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Oxford Sparks Big Questions

Oxford Sparks
University Of Oxford
Climate Change
Oxford University
Cuteness
Ozempic
Cats
Dinosaur Trackway
European Hedgehogs
Tourette's Syndrome
Quantum Computing
Physics
Weight Loss
Bees
Kissing
Neuroscience
Plant Care
Bed Bugs
Moon
Volcanoes
Earth

'Will my bacon sandwich kill me?', 'Is vaping better than smoking?', 'How do you become an astronaut?' - just some of the Big Questions we ask some of the brightest minds behind Oxford science. Join us in each podcast as we explore a different area of science.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes204Founded12 years ago
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Natural SciencesScience

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Latest Episodes

Put simply, most drugs work by binding to a protein and altering how they function. But how can we model how well a particular molecule will bind to a particular protein, and use that knowledge to help discover new treatments? In this episode, we tal... more

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Until recently, most of us had probably never even heard of the hantavirus. Now - with memories of the global COVID-19 pandemic still fresh in our minds - it's only natural to feel slightly concerned about the new virus hitting our headlines. But are... more

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'Killing animals' and 'conservation' sound mutually exclusive, but when it comes to managing populations that are having a negative environmental impact, is culling the answer? If so, how do people feel about it? We chat to Jessica Frater from the De... more

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Recent Guests

Fergus Imrie
Associate professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of Oxford and one of the lead researchers on the OpenBind project
University of Oxford, OpenBind
Episode: How can we use AI to make drugs?
Tamsin Whitfield
Researcher focusing on new metals for high-temperature aircraft engines
University of Oxford, Department of Science, Innovation and Technology
Episode: How do you build the aeroplane of the future?
Daniel Wright
Senior postdoctoral researcher in the Outbreak Pathogens team
Oxford Vaccine Group
Episode: Should I be freaked out by the hantavirus?
Ole Jensen
Professor at Oxford examining cognitive neuroscience of reading
University of Oxford
Episode: How does reading work?
Kate Bancroft
Research fellow at University of Oxford studying health, sport and performance
University of Oxford
Episode: What's it like for women working in F1?
Dr. Shurui Miao
Physical chemist specializing in liquids and solutions; researcher
University of Oxford
Episode: How do you convert CO2 to rock?
Deborah Valenzi
Professor of History at Barnard College, Columbia University, and the author of five books including Milk, A Local and Global History
Barnard College, Columbia University
Episode: From the Milk on the Move podcast: Purity and Danger
Heather Paxton
Cultural anthropologist and science and technology study scholar
Episode: From the Milk on the Move podcast: Purity and Danger
Bronwyn Percival
Technical Director for Niels Yard Dairy in London, co-author of Reinventing the Wheel, Milk, Microbes and the Fight for Real Cheese
Niels Yard Dairy
Episode: From the Milk on the Move podcast: Purity and Danger

Host

Emily Elias
Host of Oxford Sparks Big Questions; science communicator with a focus on making complex research accessible.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 84 ratings
  • Brilliant!!!!!!

    Just absolutely love it! From the largest scale of astronomy to the tiny worlds of neuroscience, Oxford Sparks has the answers to all strange questions you may possibly have! A joy to listen to!!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chara2020
    Taiwan4 years ago
  • Ideological not scientific.

    Obvious points of tension within philosophy. This program makes claims without presenting facts.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Boicarguy
    United States6 years ago
  • He he rating button to tap tap

    Bbbbb

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dwarfwatcher52
    Australia6 years ago
  • The best science podcast

    Every episode is full of fascinating, cutting-edge science from a wide range of fields. It's brilliant. But, there are a lot of podcasts with interesting science in them - what makes this one *special*, and a must-listen for everyone, is host Emily Elias. She skillfully guides us through these topics with great humour, getting the best out of her interview subjects and putting togehter a really unmissable show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mackenwells
    United Kingdom7 years ago
  • Straight into my top 10

    First class -- short, clever, unpredictable -- straight into my top 10 after a few listens.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Autodidact55
    United Kingdom8 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many listeners describe it as one of the best science podcasts for depth and entertainment.
Listeners praise the host's ability to make cutting-edge science engaging and accessible.
Some critics feel certain philosophical topics come across as opinionated rather than strictly evidence-driven.
The show is often cited for high-quality guests and clear explanations across diverse disciplines.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How do you build the aeroplane of the future?
Q: What does a 50% improvement in efficiency mean in practical terms for propulsion and emissions?
A 50% improvement translates into more thrust per unit of fuel, meaning lower fuel consumption for the same flight and, consequently, lower CO2 emissions and operating costs, with the trade-off of designing materials that remain strong and stable at higher temperatures.
How do you build the aeroplane of the future?
Q: How do you go about making jet engines more fuel efficient through materials research?
We design and test nickel-based superalloys that can operate at higher temperatures, which improves engine efficiency and reduces fuel burn, and we iterate compositions through melting, mixing, and microstructure analysis to achieve the necessary properties.
How can we use AI to make drugs?
Q: What is OpenBind, and why was it founded?
OpenBind is an open-science initiative to generate large quantities of high-quality experimental data on protein–drug interactions, with the goal of improving AI models for drug discovery and enabling better generalization across many targets and diseases.
How can we use AI to make drugs?
Q: Okay, so how does AI come into all of this, this world of protein plus drugs?
AI has driven major progress in predicting protein shapes and, crucially, is now being extended to understand how small molecules bind to those proteins, enabling faster identification of viable drug candidates and more efficient experimental planning.
How does reading work?
Q: So what is that going to look like? Are you literally going to put somebody in an MRI and make them read stuff?
The work uses MEG rather than MRI to measure magnetic fields produced by brain activity while participants read, with devices that can provide high-temporal-resolution data about how words and contexts are processed in real time.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Oxford Sparks Big Questions

What is Oxford Sparks Big Questions about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show surveys a wide range of scientific topics through accessible, expert-led conversations. Episodes frequently touch on cutting-edge research in neuroscience, climate science, physics, and health, often linking academic findings to real-world implications such as education, policy, and industry practice. A notable strength is the ability to bring university-level insights to a general audience via engaging, curious hosts and guest researchers from the University of Oxford and beyond. The format tends to mix big-picture questions with concrete examples, making it appealing to listeners who enjoy learning how science explains everyday phenomena and future technologies. The show often features researchers and practitioners who aim to tra... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Oxford Sparks Big Questions?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Oxford Sparks Big Questions:

1. To Fluency Podcast: English with Jack
2. Nature Podcast
3. You're Dead to Me
4. Evil Genius with Russell Kane
5. BBC Inside Science

How many episodes of Oxford Sparks Big Questions are there?

Oxford Sparks Big Questions launched 12 years ago and published 204 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Oxford Sparks Big Questions?

Recent guests on Oxford Sparks Big Questions include:

1. Fergus Imrie
2. Tamsin Whitfield
3. Daniel Wright
4. Ole Jensen
5. Kate Bancroft
6. Dr. Shurui Miao
7. Deborah Valenzi
8. Heather Paxton

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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