The Science Basement Podcast

Episode 6.4 of Science Basement: Inside Muscle Recovery: The Science Behind Repair, Strength, and Ageing Have you ever wondered what actually happens inside your muscles after a workout? Why does recovery feel different over time, and what changes as we age? In this episode of The Science Basement, we sit down with Swetha Gopalakrishnan to explore the biology of skeletal muscle and the stem cells...

Have you ever wondered what actually makes a conversation flow or fall apart? Why do some interactions feel effortless, while others feel awkward or draining? In Episode 6.3 of The Science Basement, we sit down with Ville Harjunen from the Interaction Analysis Lab to explore the hidden science of human conversations. From subtle cues like nodding and backchanneling to brain activity and attention,...

Episode 6.2 of Science Basement: The ghost-like particle: What are neutrinos and why are the so elusive? Have you ever wondered what a neutrino really is? How does it fit in with protons, neutrons and electrons? And why is it so ghost-like? In episode 6.2 of The Science Basement podcast we sit down with Dr. Timo Kärkkäinen, a particle physicist currently based at the University of Helsinki, to tal...

Episode 6.1 opens Season 6 of Science Basement with a roundtable discussion reflecting on the year 2025 in science. The hosts share their favourite scientific discoveries, influential papers, emerging research trends, and personal highlights from the past year. The conversation also looks ahead to 2026, discussing the questions, ideas, and developments that the team is most excited to follow in th...

Welcome to the last episode of this season! We dive beneath the flat maps of Antarctic sea ice and ask a deeper question: how thick is the ice—and why does that matter? As Antarctic sea ice reaches record lows, we explore why ice extent alone cannot capture the real state of the system. Joined by cryosphere scientist Dr. Shreya Trivedi, we unpack how satellites use radar and lasers to estimate sea...

Are you wondering what your next career step is and if academia is for you? Join us for our live podcast event for the 2nd HiLIFE science days where we explore the dynamic career path of three newly established principal investigators: Heli Mönttinen, Nidal Karagic, and Veijo Salo. Our guests share their personal experiences in the world of research, offering an inside look at the challenges, triu...

In Episode 5.7, we journey into the hidden world of particles that shape the sky. We speak with Zoé Brasseur, who studies the rare ice nucleating particles drifting from boreal forests into clouds, and Matthew Boyer, who traces how distant penguin colonies in Antarctica release gases that spark the birth of new aerosol particles, tiny seeds of clouds. Together we travel from forest towers in Finla...

Have you ever wondered what fossils really are? And how can looking into the past tell us anything about our future? In this episode of The Science Basement, we talk with Professor David Polly, a palaeontologist based at Indiana University, who studies ancient carnivores and the environments that shaped them. Join us to unpack what fossils are (and aren’t), how they record evolution, and how fossi...

How do you know if you should pursue an advanced degree in science—and once you do, how do you set yourself up for success? In this episode of The Science Basement, we sit down with Dr. Victor Oria, to explore the real challenges and rewards of life in research. From growing up in rural Kenya to conducting research across the UK, Germany, the USA, and now Denmark, Victor shares his inspiring journ...

Have you ever wondered why breastfeeding is so highly recommended for newborns? What makes breast milk truly special compared to formula? In this episode of the Science Basement podcast, we sit down with Dr. Dollwin Matharu, who specializes in the infant gut microbiome. Dr. Matharu shares her findings about human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs)—the unique sugars found only in breast milk—and explains...

The last decade has been called the decade of the reproducibility crisis—but this isn’t just a temporary flare-up. It’s a chronic, structural issue that cuts across disciplines and impacts the very foundation of how we produce and trust scientific knowledge. In this episode, we speak with members of the ReproducibiliTea Journal Club, a grassroots movement that empowers early-career researchers to...

Puberty, a process nearly all of us are familiar with - voice cracks and growth spurts to sudden mood swings and acne surprises all included! But how does puberty actually begin? In this episode, Rhianon and Uka sit down with Nidhi Madhusudan, to talk about the key to puberty - Gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH). Join us to dive into how GnRH triggers puberty from within the brain, what...

We’re kicking off Season 5 with a roundtable chat between the hosts! In this episode, we look back at some of the most interesting research we’ve come across over the past year—those discoveries that made us say, “Whoa, that’s amazing!” From scavenger birds and learning bees to tackling sustainability challenges, we’re covering a little bit of everything. But that’s not all—we’re also pulling back...

In our final episode of TSB x HiLife series, we discuss how to translate research into impactful innovations. We spoke to Sarah O’Keefe, a passionate scientist and innovator, about practical strategies for bridging the gap between academia and real-world applications. Drawing from her own journey of developing 'mitoguarder,' Sarah shares actionable insights, personal experiences, and real-world ex...

What does it take to study the natural world up close? In this episode, your hosts, Sujai & Emmi, explore the dual challenges of understanding species’ remarkable adaptations to environmental change and navigating the risks of fieldwork. Our guest, Dr Katja Rönkä, shares fascinating insights into the behavioral and evolutionary strategies animals use to survive, from cuckoos outsmarting their host...

This episode kicks off our TSB x HiLIFE mini-series collaboration: Experience the thrill of discovery. In this first episode of the podcast our hosts, Rhiannon & Sujai, dive into the intersection of scientific publishing and impact with two insightful guests, Pekka & Rafael. Together, they share their personal reflections on how studies evolve from small beginnings to larger, impactful projects, a...

How do shapes transform when stretched, twisted, or deformed, yet still retain key properties? In this episode, Sujai and Rhiannon sit down with Jonathan Pim, a curious doctoral student trying to figure out just this. Together, they explore how quasi-conformal geometry allows mathematicians to map and manipulate spaces in unique ways. They also talk about what a day in the life of a mathematics Ph...

Cancer has long been one of the most formidable challenges in healthcare, with traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation often coming with severe side effects and limited effectiveness. But now, synthetic biology is offering new hope. By designing and engineering biological systems at the molecular level, researchers are pioneering therapies that target cancer cells with unprecedented...

Scientific misinformation is all around us. How can we tell fact from fiction when it comes to our health? Where can we find clear and credible sources of information to help us answer our questions? Join us in this week’s episode of The Science Basement podcast as Rhiannon and Rose learn all about iHealthFacts, a platform developed to do just that. Alongside iHealthFacts lead researcher Paula Byr...

Ever thought how your fruits and vegetables are transported from field to supermarket shelf? And how does packaging play its role in keeping produce fresh? Join us in this week’s episode of The Science Basement podcast as Rhiannon and Rose chat to Kateřina to learn all about her research into active packaging and its role in extending the shelf life of the fruit and vegetables we consume. Kateřina...

Have you ever wondered how a COVID-19 or flu test works? Or how these types of biosensors are made? Join us as we dive into the fascinating world of biosensors and uncover why these tiny devices are revolutionizing healthcare and technology. In this episode, we explore the critical role of biosensors in monitoring health, the profound impact of the pandemic on their development and use, and the in...

Ever wondered what happens within the first five days after conception? What genes are responsible for triggering the first few cell divisions of embryo development? And how can understanding this process lead to improved IVF success rates? Join this week's episode of The Science Basement podcast as Rhiannon and Rose chat to Nina Boskovic about her research into understanding the genetic mechanism...

Let's take a journey into the afterlife of your closet. What happens to the clothes that do not go to the charity shops or second hand retailers? Who manages that waste and who is impacted by it? Find out the answers in this episode of the science basement as the hosts Rhiannon and Sujai speak to Anubhuti. Together we look at the ongoing research activities trying to transition the textile sector...

Explore Alzheimer's disease with us on this episode of The Science Basement Podcast! Hosts Giuliano and Pritakshi chat with Alejandra Castilla B. Together, we dive into what causes Alzheimer's disease and all the latest research surrounding the models to study the disease. From animal models to 'mini-brains' grown in the lab from patients' blood cells, we break down the science for you. Join us fo...

Ever stubbed your toe and questioned reality? Buckle up, because this episode dives deep into the "ouch" that binds us all! Join us as we unravel the mysteries of pain perception. Our guest, Helena Hartmann shares her insights into the intricate anatomy of agony, drawing from her extensive research employing neuroimaging, neuromodulation, and behavioral experiments. Beyond her scientific endeavors...