Short Science Podcast 019

Welcome to the nineteenth edition of the Short Science Podcast.

Join Emma and Elizabeth for all the very best science in brief!

We kick off the podcast with a few prominent science news headlines from the week including:

- gold-mining bacteria prospective prospectors
- chicken bugs remain high
- internet poses new addiction threat
- liquorice not so hot for the foetus

Emma starts the capsules this week with a Capsule Science on gold.

Our guest Capsule this week is from Pat Wolesley, Botanist at the Natural History Museum. She tells us about her life in science and her recent work on using lichens as bio-indicators of air quality. She also talks about the OPAL air survey (see http://www.opalexplorenature.org/ for more details about how to get involved).

Elizabeth rounds off the capsules this week with Capsule Medicine, looking at the medicinal use of gold in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

And for a bit of light relief after all this mighty serious science (!) a short quiz, and a maths conundrum for you to take a crack at! Just send in your answers by 10am (UK time) on Wednesday 14th October 2009.

Contact us with your comments and suggestions at studio@shortscience.co.uk.

Send us your requests for topics to cover, or offer up your science and join us on the show! Visit our website for more information http://www.shortscience.co.uk/.

You can also join our guests by posting your profile and/or your 'Capsule Science'.

If you want to listen to the broadcast show (which includes some light musical interludes) then catch us live on Wednesdays at 12-1pm or listen again - all at http://www.icradio.com/.