Inside the Mind of Paedophiles and Venus Express Results

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On this week’s programme - studying the brains of paedophiles, using ultrasound in the operating theatre, results from the Venus Express spacecraft and why meditation makes you happier. Venus Express Results In November 2005, Venus Express was launched to investigate Earth’s evil twin. A clutch of papers in this week’s Nature magazine looks at early results from the spacecraft’s data. From temperatures that would melt lead, to upside-down lightning, Geoff peers into the Venusian atmosphere to see what’s going on. Inside the Mind of Paedophiles Could paedophilia be down to faulty wiring in the brain? And if so, where does this leave us in terms of responsibility and punishment for the perpetrator? Geoff Watts talks to Dr James Cantor from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. Ultrasound and Bloodless Surgery Reporter Jon Stewart looks at a new medical device being tested in Seattle which cauterises internal wounds using ultrasound. Meditation and the Brain Matthieu Ricard is a Buddhist monk from Tibet with a PhD in molecular biology. He’s been working with Tania Singer, a neuroscientist from the University of Zurich, to find out whether meditation changes your brain activity. Does the secret of happiness lie in controlling your brain waves?