Why do plants want to grow?

Series 2 Introduction

Welcome back! We survived series 1 and we're here with another round of interviews with top experts trying to dodge the jargon alarm. Make sure to follow Talking of Science wherever you're listening to this, because in this series we're talking about how animals think, where the Lorax might fit into our world and how to avoid herpes virus. Can't wait? Catch up on series 1 now! To get in touch with us, email hello@talkingofscience.dk

How do you win a Nobel Prize?

The question on every helicopter parent's mind! In this special bonus to round off our first season, Dr C sits down with one of the humblest laureates you could imagine, Professor Morten Meldal, to ask what it really takes to win science’s most prestigious prize. We talk curiosity, collaboration, click chemistry, and the long, winding path to discovery… plus the moment Dr C briefly held a Nobel medal before it went back home where it belongs.  To get in touch with us at Talking of Science, email hello@talkingofscience.dk To get in touch with Prof Morten Meldal, search for him on google (you'll find him - he's kind of a big deal!) This is the final episode of Series 1. Stay tuned for the excited explorations into the mad world of talking science with a kid in Series 2, coming later in 2026...

Why do plants want to grow?

In the tenth episode (already?!), Helen and Dr. C celebrate by going full plant mode with guest Emma Aller, a plant-loving molecular biologist from the University of Copenhagen and co-host of the Plantejagten podcast 🎙️ From counting to three and communicating through smells to remembering past threats and producing chemical compounds for defence, this episode peels back the quiet drama of plant life. You will discover that plants are anything but passive, and far more interesting than most of us realise. To download the app that Emma recommends, check out this site: Arter - Fælles om Danmarks vilde natur - Arter [https://arter.dk/landingpage] To get in touch with us, email hello@talkingofscience.dk

Is coral a plant or a rock?

Well... no. Or, kinda, maybe. Another chin-scratcher from Dr C in this episode, where we dive into the blue to explore the fascinating world beneath the sea and learn all anyone could want to know about corals and their importance. We are joined on the mics by Walter Dellisanti, a marine biologist and coral nerd who also happens to have just rounded off a visual exhibition all about (yep, you guessed it) coral! To get in touch with Walter, email walter.dellisanti@bio.ku.dk [walter.dellisanti@bio.ku.dk] To get in touch with us, email hello@talkingofscience.dk

If I graze my knee every day, would I eventually run out of blood?

As always, a deceptively simple question that opens the door to a hilarious exploration of how our bodies make blood. Find out what happens when you scrape your knee and how the body keeps itself cleverly supplied with just the right amount of blood cells. Most importantly, find out just how newly-built blood cells manage to escape from inside the bone marrow! Helen and Dr C are joined by Dr Mafalda Araújo Pereira, a researcher who studies blood stem cells — the tiny powerhouses responsible for producing all the different types of blood cells in your body. Mafalda also treat us to Dr C's favourite bedtime story ever! To get in touch with Mafalda, email mafalda.araujo@finsenlab.dk To get in touch, email hello@talkingofscience.dk