The science behind ACL injuries in women's football - with Blake Rivers and Grace Vella
The Women's Euros kick off next Wednesday, once again bringing attention to the epidemic of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in women’s football. But why is it that women are six times more likely to suffer from these injuries, and what research is being done to understand it further? This month we’re looking at the science behind the ACL, and what factors researchers are investigating that influence injury susceptibility. We’re joined by Blake Rivers, who’s PhD at Kingston University is being funded by FIFA to investigate the impact of the menstrual cycle on ACL injuries, and Grace Vella, a footballer and entrepreneur who is 5 months into her ACL rehabilitation following on from reconstructive surgery.  Producer: Lia Hale  Assistant producer: Jessica Hibbert Music: Joseph Sandy Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think, and to help other people discover the podcast.  Get tickets for upcoming talks and livestreams: https://www.rigb.org/whats-on  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TheRoyalInstitution  X: https://twitter.com/Ri_Science Â
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41:04
De-westernizing the history of science - with Gianamar Giovannetti-Singh
When we think of the biggest historical figures in science, names like Isaac Newton and Michael Faraday tend to come to mind. But the discoveries made by these individuals could never have happened without the contributions of countless others around the world, whose names and stories are often left out of the picture.  Former Royal Institution Freer Fellow Gianamar Giovannetti-Singh spoke at the Ri to shed light on some of these untold stories, and to help us adopt a more global understanding of the history of science.  Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think, and to help other people discover the podcast.  Get tickets for upcoming talks and livestreams: https://www.rigb.org/whats-on  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TheRoyalInstitution  X: https://twitter.com/Ri_Science  This talk was recorded in the Theatre at the Royal Institution on Monday 14 May 2024 Producer: Lia Hale Music: Joseph SandyÂ
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29:37
How ancient pathogens have uncovered the past – with Pooja Swali
Ancient DNA offers a remarkable window into our past, allowing us to uncover crucial details about human history that would otherwise remain hidden. Earlier this year, UCL research fellow Pooja Swali joined us at the Ri to share her latest research into ancient pathogens. The paper was officially published in Science last week (link below!), so this month we’re revisiting Pooja’s research to understand what ancient DNA can teach us about the history of human civilisation.  Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think, and to help other people discover the podcast.  Read Pooja’s full paper here Get tickets for upcoming talks and livestreams: https://www.rigb.org/whats-on  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TheRoyalInstitution  This talk was recorded in our Theatre at the Royal Institution on Saturday 1 March 2025. Producer: Lia Hale Music: Joseph SandyÂ
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31:02
Understanding antimicrobial resistance - with Gabriel Astorga
How do microbes including bacteria become resistant to treatment? What can we do to prevent it? And why do we have tuberculosis to thank for the creation of cowboy hats? This month, PhD student and award-winning science communicator Gabriel Astorga joins us to answer all these questions and more, as we look under the hood of antimicrobial resistance.  Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released!  Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think, and to help other people discover the podcast.  Read more about the UKHSA campaign here Follow Gab on Instagram and YouTube  Get tickets for upcoming talks and livestreams: https://www.rigb.org/whats-on  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TheRoyalInstitution  Producer: Lia Hale Music: Joseph SandyÂ
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33:02
How climate change affects the brain - with Clayton Aldern and Sanjay Sisodiya
John Tyndall first announced his discovery of greenhouse gases in a Royal Institution Discourse back in 1862. Since then, our understanding of the science of climate change has come on leaps and bounds in some areas, but in others we are only just scratching the surface. This month, we hear from neuroscientist-turned-journalist Clayton Aldern and Professor of Neurology Sanjay Sisodiya about how climate change affects our brains. From memories passed through generations to the impact of heat on neurological disorders such as epilepsy, we dive deeper into the neuroscience underlying climate change. Ri Science Podcast episodes are released on the last Wednesday of every month. Subscribe to be notified as soon as the next episode is released! Producer: Lia HaleMusic: Joseph Sandy  Please leave this episode a rating and a review to let us know what you think, and to help other people discover the podcast.  Get tickets for upcoming talks and livestreams: https://www.rigb.org/whats-on  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TheRoyalInstitution  X: https://twitter.com/Ri_Science Â
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