Future Fantastic
Dara and the team of experts look to the future as they meet a robot with a sense of touch, investigate plans to mine the moon and peruse the fashions of tomorrow.
Dara and the team attempt to discover what the future may hold over the next fifty years.
Science journalist Alok Jha travels to America to meet the latest generation of humanoid robots including one that has mastered that most human of attributes - a sense of touch. The team also investigate the most revolutionary brain-imaging techniques that promise to unlock the mysteries of our minds. Professor Mark Miodownik meets some pioneering engineers who plan to mine the moon, while in the studio Dara and Mark attempt some very low temperature experiments as they explore cryonics, the practice of freezing yourself after death. Plus, what self-respecting science show about the future would be complete without checking out the fashions of tomorrow?
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Graspy the touch sensitive robot
Duration: 01:39
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Fast freezing
Duration: 02:01
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Mining the Moon
Duration: 01:30
Supercool water
'Supercooling' is when you chill a liquid below its freezing point without it becoming solid. Try this amazing trick by following Mark's simple step-by-step instructions.
Freeze me for the future
Could聽cryonics be a genuine way of being brought back to life, years into the future, or will it聽forever be science fiction rather than science聽fact?
Helen's science news
Find out more about the stories featured in Dr Helen Czerski's latest science round-up.
Guest experts
Joining the team聽in the studio for Episode聽4聽are Dr Molly Crockett, a cognitive neuroscientist, and Dr Michio Kaku, a physicist and futurologist.
Follow us on Twitter
Get an extra helping of surprising facts and links and join the conversation for some really social science.
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Dara O Briain |
| Expert | Mark Miodownik |
| Reporter | Helen Czerski |
| Reporter | Alok Jha |
| Executive Producer | Helen Thomas |
| Series Producer | Kaye Godleman |
| Series Editor | Nigel Paterson |
Why does a magnetised needle face north?
Mark demonstrates how to magnetise a needle in order to create your own working compass.