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Radio 4,05 Feb 2026,28 mins

Where do forever chemicals come from?

麻豆社 Inside Science

Available for over a year

This week the UK Government decided it was worried enough about so called 鈥榝orever chemicals鈥 to bring in it鈥檚 first ever plan to tackle them. Environment Minister Emma Hardy called PFAS "one of the most pressing chemical challenges of our time". Stephanie Metzger, policy adviser at the Royal Society of Chemistry talks us through where all these chemicals have come from, and Lucy Hart, researcher at Lancaster university, brings us new science on their sources. Technology journalist Gareth Mitchell is in the studio with his take on this week鈥檚 brand new discoveries. And as future winter Olympians ready themselves atop Italy鈥檚 snow-covered peaks, Victoria Gill hears how the chemical make up of ski wax can make or break a gold medal winning run. She hears from Jostein Vinjerui, manager of the British cross-country team, and Pat Sharples, Head Coach for GB Snowsports. To discover more fascinating science content, head to bbc.co.uk, search for 麻豆社 Inside Science and follow the links to The Open University. Presenter: Victoria Gill Producer: Alex Mansfield, Katie Tomsett, Kate White and Clare Salisbury Editor: Martin Smith Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

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