Wednesday 22 June 2016

Growing human bones from stem cells




Nina Tandon is one of the scientists working on growing human bones from stem cells - a new technique that could replace synthetic implants and conventional grafts. I interviewed her for the World Economic Forum's blog series on ten leading female scientists.

"I'd like to be able to say that if you're born with congenital defects, you don't have to be consigned to a lifetime of disfigurement, that you can have your face restored," she told me. "More broadly, I love the idea that we can look at our own body as a source of healing, as opposed to pills and machines."

How your garden could power your wifi


This is another science Q&A I did for for the World Economic Forum - on how you can tap the roots of growing plants to generate power.

"Our approach doesn't force you to decide between growing food and growing fuel," says Marjolein Helder, one of the researchers working on this. "For example, you could use the same paddy to grow rice and produce electricity."

Thursday 16 June 2016

Black Holes Explained



This was such a treat - my interview on black holes and gravitational waves with Nergis Mavalvala, an astrophysicist at MIT. Her team finally observed the "ripples in spacetime" predicted by Albert Einstein a hundred years ago. Apart from being a brilliant scientist, Nergis is also a very funny and eloquent speaker on women's rights and minority rights.

The interview is part of a series of ten Q&As with outstanding female scientists around the world (for the World Economic Forum). Will post more soon!


Monday 14 March 2016

Secret London





Another BBC Culture story - this time on one of my favourite places in London, a hidden study room at the British Museum that houses one of the world's largest collections of prints and drawings: http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160304-my-date-with-michelangelo

Secret London





Another BBC Culture story - this time on one of my favourite places in London, a hidden study room at the British Museum that houses one of the world's largest collections of prints and drawings: http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160304-my-date-with-michelangelo

Friday 4 March 2016

Unseen City




This interview with Martin Parr about Unseen City, his current exhibition at the Guildhall Art Gallery, was a lot of fun. I've long admired his work - it's witty and warm and somehow very British. Go and see his show, you'll find out all sorts of fascinating things about London's medieval guilds and ancient traditions like swan upping. (Yes, it's a thing!)

Tuesday 9 February 2016

Britain's vanishing public art




Bulldozed, stolen, melted down... my piece for BBC Culture on efforts to track down Britain's missing art: http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160208-why-are-these-masterpieces-at-risk