Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea

One of the best conversations from 2023: Ryan Kerney, organismal biologist at Gettysburg University, joined Jonathan to discuss why humans can’t breath underwater and what the likelihood is of us ever developing that ability again.

The notion of human beings getting to and settling on Mars has been a staple of science fiction for decades.But what are the social, scientific, and engineering constraints for establishing a colony, and what are the current blueprint and design concepts for the settlement of an entire Martian city?Justin Hollander, Urban Planning Professor at Tufts University and the author of ‘The First City on Mars: An Urban Planner’s Guide to Settling the Red Planet’ joins Jonathan to discuss.https://jholla03.pages.tufts.edu/

Professor Mike Tipton from the University of Portsmouth joins Jonathan to discuss the effect of the extreme cold on our bodies and how we try to stay warm.

Claire Gasque, physics graduate at the University of California, Berkeley, joins Jonathan to discuss the mysterious atmospheric phenomenon only known as STEVE.Also joining Jonathan for the Newsround is Dr Ruth Freeman from Science Foundation Ireland and Shane Bergin from UCD to look back on 2023's biggest science stories.Image by Elfiehall - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58633661

Did you know that your organs can be a different age than your body? Jonathan is joined by Jarod Rutledge, longevity scientist and Stanford Excellence Bridging Fellow to discuss what this means.

If you’ve ever experimented with VR, you know it can trick your brain into thinking that what you see is real.But in the United States, they are taking this technology to a whole new level – a minuscule one. Scientists there have created miniature VR goggles for mice to wear, but why?Professor Daniel Dombeck, Department of Neurobiology, at Northwestern University, joins Jonathan to discuss.Also joining Jonathan for this week's Newsround is Lianne Shanley, PhD Researcher from the School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin & Dr. Ruth Freeman from Science Foundation Ireland.

Jonathon is joined by Prof. Daniel Granato, course director for Functional Foods and Product Development at the University of Limerick to discuss functional foods and what benefits they can give to us.

Hypoxia training could help patients at risk of health complications ahead of surgery, scientists at the University of Limerick have found. Joining Jonathan to discuss more is Professor Phil Jakeman, Professor of Sport and Exercise Sciences at UL.

Leaves have many different jobs: photosynthesis, gas exchange, water exchange, and more. But how do they end up in the shapes that they are? Joining Jonathan to discuss is Dr Katie Gray Ferris, Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Tulane University in the United States.

For centuries we have been marketed and sold products that claim extraordinary things only to find out that the evidence and application don’t match up.So-called snake oil products have littered the internet recently and despite pretty clear regulations, the internet has turned on the firehose when it comes to advertising and marketing, to the point where regulators can’t keep up.So, to protect ourselves we should be developing a sceptical approach, so says Nick Teller, the author of 'The Skeptic’s Guide to Sports Science' - he joins Jonathan to discuss.Also joining Jonathan for Newsround is Catherine McGuinness, Research and Education Officer at Cavan County Museum & Lianne Shanley, PhD Researcher from the School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin.

Our brain has about 86 billion neurons making it a pretty busy place but how much of that space is dedicated to storing our memories and where exactly does that happen? Joining Jonathan to get a better understanding of how we store memories is Tomás Ryan, Associate Professor in Trinity’s School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, and the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience.

Joining Jonathan to discuss new research that indicates that a delay in clamping the umbilical cord of premature babies could decrease the risk of death by as much as two-thirds is Professor Eugene Dempsey, Horgan Chair in Neonatology at the INFANT Centre at UCC.Also joining Jonathan for Newsround is physicist, Philip Smyth, and sustainable food production scientist, Laura Healy.

When it comes to the end of humanity, there are numerous ways it might come to pass - be it a wayward asteroid, the eruption of a super volcano, the ever-growing presence of Artificial Intelligence in our lives, or the unseen spores of a killer fungus. But which one of these poses the greatest risk? This is the question posed by Jonathan in this very special episode of Futureproof which was recorded in front of a live audience at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre.Joining us to discuss is:Dr. Robert Ross, Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer Science at TU DublinProfessor Chris Bean, Senior Professor and Head of Geophysics at the Dublin Institute for Advanced StudiesProfessor Caitriona Jackman, Senior Professor of Space Physics at Dunsink ObservatoryJerry Clancy, PhD student at the School of Chemical Sciences in DCUDr. Shane Bergin, physicist and an assistant professor in science education at UCD's School of Education & Immunologist, Dr. Lara Dungan, also join Jonathan for this week's Newsround.With thanks to Science Foundation Ireland.

There are around 400 million global cases of UTIs or urinary tract infections per year, and they can often persist, but why? Researchers in the UK have been using artificial bladders to find out what makes them stick around. Joining Jonathan to discuss is Prof Jennifer Rohn, Professorial Research Fellow in Renal Medicine at University College London and Head of the Centre for Urological Biology.

The Educational Irish Research Satellite 1 (EIRSAT-1) is set for launch in November, which will make it Ireland’s first venture into space. To discuss, Jonathan is joined by Dr. David McKeown, Assistant Professor/Lecturer in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at UCD, and the Engineering Manager for the EIRSAT-1 project.For this week's episode of Newsround, Jonathan is joined by Dr Oran Kennedy, Associate Professor of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, RCSI & Dr. Fergus McAuliffe, Communications and Public Engagement Manager at iCRAG, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Applied Geosciences.

On this episode of Futureproof, Jonathan McCrea interviews Johann Hari, author of ‘Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention'.

Synthetic compounds are found in a multitude of items that we manufacture. They can help us create newfound or superior chemical composites that go into the everyday items we take for granted like non-stick and water-resistant materials. But these synthetic compounds are now being detected in drinking water sources worldwide, being dubbed ‘Forever Chemicals’.So, what can be done about it?Dr. Ruairí Brannigan, Assistant Professor in the School of Chemical Sciences at DCU joins Jonathan to discuss.

Prof. Noah Whiteman has been exploring the secrets of nature’s toxins, how they evolved, and how we use them. Noah is Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development and Director of the Essig Museum of Entomology at UC-Berkeley and author of ‘Most Delicious Poison: The Story of Nature's Toxins - From Spices to Vices’ - he joins Jonathan to discuss.Also joining Jonathan for Newsround is Dr. Lara Dungan and Dr. Oran Kennedy from RCSI.

Why is your cat ginger or black? Often it comes down to a very small type of pigment that scientists in Cork have been examining to learn more about the colourisation of ancient animals. Joining Jonathan to discuss is Dr Tiffany Slater, Palaeobiologist at UCC who is interested in the preservation of ancient biomolecules.Also on the programme, did you know you can use light to detect specific cells in the body? Professor Stefan Andersson-Engles is the Head of Biophotonics and Deputy Director of IPIC based at the Tyndall National Institute and is also a Professor of Physics at University College Cork who has just been awarded a €5.3 million grant by Science Foundation Ireland to further investigate the application of light-based technologies. He joins Jonathan to discuss.

When it comes to free will, we think of our ability to independently make decisions based on our own desires or interests. That being said, there are those who say that we are the mere conscious witnesses of decisions that, deep in our brains, have already been made. Our guest argues that we are not mere vessels responding to physical forces, but agents acting with purpose. Kevin J. Mitchell is Associate Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin and author of ‘Free Agents – How Evolution Gave Us Free Will’.

Now when it comes to elite sports, there are many attributes that set the best apart from the rest. Not only do you probably have to have won the genetic lottery in the physical stakes, but also the mentality to persevere and work tirelessly to get to the top of the pile.So, with all that setting them apart from those of us sitting on the couch, do some athletes perceive the world differently as well? David McGovern, Assistant Professor in the School of Psychology at Dublin City University has been conducting research looking to answer that very question, and joins Jonathan on this week's episode.Dr Ruth Freeman of Science Foundation Ireland and Phil Smyth, Physicist join Jonathan for the latest science stories in the news this week.

Male pattern hair loss is something that over 80% of men will experience in their lifetime. Yet despite it being so widespread, the fundamentals of what actually causes it to occur, in the manner in which it occurs, still elude researchers to this day. According to a new paper, the secret may lie deep in our genetic past, with our embryonic origins. Dr. Claire Higgins, Reader in Tissue Regeneration from the Faculty of Engineering in the Department of Bioengineering of Imperial College London joins Jonathan to discuss.

Scientists at the European Space Agency have used the James Webb Space Telescope to reveal the presence of pairs of planet-like objects in the Orion Nebula that have never been detected before.Referred to as "JuMBOs" - free-floating objects the size of Jupiter - the discovery has the potential to upend our understanding of how stars and planets are formed.Joining Jonathan to discuss this is Mark McCaughrean, ESA Senior Advisor for Science & Exploration.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have conducted the largest-ever study of the genetics of our brain structure. But how can the shape and size of our brain impact our understanding of neurological and psychiatric conditions? Joining Jonathan to discuss is the co-lead of this study Professor Richard Bethlehem who specialises in brain imaging, genomics, and computational neuroscience. 

What are the consequences of living in a world so driven by efficiency, pace, and cost? Applied mathematician Coco Krumme, uses mathematical modelling to get to the bottom of this in her new book 'Optimal Illusions: The False Promise of Optimisation' - she joins Jonathan to discuss.Also joining Jonathan to go through the top news stories from the world of science is Dr. Fergus McAuliffe from iCRAG & Laura Healy, Sustainable Food Production Scientist with Teagasc.

What if we told you that a tiny parasite might be influencing the very core of wolf behaviour, making these fierce predators act in ways contrary to their survival instincts? Enter Toxoplasma Gondii, the unseen puppeteer. Kira Cassidy, a leading research biologist from the Yellowstone Wolf Project - who has delved deep into the mysteries of this parasite and its staggering effects not just on wolves, but possibly on us humans as well - joins Jonathan to discuss.

Listeners to the show might remember that last year we spoke to Dr. Vera Gorbunova from Rochester Aging Research Center at the University of Rochester about her work on SIRT6 - often referred to as the “longevity gene” because of its important role in organising proteins and recruiting enzymes that repair broken DNA. Since then, she and her team have made significant progress in the study of longevity by successfully transferring a different gene from naked mole rats into mice, resulting in improved health and an extension of the mouse’s lifespan. Jonathan is joined by Dr. Vera Gorbunova to discuss.

Walk into any national museum, in any part of the world, and you will see artifacts of significance – from coins and jewellery, to weapons, utensils, artwork, clothing, and even human remains. They are preserved because these objects tell us something about who we are and where we came from.But what if there is an artifact that is tens, or even hundreds, of meters underwater? How do we protect it from deterioration?Joining Jonathan to discuss this is Dr. David Gregory, Senior Researcher and Honorary Professor from the National Museum of Denmark.

While the question of 'what is a robot?' might have been easily answered just a few years ago, it is increasingly difficult to define.So, rather than try to fit robots into the existing categories of what is a person and what is a thing, do we need a new framework for the twenty-first century?David J. Gunkel thinks so. He is Professor of Media Studies at Northern Illinois University and author of ‘Person-Thing-Robot: A Moral and Legal Ontology for the 21st Century and Beyond’ - he joins Jonathan to discuss.

Dust. You might hate it, you might want to get rid of it, you might not know where it comes from, but did you know there are actually two billion tonnes of dust lifted into the Earth’s atmosphere each year? Joining Jonathan to discuss the world of dust is researcher Jay Owens, who has written a new book called ‘Dust – The Modern World in a Trillion Particles’.

We think of our eyes as external organs, but anatomically we can also consider them to be an extension of the brain, and this feature is proving to be really useful when trying to understand not just what's happening in our brains, but in our bodies as well.Joining Jonathan to discuss is David Keegan, Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Mater Hospital.

Did you know that in one sleep you will have travelled close to million miles by the time you wake up? This is due to the fascinating science of spin and rotational force. Joining Jonathan to detail his fascinating new book “The Science of Spin" and explain how understanding this force we can enhance our lives was Roland Ennos visiting professor of biological sciences at the University of Hull

Weight loss drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic have exploded in popularity over the past few years with them producing some quite incredible results. But could these drugs be the cure to obesity and do we have the wrong approach in dealing with the illness? Joining Johathan to discuss was Dr Margaret Steele a post-doctorate researcher at the School of Public Health at University Colledge Cork.

From dietary downsides to the environmental impact large-scale farming has on the planet - not to mention the profound cruelty to which billions of animals are subjected annually - there are plenty of arguments against human consumption of animal meat. But what about meat that’s not derived from animals who once roamed in fields, but grown in labs instead? Is it really the future of food? Dr. Mark Post, Professor of Sustainable Industrial Tissue Engineering at Maastricht University joins Jonathan to discuss.

In a pioneering operation, the first womb transplant took place in the UK this week. But how soon could we see this in Ireland? Joining Jonathan to reflect on this is Conor Harrity, Consultant Gynaecologist, Sub-specialist in Reproductive Medicine at the Rotunda & Beaumont, and Medical Director of First IVF.

Cosmic dust might be closer than you think - in fact, it might even be on top of a nearby tall building. And that’s exactly where Dr. Penelope Wozniakiewicz, Senior Lecturer in Space Science at the University of Kent, is focusing her searches as she and her colleagues are exploring cathedral roofs to find traces of these particles. But why? What can we learn from cosmic dust and what is it in the first place? Penelope joins Jonathan to discuss.

You might think becoming eternally young isn’t possible but scientists from Cornell University, the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and Cancer Research UK, are actively exploring how to reverse the ageing process. Dr. Meng Wang, Clinician Scientist in Haematology at Cornell University joins Jonathan to discuss.

In the depths of the ground in Finland, high-level radioactive nuclear waste will be buried in the world’s first such permanent storage facility of this kind. So, what does this process look like and will other countries in Europe soon be following suit? Joining Jonathan is journalist Erika Benke who has been writing about this for the BBC.

Have you ever wondered about what goes into making a spacesuit? Amy Ross has been with NASA for 30 years, and is a spacesuit engineer specialising in pressure garments. She joins Jonathan to discuss her work. This week’s Newsround with Dr Lara Dungan and Dr Ruth Freeman features a vaccine showing promise against the virus linked to multiple sclerosis; a massive sun 'umbrella' could be tethered to an asteroid to shield Earth from the sun and fight global warming; walking fewer than 10,000 daily steps still reduces the risk of death; and babies' and adults' love for Van Gogh shows a connection between early sensory preferences and later aesthetic judgments.

The science behind suncream is really surprising, as explored by writer Grace Browne in her recent piece in Wired. She joins Jonathan to shed light on something most people haven't thought of.

Black holes - cosmic enigmas with immense gravitational forces - have long perplexed scientists. At Nottingham University's Black Hole Laboratory, Prof. Silke Weinfurtner pioneers an unconventional method using a hi-tech bathtub and superfluid helium as analogues to explore black hole behaviours. How might these analogues provide us with new insights into the mysteries of black holes and the fundamental laws of physics? Prof. Weinfurtner joins Jonathan to discuss her innovative research.

The way we sleep has dramatically changed in recent years. Our alarm clock used to be the only piece of tech we associated with sleep, but we now have apps that track our sleep, evaluate its quality, and how much more or less we may need on a day-to-day basis. But how do all of these advances in sleep-orientated actually technology affect us? Katie Coveney is a senior lecturer in Sociology at Loughborough University in the UK & a medical sociologist with expertise in social and ethical aspects of medicine and health care. Catherine has just co-authored 'Technosleep: Frontiers, Fictions, Futures', a book that examines the relationship between sleep and technology. She joins Jonathan to discuss.

Did you know your gut might be able to tell you about the strength of your relationships? A recent study from Arizona State University shows that the strength of a couple’s emotional connection is correlated with the diversity of their individual microbiome. Joining Jonathan to discuss their findings is Rosy Krajmalnik-Brown, Director of the Biodesign Center for Health Through Microbiomes and a Professor at the School of Sustainable Engineering and The Built Environment at Arizona State University & Shelby Langer, Associate Professor at the ASU’s College of Nursing and Health Innovation and a member of the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Also joining Jonathan for this week's Newsround is Dr. Shane Bergin, Assistant Professor in Science Education at University College & Dr. Ruth Freeman from Science Foundation Ireland.

Dr. Kit Yates, senior lecturer in the Department of Mathematical Sciences and co-director of the Centre for Mathematical Biology at the University of Bath, joins Jonathan to teach him ‘How To Expect The Unexpected: The Science of Making Predictions and the Art of Knowing When Not To’.

With the advancement of artificial intelligence, deepfakes are becoming easier and cheaper to produce and as a result, scientists are testing the potential benefits and risks of incorporating them into your movie-going experience. Joining Jonathan to discuss is Dr Gillian Murphy, a lecturer in Cognitive Psychology at the School of Applied Psychology in University College Cork, who supervises projects on memory distortion, fake news, deepfake technology, critical thinking, conspiracy theories, and the ethics of deception in research.

Weapons of the Future We can see it in our newsfeeds every single day, as war rages on the eastern frontiers of Europe - so too are the changing dynamics evident in the way war is conducted in the 21st century. But as tactics and strategies continue to evolve, so too do the technologies that underpin the armed forces of nations the world over. So, when it comes to the weapons of the future, what can we expect exactly? Jonathan is joined by military technology journalist, Kelsey D. Atherton. The Fibonacci Sequence They’re found so commonly in the natural world, such a precise mathematical pattern. From pine cones to ferns unfolding, hurricanes, many other natural phenomenon. Essentially it’s still an ongoing question about why they are so common. Jonathan talks to someone who is trying to get to the bottom of this natural phenomenon, Dr Sandy Hetherington, UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, University of Edinburgh. Cryo Conservation It’s a sad truth that the number of species on this planet is diminishing every day, mostly due to human activity. In order to save what we have and even one day restore species back from the edge of extinction, we need to save as many samples of living animals as we can. Joining Jonathan to talk about cryo conservation and its importance in science is Dr Andrew Mooney who is with Dublin Zoo and the Department of Zoology at Trinity College Dublin.

Jonathan is joined by Jon Blundy, Royal Society Research Professor, Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oxford who proposes we utilise volcanic power to help metal extraction.

You might think of MDMA as more of a recreational drug but actually it is being clinically trialled in a therapeutic setting as a potential treatment for PTSD among a number of health conditions. To break it down, Jonathan is joined by Rachel Nuwer, science journalist & author of 'I Feel Love: MDMA and the Quest for Connection in a Fractured World'.

According to the World Economic Forum, 99% of the world’s population experiences air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines. But recent studies have shown that air pollution doesn’t just impact our lungs, but can also lead to heart attacks and strokes. Joining Jonathan to discuss is Annette Peters, Chair of Epidemiology at the Faculty of Medicine at LMU Munich, Director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, and Visiting professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston.

The biology underpinning a rare genetic mutation that allows its carrier to live virtually pain-free, heal more rapidly, and experience reduced anxiety and fear, has been uncovered by new research from University College London. Dr. Andrei Okorokov, Associate Professor at the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research at UCL joins Jonathan to discuss.