Short Science Podcast 073: Left-Handedness

Welcome to the seventy-third episode of the Short Science Podcast!

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

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

- energy secretary outlines future power plans

- nature proves balm for cancer pain

- George Mandelbrot dies

- new brain cancer drug trial

- sex, drugs and Brian Ferry

- vitamin B12 linked to Alzheimer's disease

- science spending cuts

- treating eczema may actually make it worse

This week we're looking at left-handedness, and Anna kicks us off with a capsule about being left-handed, and about the phenomenon of chirality in the chemical world.

In Capsule Medicine, Elizabeth talks about the medical condition situs inversus, where the positions of the body's organs are left-right reversed.

We hear from contributors Paola Faraca, Connor Walsh and Steve McGann about left-handedness and religion, fetal origins of handedness, Chinese culture and left handedness, and the individuality and Darwinian implications of left-handedness.

Studio guest Thomas Welch answers a question sent in by listener James F about how computer screens show different colours.

To be included in the show, leave any thoughts, questions or ideas on the Short Science answerphone +44 (0)7401 856 681, or send us an email to studio@shortscience.co.uk. More details can be found on our website www.shortscience.co.uk!