When Science Finds a Way

We may think of carbon dioxide as the main culprit in climate  change, but   could tackling  "super   pollutants"  provide an emergency brake for  global  warming ?   Dr Tom Grylls tells Alisha Wainwright how we already have the tools to reduce these gases and particles, and Bidya Banmali Pradhan describes a successful effort to do just that by re-engineering brick kilns in Nepal.   But this  isn'...

Tuberculosis has been with us so long that traces appear in mummies. But today, the challenge is different: how do we   respond to TB  that's  resistant to modern  drugs?   Professor Salome Charalambous tells Alisha Wainwright about the challenges of treating the half-million people with drug-resistant TB, and Professor Nazir Ismail explains how it gets harder in countries where resources are scar...

We know how extreme heat impacts  us physically, but science is still uncovering its effects on mental health.   Professor Andrea  Mechelli  tells Alisha Wainwright what analysing millions of datapoints is teaching us, we hear from participants in his London-based research about their struggles with heat and mental health, and Mete Çoban,  London's  Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, talks a...

In much of the world people are living longer, but how can we make sure those extra years are healthy? Professor Dame Linda Partridge tells Alisha Wainwright how our ever-growing knowledge of health and ageing could lead to more personalised medicine, and Professor Mika Kivimäki explains how new methods for measuring the "biological age" of our organs could be used to predict disease. We also hear...

We know that the food we eat affects us physically, but how might our diets help or hinder mental health? Dr Wolfgang Marx tells Alisha Wainwright about his work to find a link between mental health and diet. We also hear from Dr Iain Campbell, who found that a famous diet helped his own bipolar symptoms, inspiring him to work on a new large-scale trial. And Dr Sheri Johnson explains why we should...

Tranexamic acid (TXA) has enormous potential to prevent deaths from postpartum haemorrhage, but until very recently  it's  been overlooked. Professor Haleema Shakur Still tells Alisha Wainwright how she stumbled on TXA's untapped potential, and the drug's journey from being an undervalued discovery in post-war Japan to a groundbreaking treatment in modern-day Nigeria. Professor Nike Bellow and Dr...

It might sound like something out of TV shows like The Last of Us, but brain-invading fungi are a real-world problem. Alisha Wainwright speaks to Drs. Rachael Dangarembizi  and Rebecca Drummond, an immunologist and a neuroscientist collaborating across continents to tackle Cryptococcal Meningitis – the leading cause of fungal death worldwide. Dr Kyla Murphy also talks about the new tests and treat...

AI chatbots and apps are increasingly being used for mental health support. But could these new tools carry hidden risks?   In the second part of this special episode, Alisha Wainwright unpicks her own experiments with AI therapy, takes tips from Dr John Torous on staying safe when seeking help digitally, and hears about the risks of unregulated tools.    But there's hope with these tools too. Pro...

Launching season 4 with a special two-part episode, Alisha Wainwright explores the  potential  revolution AI is sparking in mental healthcare, and how our phones could play a part.   Digital psychiatry specialist Dr John  Torous  explains how   AI trained  on data from our devices could help us  diagnose people with mental health conditions, but  that's  only the beginning.   We hear from clinical...

**** We want to hear from you!  Our podcast is shaped by the people who listen to it. Please tell us a bit about your experience by filling out our short listener survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SX6X8X3 **** Science is always adding to our knowledge of human health, but how do ideas become breakthroughs, and how can those breakthroughs bring about a better world?   Join botanist-turned-Holl...

**** We want to hear from you!  Our podcast is shaped by the people who listen to it. Please tell us a bit about your experience by filling out our short listener survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SX6X8X3 **** The Covid-19 pande m ic lai d bare a truth we can't ignore: vaccine equity , the principle that everyone should have fair and timely access to life-saving vaccines, is stil l out o f re...

**** We want to hear from you!  Our podcast is shaped by the people who listen to it. Please tell us a bit about your experience by filling out our short listener survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SX6X8X3 **** Food production drives nearly a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. So how do we help people choose meals that are good for their health, and the planet? Alisha sits down with Pro...

**** We want to hear from you!  Our podcast is shaped by the people who listen to it. Please tell us a bit about your experience by filling out our short listener survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SX6X8X3 **** A significant gap remains in effective mental health interventions for young people. Addressing this gap is crucial , and approaches like problem-solving therapy could offer a practical...

**** We want to hear from you!  Our podcast is shaped by the people who listen to it. Please tell us a bit about your experience by filling out our short listener survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SX6X8X3 **** Vaccine breakthroughs dominated the news during the Covid-19 pandemic. But they weren't the only scientific innovations changing how we understood the virus. Across Europe, a team of pa...

By the time we realise an outbreak is underway, the disease is already spreading, and the window to act is closing fast. But what if we could get ahead of it? Over the past decade, scientists and technologists have been developing powerful modelling tools that combine health and climate data to forecast where and when outbreaks might occur . Alisha is joined by Dr Anna Ibarra Stewart to explore ho...

**** We want to hear from you!  Our podcast is shaped by the people who listen to it. Please tell us a bit about your experience by filling out our short listener survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SX6X8X3 **** Navigating healthcare can be particularly challenging for autistic people . Reasons for this are complex, but f or women and people assigned female at birth, the problem is compounded b...

We know that singing, painting and other creative outlets can boost our mental health. But how do we harness the therapeutic power of the arts ? Alisha speaks with UK researcher Professor Daisy Fancourt, who se work is helping to establish the arts as a key ingredient in conversations about mental wellbeing, alongside diet and exercise. She also meets Vanessa, a m other in the UK who took part in...

When Science Finds a Way is back! Join botanist-turned-Hollywood actor Alisha Wainright as she meets the scientists and communities turning bold ideas into real world impact.   This season, you'll hear about how new medical imaging tools are helping us see our bodies in ways we never could before, meet the team using climate data to predict and prevent disease outbreaks, and learn about how engagi...

Hearing voices is a challenging symptom of psychosis that treatments have often failed to address effectively - until now. Introducing AVATAR therapy, a remarkable approach using digital technology to help patients engage with distressing voices and regain control. Alisha meets Dr Vaughan Bell to explore the therapy's potential, talk about findings from the latest clinical trial and hear a persona...

Genomics has revolutionised cancer research, offering new hope for cancer diagnosis and treatment. But there are challenges ahead. Alisha is joined by Dr Peter Campbell and researchers Dr Solomon Rotimi and Sara Gómez Trillos to discuss the breakthroughs and the issue of ensuring fair access to advancements for patients worldwide.   When Science   Finds   a Way is brought to you by Wellcome, an in...

Despite efforts to eliminate cholera by 2030, it remains a formidable global threat. Could technology hold the key to combating this deadly disease? Alisha sits down with Professor Iruka Okeke to talk about the factors driving cholera's spread and the innovative mapping techniques being used in Kenya to identify hotspots.    When Science   Finds   a Way is brought to you by Wellcome, an independen...

Over the years, the reluctance to include pregnant participants in vaccine trials has been increasingly challenged. That 's bec ause their inclusion can make vital medications available during pregnancy and provide data that could improve survival rates for both parent and baby. Alisha is joined by Dr Flor M Munoz, a global expert in maternal immunisation to discuss a new vaccine trial, safety con...

As rising temperatures challenge vulnerable regions, could 'cool roofs' be the affordable, sustainable solution? Alisha joins  Dr. Aditi Bunker to talk about the remarkable health benefits uncovered in Burkina Faso's trial, hearing firsthand accounts of how this simple intervention significantly reduces indoor temperatures, lowers heart rates, and improves overall health.   When Science Finds a Wa...

**** We want to hear from you!  Our podcast is shaped by the people who listen to it. Please tell us a bit about your experience by filling out our short listener survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SX6X8X3 **** Exercise is more than just fitness – it can be a powerful tool for mental health. But what actually occurs in the brain during a workout, and how can it help in treating mental health i...

Wildfires are intensifying globally, posing threats to health and Indigenous communities. Join Alisha and Dr Nicole Redvers as they explore cultural burning, a traditional Indigenous technique offering a potential solution to modern wildfire challenges and hear from those bridging traditional practice and science. A fascinating conversation on the future of land management, wildfire resilience and...