Videos | The Science Squad

Background

TSS3 – Ep 6 – Lung Health

Ireland has the third highest death rate from lung disease in Europe. It can affect anyone regardless of age, health status and walk of life yet unlike the other big killer, Heart Disease, it doesn’t seem to be prioritised. Jonathan …
TSS3 – Ep 6 – Weird Science – Axons

Signals move from our brain to our body along vast networks of nerve cells called neurons, but not all these signals travel at the same speed. So what happens when our body requires a faster response?…
TSS3 – Ep 6 – Gut Health

And from the guts of bees, to a gutsy bunch on the rugby field… what can we about the relationship between our diet, exercise, gut bacteria and general health? Teagasc’s Paul Cotter recently conducted a study with the Irish Rugby …

TSS3 – Ep 6 – Bees

Those who have been paying attention to environmental news over the past couple years know that honey bees have been disappearing at an alarming rate. Aoibhinn investigates the true extent of the problem and what the consequences might be in terms of biodiversity, …
TSS3 – Ep 5 – Stem Cells

Regenerative medicine is revolutionising healthcare and Irish scientists are playing a ground-breaking role, as for the first time ever, adult stem cells for human use are now being manufactured in Ireland. Kathriona visits the Irish Centre for Stem Cell Manufacture …
TSS3 – Ep 5 – Portable Xrays

From dentistry to oncology, x –ray imaging is an indispensible tool; yet remarkably, until now, the vacuum tube x-ray technology used today has remained relatively unchanged for the past 100 years! Aoibhinn meets researchers at Tyndall National Institute in Cork …

TSS3 – Ep 5 – Robots

How close are we to giving personalities to robots and computers? Jonathan meets Prof Nick Campbell whose research is aimed at improving the emotional side of human interaction with computers. After a ‘date’ with one of his Nick’s robots, Jonathan …
TSS3 – Ep 4 – Weird Science – Cold Wars and Copper Wires

What would happen if the world’s communications networks suddenly stopped working??? We travel back to the 1960s, to a world before satellites and on the brink of the Cold War……
TSS3 – Ep 4 – Data Storage

When YouTube was launched in 2005, nobody could have predicted its meteoric rise in popularity, influence and usage. In less than a decade, viewings of videos on the site have gone from 8 million views a day to a staggering …

TSS3 – Ep 4 – Equilume

The Thoroughbred breeding industry operates within confines of very tight breeding schedules and racing calendars. Aoibhinn meets Barbara Murphy from UCD-spin-out Equilume who has developed an innovative piece of technology to allow horses to remain outside in the fields during …
TSS3 – Ep 3 – EVAR

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are like silent bombs waiting to explode. An untreated patient will usually die of internal bleeding and shock within a few hours, and even if they make it to surgery, the survival rates are less than 50%. But …
TSS3 – Ep 3 – Weird Science – Pregnancy Paradox

Our immune system is an amazing weapon for fighting viruses and infections… but not all foreign invasions are unwelcome……

TSS3 – Ep 3 – Coderdojo

In 2011, teenager James Whelton set up a computer club in his school in Cork and started teaching basic HTML and CSS. Incredibly, in just 3 years, there are now 480 Dojos in 48 countries around the world where young …
TSS3 – Ep 3 – Life on Mars

It may sound like something straight out of a science fiction screenplay, but there are plans afoot to establish a permanent human colony on the Red Planet by 2025. Jonathan meets the man behind the Mars One project, and Dr …
TSS3 – Ep 2 – Robotic Milking

Are the days of Dairy Farmers being tied to the farm set to become a thing of the past with the help of robots? With milk quotas due to be lifted in 2015, farmers will need all the help they …

TSS3 – Ep 2 – Weird Science – Made of the Stars

They might be hundreds of millions of miles away, but in many ways the stars are actually much closer than you might think……
TSS3 – Ep 2 – LCD Screen Recycling & Horizon2020

Advances in AV technology are moving at such a pace that consumers are replacing their TVs every few years. But with new televisions containing significant amounts of lead, mercury, liquid crystal and other hazardous materials – how can we dispose of …
TSS3 – Ep 2 – Pre-Eclampsia

Up to 80,000 women die each year as a direct cause of preeclampsia – a life-threatening condition that occurs during pregnancy. Kathriona meets Prof Louise Kenny from Metabolomics Ltd who is developing breakthrough technologies that could provide predictive diagnosis of Preeclampsia in …

TSS3 – Ep 1 – SODIS

Prof Kevin McGuigan in RCSI in Dublin has been working for 20 years on a deceptively simple solution which can convert dirty water into clean water with no chemicals or additives of any kind. Aoibhinn travels to Uganda to meet …
TSS3 – Ep 1 – Weird Science Magnetic Flip

Ever feel like your world has been turned upside down? You might be more correct than you think……
TSS3 – Ep 1 – Liver Fluke

Ireland is renowned for its lush green grass… but lurking between the blades is a dangerous threat. Liver flukes are a parasite present on most Irish farms and they’re estimated to cost Irish farmers up to €90 million a year. …

TSS3 – Ep 1 – Earth Observation

With the European Space Agency launching the most ambitious civilian earth observation project to date, Jonathan investigates how this type of data is being put to use in Ireland: from advances in environmental observation for flooding and coastal erosion, to …
TSS2 – Ep 7 – Malaria

Malaria is a major cause of illness and death on our planet, with around half the world’s population at risk of infection. Recent attempts at a new vaccine, including Bill Gates and GlaxoSmithKline world’s largest malaria vaccine trial, have proven …
TSS2 – Ep 7 – Offshore Wind Platforms

It’s estimated that approximately 25,000MW of offshore wind could be installed off the west coast without adverse environmental effects. This is more than 4 times the national electricity generation requirement. The scope for fixed offshore wind on the west coast …

TSS2 – Ep 7 – Science of Running

There has been an explosion in the popularity of running in Ireland in recent times. Aoibhinn gets into her running gear and takes a close look at how science is facilitating this passion, both from a physical and mental point …
TSS2 – Ep 6 – Biomedical Diagnostics

The Biomedical Diagnostic Institute in DCU are working on a number of devices that will allow for simple testing of major diseases, such as cancer, liver disease and cardiovascular conditions, in primary care settings such as the GP office rather …
TSS2 – Ep 6 – Weird Science – Sink Holes

Ever wished the ground would swallow you up? Be careful what you wish for……

TSS2 – Ep 6 – SolarPrint

Photo voltaic (PV) technology is a form of solar technology that can convert natural light into electricity. Production of PV technology worldwide has been doubling every two years, making it the world’s fastest-growing energy technology – in the consumer electronics …
TSS2 – Ep 6 – Quantum Energy

Energy sources have changed dramatically over the last few years with a move towards sustainable energy from renewable sources, specifically wind. One of the key challenges is how to store wind energy, and Kathriona investigates the Quantum Heating System which …
TSS2 – Ep 5 – Biodegradable Plastics

For it’s size, Ireland is among the highest waste producers in Europe – our waste every year would fill Croke Park to the top of the stands! Thankfully we’ve moved quickly from a position of almost total reliance on landfill …

TSS2 – Ep 5 – UL Maths Workshop

Everyone knows Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain loves maths, so she’s in her element at a workshop where Industry leaders such as Diageo and Dell can bring their technical problems to be solved by mathematicians from all over Europe! Aoibhinn investigates some …
TSS2 – Ep 5 – Heat Pumps

While it may be easy to turn a blind eye and place the blame elsewhere, the fact is that we produce a whooping 6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide directly in our homes. And with EU mandatory targets, calling for …
TSS2 – Ep 5 – Grass Growth Monitoring

With our reputation as the Emerald Isle precious, most of us do not give grass much thought. But with the recent fodder crisis and high agricultural industry growth targets set for 2020, growing the nation’s most important crop has become …

TSS2 – Ep 4 – Sexed Semen

A new trial into the controversial viability of using sexed semen in Ireland, which allows farmers to determine the sex of their calves, has the potential to revolutionise the dairy and beef industry. Conventionally there is a 50/50 chance of …
TSS2 – Ep 4 – Weird Science – Bobtail Squid

Imagine you are on the beach. It’s a clear calm night. The path of the moon and the twinkle of the stars on the surface of the water. It sounds idyllic. However, for one particular animal, such a night is …
TSS2 – Ep 4 – Surgical Training

It has been acknowledged that certain natural abilities and personality characteristics can influence surgeons’ performance. At the Royal College of Surgeons, new technologies have allowed for a move towards more skills lab training involving simulators, where students can learn skills …

TSS2 – Ep 4 – Electric Vehicles

The Irish Government has committed to getting enough electric passenger vehicles on the road by 2020 to account for 10 per cent of all vehicles (a projected 230,000 electric vehicles). But how are we doing on that pledge? And how …
TSS2 – Ep 3 – Human Genome

The sequencing of the first human genome came about in part through quantum leaps in information technology, and now members of the general public can access information about their own genes, and potentially the risk of developing diseases such as …
TSS2 – Ep 3 – Air Quality

The ability to breathe is something we all take for granted, but Ireland actually has the fourth highest prevalence of asthma sufferers in the world. Kathriona meets Gary and his 3 year old son Noah who both suffer from asthma …

TSS2 – Ep 3 – Irish Science in Space

Irish scientists are making a name for themselves in space exploration across a number of fields. Aoibhinn meets the researchers who are developing new materials to protect a new €500million ESA satellite from the intense temperatures involved in flying closer …
TSS2 – Ep 2 – Bone Growing

An Irish team of researchers led by Prof Fergal O’Brien at RCSI, have made an exciting breakthrough, having developed a new organic material which harnesses the body’s own regenerative power to repair damaged bones and cartilage. Fergal’s company Surgacoll can …
TSS2 – Ep 2 – Weird Science – Willow Trees

One toilet flush produces 8litres of wastewater. One shower is 80litres of wastewater. That’s a huge amount. And all of this has to be cleaned. So how could willow trees help us out?…

TSS2 – Ep 2 – Sleep Apnoea

With up to 200,000 people in Ireland estimated to be suffering from sleep apnoea and growing research highlighting how devastating the effects of the disorder can be, the Department of Transport has issued a new ruling that any person diagnosed …
TSS2 – Ep 2 – Seaweed

Many seaweeds are of interest for industrial applications (e.g. nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, animal feeds) for the valuable compounds they contain. In the Western world seaweed cultivation is in its infancy but its development is necessary to allow supply to industry without …
TSS2 – Ep 1 – Plants in Space

The presence of certain naturally occurring bacteria in plants has a beneficial impact on their health and growth. Just like the way good bacteria that live within our guts help keep us healthy, these bacteria can help plants to thrive. …

TSS2 – Ep 1 – Weird Science – Wood Frog

We all have a beating heart that keeps us alive. If your heart stopped beating that would be cardiac arrest, leading to death. But what if you didn’t need a beating heart to be alive……
TSS2 – Ep 1 – Infammation and Sepsis

Inflammation is currently a hot topic in the world of biomedicines, as it’s becoming apparent that inflammation is related to many different medical conditions such as sepsis, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and even obesity. Ireland is at the forefront of this …
TSS2 – Ep 1 – The Science of Food

Food has been long considered an art form. But for years, top chefs have also been dabbling in the world of science. Molecular Gastronomy is commonly used to describe the modern style of cuisine involving fancy foams, gels and smoke …

The Science Squad Series 2 – Episode 7 Trailer

This week, Aoibhinn takes a look at the science behind running, Jonathan investigates the benefits and challenges of developing offshore wind turbines, while Kathriona gets close up and personal with some mosquitoes to find out how Irish scientists are helping …
The Science Squad Series 2 – Episode 6 Trailer

On this week’s show, Aoibhinn finds out about biomedical diagnostic devices which could transform our healthcare, Jonathan looks into the evolution of the 80s solar calculator, and Kathriona investigates a unique Irish technology which could revolutionise the way we manage …
The Science Squad Series 2 – Episode 5 Trailer

Jonathan checks out two very different projects which could have positive impacts on our environment, Aoibhinn investigates how maths can be used to improve the management and distribution of blood supplies around Irish hospitals, and as Kathriona looks into grass …

The Science Squad Series 2 – Episode 4 Trailer

Aoibhinn investigates just how road ready we are for electric vehicles, Kathriona looks into new technologies which could enable Irish farmers to determine the gender of their calves, and Jonathan finds out if he could have what it takes to …
The Science Squad Series 2 – Episode 3 Trailer

Jonathan looks into the controversial world of genomic testing, Kathriona investigates our air quality and its potential impact on our health, and Aoibhinn checks out some Irish research projects that are destined for the stars!…
The Science Squad Series 2 – Episode 2 Trailer

Aoibhinn investigates a condition preventing over 100,000 people in Ireland from getting a good night’s sleep, Jonathan meets scientists who are not only looking at repairing bones but re-growing them, and Kathriona finds out how seaweed could be big business …

The Science Squad Series 2 – Episode 1 Trailer

Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain, Kathriona Devereux and Jonathan McCrea return to present the second series of “The Science Squad”, and find that Ireland’s researchers are still very much at the top of their game when it comes to international …