Technically Speaking | a science and engineering discussion

What are eFuels?

Hydrocarbons have been really helpful to humankind and some technology relies so heavily on them that we'll not stop using them any time soon. Antonia, Jasmin, Sophie and Alasdair discuss eFuels which are a new source of hydrocarbons that could replace fossil fuels. Sophie and Alasdair talk about the company they have founded called Carbon Neutral Fuels which aims to suck carbon dioxide out of the environment and turn it into fuel for airplanes. The team discusses the different technologies to do this as well as what else it could be used for. 

They also touch on TRLs (Technology Readiness Levels - a way of describing how mature a technology is) and explain some of the terminology used in this new and fast-growing industry. 

What is chaos theory?

We've seen it used a lot in the movies so Antonia, Laura and Emma discuss what chaos theory menas to physicists along with uses in weather prediction, biochemistry, economics and more. They also have a bit of wild speculation about how it could be used to produce some uplifting storylines.

What’s the beef with collagen?

Recent news has reported that the sale of collagen supplements is making a huge contribution to deforestation. Antonia, Ellie and Laura talk about what collagen is, why we need it, how our bodies make it and whether supplements can help. They also dive into the news articles that link this beauty product to deforestation and question just how big the link is.

Heart of Glass: Societal implications of nuclear glass

Nuclear waste is hugely important for society; the UK has used nuclear power for decades and now we need to safely and responsibly dispose of the waste. Laura talks to Penny Harvey and Petra Tjitske Kalshoven, two anthropologists at the University of Manchester and part of The BEAM research network. They discuss how nuclear waste can be locked away deep underground in a specially engineered facility, the process to find a site for the facility, and how communities can learn more about this process. They also talk about glass as art and its use in other practical applications, and our relationship with this material.

Heart of Glass is an exhibition at Florence Arts Centre in Egremont, West Cumbria, UK. The exhibition is on 24th March to 30th June and features images taken at a microscopic scale of nuclear waste glass.

The exhibition is supported by The University of Manchester and involves The BEAM nuclear and social research network.

Heart of Glass: Creativity in art and science

You may not realise it but scientists are just as creative as artists. Laura is joined by Tamas Zagyva, a research associate at Imperial College London, and Bridget Kennedy, an artist and lecturer in fine art at Newcastle University, to talk about how they find inspiration, what sort of emotions their work evokes, and what sort of skills are required in their respective disciplines.

Heart of Glass is an exhibition at Florence Arts Centre in Egremont, West Cumbria, UK. The exhibition is on 24th March to 30th June and features images taken at a microscopic scale of nuclear waste glass.

The exhibition is supported by The University of Manchester and involves The BEAM nuclear and social research network.

Heart of Glass: The science of vitrification

Vitrification – the process of making glass – is used to immobilise nuclear waste and also happens naturally in the earth. Laura talks to Tracey Taylor from the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory about the glass making process and to Brian O’Driscoll, a geologist from the University of Ottawa in Canada, about natural glass and why researching this material is so important.

Heart of Glass is an exhibition at Florence Arts Centre in Egremont, West Cumbria, UK. The exhibition is on 24th March to 30th June and features images taken at a microscopic scale of nuclear waste glass.

The exhibition is supported by The University of Manchester and involves The BEAM nuclear and social research network.

Hot news!

We're part of an exhibition where science becomes art!

Heart of Glass is an exhibition at Florence Arts Centre in Egremont, West Cumbria, UK. The exhibition is on 24th March to 30th June and features images taken at a microscopic scale of nuclear waste glass.

The exhibition is supported by The University of Manchester and involves The BEAM nuclear and social research network.

How does materials science affect our lives?

It may not be a very well-known discipline but materials science is really important. Laura, Jasmin and Emma discuss how graphene is made, what makes it a wonder material, what it can be used for and how it can contribute to making environmentally friendly products. They also talk about a much more mature material which influenced the second industrial revolution: steel. This alloy might be old technology but it’s vital for modern life.

This episode was recorded with an audience from the Engineering Development Trust's Routes to STEM course.

What is the next industrial revolution?

There’s a technology boom (!) and loads of buzzwords surround it including I4.0, big data, and digital twin. Laura and Antonia are joined by special guest Matt, from the Nuclear Institute, to talk about what these things really mean and to try and define them. They also talk about how the nuclear industry is starting to embrace these new technologies, ushering a renaissance of nuclear power that builds on the vast expertise gained since the original reactors were built in 1950s and combines it with cutting edge technology.

How do we account for the risks of climate change in future infrastructure?

To mark our 50th episode we're revisiting the topic of our first ever episode with a fresh perspective. Laura, Antonia, Rwayda and Jasmin talk about how much the climate will change, how we can have confidence in the climate models, and what civil engineers must do to adapt infrastrucutre like roads and buildings to minimise future risks from the changed climate. They also discuss the perception of risk and how this can influence the decisions that are made.