BBC Inside Science

BBC Inside Science

BBC Radio 4

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

Listen to the last episode:

This week the UK Government decided it was worried enough about so called ‘forever chemicals’ to bring in it’s first ever plan to tackle them. Environment Minister Emma Hardy called PFAS "one of the most pressing chemical challenges of our time". Stephanie Metzger, policy adviser at the Royal Society of Chemistry talks us through where all these chemicals have come from, and Lucy Hart, researcher at Lancaster university, brings us new science on their sources.

Technology journalist Gareth Mitchell is in the studio with his take on this week’s brand new discoveries.

And as future winter Olympians ready themselves atop Italy’s snow-covered peaks, Victoria Gill hears how the chemical make up of ski wax can make or break a gold medal winning run. She hears from Jostein Vinjerui, manager of the British cross-country team, and Pat Sharples, Head Coach for GB Snowsports.

To discover more fascinating science content, head to bbc.co.uk, search for BBC Inside Science and follow the links to The Open University.

Presenter: Victoria Gill Producer: Alex Mansfield, Katie Tomsett, Kate White and Clare Salisbury Editor: Martin Smith Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

Previous episodes

  • 1004 - Where do forever chemicals come from? 
    Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • 1003 - Should we rethink navigating by GPS? 
    Thu, 29 Jan 2026
  • 1002 - How is air travel returning to supersonic speeds? 
    Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • 1001 - Why is Nasa sending people around the moon? 
    Thu, 15 Jan 2026
  • 1000 - How rare are Greenland’s rare earth elements? 
    Thu, 08 Jan 2026
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