Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea
Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea is an Irish science and technology show. Jonathan responds to texts and tweets from listeners, covers the latest science stories in the Newsround segment, and interviews two guest experts each episode. The programme comes from Newstalk, Ireland's national independent talk station.
Episodes
Extra: 3D Printing
Guest: Michael Golden, Education and Public Engagement Manager at I-Form
The History of Linking Computers with Human Brains
Jonathan is joined by Phil Smith broadcaster and science communicator and Dr Shane Bergin Physicist and associate professor in science education at UCD for a round up of the weeks science stories Jonathan looks at the chequered past of connecting computers to brains with Mike Jay, journalist and cultural historian. And the world 3D printing with Michael Golden, Education & Public Eng
Extra: The Hidden Power of Leaves
Guest: Jonathan Silvertown - Professor of Evolutionary Ecology at the University of Edinburgh and author of Nature’s Magicians: The Hidden Power of Leaves
What is ancient smallpox doing in Trinity?
Guests:Bruno Romero González PhD student, Trinity College DublinDr.Ruth Freeman from Research IrelandFergus McAuliffe - Head of Research Engagement and Impact Trinity College Dublin
Futureproof Gold: Chances
We tend to glean a lot of meaning from the random occurrences in our lives, it can give us a sense of place in a chaotic and frightening world.But what are the chances of seemingly impossible, miraculous events in our lives and can we reduce them down to numbers and figures?In this special feature from May 2019, Jonathan sought to find out...
Extra: A Computer Made From DNA
Guest: Damien Woods, Professor of Computer Science in the Hamilton Institute at Maynooth University
Symbiosis: Collaboration in Nature
Guests:Rowan Hooper, author of ‘Togetherness: Symbiosis and the Hidden Story of Life’s Greatest Collaborations’Matthew Campbell, Professor of Genetics at TCDCiara Greene, Associate Professor in the School of Psychology, UCD
Extra: CMLase - The Enzyme That Could Reverse Ageing
Guest: Aaron Cravens, Founder and Chief executive of Revel Pharmaceuticals
Why are killer whales ramming yachts?
Guests:Dr. Luke Rendell, Biologist at Sean Mammal Research Unit in the University of St. AndrewsMatthew Campbell, Professor of Genetics at TCDCiara Greene, Associate Professor in the School of Psychology, UCD
Extra: Did Life Start Twice On Earth?
Guest: Bill Martin - Evolutionary Biologist and Head of the Institute of Molecular Evolution at Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf
Could ozempic cure addiction?
Guests: Philip Smyth, Broadcaster and Science Communicator Dr. Laura Hayes, Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies Prof. Paul Kenny, Nash Family Professor of Neuroscience and Director of The Friedman Brain Institute in the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City
Extra: Behind The Scenes of The Lost Bridge
Presenter Jonathan McCrea and Producer Aidan McKelvey discuss the making of the Futureproof documentary ‘The Lost Bridge’.
Futureproof Special: The Lost Bridge
Guests:Genevieve Von Petzinger, Paleoanthropologist and rock art researcher and Project Director of the LIACARA ProjectDr. George Nash, Associate Professor in the Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology at the University of LiverpoolDr. Barbara Oosterwijk, Postdoctoral Researcher at University of ExeterShane Diffily, National Treasurer Irish Cave Rescue Organisation
Gold: What is time?
We conventionally think of time as something simple and fundamental that flows uniformly, independently from everything else, from the past to the future, measured by clocks and watches.In the course of time, the events of the universe succeed each other in an orderly way: pasts, presents, futures.The past is fixed, the future open... And yet, all of this has turned out to be false.Carlo Rovelli i
Extra: Decoding Birdsong
Guest: Julie Elie, Associate Project Scientist in the Department of Neuroscience at University of California, Berkeley.
Jim Al-Khalili on time and time travel
Guests:Jim Al Khalili, Theoretical Physicist, Host of BBC’s ‘The Life Scientific’ and author of ‘On Time: The Physics That Makes the Universe Tick‘Dr. Ruth Freeman from Research IrelandMatthew Campbell, Professor of Genetics in Trinity College Dublin
Extra: The Genetics of Wrongdoing
Guest: Kathryn Paige Harden, Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and author of ‘Original Sin: The Genetics of Wrongdoing, the Problem of Blame and the Future of Forgiveness’
Did we find evidence of life on Mars in the 1970’s?
Guests:Steven A. Benner, Chemist, Astrobiologist and author of ‘Meet the Neighbors: Life on Mars and How to Find It’Jessamyn Fairfield from the University of GalwayFergus McAuliffe, Head of Research Engagement and Impact Trinity College Dublin
Extra: Growing Old in Ireland - 20 Years of the TILDA Study
Guest: Rose Anne Kenny, Regis Professor of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin and Founding Principal Investigator of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)
How many insects are there?
Guests:Alex Smith, Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph, Ontario, CanadaDr Ruth Freeman from Science Foundation IrelandMatthew Campbell from TCD
Extra: The Irish scientists tackling organ transplant rejection
Guest: Professor Róisín Dolan, Chief Investigator with the Sentinel Study Ireland at St. Vincent's University Hospital
The Greenland shark discovered on Ireland’s coast
Guests:Emilie De Loose, Project Officer of the Atlantic Whale Deal in the Irish Whale and Dolphin GroupJohn Regan from Maynooth UniversityLaura Hayes, DIAS
Gold: Neil DeGrasse Tyson - A Brief Welcome to the Universe
Science Communicator extraordinaire Neil deGrasse Tyson joined Jonathan in 2021 to discuss his book ‘A Brief Welcome to the Universe: A Pocket-Sized Tour’, and how we communicate science to the public.
Observing the Solar Eclipse
Guests:Peter Gallagher, Director of Dunsink Observatory at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies and an Adjunct Professor at Trinity College DublinJohn Regan from Maynooth UniversityLaura Hayes, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS)If you would like to listen to Jonathan’s experience of flying into the path of totality of the solar eclipse in 2015, here’s the link:https://soundcloud.com
Gold: How does the brain conjure consciousness?
For centuries, philosophers have theorised about the mind-body question. Is the mind something separate from the body? If so what does that mean?So, how does the brain conjure consciousness?In this interview from 2021, Jonathan speaks with Anil Seth, Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex, Editor-in-Chief of Neuroscience of Consciousness and author of ‘Be
Could AI be conscious?
Guests:Charlotte Blease, Philosopher at Uppsala University and author of ‘Dr Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail Us – and How AI Could Save Lives’Kevin Mitchell, Associate Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin and author of ‘Free Agents – How Evolution Gave Us Free Will’Alan Smeaton, Professor of Computing at DCUMatthew Campbell from TCDLaura Hayes, DIAS
Extra: Could base editing lead to designer babies?
Guest: Oliver Bower, Founding Scientist at ‘Preventive’
The fish species with no males
Guests:Ed Ricemeyer, Senior Bioinformatician and Chair of Animal Systems Genomics at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenJessamyn Fairfield from the University of GalwayShane Bergin, Physicist & Assistant Professor in Science Education at UCD
Extra: ET Code of Conduct
Guest: Professor Michael Garrett, Astrophysicist at the University of Manchester and Chair of the International Academy of Astronautics’ SETI Committee
The problem solving powers of bumblebees
Guests:Jussi Kantola, Data Analyst at the University of OuluMatthew Campbell, Professor of Neurovascular Genetics, Trinity College DublinDr Ruth Freeman, Director of Research for Society at Research Ireland
Extra: Neuroscience and AI
Guest: Rana Gujra, CEO of Behavioural Signals, tech entrepreneur and AI expert
Is sitting down for long periods killing us?
Guests:Dr. Frederick Ho, Senior Lecturer in Public health at the University of GlasgowLaura Hayes, Assistant Professor and Royal Society-Research Ireland University Research Fellow at the Dublin Institute for Advanced StudiesPhil Smyth, Physicist, Engineer and Science Communicator
Extra: What is Cystinosis?
Guest: Anuj Chauhan, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines
Is photographic memory a real thing?
Guests:Gabrielle Principe, Professor in the Department of Psychology at the College of CharlestonJessamyn Fairfield from the University of GalwayShane Bergin, Physicist & Assistant Professor in Science Education at UCD
Extra: How VR can improve the health of the elderly
Guest: Martin O’Neill, Lecturer in Population Health Informatics & Statistics at the Atlantic Technological University
The Internet of Animals
Guests:Martin Wikelski, Director at the Max Planck Institute of Animal BehaviorAndrea Kwakowsky, Associate Professor of Pharmacology & Therapeutics at the University of Galway
Extra: How Wi-Fi can be used for surveillance
Guest: Felix Morsbach, Privacy and Security Researcher at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
What happens when you're struck by lightning?
Guests: Jessamyn Fairfield from NUI Galway, Eoin Murphy Science Communicator, Mary Ann Cooper Managing Director in the African Centres for Lightning Education & Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois and Felix Morsbach Privacy and Security Researcher at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
Extra: Can we cure nightmares?
Guest: Michelle Carr, Director of the Dream Engineering Laboratory at Montreal's Centre for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine and author of ‘Into the Dream Lab: The New Science of Dreams and Nightmares’.
Before Trees - What Were ‘Prototaxites’?
Guests:Dr. Corentin Loron, Paleobiologist in Trinity College DublinDr. Susan Kelleher, Associate Professor of Chemistry in DCUShane Bergin, Physicist & Assistant Professor in Science Education at UCD
Extra: Was there human sacrifice in ancient Rome?
Guest: Frederic Auth, Doctoral Researcher at Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
How does sperm work in outer space?
Guests:Hannah Lyons, Reproduction Researcher in Adelaide UniversityMatthew Campbell from Trinity College DublinDr Ruth Freeman from Research Ireland
Extra: How microbes tackle pollution
Guest: Ludmilla Aristilde, Environmental Engineering Professor at Northwestern University
The Chimpanzee War in Uganda
Guests:John Mitani, Primatologist at the University of Michigan and Co-Founder of the Ngogo Chimpanzee ProjectLaura Hayes, Dublin Institute for Advanced StudiesDr Ruth Freeman of Research Ireland
Extra: New Prostate Cancer Trials in Ireland
Guest: Dr Paul Kelly, Medical Director of the UPMC Cancer Network in Ireland
Learning while you sleep!
Guests:Dr Karen Konkoly, Dream Scientist at the University of CambridgeDr Ruth Freeman of Research IrelandProfessor Annie Curtis of the RCSI
Extra: Does science back up weird skincare trends?
Guest: Dr Xinyi “Beibei” Du-Harpur, NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer at St John’s Institute of Dermatology and King’s College London
Early flavour memories may shape picky eaters
Guests:Professor Nadja Reissland of Science Foundation IrelandDr Ruth Freeman of Research IrelandDr Fergus McAuliffe of Trinity College Dublin
Extra: Bodyoids
Guest: Hank Greely, Professor of Law and Expert in Bioethics at Stanford University
What is ‘Forensic Botany’?
Guests:Christopher Hardy, Forensic Botanist and Biology Professor at Millersville UniversityLaura Hayes, Dublin Institute for Advanced StudiesTara Shine, Environmental Scientist
Extra: The Power of Plankton
Guest: Vincent Doumeizel, Senior Adviser on the oceans to the United Nations Global Compact and author of ‘The Power of Plankton: How Plankton Made Life On Earth Possible and Why It’s Key To Our Future’.
The Smell of the Past
Guests:Dr. Barbara Huber, Archaeochemist at the at the University of Tubingen in GermanyJessamyn Fairfield from NUI GalwayJohn Regan from Maynooth University
Extra: AI Improving Medicine
Guest: Charlotte Blease, Associate Professor in the Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Sweden and Author of ‘Dr Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail Us – and How AI Could Save Lives’.
Building a Warp Drive
Guests:Dr. Katy Clough, Astrophysicist at Queen Mary University of LondonAnnie Curtis Body Research Lecturer in RCSIShane Bergin, Physicist & Assistant Prof in Science Education at UCD
Extra: How apples are engineered
Guest: Kate Evans, Professor in the Department of Horticulture at Washington State University
Will AI replace scientists?
Guests:Jeff Clune, CIFAR AI chair at the Victor Institute and Professor of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, CanadaJessamyn Fairfield from NUI GalwayMatthew Campbell from TCD
Extra: Why can’t we figure out static electricity?
Guest: Scott Waitukaitis, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria in Klosterneuburg
The Dawn of Writing
Guests:Genevieve Von Petzinger, Paleoanthropologist and Rock Art Researcher and Project Director of the LIAACAR Project (The Living, Intelligent Archive of Ancient Culture, Art and Relational Archeology)Dr. Ruth Freeman from Science Foundation IrelandShane Bergin, Physicist & Assistant Professor in Science Education at UCD
Extra: Why Are We Going Back To The Moon?
Guest: Dallas Campbell, BBC Space Presenter and author of ‘Space Journal: The Art and Science of Cosmic Exploration’
Building a Robotic Oesophagus
Guests:Dr Eoin O'Cearbhaill, Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering at University College DublinDr Shane Bergin, Physicist at UCDDr Lara Dungan, Immunologist and Medic
Why should we avoid creating contrails?
Guests:Dr Jessie Smith, Research Associate in Sustainable Aviation at the Department of Engineering at the University of CambridgeDr Fergus McAuliffe, Head of Research Engagement and Impact at Trinity College DublinDr Shelley Brady, Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data Analytics at DCU
Extra: Movies reconstructed from mouse brain activity
Guest: Dr Joel Bauer, Research Fellow at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour at UCL
What happens during a hallucination?
Guests:Dr Anna Georgiades, Lecturer in Early Intervention in Psychosis at King's College LondonDr Ruth FreemanDr John Regan
Extra: The Origins of Our Musical Ability
Guest: Dr Ani Patel, Tufts University, Massachusetts
How The Brain Can Recover Forgotten Memories
Guests:Dr Benjamin J. Griffiths, University of NottinghamDr Ruth Freeman, Research IrelandDr Tara Shine, Environmental Scientist
Extra: Why animals see the world at different speeds
Guest: Dr Kevin Healy, Lecturer in Zoology at the University of Galway
What you don’t know about respiration
Guests:New York Times bestselling author and Science Journalist James NestorDr Ruth FreemanDr Lara Dungan
Extra: What influences your willingness to be helpful towards strangers?
Guest: Dr Todd Vogel, Research Fellow in Psychology at the University of Birmingham
Clothes with health tracking technology
Guests:Professor Steve Beeby, Chair in Emerging Technologies and Director of the Centre for Flexible Electronics and E-Textiles at the University of SouthamptonDr Tara Shine, Environemental ScientistProfessor Matthew Campbell, Head of Department at the Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin
Extra: What drives the power of our tides and waves?
Guest: Prof Iris Möller, Coastal Geomorphologist and Chair of the Geography Department at Trinity College Dublin
Predicting Scorpion Strikes
Guests:Dr Michel Dugon, Assistant Professor in Zoology and Principal Investigator of the Venom Systems Lab at the University of GalwayDr Jessamyn Fairfield, Lecturer in the School of Natural Sciences at the University of GalwayDr Laura Hayes, Research Fellow at the School of Cosmic Physics at DIAS
Extra: Does the Earth’s core hide vast hydrogen reservoirs?
Guest:With Prof Jon Wade, Associate Professor of Planetary Materials, Dept. of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford
Making Life with Artificial Biological Intelligence
Guests: Dr Shelley Brady, Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data Analytics at DCUDr Shane Bergin, physicist at University College Dublin Adrian Woolfson, author of ‘The Future of Species: Authoring Life by means of Artificial Biological Intelligence’
Extra: Solar Maximum and the Northern lights explained
Guest:Dr Alexandra Ruth Fogg, Postdoctoral Fellow in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies
What is Aphantasia? Why some brains can’t visualize
Guests: Dr Lara Dungan, immunologist, and Dr Shane Bergin, physicist at University College Dublin Prof Adam Zeman, Honorary Fellow at the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, at the University of Edinburgh
Extra: What Is Childhood Dementia?
Guest: Prof Matthew Campbell, Head of the Genetics Department and Chair of Neurovascular Genetics at Trinity College Dublin
Building a womb lining in the lab
Guests: Dr Susan Kelleher, School of Chemical Sciences at DCUDr Shane Bergin, physicist at University College DublinDr Peter Rugg-Gunn, group leader at the Babraham Institute at the University of Cambridge
Extra: Turning muscle signals into speech
Guest: Professor Luigi Occhipinti, Research Professor of Smart Electronics, Biosystems and AI, at Cambridge University
Why some wounds won’t heal
Guests:Professor Kimberly Kline, Professor in Microbiology and Molecular Medicine at The University of Geneva and Visiting Scholar at Nanyang Technological University, SingaporeDr Shelley Brady, DCU’s Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data AnalyticsDr John Regan, Research Fellow in the Department of Theoretical Physics at Maynooth University
Extra: What if stopping Alzheimer’s means targeting one gene?
Guest: Dr Dylan Williams, Principal Research Fellow in Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology at UCL
