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Oxford Sparks Big Questions

Oxford Sparks
University Of Oxford
Climate Change
Oxford University
Cuteness
Ozempic
Cats
European Hedgehogs
Tourette's Syndrome
Dinosaur Trackway
Quantum Computing
Physics
Weight Loss
Bees
Neuroscience
Kissing
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
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesScience

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Artwork for Oxford Sparks Big Questions

Latest Episodes

Each of us is different. Our genetics and life experiences shape us into unique individuals – with unique brains. When it comes to medicine, therefore, a 'one size fits all' approach is often not adequate, and trial and error is required to find the ... more

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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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In 2022, 7% of the UK's total carbon emissions came from the aviation sector - a figure that's on the rise. This means that - while a flight is often the start of a well-deserved holiday - a lot of us feel at least a sprinkling of guilt over our carb... 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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Recent Guests

Dr. Andrea Luppi
A computational neuroscientist
University of Oxford and University of Cambridge
Episode: What is a digital brain twin?
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

Host

Emily Elias
Host on Oxford and related science programming; connected with Oxford Sparks.

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.

High-quality, engaging conversations with clear expertise, though some episodes spark debate on contentious topics.
Guests bring breadth across STEM fields, and discussions often tie to real-world implications.
The show is consistently informative and well-produced, with strong insights from researchers.
Host makes science approachable without diluting complexity.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What is a digital brain twin?
Q: What kinds of diseases are we looking at treating with this sort of thing?
Ideally brain-related conditions where imaging is already part of care, such as tumor surgery planning or disorders of consciousness, with models that can help guide decisions and predictions about treatment effects.
What is a digital brain twin?
Q: And how do you make sure that what you're getting is reliable information?
Reliability comes from validating that the model correctly captures the brain's condition and treatment effects, and by checking whether the model can distinguish patient data from healthy data, with ongoing retrodictions and comparisons to real outcomes.
What is a digital brain twin?
Q: So where are we at right now?
We can currently make brain models that are simplified yet distinguishable between individuals and can start to predict how brain activity might look, laying groundwork for deciding between potential treatments.
What is a digital brain twin?
Q: And how would you get all my brain information then? Where is it coming from?
Information comes from non-invasive brain scans like functional MRI, which show which brain regions activate together over time and how they're connected; this data is fed into the model to create a personalized simulation.
What is a digital brain twin?
Q: So walk me through. What is a digital brain twin?
A digital brain twin is a simplified computer model built from an individual's brain data, such as MRI scans, that can simulate how their brain might respond to different treatments, allowing for personalized recommendations rather than relying on trial-and-error for the broader population.

Audience Metrics

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

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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?

Across recent episodes, the show offers accessible explorations of cutting-edge science and its real-world implications. Topics range from AI-driven drug discovery and protein modeling to high-temperature alloy design for cleaner aviation, public health responses to hantavirus, wildlife conservation ethics, and the science of reading and cognition. The host consistently translates complex research into practical takeaways, often linking university-led work to industry, policy, and global challenges. A notable pattern is close collaboration with Oxford-based researchers and institutes, and a few episodes close with sponsor mentions that underscore partnerships with the hosting organization. The mix of technical depth, ethical angles, and cle... 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. The Documentary Podcast
2. The World, the Universe and Us
3. The Inquiry
4. BBC Inside Science
5. More or Less

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

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