³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

New research predicts how climate change might impact on fish stocks around the world by 2300 – and the impact could be serious. Phytoplankton the first organisms in the food chain, are already being affected by warmer waters, meaning less food for larger organisms, including fish. This study shows the decline is likely to be low and slow for the next 100 years, but will then accelerate, as Charlotte Laufkotter from the University of Bern Climate and Environment programme explained to Roland Pease.

Is Diabetes Five Different Diseases?
There are five distinct types of diabetes, rather than two – that’s according to new research published this week. Claudia Hammond talks to lead researcher Leif Groop of the Lund University Diabetes Centre in Sweden about this proposed new classification and asks how it might affect how people with diabetes are treated in the future.

Russian Spy Poisoning
The poisoning of a former Russian spy, Sergie Skripal, and his daughter Yulia, has led to much speculation this week. They were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury, UK on Sunday, and police have since confirmed they were deliberately poisoned with a nerve agent. Nerve agents disrupt nerve signals that control muscle function. However, not enough is yet known to say with any certainty whether it was a well-known agent like sarin or VX, or a rarer one. Gareth Mitchell spoke to Professor Alastair Hay of Leeds University in the UK about the challenge of identifying the substance.

Russia’s New Nuclear Age
Russian President Vladimir Putin has just announced a whole new suite of strategic nuclear systems being developed. One of these is a nuclear-powered cruise missile. Back in the 1960’s, the US tried something similar with Project Pluto and SLAM, and it turned out the missiles were too dangerous to even test. So how plausible is it that Putin has developed such a missile? Roland Pease asks life-long rocket engineer Robert Schmucker.

Angry When Hungry?
Katy Takatsuki investigates a question from World Service listener Abi Gurjar about the phenomenon known as ‘hanger’, and reveals the very real research behind the link between an empty-stomach and the descent of the red mist.

Looking for Ice in Diamonds
Diamonds look nice on rings and necklaces, but they can also have uses beyond ornamentation. In a recent study, geologists have found minute traces of a new form of ice in diamonds from deep within the Earth’s mantle. Could this be evidence of an untapped ocean beneath our feet? Roland Pease spoke to Canadian geologist Kim Tait.

(Picture: Mediterranean bream fish – credit: Boris Horvat/AFP/Getty Images)

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

Producer: Katy Takatsuki

Show less