30 Animals That Made Us Smarter Podcast
Amazing things humans have learnt from the animal kingdom. Inspiring, fascinating, bingeable.
Episodes to download
-
![]()
Insects and mobile phone
Mon 17 Jan 2022
Smart phones could become even smarter 鈥� thanks to ants, beetles, moths and spiders!
-
![]()
Butterfly and eye implant
Mon 10 Jan 2022
Transparent butterfly wings may hold the key to more effective eye implants
-
![]()
Slug and surgical glue
Mon 3 Jan 2022
From goo to super glue! Slug slime may hold the key to mending wounds without stitches
-
![]()
Dragonfly and sky spy
Mon 27 Dec 2021
The amazing agility of a dragonfly leads to the creation of a new spy drone
-
![]()
Kingfisher and soil erosion
Mon 20 Dec 2021
A clever solution to a significant environmental problem based on a kingfisher鈥檚 eyelids
-
![]()
Bees and fast deliveries
Mon 13 Dec 2021
Sweet moves! The 鈥渨aggle dance鈥� of the honey bee is helping create faster delivery routes
-
![]()
Jellyfish and underwater robot
Mon 6 Dec 2021
The world鈥檚 most efficient swimmer is a jellyfish! It鈥檚 the inspiration for a new robot
-
![]()
Polar bear and insulation
Mon 29 Nov 2021
The science behind some fascinating fur could help humans keep warm in space
-
![]()
Electric eels and medical implants
Mon 22 Nov 2021
From heart stopper to heart saver? The electric eel may help power medical implants
-
![]()
Camel and desert architecture
Mon 15 Nov 2021
Take a peek into a camel鈥檚 nose! The science inside could help to cool desert homes
-
![]()
Lobsters and space telescopes
Mon 8 Nov 2021
How a sea creature can help us see more of our universe
-
![]()
Pangolins and Waterloo Station
Mon 1 Nov 2021
A tricky design challenge solved! All thanks to the scaly skin of the pangolin
-
![]()
Ants and mini robots
Sun 24 Oct 2021
Snap! An ant鈥檚 springy jaws are being copied by scientists to help move mini robots
-
![]()
Horseshoe crabs and vaccines
Sun 17 Oct 2021
A new synthetic test to create safe vaccines 鈥� based on the secrets of the horseshoe crab
-
![]()
Arapaima fish and armour
Sun 10 Oct 2021
It鈥檚 a 鈥渓iving fossil鈥�! This fish can resist piranhas and is inspiring a new body armour
-
![]()
Barn owl and drone
Sun 3 Oct 2021
Learning from Lily the owl 鈥� could she help small aircraft cope with turbulence?
-
![]()
Manta ray and pollution solution
Sun 26 Sep 2021
Will a ray save the day? It鈥檚 inspiring a way to prevent more pollution of our oceans
-
![]()
Cicada and safe surfaces
Sun 19 Sep 2021
How an insect鈥檚 wings inspired materials that could kill bacteria
-
![]()
Cats and road safety
Sun 12 Sep 2021
We love cats (well, many people do)! Thanks to one feline friend, they help keep us safe
-
![]()
Octopus and transplants
Sun 5 Sep 2021
The remarkable dexterity of cctopus suckers might help improve delicate surgery
-
![]()
Rose butterfly and solar panels
Sun 29 Aug 2021
Their wings aren鈥檛 just for show! Butterflies can help us harness energy from sunlight
-
![]()
Sponge and skyscraper
Sun 22 Aug 2021
Ever heard of Venus鈥檚 Flower Basket? It鈥檚 the sponge inspiring bridges and skyscrapers!
-
![]()
Cow and sewage treatment
Sun 15 Aug 2021
A cow鈥檚 amazing stomach could hold the key to stopping wastewater pollution
-
![]()
Snake and rescue robot
Sun 8 Aug 2021
Imagine being rescued by a snake! A new generation of wriggly robots could save your life
-
![]()
Mantis shrimp and aircraft
Sun 1 Aug 2021
Bam! The mantis shrimp鈥檚 powerful punch could change the way we build cars and planes
-
![]()
Wasp and keyhole surgery
Sun 25 Jul 2021
Scared of wasps? They could help keep you alive, perhaps transforming life-saving surgery
-
![]()
Hedgehog and helmet
Sun 18 Jul 2021
A hedgehog could save your life! Their spiky quills have inspired a new sports helmet
-
![]()
Camel and cool medicines
Sun 11 Jul 2021
Camels are cool. They cope with intense heat, inspiring a new way of storing medicines
-
![]()
Squid and self-healing materials
Sun 4 Jul 2021
What if a robot could fix itself? It鈥檚 the story of the secret of scary squid suckers
-
![]()
Elephant and robotic arm
Sun 27 Jun 2021
An elephant鈥檚 trunk is amazing. Imagine a robotic arm with the same capabilities
