51³Ô¹ÏÍø

In this edition: New evidence of what really sank the Titanic, a book based on a real Antarctic expedition and robot helpers for children with autism.

The podcast is presented by Gareth Mitchell, a lecturer on 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's Science Communication MSc course and the presenter of Click Radio on the BBC World Service, with contributions from our roaming reporters.

OR LISTEN TO INDIVIDUAL CHAPTERS

– We look back at some of the highlights of 172 years of the Department of Chemistry and look forward to better prosthetic limbs that respond to nerve impulses.

: An 51³Ô¹ÏÍø expert in fire finds evidence for a surprising theory about the Titanic – that it was when it left port, and this contributed to its rapid sinking.

: When thriller author heard about Professor Martin Siegert’s expedition to drill into a subglacial lake in Antarctica, she thought it was the perfect setting for a murder. She joins Professor Siegert to talk about the resulting novel – Devour – and what makes Antarctica such a good backdrop.

: Children with autism find reading facial expressions hard, and that’s where Zeno comes in – a new robot designed to teach basic expressions and interact with children on their level.