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Material World

Factual: Science & Nature

Science programme reporting on developments across the disciplines

Science programme reporting on developments across the disciplines. Each week, scientists describe their work, conveying the excitement they feel for their research projects

Material World: 27/05/2010

27/05/2010

BBC Radio 4 - Material World, 27/05/2010

Quentin Cooper investigates volcanic ash, new rockets and supersize dinosaurs.

Quentin Cooper investigates volcanic ash and asks if we're ready for the next eruption. Plus the private Falcon 9 rocket and how dinosaurs became so big.

Quentin Cooper presents his weekly digest of science in and behind the headlines. 

This week, the planes are flying again, but for how long? Has Iceland and its unpronouncable volcano got more volcanic ash to send our way? Quentin talks to Dr Joseph Ulanowski from the Centre for Atmospheric & Instrumentation Research at the University of Hertfordshire who's co-author of a paper investigating the odd electrical charges found within the plume. He also talks to Dr Carina Fearnley, from University College London's brand new Institute For Risk and Disaster Reduction, which has launched itself with a report on the implications of the Icelandic eruption.

A new rocket is on the launch pad in Florida. It's not an expensive NASA one, but a low-cost Falcon 9, developed by PayPal founder and head of Space-X, Elon Musk. For the first time, says space commentator Stuart Clark, the nation that claims to be the home of free enterprise is bringing the pioneer spirit back to space. If all goes well, Falcon 9 could soon be delivering cargo and eventually astronauts to the International Space Station - becoming, after the retirement of the Space Shuttle, the USA's only human spaceflight vehicle.

Why and how did the giant sauropod dinosaurs get so big? Not just bigger than elephants, but ten times bigger. Martin Sander, Professor of Vertebrate Paleontology at Bonn University tells Quentin that it may have been because they didn't chew their food, giving them time to swallow more into the great fermentation vats of their stomachs.

Producer: Martin Redfern.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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