Best UCL Physics Podcasts (2025)

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9. Brain Stimulation With Ultrasound 29:38

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3y ago29:38

29:38

Dr Elly Martin joins to talk about her research using Ultrasound. She goes way beyond conventional uses like imaging babies, into cutting edge ultrasound techniques - designing new cancer treatments, neuro-stimulation and the science of freezing and thawing.By Roentgen's Radio - A PEM podcast

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6.2 Successful academic careers with Prof Clare Elwell 25:48

4y ago25:48

25:48

Part 2 of our talk with Professor Clare Elwell where we talk about what makes a successful academic career, bravery, and good ways to support female scientists. Extra thanks to Naomi Britton for her editing support!By Roentgen's Radio - A PEM podcast

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8. Identifying The Unknown With X-Ray Diffraction 37:27

4y ago37:27

37:27

New series of the podcast! New name for the Podcast! The PEM Podcast is now Röntgen's Radio (A Physics and Engineering in Medicine Podcast), a tribute to the discoverer of the x-ray. The first episode of this series is with Dr Rob Moss, Lecturer in Applied Radiation Physics at University College London. Rob tells us about his research in x-ray diff…

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Resolution 34:27

4y ago34:27

34:27

In our final episode of this series, Cassidy and Cerys reflect on some of their favourite interviews. They share updates from guests and discuss the ground-breaking research that has really surprised or changed them in the course of making the podcast. For more information and to access the transcript: www.ucl.ac.uk/made-at-ucl/podcas…s2-ep11-resol…

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Awareness And Activism 32:42

4y ago32:42

32:42

This month's episode is about awareness and the activism it can lead to. Join us as we talk to three members of the UCL community who are making meaningful change to combat the problems they have been confronted by. Cassidy spoke with Hope Oloye, a PhD student whose programme Thinking Black is breaking down barriers to higher education, Virginie Le…

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Recovery 30:51

4y ago30:51

30:51

This month we are exploring recovery. As Cassidy has been busy finishing her dissertation, join Cerys as they learn how to recover through stories about long Covid community led research, transformative technology in the NHS, and a memorial garden built by students in the Institute of Education. For more information and to access the transcript: ww…

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Growth 36:27

4+ y ago36:27

36:27

In this month’s episode of #MadeAtUCL we’re growing. Join us as we explore three unique perspectives on growth and how it can be both a positive and negative concept. We chat with Dr Michelle Heys and Dr Simbarashe Chimhuya and hear about their technical solution to newborn healthcare, with Dr Philip Pogge Von Strandmann about how we can reduce the…

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Getting Closer 34:46

4+ y ago34:46

34:46

In this month's episode of #MadeAtUCL, join us as we explore closeness and how proximity has changed over the past year. From designing new spaces that help us feel close from afar, to how researchers learnt about smartphones by living with their users, to how sounds of the rainforests thousands of miles way can help connect us to nature. To find o…

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Mission to Mars 36:40

4+ y ago36:40

36:40

In this episode, #MadeAtUCL goes to Mars! We hear about the incredible UCL work that is helping to send a Rover (and maybe one day even a person) to the Red Planet as well as what we might find when we get there. Act 1 - Prof Andrew Coates, Deputy Director (Solar System), at UCL’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) talks about the Rosalind Rov…

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The Cost of Freedom 37:50

4+ y ago37:50

37:50

Presented and edited by two UCL (University College London) graduates, Cassidy and Cerys, hear about research #MadeAtUCL on the costs of freedom. In this episode we’re exploring the value of freedom, from the people who found it in the bleakest of circumstances to the ways in which we restrict our own freedom (and the freedom of others) without eve…

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Save Us 36:11

4+ y ago36:11

36:11

Save the planet, save lives, save money! Presented and edited by two UCL graduates, Cassidy and Cerys, will take you on a journey from patient to planet. In this episode we're talking about saving the planet with Professor Mark Maslin, a climate change expert and author of "How to Save the Planet: the Facts". Mr Manish Chand, Associate Professor in…

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Pain: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly 35:12

4+ y ago35:12

35:12

Join Cassidy for April’s #MadeAtUCL podcast which talks about Pain: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Imagine not feeling pain... Or never having to fear visiting the dentist... Or being able to communicate pain... Hear about: - The FAAH-OUT gene discovery and how the latest research is helping people with chronic pain conditions with Dr James Cox (S…

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Voice 34:10

5y ago34:10

34:10

ACT 1 - from 02.28 Prof Evangelos Himonides, Professor of Technology, Education, and Music, UCL Institute of Education www.shoutatcancer.org/ ACT 2 - from 11.22 Dieter Deswarte, Senior Teaching Fellow in Ethnographic and Documentary Film, UCL Department of Anthropology yarrowfilms.co.uk/2020/07/31/hazte-sentir/ ACT 3 - from 20.32 Sarah Wong, Studen…

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7. MRI And Its Next Phase In Research 41:11

5y ago41:11

41:11

A conversation with Associate Professor Karin Shmueli about her research career in MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), Karin explains how MRI works before moving into her research speciality, QSM where she discusses finding functional information using the "imaginary" phase part of an image. Listen in to find out more!…

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Touch 25:36

5y ago25:36

25:36

ACT 1 - from 01.25 - 09.00 Prof Carey Jewitt, UCL Institute of Education Lili Golmohammadi, a doctoral researcher at the UCL Institute of Education ACT 2 - from 09.00 - 17.50 Alessia Qiu, second-year UCL BSc Natural Sciences student ACT 3 - from 17.50 - 23.37 Dr Helge Wurdemann, UCL Mechanical Engineering Presented by Cassidy Martin and edited by C…

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#MadeAtUCL Season 2 Trailer 1:50

5y ago1:50

1:50

Welcome to Season 2 of the #MadeAtUCL Podcast. In each episode, we find three diverse stories from the UCL collective, three stories that celebrate the different types of communities connected to UCL, three stories that shine a spotlight on the incredible research and volunteer contributions that helped to make this world a better place. Three stor…

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6. Brain imaging for a new generation, a light look at biomedical optics 33:38

5+ y ago33:38

33:38

We talk to Professor Clare Elwell about her career and research in Medical Physics. Clare has had an extraordinary career using Biomedical Optics in clinical environments, including a ongoing research project in the Gambia, studying development of infant brains, funded by the Bill Gates Foundation. This is Part One of our chat with Clare, focussing…

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5. How to advance x-ray imaging, seeing the unseen 38:43

5+ y ago38:43

38:43

Prof Sandro Olivo sits down to share his career in Physics and Engineering in Medicine. Sandro talks about developing a brand new x-ray medical imaging technique, phase contrast, which not only has enormous potential for medical applications, but across the whole world of x-rays. We talk about his history with synchrotrons, particle physics and the…

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4. Nerve and muscle stimulators, an electric look at rehab technology 40:06

5+ y ago40:06

40:06

Dr Anne Vanhoestenberghe discusses the wonderful applications of rehab and assistive technologies. She talks about nerve and muscle simulators designed to provide real help to those with spinal chord paralysis and other related conditions.Learn more about the department and its degree programmes at:https://www.ucl.ac.uk/medical-physics-biomedical-e…

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3. Inside cancer treatment with x-ray and proton beams 33:30

5+ y ago33:30

33:30

Dr Catarina Veiga describes her research into improving cancer treatments with x-ray and proton beams. She talks about the new proton therapy centre at UCLH, why protons beams are better, and why sometimes they aren't.Learn more about the department and its degree programmes at:www.ucl.ac.uk/medical-physics-biomedical-engineering/…

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2. Electron microscopy, the mystery of calcification and dino DNA 42:12

6y ago42:12

42:12

Dr Sergio Bertazzo talks about his research in Mineralomics, the study of minerals that form in the body and how they relate to disease. He talks about how imaging these minerals with an electron microscope can give us new insights into the causes of some very common diseases. We also discuss his foray into the Jurassic World as he recalls the time…

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1. Thermal imaging, MONSTIRs and raising mummies from the dead 32:35

6y ago32:35

32:35

A roving chat with Prof Adam Gibson about his career in Physics and Engineering in Medicine. We talk about Adam's history with thermal imaging and x-ray mammography, before discussing his current research subjects of optical tomography (the MONSTIR project) and his work with the Heritage Institute imaging art and mummies. Learn more about the depar…

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Introduction to the new UCL PEM podcast 1:03

6y ago1:03

1:03

Introducing the new UCL Physics and Engineering in Medicine Podcast from the biggest Medical Physics department in the UK.By Roentgen's Radio - A PEM podcast

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Am I crazy or is it physics? | Katy Clough 8:55

8+ y ago8:55

8:55

How do physicists know what will happen in situations that haven't been tested? How sure can we be that physical laws are constant? Katy Clough explains how we are pushing the limits of what we know about the universe. |Narrated by Agnes Donnelly and Vidish Athavale | Music by Lee Rosevere |Katy is a postdoctoral researcher in the Astrophysics Depa…

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Can we cure neurological disorders by modifying the genome? | Gabriele Lignani 8:07

8+ y ago8:07

8:07

Imagine if we could correct genetic mutations as easily as correcting a typo in Microsoft Word, and thereby cure Alzheimer's, depression and other neurological disorders. Sounds like the plot of a sci-fi film, right? According to neuroscientist Gabriele Lignani, this is now a reality. |Narrated by Angus Waite | Music by Dexter Britain, Léo Delibes,…

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What can facial movement tell us about emotional expression? | Eva Krumhuber 6:57

8+ y ago6:57

6:57

One of the most complex and finely-tuned ways of communicating emotion in humans are facial expressions. Social psychologist Eva Krumhuber fills us in on the latest research and takes us from the Oscars to the quest to create ever more realistic robots. |Narrated by Louise Essex | Music by Akoko Nante Ensemble, Podington Bear, Lee Rosevere and Jon …

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Why is the Earth habitable? | Philip Pogge von Strandmann 9:05

9y ago9:05

9:05

The Earth is over 4 billion years old, but land animals have only existed on our planet for the past 500 million years. Why didn't animal life on land emerge sooner? And why did it emerge at all? The Earth scientist Philip Pogge von Strandmann has the answers. |Read along while listening at our Medium: bit.ly/2kzO0V6 |Narrated by Vidish Athavale | …

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Russia’s new rich and their attitudes to the West | Elisabeth Schimpfossl 9:14

9y ago9:14

9:14

In 2014, the head of Russia's biggest international news agency reminded the world that Russia is the only country capable of ‘turning the USA into radioactive dust’. Do Russian elites share similarly hostile attitudes towards Western countries? Sociologist Elisabeth Schimpfossl investigates. |Read along while listening at our Medium: bit.ly/2hAWdt…

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String theory: Must it be so? | Yang-Hui He 9:28

9y ago9:28

9:28

Could there be a theory that describes all of the fundamental laws of nature, a Theory of Everything? Einstein thought so but he never managed to prove it. Mathematical physicist Yang-Hui He guides us through the quest to fulfil Einstein's dream. |Read along while listening at our Medium: http://bit.ly/2gMa9kG |Narrated by Vidish Athavale | Music b…

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The quantum foundations of life | Johnjoe McFadden 8:32

9+ y ago8:32

8:32

The extraordinary complexity of life has puzzled scientists for a long time. But underneath the apparent randomness of life lies a deeply rooted order at the quantum scale. Geneticist Johnjoe McFadden takes us to the world where biology meets quantum mechanics. |Read along while listening at our Medium: http://bit.ly/2cA0CJN |Narrated by Vidish Ath…

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The woman who unmasked the forger | Mary Wellesley 9:33

9+ y ago9:33

9:33

Art forgery has existed for centuries, but what about a 19th-century forger of medieval art whose unmasked work went on to become more valuable than originals? Mary Wellesley takes us through the detective-like story of the woman who uncovered his deception. |Read along while listening at our Medium: bit.ly/2cfJRmO |Narrated by Mary Wellesley and V…

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It's at Tate but is it art? | Miguel Dos Santos 7:07

9+ y ago7:07

7:07

For many people, contemporary art is a strange place where artists are charlatans who take us for fools. But are they really, or should we take them seriously? Miguel Dos Santos tackles the issue. |Read along while listening at our Medium: bit.ly/2aSWbc2 |Narrated by Vidish Athavale | Music by Addam Farmer, Debbie Miller and Mark Petrie |Miguel tea…

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Why Martin Luther King had the US Constitution on his side | Adam Smith 8:34

9+ y ago8:34

8:34

From the Civil Rights movement to the modern efforts to legalize gay marriage, the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution has been central to many of the most important issues in American history. UCL historian Adam Smith takes us through its significance. |Read along while listening at our Medium: bit.ly/2aEpNZE |Narrated by Adam Smith and Vidish A…

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Is sport really good for society? | Nick Piercey 8:21

9+ y ago8:21

8:21

The medical effects of sport seem to be well understood, there being a consensus that it is good for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. But what about its non-medical effects? For example, are the effects of sport on society generally positive? Nick Piercey shares his views. |Read along while listening at our Medium: bit.ly/29wzAoD |Narrated by Vidis…

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Could there be life around Jupiter? | Mehdi Ben Slama 5:28

9+ y ago5:28

5:28

The search for liquid water on Jupiter's moons could reveal a habitat suitable for life. Space physicist Mehdi Ben Slama guides us through that search. |Read along while listening at our Medium: http://bit.ly/28X7cb3 |Narrated by Vidish Athavale | Music by Dexter Britain |Mehdi is a space physicist at Imperial College London whose research focuses …

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Dante on his 750th birthday | John Took 8:50

9+ y ago8:50

8:50

As the legendary Italian poet Dante turns 750, what can he tell us about the human experience? Dante scholar John Took takes us through his timeless angst and joy ridden ponderings on love, despair and existence. |Read along while listening at our Medium: bit.ly/1YjwJyK |Narrated by John Took | Music by Advent Chamber Orchestra, Kai Engel, Tales, S…

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Saharan dust: Sustaining the Amazon? | Ian Ashpole 6:07

9+ y ago6:07

6:07

Dust in the air is nothing new. But for the Amazon rainforest, dust from the Sahara is crucial for its survival. How does this happen though? Ian Ashpole explains the phenomenon. |Read along while listening to our Medium: http://bit.ly/25upeLc |Narrated by Vidish Athavale | Music by Kai Engel, Sergey Cheremisinov and Dexter Britain |Ian is a postdo…

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The shot without a bullet: Blast injury | Emily Mayhew 8:23

9+ y ago8:23

8:23

Warfare has given rise to an invisible killer, one that was first discovered in World War I, attacking soldiers even after they had returned home to their families. Historian of science Emily Mayhew takes us through the story so far. |Read along while listening at our Medium: bit.ly/22baD1N |Narrated by Vidish Athavale | Music by Kai Engel |Emily i…

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The migrant crisis, Spanish America and the right to travel | Alexander Samson 7:52

9+ y ago7:52

7:52

The general public has been debating immigration with seemingly modern notions of economics, identity and conflict, but is this debate really so modern? Surely our forbears have little to add to the discussion in our globalised world? Alexander Samson doesn't think so. |Read along while listening at our Medium: bit.ly/24gsSHO |Narrated by Alexander…

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Antarctic discovery: Exploring the future of Earth | Martin Siegert 6:40

9+ y ago6:40

6:40

We might think that exploring Antarctica, one of the most inhospitable regions of the world, is something that has no relevance to us or future generations. According to Martin Siegert, we couldn't be more wrong. |Read along while listening at our Medium: bit.ly/1SkZ5oO |Narrated by Angus Waite | Music by Dexter Britain |Martin is a Professor of Ge…

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Discovering the Higgs boson | Jonathan Butterworth 6:19

9+ y ago6:19

6:19

Almost 50 years after it was first proposed, evidence for the elusive Higgs boson finally emerged. But how can you detect a particle that only exists for a tiny fraction of a second? Jonathan Butterworth takes us through the experiments at CERN's Large Hadron Collider. |Read along while listening at our Medium: bit.ly/1N4bqZN |Narrated by Vidish At…

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Flying and spying: A Renaissance dream comes true | Zoltán Biedermann 6:24

10y ago6:24

6:24

The popular trend for drones has highlighted an old human desire: to see the world from above and look upon the lives of those below. But how was this desire satisfied in a world before flying and spying? Zoltán Biedermann takes us to Renaissance Italy to find the expression of an earlier form of voyeurism. |Read along while listening at our Medium…

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The structure of human language | Vieri Samek-Lodovici 9:42

10y ago9:42

9:42

It has been suggested that all of the world's languages, from English and Italian to Mandarin and Hindi, share the same basic principles. But do they really? The linguist Vieri Samek-Lodovici explores the possibility. |Read along while listening at our Medium: http://bit.ly/1Tk1OBo ?|Narrated by Angus Waite and Vidish Athavale | Music by Jon Luc He…

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Viral pandemics | Michela Mazzon 6:45

10y ago6:45

6:45

With the latest panic on Ebola melting away, it seems another feared disease has been contained and controlled. But why is it that, after all of our advance in medicine, we still rely on containment rather than cures? Michela Mazzon fills us in. |Read along while listening at our Medium: http://bit.ly/1Q3JKp4 |Narrated by Angus Waite | Music by Kai…

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Why do we forget where we leave our keys but not how to ride a bike? | Flavia Schechtman Belham 6:17

10y ago6:17

6:17

Human memory is an intriguing thing. On the one hand, we forget things all the time. On the other, there are things we never seem to forget. How could this be though? Memory researcher Flavia Schechtman Belham explains. |Read along while listening at our Medium: bit.ly/1SaD3qO |Narrated by Vidish Athavale | Music by Kai Engel and Lee Rosevere |Flav…