BBC Inside Science

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A weekly programme looking at the science that's changing our world.

A weekly programme that illuminates the mysteries and challenges the controversies behind the science that's changing our world.

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BBC Inside Science: Sweet Science

Sweet Science

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The unexpected medical uses of artificial sweeteners.

Researchers from London’s Francis Crick Institute have found a type of artificial sweetener is able to dampen down immune system responses  - at least in mice.  Karen Vousden and Fabio Zani tell us about the implications.
And Ronan McCarthy from Brunel University has found a range of different artificial sweeteners have antibacterial properties. 
We discuss the connections between these two areas of research and the prospect of developing drug treatments from artificial sweeteners. 

Penny Johnes from Bristol University discusses the use of phosphorus in agriculture, it’s a key component of fertilisers, but global supplies may run out in a few years, despite this overuse of phosphorus in agriculture is also creating problems. 

And Chat GPT has had a makeover, a new version of the chatbot was rolled out this week.  Chatbots seem to be getting a lot of press at the moment, but are they really something we will all be using in the future?  Technologist and composer LJ Rich who works with the UN on artificial intelligence gives us her analysis.

BBC Inside Science is produced in collaboration with the Open University.

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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