³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

We are talking about stereo blindness today – where you are not able to see the world in three dimensions. So what are the implications if you see the world as flat rather than deep? It turns out that those in some jobs tend to have better 3D but a 2D world has not held some people back – it’s possible that the great artist Rembrandt was stereoblind. He certainly did not lack inspiration and neither do the robot-builders inspired by marine organisms. We are looking at the latest trends in ‘soft robotics’ with a machine where you never need to charge the batteries – it gets all its energy from water. In other tech news, scientists have a souped-up candy floss machine that is spinning new heart valves for children.

Could our cup of morning coffee be facing extinction? The climate is changing and Ethiopian coffee has already been affected. As the monsoon arrives in the Bengal Bay, scientists are trying to get better at measuring the amount that ends up in the aquifers as valuable drinking water.

Out into the backyard, we hear about the world’s most dangerous garden. Elsewhere, a more cordial – and chatty – relationship with your plants but can they hear you?

(Picture caption: Woman sews by hand © Getty Images)

The Science Hour was presented by Gareth Mitchell with comments from freelance science writer David Robson

Producer: Graihagh Jackson