30 Animals That Made Us Smarter

Amazing things humans have learnt from the animal kingdom. Inspiring, fascinating, bingeable.

World Service,63 episodes

Episodes

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Insects and mobile phone
Smart phones could become even smarter – thanks to ants, beetles, moths and spiders!
17 Jan 2022,20 mins
Butterfly and eye implant
Transparent butterfly wings may hold the key to more effective eye implants
10 Jan 2022,17 mins
Slug and surgical glue
From goo to super glue! Slug slime may hold the key to mending wounds without stitches
03 Jan 2022,17 mins
Dragonfly and sky spy
The amazing agility of a dragonfly leads to the creation of a new spy drone
27 Dec 2021,15 mins
Kingfisher and soil erosion
A clever solution to a significant environmental problem based on a kingfisher’s eyelids
20 Dec 2021,14 mins
Bees and fast deliveries
Sweet moves! The “waggle dance” of the honey bee is helping create faster delivery routes
13 Dec 2021,15 mins
Jellyfish and underwater robot
The world’s most efficient swimmer is a jellyfish! It’s the inspiration for a new robot
06 Dec 2021,14 mins
Polar bear and insulation
The science behind some fascinating fur could help humans keep warm in space
29 Nov 2021,20 mins
Electric eels and medical implants
From heart stopper to heart saver? The electric eel may help power medical implants
22 Nov 2021,17 mins
Camel and desert architecture
Take a peek into a camel’s nose! The science inside could help to cool desert homes
15 Nov 2021,15 mins
Lobsters and space telescopes
How a sea creature can help us see more of our universe
08 Nov 2021,20 mins
Pangolins and Waterloo Station
A tricky design challenge solved! All thanks to the scaly skin of the pangolin
01 Nov 2021,17 mins
Ants and mini robots
Snap! An ant’s springy jaws are being copied by scientists to help move mini robots
24 Oct 2021,17 mins
Horseshoe crabs and vaccines
A new synthetic test to create safe vaccines – based on the secrets of the horseshoe crab
17 Oct 2021,16 mins
Arapaima fish and armour
It’s a “living fossil”! This fish can resist piranhas and is inspiring a new body armour
10 Oct 2021,18 mins
Barn owl and drone
Learning from Lily the owl – could she help small aircraft cope with turbulence?
03 Oct 2021,19 mins
Manta ray and pollution solution
Will a ray save the day? It’s inspiring a way to prevent more pollution of our oceans
26 Sep 2021,19 mins
Cicada and safe surfaces
How an insect’s wings inspired materials that could kill bacteria
19 Sep 2021,14 mins
Cats and road safety
We love cats (well, many people do)! Thanks to one feline friend, they help keep us safe
12 Sep 2021,18 mins
Octopus and transplants
The remarkable dexterity of cctopus suckers might help improve delicate surgery
05 Sep 2021,17 mins
Rose butterfly and solar panels
Their wings aren’t just for show! Butterflies can help us harness energy from sunlight
29 Aug 2021,12 mins
Sponge and skyscraper
Ever heard of Venus’s Flower Basket? It’s the sponge inspiring bridges and skyscrapers!
22 Aug 2021,16 mins
Cow and sewage treatment
A cow’s amazing stomach could hold the key to stopping wastewater pollution
15 Aug 2021,15 mins
Snake and rescue robot
Imagine being rescued by a snake! A new generation of wriggly robots could save your life
08 Aug 2021,17 mins
Mantis shrimp and aircraft
Bam! The mantis shrimp’s powerful punch could change the way we build cars and planes
01 Aug 2021,17 mins
Wasp and keyhole surgery
Scared of wasps? They could help keep you alive, perhaps transforming life-saving surgery
25 Jul 2021,18 mins
Hedgehog and helmet
A hedgehog could save your life! Their spiky quills have inspired a new sports helmet
18 Jul 2021,15 mins
Camel and cool medicines
Camels are cool. They cope with intense heat, inspiring a new way of storing medicines
11 Jul 2021,16 mins
Squid and self-healing materials
What if a robot could fix itself? It’s the story of the secret of scary squid suckers
04 Jul 2021,18 mins
Elephant and robotic arm
An elephant’s trunk is amazing. Imagine a robotic arm with the same capabilities
27 Jun 2021,16 mins