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Experts are anxiously watching the developing story of the oil tanker in the East China Sea burning after a collision – worried not just for the missing crew, but the danger from its million barrels of crude. The cargo is a lighter and more toxic form of crude than emergency services have previously had to handle and this means that the longer term environmental damage from this toxic fuel could be serious. Simon Boxhall from the University of Southampton explains why to Adam Rutherford.

Child Trauma
For children who are exposed to the violence of war it’s estimated between 25 and 75% of them experience post traumatic stress disorder – with symptoms like flashbacks and anxiety. Experts at a World Psychiatric Association meeting in London this week have been discussing whether it is possible to train non-therapists to teach children some simple techniques to help relieve their anxiety. Claudia Hammond talks to Bill Yule, Emeritus Professor of Applied Child Psychology at King’s College London.

MIT Depth Sensor
Researchers from MIT have developed new depth sensors that could be sensitive enough for self-driving cars. Gareth Mitchell talks to the lead researcher, Achuta Kadambi.

Gut Gas Detecting Electronic Capsules
Gases produced in the digestive tract can tell us a lot about the activity of essential and harmful bacteria in the gut and consequently about our health. Ingestible sensors (capsules that you swallow), which then detect gases throughout the alimentary tract, are now being trailed in humans. Roland Pease talks to Professor Kourosh Kalantar Zadeh from the University of Melbourne.

Chimp-Facial Portraits
A new citizen science project is being launched exploring relatedness in chimpanzees. In humans there is a good chance babies will look like their father early in life. When it comes to chimps it is even more interesting, as chimpanzee expert Cat Hobaiter explained to Geoff Marsh.

Self-Help Craze
A New Year can herald ambitious goals for self-improvement – including physical fitness and even a commitment to greater happiness. The self-help sections in bookshops are well-stocked – but does reading them do any good? Claudia Hammond speaks to Sven Brinkmann, a Danish philosopher, and Sonja Lyubomirsky, a American psychologist, about the role of self -help.

(Photo caption: Rescue ships work to extinguish the fire on the Panama-registered Sanchi tanker carrying Iranian oil, which went ablaze after a collision with a Chinese freight ship in the East China Sea – credit: China Daily via Reuters)

The Science Hour was presented by Gareth Mitchell with comments from ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Health and Science reporter, Katie Silver

Producer: Katy Takatsuki

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