Podcasts by 30 Animals That Made Us Smarter
Amazing things humans have learnt from the animal kingdom. Inspiring, fascinating, bingeable.
Further podcasts by BBC World Service
Podcast on the topic Technologie
All episodes
Insects and mobile phone from 2022-01-17T00:30
S2 Ep 30. Smart phones could become even smarter – thanks to ants, beetles, moths and spiders! A multi-animal special episode, marking the season 2 finale. Patrick explores what could be an inse...
Listen
Butterfly and eye implant from 2022-01-10T00:30
S2 Ep 29. Not all butterflies are colourful. The transparent wings of the longtail glasswing butterfly may hold the key to more effective eye implants. This could be of huge benefit to people wi...
Listen
Slug and surgical glue from 2022-01-03T00:30
S2 Ep 28. From goo to super glue! Slug slime may hold the key to mending wounds without stitches or staples. Scientists have developed new adhesives based on the properties of slug slime, that a...
Listen
Dragonfly and sky spy from 2021-12-27T00:30
S2 Ep 27. The amazing agility of a dragonfly leads to the creation of a new spy drone. Their four wings can move independently of each other, enabling them to fly forwards, backwards, sideways, ...
Listen
Kingfisher and soil erosion from 2021-12-20T00:30
S2 Ep 26. A very clever solution to a significant environmental problem based on a kingfisher’s eyelids. When the brightly coloured bird dives for food, its eyes are covered in a way that protec...
Listen
Bees and fast deliveries from 2021-12-13T00:30
S2 Ep25. Sweet moves! Honey bees have developed an extraordinary form of communication known as the “waggle dance”, which directs other bees to where the best nectar can be found. As more and mo...
Listen
Jellyfish and underwater robot from 2021-12-06T00:30
S2 Ep 24. The world’s most efficient swimmer is the moon jellyfish! It’s the inspiration for a soft underwater robot that is safe enough to use in fragile environments like coral reefs and aquat...
Listen
Polar bear and insulation from 2021-11-29T00:30
S2 Ep 23. The science behind some fascinating fur could help humans keep warm in space. A polar bear’s fur is brilliant at insulating it from freezing arctic temperatures. Each shaft of hair con...
Listen
Electric eels and medical implants from 2021-11-22T00:30
S2 Ep 22. From heart stopper to heart saver? The electric eel creates energy within its body to shock its prey. Scientists are copying the electricity-producing cells of the eel to develop a new...
Listen
Camel and desert architecture from 2021-11-15T00:30
S2 Ep 21. Take a peek into a camel’s nose! The science inside could help to cool desert homes. A camel re-absorbs the water normally lost in the breathing cycle, keeping its temperature down. An...
Listen
Lobsters and space telescopes from 2021-11-08T00:30
S2 Ep 20. How a sea creature can help us see more of our universe. A lobster’s eyes have evolved to spot food and potential threats in murky conditions at the bottom of the ocean. Scientists hav...
Listen
Pangolins and Waterloo Station from 2021-11-01T00:30
S2 Ep 19. A tricky design challenge solved! All thanks to the scaly skin of the pangolin. Scales cover its body in an overlapping pattern, providing both flexibility and armour against attack. A...
Listen
Ants and mini robots from 2021-10-24T23:30
S2 Ep18. Snap! The trap-jaw ant’s amazing jaws can move faster than a speeding bullet, snapping shut at a top speed of 230km per hour. When the ant bites down, the force is so great that it laun...
Listen
Horseshoe crabs and vaccines from 2021-10-17T23:30
S2 Ep 17. A new synthetic test to create safe vaccines – based on the secrets of the horseshoe crab and its blue blood. Scientists hope this new technology could mean they no longer need to use ...
Listen
Arapaima fish and armour from 2021-10-10T23:30
S2 Ep16. It’s a “living fossil”! This fish can resist piranha attacks and is inspiring a new body armour. The arapaima has been swimming the waters of the Amazon for millions of years. It’s also...
Listen
Barn owl and drone from 2021-10-03T23:30
S2 Ep15. Learning from Lily the owl – could she help small aircraft cope with turbulence? Scientists hope what they’ve learnt about barn owls might help with the design of drones. Let us know wh...
Listen
Manta ray and pollution solution from 2021-09-26T23:30
S2 Ep14. Will a ray save the day? It’s inspiring a way to prevent more pollution of our oceans. As sea water enters a manta ray’s large mouth, plankton are captured and other particles are throw...
Listen
Cicada and safe surfaces from 2021-09-19T23:15
S2 Ep13. Bye-bye bacteria! How an insect’s wings inspired materials that could keep surfaces free from bacterial infections. The wings of cicadas are covered with tiny spikes which burst the wal...
Listen
Cats and road safety from 2021-09-12T23:15
S2 Ep12. We love cats (well, many people do)! Thanks to one feline friend, they help keep us safe. An inventor narrowly avoided a road accident thanks to the eyes of a cat. He developed reflecti...
Listen
Octopus and transplants from 2021-09-05T23:30
S2 Ep11. Can the remarkable dexterity of octopus suckers help improve delicate surgery? The octopus uses its powerful arms to grip onto rocks, capture prey and walk around the sea floor. Suckers...
Listen
Rose butterfly and solar panels from 2021-08-29T23:15
S2 Ep10. Their wings aren’t just for show! The rose butterfly can help us harness energy from sunlight. Scientists have been inspired by their wings’ unique lattice structure. This could lead to...
Listen
Sponge and skyscraper from 2021-08-22T23:15
S2 Ep9. Ever heard of Venus’s Flower Basket? It’s the marine sponge inspiring bridges and skyscrapers! Its delicate and resistant structure is both lightweight and very resistant to buckling - i...
Listen
Cow and sewage treatment from 2021-08-15T23:15
S2 Ep8. A cow’s amazing stomach could hold the key to stopping wastewater pollution. Engineers have designed a new sewage treatment plant based on a cow’s unique digestive process. Wastewater is...
Listen
Snake and rescue robot from 2021-08-08T23:15
S2 Ep7. Imagine being rescued by a snake! A new generation of wriggly robots, inspired by the movement of snakes, could save your life. The way a snake can move over a complex variety of landsca...
Listen
Mantis shrimp and aircraft from 2021-08-01T23:15
S2 Ep6. Bam! The mantis shrimp’s powerful punch could change the way we build cars and planes. The little crustacean has inspired lighter, more impact-resistant materials. These shrimps are fero...
Listen
Wasp and keyhole surgery from 2021-07-25T23:15
S2 Ep5. Scared of wasps? They could help keep you alive, perhaps transforming life-saving keyhole surgery. Parasitic wasps possess a long tube which can reach inside the body of their host where...
Listen
Hedgehog and helmet from 2021-07-18T23:30
S2 Ep4. A hedgehog could save your life! Spiky quills protect hedgehogs from being eaten by predators. But they also play an important role in cushioning the animal when it falls, keeping it saf...
Listen
Camel and cool medicines from 2021-07-11T23:30
S2 Ep3. Camels are cool. They cope with intense desert heat, inspiring a gel for storing medicines. It could extend the life of medicines, making it easier to transport them across the globe. Th...
Listen
Squid and self-healing materials from 2021-07-04T23:30
S2 Ep2. What if a robot could fix itself? It’s the story of the secret of scary squid suckers, with their razor sharp teeth-like structures. They could hold the key to materials which can repair...
Listen
Elephant and robotic arm from 2021-06-27T23:30
S2 Ep1. An elephant’s trunk is amazing. Imagine a robotic arm with the same capabilities. Not only does a trunk have the strength to topple trees and lift hundreds of kilograms in weight, it can...
Listen
Season 2 is coming soon! from 2021-06-21T16:30
Get ready to meet 30 more amazing animals. From cats to camels, ants to elephants, discover the unexpected things they can do that have inspired new technologies that make us smarter. Season 2 b...
Listen
30 Animals LIVE from 2019-10-21T00:00
The "nerd-fest" live show! A scorpion and tarantula on stage, biomimicry bingo and animal music, recorded at the BBC Radio Theatre in London. Welcome to the season finale, with your suggestions ...
Listen
Spider and remote sensing from 2019-10-14T00:00
When a fly hits a spider’s web the web sends vibrations to the spider crouched at its edge. This is known as remote sensing. The webs may help us design sensors to detect vibrations in the earth...
Listen
Butterfly and paints from 2019-10-07T00:00
The wings of one of the most beautiful butterflies could transform paints and textiles. Scientists are fascinated by how the blue morpho produces its shimmering blue effect. With Patrick Aryee...
Listen
Peacock and computer screen from 2019-09-30T00:00
Unlocking the secrets of the dazzling colours in the tail of the peacock. It is designed to attract females but has caught the eye of scientists, as they mimic it to develop high-resolution refl...
Listen
Ant and networks from 2019-09-23T00:00
How road, subway and computer systems could be helped by trails created by turtle ants. For extra information about all episodes, visit: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals #30Animals
Listen
Mussel and foetal surgery from 2019-09-16T00:00
Babies in the womb could be saved with the help of a glue based on proteins found in mussels. Performing surgery on foetuses in the womb is an astonishing medical feat but closing the delicate a...
Listen
Butterfly and butterfly house from 2019-09-09T00:00
Imagine a building based on the shape of an egg – all thanks to the butterfly. Nature has long been a source of inspiration for the design of buildings, like the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barc...
Listen
Dolphin and tsunami detector from 2019-09-02T00:00
The way dolphins communicate is being studied to create tsunami early warning systems. They produce click sounds to help navigate and hunt for prey. They listen back to the echoes to help create...
Listen
Bat and robot from 2019-08-26T00:00
Picture the scene after a serious earthquake or a tornado. A flying robot inspired by bats could help survey the damage. There may be burst gas pipes, live electrical wires and many other danger...
Listen
Fish schools and windfarm from 2019-08-19T00:00
The way hundreds of fish move together may help with the design of wind turbines. Schools of fish appear to move as one - turning, contracting, expanding, even parting and then coming back toget...
Listen
Bombardier beetle and fuel injection from 2019-08-12T00:00
It blasts a toxic spray at predators. Now this beetle may help cars become more fuel efficient. The bombardier is the species of beetle that even sprayed acid in Charles Darwin’s mouth. The 'bio...
Listen
Bat and unassisted flight from 2019-08-05T00:00
Imagine flapping your arms and flying. Could we do that based on how the bat does it? Leonardo Da Vinci was fascinated by the flight of bird and bats and used to sketch ideas in notebooks for a ...
Listen
Spider and window glass from 2019-07-29T00:00
How can we prevent millions of birds from being killed by flying into windows? The solution could rest with spiders. Webs containing UV reflective threads deter birds from colliding with them. W...
Listen
Whale and wind turbine from 2019-07-22T00:00
The shape of flippers may help with the efficiency of wind turbines, thanks to humpback whales. Bumps on the edge of their flippers assist them, as they power through water. Biologist Frank Fish...
Listen
Gecko and adhesives from 2019-07-15T00:00
How do geckos walk up walls and across ceilings? It is all down to the hair-like structure on their feet. A sticky material based on these clever lizards could help us grab debris in space! Wit...
Listen
Spider and rescue robot from 2019-07-08T00:00
Meet the spider-inspired robot that one day might just save your life. Based on how spiders move, it could get to places too difficult for a rescue team to access. Just like our eight-legged fri...
Listen
Shark and hospital surfaces from 2019-07-01T00:00
Millions of ridged scales make it difficult for bacteria to attach to the skin of a shark. Can we reduce infections and fight superbugs in a similar way? Have a look at our beautiful animation t...
Listen
Albatross and drone from 2019-06-24T00:00
Imagine a drone that can fly like the Wandering Albatross. The huge bird harnesses power from the wind and sun and glides over the sea. It is extraordinary. And an engineer has designed a roboti...
Listen
Stenocara beetle and water collector from 2019-06-17T00:00
It performs headstands in a desert; now this beetle is teaching us how to collect water. The Stenocara beetle survives in one of the most arid places in the world – the Namib Desert in southern ...
Listen
Sea otter and wetsuit from 2019-06-10T00:00
Want a warm and waterproof wetsuit? Then take a look at how the sea otter does it! It’s all down to air-trapping hairs. Ideally, surfers want something that is flexible and easy to wear, which ...
Listen
Desert spider and Mars robot from 2019-06-03T00:00
The cartwheeling spider acrobat that could help us explore Mars. This is no ordinary spider and it has led to an extraordinary robot design, perfect for space exploration. With Patrick Aryee....
Listen
Cod and antifreeze from 2019-05-27T00:00
Fish living in sub-zero waters are inspiring ways to de-ice planes and store ice cream. Arctic and Atlantic cod and also snow fleas are able to live at temperatures which would normally freeze h...
Listen
Termite and ventilation system from 2019-05-20T00:00
A building which heats and cools itself? How was that possible? Termites had the answer. The insects circulate air around their homes or mounds and regulate the temperature inside. They inspired...
Listen
Mussel and plywood from 2019-05-13T00:00
How a trip to the seaside led to the development of a glue and a formaldehyde-free plywood. When a scientist called Kaichang Li had trouble pulling mussels off a rock, he decided to investigate ...
Listen
Firefly and lightbulb from 2019-05-06T00:00
The secrets of a firefly’s glow could help us brighten our lives and create more energy efficient lighting. See our animation: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals Male fireflies attract mates by p...
Listen
Tardigrade and vaccine transport from 2019-04-29T00:00
A bizarre looking creature that may help us make vaccines last longer to move them across the globe. It is less than a millimetre long but the tardigrade is tough - really tough! Its extraordina...
Listen
Bat and visual aid from 2019-04-22T00:00
Click, click, click! The bat’s navigational skills could be life changing to people who are blind. Daniel Kish has mastered the art of echolocation and can navigate by tongue clicking. In this p...
Listen
Woodpecker and black box from 2019-04-15T00:00
A bird’s remarkable skull and the quest to protect aeroplane flight data recorders from damage caused by high impacts. Woodpeckers can hammer repeatedly on trees without damaging their brain. Co...
Listen
Mosquito and surgical needle from 2019-04-08T00:00
The blood sucking pest and a pain free surgical needle. Scientists have been studying the mosquito’s mouthparts. Could the dreaded ‘prick’ of a needle soon be a thing of the past? With Patrick A...
Listen
Octopus and camouflage from 2019-04-01T00:00
The eight-limbed master of disguise and surveillance technology. The colour and texture-changing abilities of the octopus are helping researchers develop camouflage. Can we make robots do the sa...
Listen
Kingfisher and bullet train from 2019-03-25T01:00
The story of the bird and the engineer. How the kingfisher inspired the design of a train. The 500 series Shinkansen, also known as bullet train, is one of the fastest in the world. It is also q...
Listen
The preview from 2019-03-09T08:02
"It’s about animals which have inspired us": Patrick Aryee explains what it’s all about. Episode one available from 25 March 2019. #30Animals
Listen