What's on (30 June - 6 July 2012)

Here's our pick of the week’s science on TV and radio…

Sun 1 July

Secrets of Our Living Planet
BBC2, 7.00-8:00pm

In episode 3 of this fantastic series about the intricate and unlikely connections between ecosystems, Chris Packham visits a North American temperate forest to explain “why the tree needs the fish”.

Death Machines 
Quest, 10.00-11.00pm

A new series that looks at the darker side of technology, investigating those machines designed to hurt, maim, or kill. This episode features an ancient Roman ‘theatre of death’.

Mon 2 July

The Infinite Monkey Cage
BBC Radio 4, 4:30-5:00pm

More irreverent science chat with Robin Ince and Brian Cox. This week, they’re joined by comedian Andy Hamilton, material scientist Mark Miodownik and bioengineer Eleanor Stride to discuss why being really, really tiny would probably be the best superpower you could have.

Tues 3 July

Amazonia: Keeping it Alive
BBC Radio 4, 11:00-11:30am

Mary Colwell investigates the future of the Amazon rainforest. With around 20 per cent being destroyed for human purposes in the last 40 years, what can be done to preserve this unique region?

Thurs 5 July

The Sky at Night
BBC4, 7:30-8:30pm

The Sky at Night team travel to the Arctic Circle to see the transit of Venus. Will they witness this once-in-a-lifetime event, or will cloudy skies dash their hopes?