Technically Speaking | a science and engineering discussion

Is industrial-scale carbon capture really feasible?

Although carbon capture technology is in use now, there are quite a few hurdles to jump before it becomes widely used. Laura, Jasmin and Antonia are joined by a live audience from the Engineering Development Trust's Routes to STEM course to talk about industrial applications of carbon capture in various industries. They field questions from the audience about the wider energy industry, discuss how options for storage compare to using the gas in a circular carbon economy and consider whether planting trees really can make a company carbon negative.

They mention several other episodes during the conversation, possibly more than ever before (because everything is connected!):

• Ep 18. Why can't we such carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere?
• Ep 59. What are E-fuels?
• Ep 32. What is sustainability?
• Ep 11. Is battery technology ready for widespread use in electric cars?
• Ep 03. How can nuclear power help beat climate change?
• Ep 23. How is fusion energy portrayed in Spider-Man?
• Ep 17. Is plastic a good thing?
• Ep 24. How do you build a skyscraper?
• Ep 26. Should we control the weather or get better at predicting it?

How can biophysics help develop drugs?

It’s a weird mash-up of biology and physics and it really is useful. Antonia, Emma and Laura talk about how to simulate biology on a computer, how physics is involved, and speculate on how artificial intelligence could help improve the simulations and lead to speedier, cheaper drug development.

What astounds us about science?

It’s not often you hear about a new discovery of theory in science that makes you say 'wow!' Laura and Antonia talk about some of their moments of astonishment when they've learned something about black holes or dinosaurs.

How do you know if you’ve found a meterorite?

Meteor showers are well worth staying up late for but how often do heavenly bodies fall to Earth and what do they look like? Ellie and Laura discuss this, what to do if you find one, how they compare to terrestrial objects like gold, and discuss whether they're valuable. They also get interrupted by various animals and can't help mention rewilding.

How could artificial intelligence affect healthcare?

Could artificial intelligence take some of the most highly skilled jobs? Would you want to see an AI for healthcare and get a diagnosis? Would you trust it more than a real life person? Laura, Antonia and Sarah discuss all this and more. Sarah uses her considerable experience as a medical doctor and teaching of surgery to guide us through the pros and cons of AI in healthcare and the team speculate on what the future might hold. Ever thought about what you'd want your ideal doctor to act like?

Does 3D printing help engineering?

The technology to print in 3D has been around for a while and it’s used to do some really cool stuff. Laura and Rwayda discuss an amazing new type of material that can be given different properties simply by turning tiny mechanical gears which could be used to make robots and more. They look at how houses can be printed out of concrete to create visually appealing designs that can outlast traditional construction techniques and they speculate on what the future might hold. Could we use artificial intelligence to help print new materials?

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.