This week, as Wimbledon fortnight gets underway, Adam Walton discusses how psychology can play a role in the performance of professionals in sport. We visit Techniquest at Glyndwr University in Wrexham for an experiment to turn milk into plastic. There's a report from the Clwydian Range about a scientific survey into ancient life. Also a Bangor University scientist explains his innovative idea using bacteria to reclaim metals from mining waste,which has won him a prize from the Royal Society.

Inside players' minds

As Wimbledon hits our screens and radios again, we try to get inside the mind of sports professionals with Peter Cohen who has worked across a wide range of sports with many famous names, as well as being an author and TV presenter, and Tim Woodman of Bangor University's School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science, who is also a sports psychologist to the British Gymnastics Association.

Survey of hillside

A study of soil and heather samples from the Clwydian Range has revealed some of the habits of our upland ancestors. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales funded the research which shows how ancient people managed the land they lived on, and the methods they used for hunting. Science Cafe's Alan Daulby met Hillforts Conservation Officer Samantha Williams on a wet and windswept Moel Famau

Mining innovation

A scientist from Bangor has won an award from the Royal Society for his innovative work in the field of mining for metals. Professor Barrie Johnson of the School of Biological Sciences at Bangor University received this "labs to riches" award - one of nine awarded across the UK - to enable him to continue developing his ideas for retrieving metals from the waste water drainage of metal mines.

Plastic milk

Adam visits Techniquest at Glyndwr University in Wrexham for an experiment using milk and vinegar to make a form of plastic.

LINKS

• Peter Cohen
• Tim Woodman
  
• Heather and hillforts
  
• Techniquest Glyndwr