PODCAST

NATUREBANG, WITH BECKY RIPLEY AND EMILY KNIGHT

Who would have thought that the swirling, mesmerising patterns in a starling murmuration could give us insights into our how our own social systems function, or that ants could teach us about effective social distancing? In this fascinating podcast series, Becky Ripley and Emily Knight explore the astonishing complexity and mysteries of the natural world and how unravelling them can give us unexpected insights into ourselves, with the help of scientists, psychologists and researchers.

In ‘Ants and Social Distancing’, Ripley and Knight discover how this highly sociable species can teach us a lesson or two about self-isolation and preventing the spread of disease, with the help of Bristol University’s Dr Nathalie Stroeymeyt. The pair uncover what dragon lizards can teach us about sex and gender in ‘Dragon lizards and the gender spectrum’ – a look at the many ways evolution has found to solve the problem of procreation.

We already know a lot can be learned from animals about the difficulties of navigating, from dung beetles mapping desert dunes to sea creatures that circumnavigate the globe, but it turns out dog poo also provides some clues. In ‘Dog Poo and the Challenge of Navigation’, Ripley and Knight try to find their way out of the woods.

This fun and captivating podcast is scientific storytelling at its best.