Episode details

Radio 4,26 Feb 2026,28 mins
Does new science get us closer to finding out how life on earth began?
麻豆社 Inside ScienceAvailable for over a year
Perhaps it鈥檚 the biggest question science has left to answer, how did life begin? Now, molecular biologists in Cambridge university have discovered tiny molecules of RNA which they say might provide some clues. Science journalist and author Philip Ball explains what we know and whether we鈥檒l ever find the origins of life on earth. Professor Michael Wooldridge has given this year鈥檚 Royal Society鈥檚 Michael Faraday Prize lecture. He speaks to Tom Whipple about why the AI we have is not what he wanted it to be; rational. And science columnist at the Financial Times Anj Ahuja brings her favourite new science to discuss. 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: Tom Whipple Producer: Kate White, Katie Tomsett, Clare Salisbury and Alex Mansfield Editor: Martin Smith Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
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