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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 听30 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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|  | | Phoberomys pattersoni
漏 Science / Illustration: Carin L. Cain
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The World鈥檚 Largest Rodent
A giant rodent, roughly the size of a buffalo, once roamed the banks of an ancient Venezuelan river. Phoberomys pattersoni is the largest rodent ever known to have lived. The semi aquatic creature dined on sea grass and had a long tail for balancing its hind legs. Discovered in a now-arid region 250 miles west of Caracas, the creature鈥檚 fossilized remains offer rare new clues to life in northwestern Venezuela eight million years ago.
Spectacular Finish For Space Probe Galileo
One of the most successful space missions ever launched will come to a dramatic end on Sunday night when the Galileo probe is plunged into the atmosphere of Jupiter. Galileo鈥檚 demise has been carefully planned and is designed to prevent it accidentally crashing into Jupiter鈥檚 moon Europa, contaminating any life forms that might be there. We hear from the scientists who are planning the next missions to Jupiter and its moons.
Black Hole Sings In B Flat
Astronomers have found, for the first time, sound waves from a super-massive black hole. The "note", pitched at B flat and fifty seven octaves below middle C, is the deepest ever detected from any object in the Universe. And the tremendous amounts of energy carried by these sound waves may solve a long-standing problem in astrophysics.
Redwood Trees Go High Tech
Climbers are scaling the heights of Californian redwood trees to place a network of miniature wireless sensors throughout their branches. These devices beam back detailed information on the climatic conditions, such as light, temperature and humidityat the tree top down to the forest floor. Monitoring trees remotely in this way is providing insights into the ecology of forests and groves, which could yield new guidelines for efficient reforestation throughout the world.
Next Week
Drug delivery could be revolutionised with a tiny skin patch of microneedles. The syringe is impervious to heat, can be stored at length and looks set to transform treatment for many deadly diseases in developing countries. | | |
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