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THE MATERIAL WORLD
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MISSED A PROGRAMME?
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PROGRAMME INFO |
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Quentin Cooper reports on developments across the sciences. Each week scientists describe their work, conveying the excitement they feel for their research projects.
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Contact Material World |
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LISTEN AGAIN 听30 min |
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PRESENTER |
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"For me science isn't a subject, it's a perspective. There are fascinating scientific aspects to everything from ancient history to the latest gadgets, outer space to interior decorating; and each week on The Material World we try to reflect the excitement, ideas, uncertainties, collisions and collaborations as science continues its never-ending voyage into the unknown".
Quentin Cooper |
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PROGRAMME DETAILS |
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The Science of Formula 1
This year sees the hundredth anniversary of the first Grand Prix. It was raced on 27th June 1906 on a 64 mile circuit of roads near Le Mans. That first race was won by a Renault which completed 12 laps of the circuit over two days with an average speed of just over 60 miles an hour.
The Formula One cars in this year's British Grand Prix, which took place at Silverstone on Sunday, are capable of speeds that are more than three times greater - in excess of 300 kilometres per hour.
The early lovers of motor sport would also be amazed by the appearance of today's cars and the engineering that goes into them, dependent as they are on aerodynamic design, high performance tyres and lubrication.
Quentin Cooper is joined by John Nixon of the Motorsport Unit at Cranfield University and by Mark Wakem of the Lubricants Technology Group at Shell Global Solutions to explore the science of Formula 1.
Desalination
The south-east of England is currently undergoing water shortages caused by a combination of dry winters, leaking water mains and profligate use of water.
Banning hosepipes and foregoing baths can only do so much to conserve water, so Thames Water is looking to more drastic measures.
They have proposed building a desalination plant in Newham, East London.
They plan to use a filtration method which pumps water through a membrane, leaving the salt behind but letting the water through that's fit for drinking.
Quentin discusses the science behind desalination, along with the global crisis that's facing our water supplies, with Dr. Nidal Hilal of the Centre for Clean Water Technologies School of Chemical, Environmental and Mining Engineering at Nottingham University and Tony Rachwell of Thames Water. |
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大象传媒 Science听& Nature
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