Podcast: Summer science, sparrow songs and the sounds of space

In this edition: science on show at the Royal Society, centuries-long traditions in birdsong, and DJing with the sounds of space.

Download the complete podcast (mp3)

OR listen to individual chapters:

News: Transport choices and bacterial warfare – We explore why taking public transport helps us reach fitness goals, and how bacteria can ‘divide and conquer’ their enemies.

Summer science – We catch up with researchers in animal-inspired inventions, supercomputing solutions and advanced pond-dipping as they met the public at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition.

Sparrow songs – By spending long days in the marshes of northeastern USA and using sophisticated maths models, researchers have discovered that sparrow populations can sing the same songs for hundreds of years.

The sounds of space – Schoolchildren got the chance to listen to some of the sounds of space and physics in a recent workshop – and to DJ with the results.

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The podcast is presented by Gareth Mitchell, a lecturer on Imperial's MSc Science Communication course and the presenter of Click Radio on the BBC World Service, with contributions from our roving reporters in the Research Communications group.

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The Imperial College Podcast is now also available on the brand new visual podcast app, Entale.

If you have an iPhone, download the app and search for ‘Imperial College Podcast’. You’ll see how our episodes really come alive on the exciting new platform. Download Entale for free on iOS.