30 Animals That Made Us Smarter
Kingfisher and soil erosion
14 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
A clever solution to a significant environmental problem based on a kingfisher’s eyelids. Show more
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14 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
A clever solution to a significant environmental problem based on a kingfisher’s eyelids. Show more
21 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
Smart phones could become even smarter – thanks to ants, beetles, moths and spiders! A multi-animal special episode, marking the season 2 finale. #30Animals Show more
18 minutes
First broadcast: on BBC World Service AustralasiaLatest broadcast: on BBC World Service East Asia
Scared of wasps? They could help keep you alive, perhaps transforming life-saving surgery. To listen online, visit www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals Show more
16 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
Ever heard of Venus’s Flower Basket? It’s the marine sponge inspiring bridges and skyscrapers, and its structure may provide the blueprint for the next generation of big builds. Show more
18 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
Can the remarkable dexterity of octopus suckers help improve delicate surgery? They have inspired a device to transfer fragile sheets of thin tissue in surgical procedures. Show more
16 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
A new synthetic test to create safe vaccines – based on the secrets of the horseshoe crab and its blue blood. Show more
18 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
Snap! An ant’s amazing jaws move faster than a speeding bullet. Their powerful spring mechanism is being copied by scientists and may help move a new type of mini robot. Show more
18 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
The electric eel creates energy within its body to shock its prey. Scientists are copying this to develop a battery which may be used inside the body to power medical implants. Show more
16 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
Sweet moves! Honey bees have developed an extraordinary form of communication known as the “waggle dance”, which directs other bees to where the best nectar can be found. Show more
"It’s about animals which have inspired us": Patrick Aryee explains what it’s all about. Episode one available from 25 March 2019. #30Animals
15 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
The story of the bird and the engineer. How the kingfisher inspired the design of a train. #30Animals Show more
13 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
The eight-limbed master of disguise and surveillance technology. #30Animals Show more
15 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
The blood sucking pest and a pain free surgical needle. #30Animals Show more
14 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
A bird’s remarkable skull and the quest to protect aeroplane flight data recorders from damage caused by high impacts. #30animals Show more
15 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
Click, click, click! The bat’s navigational skills could be life changing to people who are blind.
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14 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
A bizarre looking creature may help us make vaccines last longer to move them across the globe. It is less than a millimetre long but the tardigrade is tough - really tough! Show more
12 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
The secrets of a firefly’s glow could help us brighten our lives and create more energy efficient lighting. See our animation: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals Show more
14 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
How a trip to the seaside led to the development of a glue and a formaldehyde-free plywood. See our animations from previous episodes: www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals #30Animals Show more
16 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
A building which heats and cools itself? How was that possible? Termites had the answer.
www.bbcworldservice.com/30animals
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15 minutesFirst broadcast:
Available for over a year
Fish living in sub-zero waters are inspiring ways to de-ice planes and store ice cream. Show more