Science Shambles

The ocean is an all too often overlooked part of our natural world, yet it is the blue engine that drives everything. And it is changing in many ways, at an alarming rate. Rising sea levels, warming oceans, increased acidification, plastic pollution... Physicist and oceanographer Dr Helen Czerski will discuss this with oceanographer Professor David Ho and geologist Professor Chris Jackson, looking at what we can do, and why or why not there's reason to be hopeful. Recorded in The Cosmic Shambles Forest of Science and Culture at the 2025 Latitude Festival. Don't forget to support us at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

What if being a bit weird is actually entirely normal? What if sharing our internal struggles wasn't a sign of weakness, but strength? Let some experts help you wade through the 'neurotrash' to talk about the science of neurodiversity. Gina Rippon is a Professor of Cognitive NeuroImaging and author of The Gendered Brain and The Lost Girls of Autism. Dr Camilla Pang is the Royal Society Book Prize winning author of Explaining Humans and Perfectly Weird. They join comedian and author of Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal, Robin Ince. Recorded at the the 2025 Latitude Festival. Support us at patreon.com/cosmicshambles to watch an extended edition of this episode

Recorded live at Latitude 2025, join Dr Clara Nellist of CERN, and two astrophysicists, Sky at Night co-host Dr Maggie Aderin-Pock and Sky at Night regular Dr Jen Gupta alongside Dr Helen Czerski to discuss what we know about Dark Matter, and how we're trying to actually find it. Support the show at patreon.com/cosmicshambles and watch the video version of this panel on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles

AI is in the news everywhere you look at the moment. But amongst all of the sensationalist headlines, what’s really going on, and what should we actually be worried about when it comes to AI? Prof Kevin Fong recently took a look at medicine in AI for a BBC series and Elizabeth Black is a Professor of Artificial Intelligence at King’s College. They join Dr Suze Kundu to chat about it all. Recorded in The Cosmic Shambles Forest of Science and Culture at the 2025 Latitude Festival. Support us at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Recorded LIVE at the 2022 Latitude Festival, Dr Helen Czerski and Prof Kevin Fong sit down to talk about the merits of space travel in a time where the Earth is gripped by a pandemic and climate change. Should we still be focussing on space travel? What can it teach us that helps with life on Earth? And why are we so enamoured with space, when the oceans are still so ignored? Support the podcast and network at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Dr Kit Champman is a life long motorsport fan and as a scientist, he previously worked with Virgin Racing's Formula E team on the chemistry and material science of their cars. Many innovations, first developed for racing, have been incorporated into everyday life across fields of healthcare, fluid dynamics, climate and, obviously, road cars. His latest book is, Racing Green, and looks into these developments and research, and it's out now. If you’d like to directly support what we do at the Cosmic Shambles Network visit https://patreon.com/cosmicshambles

The mantra of 'We're not vaccinated against COVID until the whole world is vaccinated' is now more prevalent than ever. At last year's British MotoGP round at Silverstone Robin Ince went along to meet up with Andrea Coleman and 13 time Grand Prix winner Randy Mamola, founders of the charity Two Wheels for Life. The charity uses motorcycles to deliver healthcare, and now, COVID vaccines to hard to reach rural communities in Africa. Robin, Andrea and Randy chat about their work during the pandemic, how the charity got started and changing the public perception around motorcycles. Special thanks to Dorna and Silverstone. Two Wheels for Life is one of the charities we supported at 2021's Christmas Compendium of Reason, hosted by Robin and Brian Cox. Find out more at twowheelsforlife.org Support the Cosmic Shambles Network for all sorts of extras including an upcoming extended interview with Randy Mamola, at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Recorded live at the 2021 Norwich Science Festival, Dr Helen Czerski is joined by Chris Lintott, co-host of The Sky at Night and Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Oxford to talk about the year in astronomy so far. They chat about the discovery of new planets, the Drake equation, missions to Mars and whether Elon Musk is a force for good... Support the show and get all sorts of bonus goodies at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Dr Stuart Clark is a science writer and journalist with a PhD in astrophysics. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and his latest book, Beneath the Night: How the Stars Have Shaped the History of Humankind is out now in paperback. Order signed and dedicated copies of Robin's new book The Importance of Being Interested: Adventures in Scientific Curiosity at cosmicshambles.com/shop Support The Cosmic Shambles Network at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Michio Kaku is a theoretical physicist, futurist, and popular science author and speaker around the world. He is a Professor of Theoretical Physics at the City College of New York and his latest book The God Equation: The Quest for a Theory of Everything has just been released. Order signed and dedicated copies of Robin's new book The Importance of Being Interested: Adventures in Scientific Curiosity at cosmicshambles.com/shop Support The Cosmic Shambles Network at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Harry Cliff is a particle physicist at the University of Cambridge working on the LHCb experiment at CERN. He chats to Robin Ince about his new book, How to Make an Apple Pie from Scratch, an exhilarating search for the most basic building blocks of our universe, and the dramatic quest to unlock their cosmic origins. If you’d like to directly support what we do at the Cosmic Shambles Network visit patreon.com/cosmicshambles​ Order signed and dedicated copies of Robin's new book The Importance of Being Interested: Adventures in Scientific Curiosity (Out Oct 7th) at cosmicshambles.com/bookshop

Nichola Raihani is a Professor of Evolution and Behaviour at UCL. Her research focuses on the evolution of cooperation in nature. Her first book, The Social Instinct, is out now. She joined Robin Ince to talk about it. Support the podcast and Shambles in general by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmichshambles Order Nichola's book The Social Instinct : How Cooperation Shaped the World via Hive or your favourite local bookshop. Pre-Order signed and dedicated copies of Robin's new book The Importance of Being Interested: Adventures in Scientific Curiosity (Out Oct 7th) at cosmicshambles.com/shop Tour dates at cosmicshambles.com/100bookshops

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 10am BST on our YouTube channel. This week it's a Helen special as Robin pitches all the leftover Helen questions at Dr Czerski from jam to bubbles to climate to poo... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 10am BST on our YouTube channel. This week Robin and Helen are joined by Professors Christina Pagel and Sheena Cruickshank to talk of COVID, masks, antibodies and the Loch Ness monster... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Science Shambles is a science QnA show hosted by Robin Ince and Helen Czerski. Helen is away this week so Robin is doing a live Science Book Shambles with special guest Professor Johnjoe McFadden. Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 10am BST on our YouTube channel. This week Helen is joined by Michael Marshall and Deborah Hyde to talk about why people believe in conspiracy theories, anti-science and superstition. Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 10am BST on our YouTube channel. This week Robin and Helen are joined by Dr Karl to talk of COVID, climate and kangaroo poo... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 10am BST on our YouTube channel. This week Robin and Helen are joined by Professors Alexandre Antonelli and Juliet Brodie to talk plants, seaweed and general botany. Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 10am BST on our YouTube channel. This week Robin and Helen are joined by Prof Jon Butterworth and Dr Clara Nellist from CERN to talk protons, neutrons, electrons and polarised sunglasses. Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

This is the second live event we did at the 2021 Latitude Festival when The Cosmic Shambles Network took over The Listening Post for a series of live Science Shambles events on the Sunday afternoon. Dr Helen Czerski is joined by Dr Suzi Gage and Dr Dean Burnett to talk about mental health during the pandemic including issues surrounding grief, coming out of lockdown, pregnancy and much more. To support The Cosmic Shambles Network please subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

At the 2021 Latitude Festival The Cosmic Shambles Network took over The Listening Post for a series of live Science Shambles events on the Sunday afternoon. The first of those events was a panel discussion around climate change and restoring nature and how it's not just as simple as using less plastic bags. Although you should still use less plastic bags. Dr Helen Czerski is joined by climate scientist Dr Tamsin Edwards and ecosystem scientist Professor Yadvinder Malhi. Support The Cosmic Shambles Network at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 10am BST on our YouTube channel. This week Robin is flying solo and joined by Dr Cat Hobatier and Prof Jo Setchell live from Africa to talk all things primates. Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 10am BST on our YouTube channel. This week Robin and Helen are joined by Libby Jackson and Alom Shaha to talk about science in schools, paper planes, life on the moon and long lasting soap bubbles. Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 10am BST on our YouTube channel. This week Robin and Helen are joined by Dr Rebecca Wragg Sykes and Prof Chris Stringer to talk of Dragon Man, Neanderthal music and jam vapour... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 10am BST on our YouTube channel. This week Robin and Helen are joined by Professors both Suzie Imber and Lisa Harvey-Smith to talk of black holes, Mercury and metallic crystals. Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 10am BST on our YouTube channel. This week Robin and Helen are joined by Prof Pete Etchells and Ginny Smith to talk of brain beliefs, FMRIs, cobalt recycling and video game research... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 10am BST on our YouTube channel. This week Robin and Helen are joined by Prof Alice Roberts and Dr Brenna Hassett to talk about fossil tips, burial sites and ghost teeth... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Robin chats with Oxford researcher Chiara Marletto about the idea of constructor theory and her new book on the subject, The Science of Can and Can't, which is out now. Lots of other goodies, for Patreon supporters. Sign up at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm BST on our YouTube channel. This week Robin and Helen are joined by Dr Helen Sharman, on the 30th anniversary of her record breaking journey to space as Britain's first astronaut, and Dr Keving. They chat about missions to Mir, the future of space travel, meeting Michael Collins and space chocolate... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm BST on our YouTube channel. This week Robin and Helen are joined by Dr Rachael Dunlop and Dr Suzi Gage to talk about depression in teenagers, ALS research and bear photography tips... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm BST on our YouTube channel. This week Robin and Helen are joined by Dr Helen Scales and Hugh Warwick to talk of deep sea creatures, hedgehogs and rainbows... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm BST on our YouTube channel. This week Robin and Helen are joined by Dr Jess Wade and Dr Anna Ploszajski to talk about materials, hot coffee and wooden spoons... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

In her new book Overloaded, Cosmic Shambles Network regular Ginny Smith looks at how every aspect of our lives are influenced by our brain chemicals. One of the people she spoke to in researching the book, particularly for the chapter about sleep, was our own Science Shambles co-host Dr Helen Czerski. As part of various research trips Helen has spent a lot of time at sea and in areas of the world with 24 hour daylight. So she and Ginny speak about how our brains need rhythm and routine to function properly so we need to artificially inject it even when it's not present. Just because 4am is meaningless, it doesn't mean we still don't want to get up 'early'... And these issues have come even more to the forefront during the COVID 19 pandemic and lockdown as days all seem to flow into each other and time seems to lose all its meaning... Ginny's book is available now and you can support the Cosmic Shambles Network by becoming a Patreon subscriber at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm BST on our YouTube channel. This week Robin and Helen are joined by Professor Brian Greene and Dr Clara Nellist to talk about particle physics, astrophysics, quantum physics and bubble physics. Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm BST on our YouTube channel. Robin and Helen are joined by Professor Tony Ryan and Ella Al-Shamahi to talk of chemistry, paleoanthropology and the shelf life of oils... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm GMT on our YouTube channel. This episode marks one year since our very first lockdown livestream. Robin and Helen are joined by very special guest engineer and astronaut Nicole Stott to talk about the engineering on the ISS, painting in space and breakfast desserts... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm GMT on our YouTube channel. On this episode Robin and Helen are joined by Prof Mark Miodownik and Dr Suze Kundu to talk about materials, nanotubes and a debate about jelly... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm GMT on our YouTube channel. On this episode Robin and Helen are joined by Prof Dan Davis and Prof Sheena Cruickshank for a COVID-19 update, talking vaccines, variants and viruses. Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Please note the following podcast contains discussion about suicide. Recently Robin Ince was on Celebrity Mastermind and his chosen charity was Maytree who provide a residential service for people in suicidal crisis so they can talk about their suicidal thoughts and behaviour. You don't really get a chance to talk about your chosen charity on the show so in this special podcast Robin chats to Maytree's Outreach Officer, Sadia Ahmad. Find out more about Maytree at www.maytree.org.uk​ If you’d like to directly support what we do at the Cosmic Shambles Network visit patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm GMT on our YouTube channel. On this episode Robin and Helen are joined by Dr Anjana Khatwa and Professor Iain Stewart to talk rocks, coral and lava flows. And poo obviously... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm GMT on our YouTube channel. On this episode Robin and Helen are joined by Steve Backshall and Dr Georgia Jones to talks shark science, conversation and diving stories... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm GMT on our YouTube channel. On this episode Robin and Helen are joined by Dr Erica McAlister and Prof Matthew Cobb to talk about flies, wasps and maggots... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm GMT on our YouTube channel. On this episode Robin and Helen are joined by Dr Mark Richards and Aidan McGivern to talk about weather forecasting, atmospheric monitoring and frothy milk... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm GMT on our YouTube channel. On this episode Robin and Helen are joined by Matt Parker and Eugenie von Tunzelmann to talk coding, visual effects and the limits of infinities... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm GMT on our YouTube channel. On this episode Robin and Helen are joined by Jenny Rohn and Andrew Steele to talk about ageing, COVID genetics, frozen bubbles and more... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm GMT on our YouTube channel. On this episode Robin and Helen are joined by Miranda Krestovnikoff and Joe Harkness to talk about getting back to nature through bird watching, diving and more... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm GMT on our YouTube channel. On this episode Robin and Helen are joined by Professors Lucie Green and Chris Lintott to talk about supernova hunting, flux ropes and a whale poonado... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm GMT on our YouTube channel. On this episode Robin and Helen are joined by Dr Becky Smethurst and Prof Jon Butterworth to talk about dark matter, colliding galaxies and penguin poo... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Hosted by Robin Ince and Dr Helen Czerski this episode of the Science Shambles podcast is an audio recording of our weekly Sunday Science Q and A show that goes out at 3pm GMT on our YouTube channel. On this episode Robin and Helen are joined by David Lindo and Dr Amy-Jane Beer to talk birding, rivers and spinach... Watch them on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles and get bonus content and extended conversations with guests by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Janna Levin is a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Columbia University and a world leading researcher on our understanding of black holes. Her new book, Black Hole Survival Guide, is out this week and she joined us from the US to chat about it. Extended conversation, and lots of other goodies, for Patreon supporters. Sign up at patreon.com/cosmicshambles