What’s on (7 – 13 July 2012)

Fancy watching (or listening to) something new? Here’s our pick of the week’s science on TV and radio…

Sun 8 July

Secrets of Our Living Planet
BBC2, 8.00-9.00pm

The last in the series exploring our planet's intricate ecosystems. This week, Chris Packham dives into the world of watery habitats, taking a look at Brazil’s Pantanal tropical wetland, Bangladesh’s Sundarbans mangrove forest, and coral reefs in the Maldives.

Mon 9 July

The Infinite Monkey Cage
BBC Radio 4, 4.30-5.00pm

This week, Brian Cox and Robin Ince are joined by mathematician Marcus du Sautoy, science journalist Adam Rutherford and comic book legend Alan Moore to discuss the science of symmetry. Why is symmetry so ubiquitous in our universe, and can Brian Cox’s particularly symmetrical face help to explain his large female fanbase?

Volcano Live
BBC2, 8.00-9.00pm (continuing on Tues-Thurs)

Kate Humble and Professor Iain Stewart host this lava-tastic programme live from the active Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island. Check out this month’s Focus for our guide to the world’s deadliest volcanoes, as well as a chat with Prof Stewart.

 

Tues 10 July

What the Industrial Revolution Did For Us
Discovery History, 10.00-11.00pm

Historian Dan Cruickshank shines a light on this golden age of technical and scientific progress. The first two programmes feature John Harrison, solver of the longitude problem, and James Watt, who reportedly built his steam engine after being inspired by his aunt’s boiling kettle.

Weds 11 July

Blink: a Horizon Guide to Senses
BBC4, 9.00-10.00pm

Dr Kevin Fong trawls through four decades of Horizon archives to investigate what science has taught us about our senses. Why do babies use touch more than any other sense? Why are our eyes so easily tricked? And could technology one day replace our human senses if they fail?

Thurs 12 July

Guts: the Strange and Mysterious World of the Human Stomach
BBC4, 9.00-10.00pm

Michael Mosley reveals his inner workings, swallowing a camera pill in order to explain how the digestive system works. It’s sure to be fascinating stuff, but make sure you eat your dinner before watching…