How come Karen from HR has got Herpes?

How come Karen from HR has got Herpes?

Why does Karen from HR have herpes? And more importantly… why do so many of us? In this gloriously inappropriate but scientifically rich episode, Helen and Dr C are joined by Matthew Murray, a virologist at the Danish Cancer Institute and the University of Copenhagen, to unpack the weird, persistent and often misunderstood world of herpes viruses. From lifelong latent infections to immune system cat-and-mouse games, Matt helps us understand why herpes viruses are so incredibly successful, what they’re doing inside our cells, and why most of us are walking around with them whether we like it or not. Along the way, we confront stigma, myths, and the surprisingly mundane reality behind one of the most infamous viral families. There may be jokes about HR departments. There will definitely be virology. *Note: In this episode, genital warts are briefly mentioned in connection with herpes. To clarify, herpes causes genital sores, while genital warts are caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). In the crowded world of viruses, it's important to give credit where credit is due. To get in contact with us at Talking of Science, email hello@talkingofscience.dk To get in contact with Dr Matt, email Matthew.murray@cpr.ku.dk or find him on Bluesky as MJMurray. To see more about Matt's work, visit the lab's website at https://www.cancer.dk/danish-cancer-institute/research-groups/genome-maintenance-and-cancer-vulnerabilities/

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