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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: 08/07/2010

08/07/2010

BBC Radio 4 - Material World, 08/07/2010

Quentin Cooper dissects the latest science.

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

The first full-sky image from Europe's Planck telescope revealing the oldest light in the Universe was published this week. Quentin Cooper speaks to Planck scientist Dr. Dave Clements to find out what this imag is really showing.

This week we find out about the earliest inhabitants on the British Isles. Stone tools discovered at a site in Norfolk suggest that early humans arrived in Britain 800000 years ago, pushing back previous estimates by 100000 years. Their diet must have been rich in meat to survive the harsh winters. Quentin also finds out about our much older ancestors from Kenya who thanks to a varied diet of crocodiles and catfish were able to grow bigger brains.

One of our finalists of the 'So you want to be a scientist?' talent search has been collecting data to test out his theory. Sam O'Kell and his mentor Professor Geoff Lawday have been testing a pressure suit at the Roskilde music festival to find out how crowds behave when listening to different bands. 

The producer is Ania Lichtarowicz.

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