Podcasts · Science

Show Me the Science with Luke O'Neill

Newstalk

263 episodes

Have you ever wondered why we laugh or if you can really die of a broken heart? Join Professor Luke O'Neill on ‘Show Me the Science’ as he tackles a different issue each week; from the serious to the silly, all explained through science. This Newstalk production will open the world of science to people of all ages. New episodes every Thursday. Show me the Science is with thanks to B Braun.

More about the show

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Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. The Science of Plagues

    · 17 min · Episode 290

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O’Neill looks at the science of plagues.

  2. The Science of Ultra-Processed Foods

    · 16 min · Episode 289

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill looks at the science of ultra processed food

  3. The Science of HYROX

    · 14 min · Episode 288

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill looks at the science of the exercise craze known as HYROX.

  4. The Science of Breast Feeding

    · 13 min · Episode 287

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill looks at the science of Breast Feeding.

  5. The Science of Celiac Disease

    · 12 min · Episode 286

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill looks at the science of Celiac disease. This is a listener request in from Monica Nolan.

  6. The Science of ADHD

    · 13 min · Episode 285

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill looks at the science of ADHD.

  7. The Science of Stings

    · 14 min · Episode 284

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill looks at the science of Stings. These include wasp, bee and nettle stings - a listener request that came in from Linda Crawford!

  8. The Science of Vitamins

    · 14 min · Episode 283

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill looks at the science of vitamins. Should everyone be taking them, or are some unnecessary?

  9. The Science of Morning Sickness

    · 15 min · Episode 282

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill looks at the science of morning sickness.

  10. The Science of Sperm

    · 12 min · Episode 281

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill on the science of sperm. Are sperm counts falling?

  11. The Science of Cell Death

    · 15 min · Episode 280

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill discusses the science of cell death…

  12. The Science of Alzheimer’s

    · 12 min · Episode 279

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill discusses the science of Alzheimer's disease. The World Health Organisation has issued guidelines on what you can do to decrease your risk...

  13. The Science of Hantavirus

    · 15 min · Episode 278

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill discusses the Hantavirus.

  14. The Science of Forests

    · 16 min · Episode 277

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill discusses the benefits of ‘forest bathing’ and spending time walking in a forest. Studies show it can reduce stress and anxiety, and that it stops rumination.…

  15. The Science of Football Fans

    · 13 min · Episode 276

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill takes a look at the science of being a football fan.

  16. The Science of Saliva

    · 14 min · Episode 275

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill talks about the science of saliva! This is a listener request from Sarah from Kerry.

  17. The Science of Cancer Cures

    · 13 min · Episode 274

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill talks about a recent cancer conference in Chicago, where they announced some remarkable new results...

  18. The Science of Wearables

    · 14 min · Episode 273

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill takes a look at the science of wearables, from smart watches to smart rings. Are they useful to people overall?

  19. The Science of Navigation

    · 13 min · Episode 272

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill takes a look at the science of how animals navigate and find their way home. In particular, pigeons, and how the immune system helps them to navigate.

  20. The Science of Ozempic

    · 14 min · Episode 271

    This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O'Neill takes a look at the science of Ozempic, Mounjaro, GLP 1 and more broadly, the science of Peptides.

  21. The Science of Ebola

    · 16 min · Episode 270

    This week on Show Me the Science, Luke O'Neill takes a look at the Ebola virus and the current outbreak happening in Africa. The current outbreak is being caused by the Bundibugyo virus. The last outbreak of the…

  22. The Science of Exercise

    · 15 min · Episode 269

    The VHI Women's Mini Marathon is on this week, and on this episode of Show Me The Science, Professor Luke O'Neill takes a look at the science of Exercise. • Why is exercise good for us? • What are the current…

  23. The Science of Gut Health

    · 17 min · Episode 268

    This week on Show Me The Science, Professor Luke O'Neill takes a look at the science of the gut microbiome, how the health of your gut is important for your health overall and new findings on bacteria and cancers.

  24. The Science of Saunas

    · 13 min · Episode 267

    This week on Show Me The Science, Professor Luke O'Neill takes a look at the science of saunas. How does taking a sauna benefit your health and mood, and exactly how much time should you spend in a sauna?

  25. The Science of Sibling Rivalry

    · 11 min · Episode 266

    This week on Show Me The Science, Professor Luke O'Neill takes a look at the science of sibling rivalry. Does the order you come in your family influence your wealth and health prospects for life?

  26. The Science of Osteoporosis

    · 15 min · Episode 265

    This week on Show Me The Science, Professor Luke O'Neill takes a look at the science of the human bone and diseases of the bone, including osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.

  27. The Science of Psoriasis

    · 16 min · Episode 264

    This week on Show Me The Science, Professor Luke O'Neill takes a look at the skin condition psoriasis. Psoriasis causes red patches of skin which are dry and flaky. It's prevalent on areas such as your scalp, elbows…

  28. The Science of the Artemis Moon Mission

    · 14 min · Episode 263

    This week, the Artemis Moon Mission, the first moon mission in over 50 years, landed safely back on Earth. On July 20th, 1969, Luke O’Neill was 5 years of age. He remembers vividly watching Neil Armstrong and Edwin…

  29. The Science of Music

    · 15 min · Episode 262

    We as humans have been listening to music for over forty thousand years, and recent research has shown that music is really beneficial for us. So, on this week's episode, Professor Luke O'Neill looks at four benefits…

  30. The Science of Snacks

    · 16 min · Episode 261

    On this episode of the podcast, and just in time for Easter, Professor Luke O'Neill is looking at the science of snacking. What are the main reasons why we snack? Why do we like a crunchy snack? And what is 'food…

  31. The Science of Meningitis

    · 14 min · Episode 260

    There has been an outbreak of meningitis centred in Kent, in the UK, in recent weeks. On this episode of Show Me The Science, Professor Luke O’Neill explains why this has happened, and what the two types of meningitis…

  32. The Science of Transplanted Wombs

    · 19 min · Episode 259

    This week, Professor Luke O’Neill dives into one of the most remarkable stories in modern medicine: the birth of Hugo, the first child in the UK to be born from a womb transplanted from a deceased donor. His mother,…

  33. The Science of St Patrick

    · 14 min · Episode 258

    With St Patrick’s Day just around the corner, Professor Luke O’Neill takes a closer look at the man behind the legend—and the science behind the stories. Drawing on Patrick’s own Confessio, Luke explores how the saint…

  34. The Science of Winter Sports

    · 14 min · Episode 257

    Winter sports look clean and crystalline on the surface. Snow, ice, precision, courage. But scratch that frozen surface and you find molecular biology doing quiet, mischievous work. In this week’s podcast, Professor…

  35. The Science of Cholesterol

    · 19 min · Episode 256

    Cholesterol has a reputation problem. We tend to think of it as the enemy, but your body makes it for a reason. Every cell membrane relies on it, and it’s the building block for key hormones like oestrogen,…

  36. The Science of Sweat

    · 18 min · Episode 255

    Why do we sweat? And what secrets does it hold about our bodies? On this week’s podcast, Professor Luke O'Neill dives into the fascinating science of sweat. From keeping our body temperature in check to signalling…

  37. The Science of Weather and Flood Forecasting

    · 22 min · Episode 254

    Weather forecasts are famously imperfect, but the science behind them is far cleverer than we usually give it credit for. In this week's podcast, Professor Luke O’Neill explores how weather forecasting works, and why…

  38. The Science of Marathon Running

    · 17 min · Episode 253

    Why does the marathon push the human body to its absolute limits? And why do some people seem built to keep going when everyone else hits the wall? On this week’s podcast, Professor Luke O’Neill takes a biochemical…

  39. The Science of Turmeric

    · 17 min · Episode 252

    Turmeric is everywhere – in teas, capsules, curry powders and health ads – but what does it actually do? On this week's podcast, Professor Luke O’Neill explores the science behind the golden root, explaining why it’s…

  40. The Science of Lewy Body Dementia

    · 17 min · Episode 251

    This week on the podcast, Professor Luke O’Neill turns his attention to a condition that’s often misunderstood and far more common than many people realise: Lewy Body Dementia. Requested by listener Eben Stewart ahead…

  41. The Science of Taste

    · 13 min · Episode 250

    Why do some people love wine, while others can’t stand it? Why did Covid strip food of its pleasure for so many? And how much of what we call “taste” is really happening in the nose, the brain, and even our memories?…

  42. The Science of the Current Flu Outbreak

    · 17 min · Episode 249

    Ireland, like much of Europe, is in the middle of a serious flu outbreak. This week’s podcast focuses on why this year’s influenza wave is hitting so hard, who is most at risk, and what actually helps. Professor Luke…

  43. The Science of New Year Resolutions

    · 15 min · Episode 248

    Every January, millions of us promise that this will be the year we finally change our habits. We’ll sleep more, stress less, move our bodies, eat better, learn something new, or finally tackle the clutter that’s been…

  44. The Science of Kissing

    · 17 min · Episode 247

    For his Christmas podcast, Professor Luke dives into one of the oldest, strangest and most delightful human behaviours: kissing. And yes, there really are scientists who study it. Kissologists? Why not. Someone has to…

  45. The Science of the Hangover

    · 15 min · Episode 246

    It’s that time of year when the big nights out collide with the biological reality of the morning after… and Professor Luke is here to explain exactly what’s going on in your head, your liver and your rattled nervous…

  46. The Science of Haemochromatosis

    · 17 min · Episode 245

    This week, Professor Luke dives into a condition that affects Ireland more than almost anywhere else on Earth: haemochromatosis, the iron-overload disorder sometimes dubbed “the Celtic disease”. And we owe this one to…

  47. The Science of Cancer and the Immune System

    · 14 min · Episode 244

    This week, Professor Luke digs into one of the biggest questions in cancer research: how to train the immune system to hunt tumours. Immunotherapy already works in cancers like melanoma and lung cancer — but only…

  48. The Science of the Large Hadron Collider

    · 12 min · Episode 243

    Ireland has finally joined CERN as an associate member, opening the doors of the world’s biggest scientific instrument to Irish researchers for the first time. And what a machine to step into. This week, Professor Luke…

  49. The Science of Seasonal Affective Disorder

    · 13 min · Episode 242

    Why do so many of us feel the gloom set in when the clocks go back and the days get short? In this week’s podcast, Luke O’Neill delves into the biology of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, a form of depression that…

  50. The Science of Cellulitis

    · 15 min · Episode 241

    This week, Professor Luke O’Neill turns his microscope to a condition he knows all too well — cellulitis. It’s one of the most common bacterial infections there is, affecting about one in every 500 people each year.…

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