laura HayesDr Ruth FreemanDr Lorina Naci

Guest: Dr Andrew Godfrey, Medical & Scientific Director of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service

Guests: Jessamyn FairfieldTara ShineDr Joshua Pearce

Guest: Dr Brian MacNamee, UCD

Guests: Dr Jonny Hanson QUBDr Annie CurtisDr Shane Bergin

Guest: Dayu Lin, Neuroscientist and Professor of Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Physiology at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine.

Guests:Dr Laura Hayes, Solar Physicist.Don Ross, Professor of Philosophy and Behavioural Economist.

Guest: Professor Giles Yeo

Guests: Dr Lucy HawkesDr Ruth FreemanDr Laura Dungan

Guest: Joshua Howgego, author of 'The Meteorite Hunters'

Guests:Dr Ruth Freeman.Dr Laura Dungan.Associate Professor in Applied BiosSciences at Macquarie University, Maciej Maselko.

Guest: Professor Andrew Daly, Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Galway.

Guest: Prof Geraint Tarling of the British Antarctic Survey.Also Newsround with Shane Bergin and Ruth Freeman.

Guest: Dr Gerard McCarthy, Oceanographer with ICARUS Climate Research Centre and Department of Geography.

Guest: Antonio Fernando Ruiz, Assistant Professor and Meinig Family Investigator in the Life Sciences at Cornell University.

Guest: Dr Hana Jurikova, senior research fellow at the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of St Andrews.

Guest: Dr Lokesh Joshi, Stokes Professor of Glycosciences at the Infectious Diseases Section of the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at the University of Galway.

Guest: Ian McFadden, Lecturer in Computational Ecology, Queen Mary University of London

Guest: Tristan Gooley, author of 'How to Read a Tree'