Nana Banana
The acclaimed BBC Radio 4 programme, "Inside Science," known for its insightful exploration of scientific breakthroughs and fundamental questions, recently aired a captivating episode titled "Answering Celebrity Science Questions" on January 1, 2026. This 28-minute broadcast, available for a limited 34 days on BBC Sounds, offered a unique blend of celebrity curiosity and expert scientific illumination, deftly guided by presenter Victoria Gill. The premise was simple yet brilliant: invite familiar voices from the world of entertainment to pose their most burning scientific queries to a panel of leading minds, transforming abstract concepts into accessible and engaging discussions.
Victoria Gill, with her characteristic clarity and journalistic acumen, orchestrated a lively exchange between the celebrity questioners and a formidable panel of scientific experts. The panel comprised Penny Sarchet, the astute Managing Editor of New Scientist, bringing a broad and up-to-the-minute perspective on global scientific developments; Mark Maslin, a distinguished Professor of Earth System Science at University College London, whose expertise spans climate change, geology, and human impacts on the planet; and Catherine Heymans, the esteemed Astronomer Royal for Scotland and Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Edinburgh, offering unparalleled insights into the cosmos and its mysteries. Together, these experts were tasked with unraveling queries that ranged from the deeply personal to the cosmically profound, demonstrating the boundless reach of scientific inquiry.
The first intriguing question came from a "master of mind reading and illusion," a figure whose profession inherently deals with the intricacies of the human mind and perception. This individual, often challenging our understanding of reality and memory, wondered aloud why memories and scars don’t simply disappear. This seemingly straightforward query opens a Pandora’s box of neuroscience, biology, and evolutionary adaptation. The experts delved into the complex mechanisms of memory formation, storage, and retrieval. Penny Sarchet might have highlighted how memories aren’t static recordings but dynamic, reconstructive processes, constantly being reshaped by new experiences and even emotions. She could have explained the concept of synaptic plasticity – the strengthening or weakening of connections between neurons – as the fundamental basis of learning and memory. Long-term potentiation, a persistent strengthening of synapses based on recent activity, plays a crucial role in consolidating memories, ensuring that significant experiences aren’t easily erased. The discussion would inevitably touch upon different types of memory, such as explicit (conscious recall of facts and events) and implicit (unconscious skills and habits), and how their varied neural pathways contribute to their persistence. While memories can fade or be distorted, their fundamental structure remains, providing a continuous narrative of our lives. The evolutionary advantage of retaining memories is undeniable, allowing us to learn from past mistakes, build skills, and recognize threats, ensuring survival and social cohesion.
The second part of this celebrity’s question, concerning why scars don’t disappear, shifted the focus from neurology to biology and wound healing. Mark Maslin, with his broad scientific understanding, or Penny Sarchet, could have detailed the intricate process of tissue repair. When skin is damaged beyond the superficial layer, the body initiates a complex sequence of events to close the wound and restore integrity. Unlike some animals, such as starfish or salamanders, which exhibit remarkable regenerative capabilities, humans primarily engage in repair, not full regeneration, for significant wounds. This repair process involves the deposition of collagen fibers by fibroblasts, forming a fibrous tissue that is structurally different from the original skin. Scars are essentially a consequence of the body’s efficient, albeit imperfect, emergency repair system. They persist because the collagen in scar tissue is laid down in a more haphazard fashion compared to the highly organized collagen of healthy skin, and it lacks structures like hair follicles and sweat glands. The colour, texture, and prominence of a scar can change over time as the collagen remodels, but the scar tissue itself remains a permanent testament to the body’s resilience and its capacity to heal, even if not perfectly. The panel might have explored the biological trade-offs: rapid closure of a wound to prevent infection and blood loss versus a more energy-intensive, slower process of perfect regeneration.
Next, a comedian, known for their ability to find humour and profundity in life’s biggest questions, posed a truly mind-bending query: "what came before the big bang?" This question, often asked by children and cosmologists alike, probes the very limits of our understanding of time, space, and existence. Catherine Heymans, as the Astronomer Royal for Scotland, was undoubtedly in her element tackling this grand challenge. She would have first clarified that the Big Bang is not an explosion in pre-existing space but rather the expansion of space itself from an incredibly hot, dense state. The standard model of cosmology suggests that time, as we understand it, began with the Big Bang approximately 13.8 billion years ago. Therefore, "before the Big Bang" might be a meaningless concept, akin to asking what is north of the North Pole.
However, the scientific community, always pushing boundaries, has developed several fascinating hypotheses to address this conceptual void. Professor Heymans could have elaborated on theories such as the "cyclic universe" or "Big Bounce" model, where our universe might be one in an endless series of universes, each expanding from the remnants of a previous contraction. This suggests a cosmic cycle of death and rebirth, eliminating the need for a singular beginning. Another compelling idea she might have discussed is the "multiverse" hypothesis. This proposes that our universe is just one bubble in an infinitely larger "multiverse," where other universes might have different physical laws and dimensions. These universes could be constantly bubbling into existence, perhaps through processes like eternal inflation. Even more abstract concepts, drawing from quantum gravity theories like string theory or loop quantum gravity, attempt to describe the very fabric of spacetime at scales smaller than currently observable, potentially offering clues about the state of the universe prior to the Big Bang’s inflationary period. While these remain theoretical, they represent humanity’s persistent quest to understand the ultimate origins of everything. The comedian’s question, therefore, served as a brilliant springboard into the cutting edge of cosmological speculation.
The final celebrity question came from the adventurous and ever-curious Anneka Rice, who, perhaps reflecting on her iconic action-oriented career, found herself "on top of a mountain considering what to do next." This open-ended question provided a canvas for the experts to connect environmental science, human endeavour, and the future of our planet. Given Mark Maslin’s expertise in Earth System Science, he would likely have interpreted Anneka’s query through an ecological or climate lens. Standing atop a mountain, one has a unique vantage point to observe the impacts of human activity and climate change – receding glaciers, changing vegetation patterns, or alterations in weather systems. Anneka’s "what to do next" could have been a poignant question about humanity’s responsibility towards these fragile, majestic environments. Professor Maslin might have discussed the importance of mountain ecosystems as biodiversity hotspots, water towers for vast populations, and crucial indicators of global climate health. He could have highlighted ongoing scientific efforts to monitor these changes, from remote sensing technologies (perhaps touching upon how Catherine Heymans’ field uses similar tech for distant stars) to on-the-ground ecological studies.
The discussion might have expanded to the role of scientific research in informing conservation strategies, sustainable tourism, and policy decisions aimed at mitigating climate change impacts. What "next steps" should we take to protect these natural wonders for future generations? The experts could have also touched upon the science of human endurance at altitude, the physiological challenges, and the psychological benefits of engaging with nature, subtly linking the personal experience to broader scientific understanding. Penny Sarchet might have broadened the scope to discuss global initiatives inspired by such observations, and Catherine Heymans could have offered a planetary perspective, viewing Earth’s mountains as dynamic features on a living world, much like geological features on other planets observed through astrophysics. Anneka’s question, therefore, transitioned from a personal reflection to a profound inquiry about our collective future and the scientific tools needed to navigate it.
The "BBC Inside Science" episode successfully demonstrated that scientific inquiry is not confined to laboratories or academic journals but is a natural extension of human curiosity, regardless of one’s background. By inviting celebrities to voice their genuine scientific questions, the programme bridged the gap between the public and the often-intimidating world of science. Victoria Gill and her panel of experts skillfully illuminated complex topics with clarity and enthusiasm, making sophisticated scientific concepts accessible and exciting. The episode underscored the BBC’s commitment to public understanding of science, inviting listeners to engage with the latest research and "educated hypothesising" that drives scientific progress. For those eager to delve deeper into these fascinating discussions, the programme’s website, bbc.co.uk (search for "BBC Inside Science"), provides further resources, including links to The Open University, offering pathways for continued learning. This episode was a testament to the power of asking big questions and the enduring human desire to understand the universe, from the workings of our own minds to the origins of time itself.
atisusanti
George Anjay
