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Bananas in Peril

The deadly Panama disease affecting banana crops worldwide. Plus, Comet Ison, China's scientific innovators and why gut feelings can indicate relationship success.

The deadly Panama disease has spread throughout major banana producers in South East Asia and has now reached a relatively isolated banana plantation in Jordan. The disease is affecting the Cavendish banana, Musa cavendishii, which is the main cultivar of banana eaten throughout the world. The aggressive disease previously wiped out most banana breeds in the 1950s.

Ison: the Comet of the Century
For the month of December it is possible that people in the northern hemisphere will be able to see Comet Ison, and its tail several millions of kilometres long. But first it would have to survive a trip around the sun. Will the comet be an awesome sight on earth, or will it be destroyed by the sun before it has a chance to light up the skies?

Is China a Scientific Innovator?
A report by Nesta, the UK鈥檚 innovations charity, looks at the growth of scientific innovation in China. The country鈥檚 research base is expanding at an unprecedented rate, and China is forming its own characteristic variety of innovation. But in an independent investigation published this week, a flourishing black-market in China鈥檚 scientific community has been revealed. Scientists have been found to pay in excess of $15,000 (USD) to have their names added to authorship of scientific papers in prestigious journals.

Gut Feelings Indicate Relationship Success
Is our gut feeling a reliable indicator of our personal relationships? In a study of 100 couples, researchers found that gut-level intuition was a better predictor of long term relationship outcomes than asking people how happy and satisfied they are. The study鈥檚 authors say that automatic thoughts, which we may not even be aware of, should perhaps influence our decision making.

(Photo credit: A woman shops at a food store for bananas 漏 AFP/Getty Images)

Available now

18 minutes

Last on

Mon 2 Dec 2013 04:32GMT

Chapters

  • Bananas in Peril

    The deadly Panama disease is spreading throughout banana crops worldwide.

    Duration: 04:39

  • Ison: the comet of the century

    Comet Ison is approaching our sun. Will it break up, or survive and be visible from earth?

    Duration: 02:59

  • Is China a Scientific Innovator?

    A recent report describes the rapidly expanding state of innovation and science in China.

    Duration: 04:40

  • Gut Feelings Indicate Relationship Success

    How our gut instinct could be more reliable than a considered assessment of relationships.

    Duration: 04:36

Broadcasts

  • Thu 28 Nov 2013 20:32GMT
  • Fri 29 Nov 2013 02:32GMT
  • Fri 29 Nov 2013 09:32GMT
  • Sat 30 Nov 2013 14:32GMT
  • Mon 2 Dec 2013 04:32GMT

Podcast