Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Episode details

World Service,15 Mar 2018,26 mins

Physicist Stephen Hawking (1942 - 2018)

Science In Action

Available for over a year

Cosmologist Stephen Hawking died this week. We celebrate his life, and profound contributions to the knowledge of our Universe. Early Modern Humans were more innovative and sophisticated much earlier than we thought. Palaeoarchaeologists working in the Rift Valley region in Kenya have discovered a change in tool-making from roughly-hewn locally-sources stone axes to fines, well hones tools made out of stone that had to be imported from 50km away. From this, they can surmise that Early Modern Humans showed far more innovation and adaptability to variable climate much earlier than first thought. John B. Goodenough - When you next plug in your laptop, hearing aid or mobile phone to charge , spare a thought for Professor John B. Goodenough. He is widely credited with the identification and development of the Lithium-ion rechargeable battery. At 95, he’s still full of energy and ideas. Roland tried to keep up with him when he visited his labs recently and finds out what John has in store for the next generation of energy storage. Picture: Cosmologist Stephen Hawking (1942-2018) in NASA’s ‘Vomit Comet’, Credit: NASA Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Fiona Roberts

Programme Website
More episodes