The Boring Talks - #52 – Breakfast Cereals

Family holidays for the artist Louise Ashcroft meant one thing - variety pack cereals. Would it be Cornflakes? Or Frosties? Coco Pops or Ricicles? Through this multi-grain multiple choice Louise realised she could be anyone..... kind of. Join her for a creative, personal journey through her favourite corn syrup-infused inflated grain.

James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe.

Unexpected Elements - Ebola drug offers hope for Covid-19

Remdesivir a drug eventually rejected as a treatment for Ebola seems to have aided recovery in a trial with more than a thousand Covid -19 patients. Researchers are cautious but hopeful; a leading health official in the US has made comparisons with the impact of game changing drugs used to treat HIV.

In contrast an organisation researching the mechanisms by which bat coronaviruses infect humans has had its funding cut following criticism from President Trump.

A scheme to help manufacture ventilators and protective equipment worldwide has seen some success with a simple ventilator they developed, now in use in hospitals.

And we look at climate change –with this year set for extreme weather

What’s the importance of zero, and how was it discovered? How do scientists calculate Pi’s infinite digits? Why do so many people find maths difficult – and what’s the most difficult thing in maths?

CrowdScience takes on a whole bunch of questions sent in by high school students in Spain. Like many children all over the world, their school is currently closed due to the coronavirus lockdown, but lessons continue at home. So how are their studies going, and can CrowdScience help out?

We attempt to answer some of their trickiest maths questions with the help of mathematics whizz Katie Steckles, Pi aficionado Matt Parker, and mathematical biologist Kit Yates.

Image Credit: Getty Images

In the Bubble with Andy Slavitt - Special Family Episode: Andy Talks to Kids and Parents About COVID-19

In this episode of In the Bubble, Andy takes questions from some very special listeners: Kids! Andy chats with four different families about COVID-19, how to stay safe, and what comes next. Comedian Jim Gaffigan and his family, Tamera Mowry-Housley and Adam Housely and their kids, and stars of the YouTube channels Ryan’s World and What’s Up Moms all joined in for this fun and extra family-friendly episode. 

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Curious City - Who Created The Cook County Forest Preserves?

Around the turn of the century, the great American wilderness was disappearing. That’s when an architect named Dwight Perkins devised an ambitious plan to save Chicagoland’s natural treasures — by creating the state’s first forest preserves. . Over the next 15 years, Perkins would weather legal battles and partisan squabbling in pursuit of his vision.

Curious City - Who Created The Cook County Forest Preserves?

Around the turn of the century, the great American wilderness was disappearing. That’s when an architect named Dwight Perkins devised an ambitious plan to save Chicagoland’s natural treasures — by creating the state’s first forest preserves. . Over the next 15 years, Perkins would weather legal battles and partisan squabbling in pursuit of his vision.

Consider This from NPR - Q & A: Dentists, Reopening Businesses, And Contact Tracing

A dentist, epidemiologist and NPR journalists answer listener questions on 'The National Conversation with All Things Considered,' NPR's nightly radio show about the coronavirus crisis. Excerpted here:

- NPR's senior business editor Uri Berliner and epidemiologist Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo discuss reopening nonessential businesses
- NPR's health policy reporter Selena Simmons-Duffin on the logistics of contact tracing
- Dentist Dr. Suhail Mohiuddin on when a dental problem is urgent enough for an in-person visit

If you have a question, you can share it at npr.org/nationalconversation, or tweet with the hashtag, #NPRConversation.

We'll return with a regular episode of Coronavirus Daily on Monday.

This episode was recorded and published as part of this podcast's former 'Coronavirus Daily' format.

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Byzantium And The Crusades - Manzikert 1071 Episode 4 The Battle For Armenia

This podcast series presents a new angle on the Crusades based on the book called The Byzantine World War by Nick Holmes. It explains that Byzantium was the main cause of the First Crusade. This episode explores the background to the pivotal Battle of Manzikert in 1071. It focuses on the fierce war fought in Armenia from the late 1040s to 1060s, as the Byzantine army struggled to contain the increasingly ferocious onslaught of the Seljuk Turks.

Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War, my book that describes the origins of the First Crusade.