30 Animals That Made Us Smarter Podcast
Amazing things humans have learnt from the animal kingdom. Inspiring, fascinating, bingeable.
Episodes to download
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Insects and mobile phone
Mon 17 Jan 2022
Smart phones could become even smarter – thanks to ants, beetles, moths and spiders!
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Butterfly and eye implant
Mon 10 Jan 2022
Transparent butterfly wings may hold the key to more effective eye implants
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Slug and surgical glue
Mon 3 Jan 2022
From goo to super glue! Slug slime may hold the key to mending wounds without stitches
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Dragonfly and sky spy
Mon 27 Dec 2021
The amazing agility of a dragonfly leads to the creation of a new spy drone
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Kingfisher and soil erosion
Mon 20 Dec 2021
A clever solution to a significant environmental problem based on a kingfisher’s eyelids
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Bees and fast deliveries
Mon 13 Dec 2021
Sweet moves! The “waggle dance” of the honey bee is helping create faster delivery routes
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Jellyfish and underwater robot
Mon 6 Dec 2021
The world’s most efficient swimmer is a jellyfish! It’s the inspiration for a new robot
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Polar bear and insulation
Mon 29 Nov 2021
The science behind some fascinating fur could help humans keep warm in space
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Electric eels and medical implants
Mon 22 Nov 2021
From heart stopper to heart saver? The electric eel may help power medical implants
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Camel and desert architecture
Mon 15 Nov 2021
Take a peek into a camel’s nose! The science inside could help to cool desert homes
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Lobsters and space telescopes
Mon 8 Nov 2021
How a sea creature can help us see more of our universe
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Pangolins and Waterloo Station
Mon 1 Nov 2021
A tricky design challenge solved! All thanks to the scaly skin of the pangolin
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Ants and mini robots
Sun 24 Oct 2021
Snap! An ant’s springy jaws are being copied by scientists to help move mini robots
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Horseshoe crabs and vaccines
Sun 17 Oct 2021
A new synthetic test to create safe vaccines – based on the secrets of the horseshoe crab
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Arapaima fish and armour
Sun 10 Oct 2021
It’s a “living fossil”! This fish can resist piranhas and is inspiring a new body armour
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Barn owl and drone
Sun 3 Oct 2021
Learning from Lily the owl – could she help small aircraft cope with turbulence?
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Manta ray and pollution solution
Sun 26 Sep 2021
Will a ray save the day? It’s inspiring a way to prevent more pollution of our oceans
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Cicada and safe surfaces
Sun 19 Sep 2021
How an insect’s wings inspired materials that could kill bacteria
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Cats and road safety
Sun 12 Sep 2021
We love cats (well, many people do)! Thanks to one feline friend, they help keep us safe
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Octopus and transplants
Sun 5 Sep 2021
The remarkable dexterity of cctopus suckers might help improve delicate surgery
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Rose butterfly and solar panels
Sun 29 Aug 2021
Their wings aren’t just for show! Butterflies can help us harness energy from sunlight
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Sponge and skyscraper
Sun 22 Aug 2021
Ever heard of Venus’s Flower Basket? It’s the sponge inspiring bridges and skyscrapers!
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Cow and sewage treatment
Sun 15 Aug 2021
A cow’s amazing stomach could hold the key to stopping wastewater pollution
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Snake and rescue robot
Sun 8 Aug 2021
Imagine being rescued by a snake! A new generation of wriggly robots could save your life
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Mantis shrimp and aircraft
Sun 1 Aug 2021
Bam! The mantis shrimp’s powerful punch could change the way we build cars and planes
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Wasp and keyhole surgery
Sun 25 Jul 2021
Scared of wasps? They could help keep you alive, perhaps transforming life-saving surgery
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Hedgehog and helmet
Sun 18 Jul 2021
A hedgehog could save your life! Their spiky quills have inspired a new sports helmet
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Camel and cool medicines
Sun 11 Jul 2021
Camels are cool. They cope with intense heat, inspiring a new way of storing medicines
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Squid and self-healing materials
Sun 4 Jul 2021
What if a robot could fix itself? It’s the story of the secret of scary squid suckers
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Elephant and robotic arm
Sun 27 Jun 2021
An elephant’s trunk is amazing. Imagine a robotic arm with the same capabilities
