Show Notes
How are segments of DNA preserved from ancient viruses impacting the functioning of the placenta? And how does this lead to pregnancy complications? Jennifer Frost leads a team of researchers at Kings College London, investigating the role of transposons in the placenta which leads to pregnancy complications. She joins us this month to explore what transposons are, why the placenta is so susceptible to their influence, and how this can manifest in pregnancy.
Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month, and our new ‘From the Theatre’ episodes are released on the second Wednesday of the month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! Explore our Summer Programme on our website Subscribe to our YouTube channel Follow us: @ri_science on Instagram and TikTok
Producer and presenter: Lia Hale Music: Joseph Sandy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Ri Science Podcast
Microorganisms are constantly adapting to evade human-made interventions such as antibiotics and sanitisers. One of these adaptations is to use their strength in numbers and form a biofilm. One bacteria in particular forms biofilms that we encounter in many situations in our everyday life - salmonella. But what do we know about how salmonella forms this biofilm, so that we know how to eliminate it?
The PLATO mission from the European Space Agency is set to launch next year, and is hoping to identify thousands of exoplanets in our galaxy which could have the right conditions to support life. Lead project scientist for the mission Ana Heras, and engineer Alistair Winton, join the podcast this month to explain the scientific aims of this mission. Discover the different methods that are used by astronomers to discover exoplanets, the role of the 26 cameras onboard the PLATO telescope, and what the data we obtain from PLATO will teach us.
For this month's From the Theatre episode, we explore how AI could actually be a force for good in the world of batteries. In collaboration with the Faraday Institution, we hear from three experts to understand how artificial intelligence could optimise the performance of batteries at every scale. Aaron Walsh (CuspAI / Imperial College London) explains how AI acts as a "digital alchemist" — simulating billions of possible crystal structures to discover battery materials that don't exist yet. Mona Faraji Niri (WMG, University of Warwick) shows how AI acts as a forensic investigator, decoding sensor data to detect hidden faults and predict a battery's remaining lifespan — sometimes before it's even been used. Sam Cooper (Imperial College London) reveals how machine learning is used to reverse-engineer the perfect internal "microstructure" of a battery electrode — the missing link between atoms and real-world performance. This talk was recorded at the Ri on 15 June 2026.
Why have so many people died during the heatwaves spread across Europe this summer, and is it a direct result of climate change? And what technology is being developed to help us prevent damage from wildfires as they become more prevalent? Statisticians Clair Barnes and Gary Konstantinoudis, and entrepreneur Alisha Fuller-Armah feature on this month's episode to explore the science behind heatwaves and wildfires, and what can be done about them. Read more about Clair and Gary's research here. Find out more about the World Weather Attribution. Find out more about Draconite™.
What is a solar eclipse? How is it safe to watch? And what other types of eclipses are there?