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| | | Leading Edge brings you the latest news from the world of science. Geoff Watts celebrates discoveries as soon as they're being talked about - on the internet, in coffee rooms and bars; often before they're published in journals. And he gets to grips with not just the science, but with the controversies and conversation that surround it.
radioscience@bbc.co.uk | | | | | LISTEN AGAIN Ìý30 min | | | |
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"If what interests you are new and exciting ideas, it's science you should be turning to. And whether it's the Human Genome Project or the origins of the Universe, Leading Edge is the place to hear about them."
Geoff Watts |
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|  | | | The Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory |
This week on Leading Edge, Geoff Watts explores giant telescopes, plant plastics, nerve cells and not so intelligent robots.
Radio telescopes
A project has started to install optical fibres to connect six radio telescopes in the UK, spanning 217 km.
The new project e-Merlin will enable astronomers to see weak radio galaxies five times further away than at present.
Robot intelligence
Creating intelligent machines has been harder than previously thought. This has led many robotics departments to ditch the complex problem of human consciousness and go right back to basics.
At the Intelligent Autonomous Systems Lab at the University of the West of England, they’re using simple creatures like ants to inspire their robotic design.
Plastic flowers
Geoff Watts visits Chelsea Flower Show to see how plant scientists from the University of Reading are using plastic light filters to control plants and pests.
Nerve repair
The complex system of nerves wound up inside the spinal cord means that if severed, it's very difficult to repair.
Now scientists in Toronto are designing materials that encourage the nerve cells to rejoin.
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